Liberty Hicks by Annie Wittenmyer
Liberty Hicks, an Illinois soldier, is first mistaken for a rowdy but proves a tender, faithful hospital worker. He seeks prayer for a dying man, supplies ice and lemons to sufferers, and accompanies the sick up the river. Overwork leaves him permanently disabled, though he saved many lives.
By Annie Wittenmyer · First published 1895 · Genre: Civil War nonfiction, Biographical sketch, Historical anecdote · 371 words
First lines
As we were on our way to the brick church hospital, at Helena, Ark., a very large man, with his hair curled and hanging over his shoulders, passed us and looked back, my secretary and myself both imagined, in an impudent way. When we reached the hospital we found him there. He put himself in our way as though he wished to speak with us, but we both avoided him. At last he came up and said to me, "Madam, I want to speak with you; there is a man over here that the doctor thinks will die. I thought maybe you'd come over and pray with him. I've been trying to lead him to trust the Lord Jesus, but he don't seem to find the way."
Similar titles
- Could You Get Me A Raw Onion And Some Salt by Annie Wittenmyer
- The Sweet Singer Of The Hospitals by Annie Wittenmyer
- The Hospital At Point Of Rocks Va by Annie Wittenmyer
- Men Who Commanded Themselves And Did Not Swear by Annie Wittenmyer
- A Visit To Captain Walkes Gunboat by Annie Wittenmyer
- A Young Nurse At Gettysburg by Annie Wittenmyer
Genres
- Civil War nonfiction — The passage recounts wartime hospital service in Helena, Arkansas, involving an Illinois soldier caring for sick and wounded men.
- Biographical sketch — It presents a concise portrait of Liberty Hicks, emphasizing his character, service, later disability, and enduring legacy.
- Historical anecdote — The work centers on a specific remembered encounter and uses it to illuminate the realities of military medical care during the Civil War.
- Religious nonfiction — Christian prayer, conversion, trust in Jesus, and charitable service shape the narrator's interpretation of Hicks's actions.
Tags
American Civil War · Union soldier · military hospital · Helena, Arkansas · Illinois · Civil War era · hospital ministry · volunteer caregiving · wounded soldiers · nursing the sick · Christian prayer · religious faith
What this Textopian page supports
Liberty Hicks is listed on Textopian as a historical account by Annie Wittenmyer, dated 1895 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Historical account
- Author: Annie Wittenmyer
- Date: 1895 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Civil War nonfiction, Biographical sketch, Historical anecdote, Religious nonfiction, Inspirational literature
- Length: 371 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Liberty Hicks by Annie Wittenmyer
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph