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brought delicacies, often prepared by their own hands or in their own kitchens, and were undoubtedly injudicious, sometimes, in their administration.
Out of this arose the newspaper controversy between the public and the surgeons in charge, at Bedloe's Island, which is probably yet fresh in many minds.
It was characterized by a good deal of acrimony.
Mrs. Davis avers that neither she nor her friends gave food to the patients without the consent of the physicians.
The affair terminated, as is well-known, by the removal of the surgeon in charge.
The Ladies Park Barracks' Association was, as a body, opposed to extending its benefactions beyond New York and its immediate vicinity.
Mrs. Davis was of a different opinion, and was, beside, not altogether pleased with the management of the association.
She therefore, after a time, relinquished her official connection with it, though never for one instant relaxing her efforts for the same general object.
For a long series of months Mrs. Davis repaired almost daily to the large General Hospital at David's Island, where thousands of sick and wounded men were sometimes congregated.
Here she and her chief associates, Mrs. Chapman, and Miss Morris, established the most amicable relations with the surgeon in charge, Dr. McDougall, and were welcomed by him, as valued coadjutors.
On the opening of the Soldiers' Rest, in Howard Street, an association of ladies was formed to aid in administering to the comfort of the poor fellows who tarried there during their transit through the city, or were received in the well-conducted hospital connected with the institution.
Of this association Mrs. Davis was the Secretary, during the whole term of its existence.
This association, as well as the institution itself, was admirably conducted, and perhaps performed as much real and beneficial work as any other in the vicinity of New York.
It was continued in existence till several months after the close of the war.
Besides her visits at David's Island and Howard Street, which
1867.
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