Elisha Wasson died in Confederate Hospital in Corinth Mississippi
Memoir of Kate Cummin - Nurse CSA
Sunday April 13, 1862
As I was passing one of the rooms, a man called to me, and begged me to do something for him and others who were with him. No one had been to see them that morning, and they had no breakfast. I gave them something to eat, and got a nurse to take care of them. About eight were in the room, among them Mr. Regan of Alabama and Mr. Eli Wasson of Texas, both had lost a leg. I paid these special attention, as they were worse than the others. They were grateful, and thanked me all the time. Mr. W said that he knew that he would not get well soon. They are both unmarried and talk much about their mothers and sisters, as all men do now. "Home, sweet home." is the dearest spot on the earth to them, since they are deprived of its comforts. Mother, wife, and sister seem to be sweeter to then than all the words in the English language.
April 15, 1962
Mr. Wasson is cheerful and is doing well, tells me much about his home in Texas and the nice fruit there, says that I must o home with him, as his family would be so glad to see me.
April 17, 1962
I was going round as usual this morning, washing the faces of the men, and go half thorough with one before if found that he was dead. He was lying on the gallery by himself, and had died with no one near him.
These are terrible things, and what is more heart-rending, no one seems to mind them. I thoug that patients were all doing well. Mr. Wasson felt better, and knew he would soon go home. I asked the surgeon who was attending him about his condition, and was much shocked when I learned he nor Mr. Reagan would live to see another day. This was a sad trial to me. I had seen many die, but none of them whom I attended so closely as these two. I felt toward them my brothers, I tried to control my feelings toward all the soldiers - as if they were my brothers. I tried to control my feelings before Mr. W as he was so hopeful of getting well, but it was a hard task. He looked at me once and asked me what was the matter, was he going to die? I asked him if he was afraid. He replied No; but he was so young that he would like to live a little longer., and would like to see his father and mother once more. I id what I could to prepare him for the great change which was soon to come to him, but I could not muster courage to tell him that he was going to die. Poor Mr. Regan was wandering in his mind, and I found it useless to talk to him upon the subject of death. I managed to get him to tell me his mother's address. He belonged to the Alabama Regiment. About dark, a strange doctor was visiting the patients. When he came to Mr. W, I was sitting by his bedside. When he asked me if this was a relative. I informed him that I was not, but I had been attending to him for some days, and he now seemed like one. Mr. W looked at him and said, "Doctor, I wish to tell me if I am going to die?" The doctor felt his pulse and replied "Young man, you will never see another day in this world." A pallor passed over his countenance, and for a little while and said, "Sister, I want to meet you in heaven." and then requested me get a clergyman to visit him. There happened to be one in the hospital, and I sent for him, and he prayed and talked with him some time. M.r W. then asked me if I could not let his brothers know about his condition; he had two or three in Corinth. A friend who was with him did all in his power to inform them, so that they could see him before he died, but it was no avail. They were sick, and we could not ascertain in what hospital they were confined. He was much disappointed in not seeing them. He then asked me write a letter to his mother, who lives in Grimes County, Texas. He desired me to inform her that he had made a peace with God, and hoped to meet her in that land where all is peace and happiness. He would have rejoiced to have seen her and the rest of his dear relative before leaving this world, but the Lord had willed it otherwise, and he was resigned.
April 18 - I remained with Mr. Wasson all night. A child could not have been more composed. He told me how good the Lord was in giving him peace and strength at the last hour. about 4 O'Clock A M he insisted I should leave him, as I required rest. He begged me so hard that I left him for a little while. When I returned he had breathed his last. One of his companions was with him, and were very attentive - told me that he died as if he was going to sleep. AS Bryant has so beautifully expressed it. "LIke one who wraps the drapery of his couch about him, and lies down to pleasant dreams." O gently close the eye that loved to look on you. O seal the lip whose earliest sigh. Whose latest breath was true."
Furnished by Caleb James (49739385)

Elisha Wasson died in Confederate Hospital in Corinth Mississippi
Memoir of Kate Cummin - Nurse CSA
Sunday April 13, 1862
As I was passing one of the rooms, a man called to me, and begged me to do something for him and others who were with him. No one had been to see them that morning, and they had no breakfast. I gave them something to eat, and got a nurse to take care of them. About eight were in the room, among them Mr. Regan of Alabama and Mr. Eli Wasson of Texas, both had lost a leg. I paid these special attention, as they were worse than the others. They were grateful, and thanked me all the time. Mr. W said that he knew that he would not get well soon. They are both unmarried and talk much about their mothers and sisters, as all men do now. "Home, sweet home." is the dearest spot on the earth to them, since they are deprived of its comforts. Mother, wife, and sister seem to be sweeter to then than all the words in the English language.
April 15, 1962
Mr. Wasson is cheerful and is doing well, tells me much about his home in Texas and the nice fruit there, says that I must o home with him, as his family would be so glad to see me.
April 17, 1962
I was going round as usual this morning, washing the faces of the men, and go half thorough with one before if found that he was dead. He was lying on the gallery by himself, and had died with no one near him.
These are terrible things, and what is more heart-rending, no one seems to mind them. I thoug that patients were all doing well. Mr. Wasson felt better, and knew he would soon go home. I asked the surgeon who was attending him about his condition, and was much shocked when I learned he nor Mr. Reagan would live to see another day. This was a sad trial to me. I had seen many die, but none of them whom I attended so closely as these two. I felt toward them my brothers, I tried to control my feelings toward all the soldiers - as if they were my brothers. I tried to control my feelings before Mr. W as he was so hopeful of getting well, but it was a hard task. He looked at me once and asked me what was the matter, was he going to die? I asked him if he was afraid. He replied No; but he was so young that he would like to live a little longer., and would like to see his father and mother once more. I id what I could to prepare him for the great change which was soon to come to him, but I could not muster courage to tell him that he was going to die. Poor Mr. Regan was wandering in his mind, and I found it useless to talk to him upon the subject of death. I managed to get him to tell me his mother's address. He belonged to the Alabama Regiment. About dark, a strange doctor was visiting the patients. When he came to Mr. W, I was sitting by his bedside. When he asked me if this was a relative. I informed him that I was not, but I had been attending to him for some days, and he now seemed like one. Mr. W looked at him and said, "Doctor, I wish to tell me if I am going to die?" The doctor felt his pulse and replied "Young man, you will never see another day in this world." A pallor passed over his countenance, and for a little while and said, "Sister, I want to meet you in heaven." and then requested me get a clergyman to visit him. There happened to be one in the hospital, and I sent for him, and he prayed and talked with him some time. M.r W. then asked me if I could not let his brothers know about his condition; he had two or three in Corinth. A friend who was with him did all in his power to inform them, so that they could see him before he died, but it was no avail. They were sick, and we could not ascertain in what hospital they were confined. He was much disappointed in not seeing them. He then asked me write a letter to his mother, who lives in Grimes County, Texas. He desired me to inform her that he had made a peace with God, and hoped to meet her in that land where all is peace and happiness. He would have rejoiced to have seen her and the rest of his dear relative before leaving this world, but the Lord had willed it otherwise, and he was resigned.
April 18 - I remained with Mr. Wasson all night. A child could not have been more composed. He told me how good the Lord was in giving him peace and strength at the last hour. about 4 O'Clock A M he insisted I should leave him, as I required rest. He begged me so hard that I left him for a little while. When I returned he had breathed his last. One of his companions was with him, and were very attentive - told me that he died as if he was going to sleep. AS Bryant has so beautifully expressed it. "LIke one who wraps the drapery of his couch about him, and lies down to pleasant dreams." O gently close the eye that loved to look on you. O seal the lip whose earliest sigh. Whose latest breath was true."
Furnished by Caleb James (49739385)