Florence Nightingale: The Crimean War: Collected Works of Florence Nightingale, Volume 14

Letters from the Crimean War

Letters from the Crimean War Preparations, Departure and Travel A lthough the country had been in the throes of war fever, with troops East for months, and the decision made to invade the Crimea on 28 June 1854, there is nothing to show that Nightingale was concerned about the coming war. On the eve of the war’s first battle, the Alma, on 20 September, Elizabeth Herbert wrote her to stay longer on her holiday—she needed the rest. She, Mrs Herbert, had been to ‘‘the shop’’ (Harley St.) where everything was fine. She and Sidney Herbert were in London for a day after returning from an eight-day junket to Holland, that they had not quite enjoyed on account of their own political anxiety: In forty-eight hours we hope to have tidings of the battle which has to be fought on the 20th. God help us and them. People’s certainty of success makes one tremble. They never seem to estimate the enormous risks and difficulties and Menschikoff’s1 words ‘‘Nous avons assez de troupes’’ [we have enough troops] are forever sounding in my ears. A postscript comments on cholera ‘‘raging in Amsterdam,’’ and no wonder: ‘‘such stinks! Chloroform externally and ice internally the only successful treatment.’’2 One might note the casualness with which this public business was mentioned, even though the invasion had already started. Sidney Herbert ’s letter to Nightingale was written from Bournemouth, not his office—indeed, the Herberts had only just returned from a continen1 Alexander Sergeyevich Menschikoff (1787-1868), Russian commander-inchief for the first battles of the war, replaced in February 1855. 2 E. Herbert letter September [1854], Claydon House Bundle 204. / 45 tal holiday. The proprieties, however, were observed, and would continue to be. He and Nightingale always used surnames and honorifics in their correspondence (although they were probably on a first-name basis in private). The two women wrote to each other privately as ‘‘dearest.’’ It seems that Lady Maria Forester (1824-94) was the first person to have thought of sending out nurses to the war hospitals, after reading Times reports about the terrible suffering in the Crimea. She had a brother serving ‘‘before Sebastopol,’’ no child of her own, and ‘‘was anxious to do what she could to alleviate the sufferings of the sick and wounded,’’ as she told Nightingale when they met and Forester described her aim. Forester’s own husband had died as a result of poor nursing, although not in war. Lady Maria approached Nightingale on 11 October 1854, offering her £200 to take a small number of nurses to provide nursing.3 Nightingale initially accepted the money, as is clear in a letter she wrote Elizabeth Herbert 14 October (the first letter below). A Times story on Lady Maria’s death years later explained how she came to call on Nightingale at Harley St.: Hearing of Miss Nightingale as one singularly qualified to undertake such an important work, Lady Maria Forester, although personally of a very retiring disposition, called upon Miss Nightingale and was most warmly received by her. The result of this consultation was Miss Nightingale’s mission to the Crimea and the development of the modern system of nursing.4 It seems that Lady Maria never had any intention of going herself, perhaps on account of her health as well as the ‘‘retiring disposition.’’ Nightingale later returned the £200, when she had official backing from the government. Government backing came when Sidney Herbert, secretary at war and a family friend, wrote to her to ask her to take a team of nurses to the Scutari Barrack Hospital. This formal letter inviting Nightingale to lead the nursing was long and detailed, presumably geared not only towards convincing her to accept, but to assure her how well prepared the army was, and to attempt to waylay the expected problems of leading such a diverse group of women. The nursing establishment to be set up would include ladies, Roman Catholic nuns, Anglican sisters 3 Percival R. Kirby, Sir Andrew Smith 307. 4 The Times 25 April 1894:10. 46 / Florence Nightingale: The Crimean War and ordinary (experienced) hospital nurses (only the last group of which was paid). Nightingale was the ‘‘one person in England,’’ Herbert thought, ‘‘capable of organizing and superintending such a scheme.’’ ‘‘Not the least’’ of the difficulties would be smoothing things with ‘‘the medical and military authorities,’’ he allowed...