University of Virginia Library

LETTER XXX.

Dear Mother,—I have wanted all the week to
write to you, and hope I shall now succeed. On
Thursday many more sick came, mostly wounded. It
was a very hot day, and we had our hands full. As I
went from ward to ward, I could not help thinking
how many there were still unhelped. I found many
so exhausted they could not eat. I had a quantity of

broth and soup provided, that they could drink, and it
did them good. If they can be brought up from that
first stage of exhaustion, it is a great point gained.
After I thought all provided for, I went for some dinner
myself; then back to the wards again. As I went
through one ward, the surgeon of it, Dr. G., told
me that there were several wounded carried into two
other wards, and that the surgeon of those wards was
off in the city! (I think he heard of it afterwards.)
You may imagine I was in those wards in about five
minutes, and commenced examining the wounds.
Soon, over came Dr. G. himself, to my great delight.
He gave his directions, and the men were made comfortable
as possible. One of them will lose either the
whole or a part of his hand. There was no female
nurse in the ward he was in, and the Doctor of the
ward was not to be compared to the one who went
over with me; so I wanted to have this man and one
other up in his ward. I went over to Dr. Russell, and
asked him if they might be transferred. "Certainly,"
was the reply. I had the worst case put on a stretcher
and carried over. The boy was placed in a nice bed,
every thing arranged right around him, and a pleasant
nurse watching over him; he looked like another being,
he was so happy, he fairly laughed. It was very
hot, and the wards were really uncomfortable. I went
to every one after supper, and had shades taken away
from windows; they were opened as much as possible,
and every ward watered profusely, like the streets,
with watering-pots; it makes the greatest possible difference
in the temperature. If you would go without
a carpet in your drawing-room and water it well, you
would find out! Finally I went to bed in a room like
an oven. Since then we have been busy enough.

The city was brilliantly illuminated yesterday, and
music and flags to give it all due éclat. I did not go
in, for Dr. Russell did not1 think it best for the lady
nurses to go, as there was no one to take care of them,
and I did not think it right to accept my invitation
after being obliged to say no to them. So I staid
at home. We had an afternoon celebration out here.
Some of the employe's subscribed, and procured the
services of an excellent band. The Doctor ordered an
excellent dinner of various good things, and had a platform
erected in the grove, and seats carried out, so that
the men could celebrate it in their own fashion. About
eleven, the band appeared in an open car decorated
with flags, and drawn by four horses. They drove into
the gates, preceded by the provost-sergeant on horseback,
playing the national airs. In this style they
drove slowly round all the hospital buildings, then to
the stand. After dinner, we all went down; the ladies
had reserved seats near the platform. The Doctor was
on the platform, but the soldiers had the meeting after
'their own fashion, and the speaking was very good.
You would be surprised to hear how well the soldiers
speak. They fear nobody, and speak in the most
graphic manner.

Richard's death surprised me very much. He was a
dear, good boy, one of the pleasantest I ever knew. I

have become so familiar with death that it no longer
affects me as it once did. I have got to thinking of it
as I do of my friends continually setting out for this
place or that. The other world seems very near, at
times. I have been with a dying man to-night; he
was very quiet. I said the prayer to him; he seemed
very much pleased; said "That was good." He held
my hand clasped in his all the while I sat by him.

I am busier than ever, I am happy to say, and they
seem satisfied with me. I shall work as long as they
give me anything to do. I should no more think of
giving up than my brother Chauncy would. I am so
glad I can be of some use too; it is a great comfort. I
hope now that I shall always be doing as long as I
live. When my power to do ceases, I want to go.

I expect five new nurses this week or next, and more
by and by. We can accommodate twenty-five hundred
patients now, if required, and we shall fill up
fast; we have not many over thirteen hundred sick,
besides convalescents in the invalid brigade. I get
confused sometimes with so many faces, as I go from
bed to bed.

My bandage roller is over in one of the wards, doing
daily work; it is a most useful little thing. If the
ladies wish to send out something very useful, I wish
they would get us some of the iron bandage rollers
they have for sale at Metcalf's, Tremont Row, They
are cheap, and very serviceable; they screw on to the
table. I merely make the suggestion, as a way in
which a little money would go a great way. You can

hardly think how necessary they are in a surgical
ward, where they are constantly rolling and unrolling
bandages. Lint is wanted; scraped lint more than
thread. I understand that the city hospitals will,
some of them, be closed, and the sick and wounded
sent here; also we expect them up the river all the
time, as fast as they can be moved.