LETTER XL.
Benton Barracks Hospital,
April 9.
In my last letter I gave you an account of the
colored ladies' Union Aid Society, This afternoon, one
of the leading members came to see me. She is a well
educated and intelligent woman; her occupation that of
a hair-dresser; she is married, and she and her husband
are respectable honest people. Her name is Lee. She
and her friends are trying to do all they can for their
brethren. They visit them, teach them to read, read to
them, and comfort them in many ways. I think, mother,
that the work of this time is something like that of
the early Christians among the poor and lowly. You
have hardly an idea in Massachusetts of the work there
is to be done. I used to think the statements of abolitionists
extreme, and that their views were sometimes
irrational; now I wonder that people acquainted with
the facts can keep any bounds at all. I heard things
to-day that would make your blood run cold. And
this place is the very centre of such opinions; the very
hot-bed for them. And I do believe that is one reason
that this hospital for colored soldiers has been permitted
to be established in their midst; for it is doing more
than taking care of their bodies; it is bringing to the
surface facts, and establishing precedents face to face
with the enemy. It is storming the citadel. When I
look upon this great amphitheatre, dropped down in the
midst of all this, and close by a city, the centre of so
much of this Western world, I think there is no place
where it could be put, where it would come more in
contact with the forces against it than here. I hope
you will some time see this place.
Mr. Yeatman told me that at present he did not
need more teachers; as for nurses we must employ first
those already in the service of the Sanitary Commission
who have approved themselves, or those whom
Miss Dix sends out. There is the objection to sending
East for nurses, that it is a long way, and I should
not like to be responsible for any one whom I had not
known as a tried nurse. The objections to it are
obvious; if we were close by her home it would not be
so hard for her to come and try.
I have had a stiff neck and pain of a rheumatic kind
in my shoulder; the Doctor gave me some liniment to
rub on; it did me good. Dr. Russell has also moved
me into a larger and pleasanter room where I have good
air and am comfortable.
I suppose the green buds are bursting on the trees
and the grass growing greener and thicker. I should
like to go to some beautiful country and enjoy myself
out doors like a pussy cat or squirrel; I do love the
country. It will be one year next Friday since I came
to this hospital to stay. How much I have gone
through since then! I hope to do right wherever I
may be. I have had a very bad cough, but am nearly
well now and have a good appetite. I have all I need,
I suppose. When I have all I can get I like to think
so.
