_January, '63_.--Left camp at Falmouth, with some wounded, a few days
since, and came here by Aquia creek railroad, and so on government
steamer up the Potomac. Many wounded were with us on the cars and boat.
The cars were just common platform ones. The railroad journey of ten or
twelve miles was made mostly before sunrise. The soldiers guarding the
road came out from their tents or shebangs of bushes with rumpled hair
and half-awake look. Those on duty were walking their posts, some on
banks over us, others down far below the level of the track. I saw
large cavalry camps off the road. At Aquia creek landing were numbers
of wounded going north. While I waited some three hours, I went around
among them. Several wanted word sent home to parents, brothers, wives,
&c., which I did for them, (by mail the next day from Washington.) On
the boat I had my hands full. One poor fellow died going up.
I am now remaining in and around Washington, daily visiting the
hospitals. Am much in Patent-office, Eighth street, H street,
Armory-square, and others. Am now able to do a little good, having
money, (as almoner of others home,) and getting experience. To-day,
Sunday afternoon and till nine in the evening, visited Campbell
hospital; attended specially to one case in ward I, very sick with
pleurisy and typhoid fever, young man, farmer's son, D. F. Russell,
company E, 60th New York, downhearted and feeble; a long time before he
would take any interest; wrote a letter home to his mother, in Malone,
Franklin county, N. Y., at his request; gave him some fruit and one
or two other gifts; envelop'd and directed his letter, &c. Then went
thoroughly through ward 6, observ'd every case in the ward, without, I
think, missing one; gave perhaps from twenty to thirty persons, each one
some little gift, such as oranges, apples, sweet crackers, figs, &c.
_Thursday, Jan. 21._--Devoted the main part of the day to Armory-square
hospital; went pretty thoroughly through wards F, G, H, and I; some
fifty cases in each ward. In ward F supplied the men throughout with
writing paper and stamp'd envelope each; distributed in small portions,
to proper subjects, a large jar of first-rate preserv'd berries, which
had been donated to me by a lady--her own cooking. Found several cases
I thought good subjects for small sums of money, which I furnish'd. (The
wounded men often come up broke, and it helps their spirits to have
even the small sum I give them.) My paper and envelopes all gone, but
distributed a good lot of amusing reading matter; also, as I thought
judicious, tobacco, oranges, apples, &c. Interesting cases in ward I;
Charles Miller, bed 19, company D, 53d Pennsylvania, is only 16 years
of age, very bright, courageous boy, left leg amputated below the knee;
next bed to him, another young lad very sick; gave each appropriate
gifts. In the bed above, also, amputation of the left leg; gave him a
little jar of raspberries; bed J, this ward, gave a small sum; also to
a soldier on crutches, sitting on his bed near.... (I am more and more
surprised at the very great proportion of youngsters from fifteen to
twenty-one in the army. I afterwards found a still greater proportion
among the southerners.)
Evening, same day, went to see D. F. R., before alluded to; found him
remarkably changed for the better; up and dress'd--quite a triumph; he
afterwards got well, and went back to his regiment.
Distributed in the wards a quantity of note-paper, and forty or fifty
stamp'd envelopes, of which I had recruited my stock, and the men were
much in need.