Thea:
I found this letter some time ago, and I hope you won't mind me adding it to the Soldier's Letters...it needs a good home!
NURSE – MRS. POMROY.
U. S. Sanitary Commission. COLUMBIAN COLLEGE HOSPITAL
May 24, 1864.
MR. MASON:
The recent battles have sent thousands of wounded men within the limits of our neighborhood. For the last ten days, hundreds of ambulances and Government teams have passed by our dwelling, and Carver Barracks back of us is crowded, so also Mount Pleasant on our right. The first two or three days, hundreds came to us who were slightly wounded, and they had a good bath, clothes changed, their wounds nicely dressed, and were then sent to the Hospitals in the north. We were all day for a number of days dressing wounds, and trying to make the poor boys comfortable.
We have now in our Hospital over
one thousand, many of whom are badly wounded. We have lost many by death, and the muffled drum with its solemn notes we hear several times a day. I never saw such patience among any set of men as I have among those who have been recently wounded. – Not a murmur, and scarcely a groan is heard, and many of them have left little families that are near and dear to them. I have four men with limbs amputated, they speak to me often of wife and children, and I am surprised to see how bravely they conduct themselves. The silent tear forces itself when I read to them, or show them my family photograph for all that is done for them. On my right are two brave men who have been shot through the face, the ball passing through the jaw, knocking out the teeth and cutting a piece off from the tongue. Cannot understand them only by gestures, as their mouths are badly cut; one of them has his teeth and part of his jaw bone in his pocket. On the next four beds are those badly wounded through the right hand, and in a next a boy with his heel shot through and the nails of his boot pushed into the foot, so that it may have to be amputated. All under my charge at the present are badly wounded, as balls through the hips, ankles and arms are still retained.
We have work enough before us this summer, and hope we may have health to do all we can in such times as these. Had calls from Secretary Wells and family, Senators Hale, Elliott, Bosworth, Dr. Beale from Boston, Dr. Johnson and Henry Mason, Jr., of Chelsea.
CivilWarTalk.com -
A free and friendly Civil War community. 
Linear Mode
