The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-08-05

Yours truly, HELIos.
Maine Female Camp Nurses.
We give below extracts from letters re-
ceived here from the two female nurses Of the
Maine Camp Hospital Association, written
since the last battle at Gettysburg.
These letters show that experienced female
nurses are gladly welcomed by our sick
soldiers, and that they can reach class OF
persons who need their aid before they can
be transported to the regular hospitals. Fe-
male nurses from other States were also in the
field, and we hope our State will continue to
render the same aid this year to these field
nurses as was rendered last, to wit: defray
their expenses of transportation, &C., for they
ask no further compensation for their benevo-
lent and praiseworthy duties:
HEADQUARTERS Sd Army Corps,
Near Gettysburg, July 10, 1868.
"Our journey here was quite anovelty in the
way of travel. We changed cars at Hanover
station which we reached at o'clock at night,
and thirty men and women were crowded in
to narrow entry and on the stairs. or course
rest was out OF the question; as we were
grouped there we might have been subject
for an artist. About o'clock A. NJ, some of
our party left for Harrisburg, which gave us
a little more room; and Mrs. Sampson (of
Bath who was the moving spirit OF all pres
ent, proposed making tea. SO opening her
trunk which seems TO contain an inexhausti-
BILE supply of good things, she lighted the
spirit lamp, and using her trunk for table,
she made tea for some weary wayworn travel
ers, which she served out with crackers and
cookies; part of our company were soldiers
on guard.
The tea somehow seemed to loosen our
tongues, for we were more voluble after it,
We concluded then to make our toilets; TAX
ing the dipper which we had used for water
pail, we filed it at the pump and poured from
it on each others heads. We then seated our
selves on the floor and brushed our hair At
nine O'Clock in the morning we left in cattle
cars for this place, seated on the boxes and
valeses, which were our only seats. Our
Maine soldiers seemed very much pleased to
see us, especially those OF our own places; but
many of them were strangers. They are in
the best of spirits.
The hospital supplies which l sent from
Washington have not yet arrived; but have
been assisting Mrs. Sampson in the distribu-
ton of hers, of which she has quite a quantity.
/ wish those who send such nice things, could
see how much they are appreciated; it would
repay them think for all their labors and sac
rifice. There seems to be need for every
thing that is sent. You must not wonder if
my sentences are somewhat disconnected as
there is so much here to divert andidistract
ones mind.
RUTH S. MAYHEM.
WASHINGTON, July q.
My Dear Mrs. E.-~ You in
hon,
your last letter, if you have seen one, written
by me TO Miss Fox, bearing the same date, you
will perceive was preparing to go to the bat
tlefleld. On the Sd, / left for Gettysburg but
after leaving Baltimore we were detained TWEEN
ty-iour hours on the road on account of col
lision, which took place eight or ten miles
above, and as we did not know what was
wrong we we're very anxious, three trains were
waiting, and we had heard that the train ahead
had been captured. Here Mrs. H-came
up and as misery loves company, you may be
sure was glad to see her, for then expected
to be obliged TO stop the night in the car load
ed with oats, we could not leave for moment
lest they might start, as they were waiting
orders. About o'clock we started, but on
arriving at Westminster, found hard work 10
obtain conveyance TO Gettysburg, a distance
OF twenty-five miles. After travelling round
in the mud succeeded in finding seats in a
ulaii WdRou We coon btEdu W ihCtt Tic
moving army in pursuit Of Lee. We meet the
18th corps, they were weary, bnt wild with
enthusiasm, cheer after cheer rent the air as
they passed us. About A. NJ, we arrived in
the vicinity Of the Hospital and waited till
daylight. On consulting DIR. Letterman l
thought it advisable TO conflne my services 10
the 9th corps, IS our men there, had suffered
severely, and learned that there were ladies
going TO all the other corps. On arriving |
destitute of food and clothing, among them
Capt. b. of the 10th with 10 OF his men, the
greater part mortally wounded. Through
some delay my supplies had not arrived, how
ever took team and made circuit Of many
miles, persuading the farmers TO contribute
bread, butter, chickens and pies, as they had
large quantities prepared to sell TO our boys,
but talked them out of it and made them
give to me, for them and returned with as
much as my carriage would contain. One poor
fellow OF the goth sent for me and said, II
want you to write TO my mother and tell her
that die for my country and 4 had another
life TO live would freely give IT," l asked
him if he suffered much, he said, 'oh ! no, no,
| am going TO my Saviour, tell her i was
90 years old" Many like scenes occurred.
After remaining there week, | learned they
were fighting near Boonesboro and l felt it
my duty to go as all expected there would
De q naru Datlle lnere. All Tue AssocldtlO,S
had now gathered here, with a vast amount of
supplies, the fire company Of Baltimore,
brought 100000 worth, Adams Express
brought a vast amount, the Christian Com
mission did nobly, and the Sanitary were
actively engaged | received from the Chris
tan Commission and Fire company, all the
supplies, more than my own, that | required.
went to Boonesboro', found $50 wounded,
stopped with them two days. until they were
all brought to Frederick. Here, from Lieu
tenant of the 9TH Maine, learned that Capt.
+. OF the 9th had been, with his company, on
a skirmish on Sunday, and lost one man. As
he did not know his name, and had not heard
from my son since the battle, was Of course,
very anxious. Learning that the corps was
about TO cross the river, went there and
found that he had been in the hottest of the
skirmish, but was not hnrt. They killed thir-
ty, took thirty-nine prisoners, among them
Captain and two Lieutenants. The army
was then across at Berlin, and as l was told
by officers high in command, that there would
probably be battle soon, near Culpepper or
Gordonsyille. have returned to Washington
to go in that direction. intend to leave to-
morrow or the day following.
Yours, /. FoGG.
Auqnst 4th-By letter received to-day