The Portland daily press., 1864-02-16
Letter from Mrs. Mayhew.

AGENT OF THE NJ. G. H.. ASSOCIATION.
The following letter from the Agent of the
Maine Camp Hospital Association, has been
ha nded us for publication:
Miss F.-The barrels containing the goods
mentioned in the enclosed lists, came to me
safely this week. Mr.. Hayes, very kindly
takes all my packages from Washington to me.
These invoices came in fine order. / also re-
ceived, at the same time, fine large box
from Paris, Me- and another from South Wat
erford, both OF which have acknowledged.
The boxes and packages marked to individ-
uals, and inclosed in those sent me, l will for
ward at the earliest time possible. At pres
ent part OF the army have marched forward
and the rest are under marching orders, though
general movement is not expected, as the
roads are in a bad condition for moving trains
OF wagons or artillery.
Heavy cannonading was heard distinctly
out on the Rapidan all day yesterday. We
have not heard the result. / hold myself in
readiness at moments notice, to load nv
ambulance with such things as are most need
ed IN an emergency, and 60 out to relieve the
suflierings of the wounded. l presume it is
nothing more than reconnaissance.
On Monday and Tuesday last the sick were
sent from the army to Washington. They
were brought from all the Corps except the
9th, to this station. On Monday morning we
commenced at daylight, to prepare food for
the poor sufferers. -Four men volunteered to
assist us. We had two fires, and filed four
boilers, and two cofiee-pots and as soon as
water could be heated, we made soup and tea
As last as We prepared it, we carried it out TO
the cars and filed the kettles again, and SO
continued our work till the cars started at II
o'clock. For those who were too sick to eat
broth, we had farina and cornmeal gruel.-
Mrs r. and went out alternately, one re-
naming at home to cook, while the other at
tended at the cars.
1t rained Tuesday night, in fact, was still
raining, and no one but those who have
visited this country. can imagine what the
condition oil the soil was. We took a cup of
tea at half past ten, which was the first thing
we tasted for that day. After the cars left we
came back TO our house, scraped out some of
the mud which six Of us going in and out had
brought in, washed our dishes, and then pre-
pared meal 1t was nearly four o'clock when
we sat down to dinner and then were so tired
we could hardly eat. We fed that day about
800. On Tuesday, we renewed the labors of
the previous day, and under the same disad-
yantages of mud, and fed about 200.
1 do not know what we should have done
without those cans ofmeat and the crackers.
On Monday We used one barrel and one third
OF crackers, which exhausted my stock. On
Tuesday Mr.. johnson of the Sanitary Com
mission, gave us half barrel of nice crack
ers, one dozen cans Of condensed milk, and
two pounds of tea.
A New Jersey soldier called the other day,
and when came in he recognized me, 81 do
not know where we have met l said. He
asked, do you not remember bringing tam
arind water and crackers to the cars for the
sick at Beaiton Station last Sept? was one
oil those sick soldiers, and Oh that did us so