The Portland daily press., 1864-11-22

that 1t contains the Interruptions parenthe-
sised as they occur, thus showing the difficult
ties attending letter-writing at City Point:
III.
"My dear Miss 1.-Two letters from YOU
remain unanswered, also an acknowledgements
OF three boxes; all came in ineorder, nothing
broken. You probably, (Can have darn
ing needle ma'am, if you please?') received a
letter from me which crossed yours, telling
you how things are going on. On this ac-
count, and the press of other duties 1 have
delayed ('Will you spare me little blackber-
nv cordial? have been quite sick again for
few days.') answering until now.
The boxes were received last Saturday, and
Mr. Hayes will leave again to morrow for
Washington, to bring down those which are
on the way. There is man from the I'd
Battery who says they are having good deal
of sickness just now, SO have sent by him
| quantity OF crackers, corn starch, nutmegs,
condensed milk, Jamaica ginger and salt fish,
Tomorrow they will send an ambulance to
take me over there, and then can tell bet
ter what they need. (Have you got any
pieces If colored paper that we can have to
make so.ae stars to trim our table In the
tent?, Can / have some crackers? don't
have anything but hard tack now.o
Now will Try to write. lTap, tap,-'We
are all out of bandages; have you anyT Yes,
thanks to the little girls, will supply you
from their stock Il want to get limb pill
low for man whose leg has been amputated'
Here they are; select for YOURSELF Now
comes dear little Mrs. P. to the rear
tent. 'CAnst thee spare me sheet for sick
Jersey boy?' Certainly; glad to give them;
take pair, that he may have change "A
few crackers, maam?' This supplied, little
fellow appears, asking for can of condensed
milk for himself. He is almost well, the stock
is rather short, and 1 must keep 1t for those
more needy. Still they come. Have you
any comfort bags? 1 am going to the front to-
morrow. / am a New York boy, but ] am
very much in want of some needles and
thread We'll, you are so honest about it, l
think you must be supplied The tent door
darkens again. Mr.. Bridge, one of the nurses
belonging to the LIST Maine Heavy Artillery,
wants few crackers for his wounded men,
can of chickens and some pickles. His wants
must surely be supplied, for the cases under
his care are critical. Have you any yarn, SO
that 1 can darn my stockings? Yes, will
halve my ball with YOU Next from a Wis
consin man, formerly of Portland-Any late
Maine papers p Not one; l wish had; but
have sent for the Press, and l am hoping
every day that it will begin to come regular
ly.' Tap. tap-'Can you spare 0 can of con-
densed milk to make farina for very sick
| fellow of the 31st, who can't eat his cruel with
out it?' Thacase is special one, and sup
ply it. Now 4th Battery boy-'I called to
get wooden shirt, if you can give it.o He
MIST have a hearing; he has on very good
one, but wants change. Glad should be to
give shirts to all the poor fellows, but there
were but four in the last boxes, and must
keep those for the literally naked All this
time heavy csnnonading is going on which re.
minds me that the wants will be increased. In
the last boxes there were but three pairs Of
socks, one / gave to a convalescent that had
only the remnants of pair, and yesterday af-
ternoon Mr.. Getchell, hospital steward of the
LIST Maine Cavalry, came down from the front.
He wanted socks; said there were three men
came up that morning to the surgeons call
barefoot, and the doctor said there was no use
in prescribing for men in that condition. |
hurried the too remaining pairs into his
saddle-bags for those needy ones, and the
supply is out. Mr.. Hayes was intending to
remain here and stockade for winter quarters,
but would much rather get along as | am
until he has made another trip to W, that will
meet, to some small extent, the demand for
woolens. The Battery men are begging me
to put in plea for mittens So don't forget
the mittens. DON'T stop to write and get an
answer from me as to whether they are to
be one fingered or not, but send such as you
can procure speedily, to keep their stiffsned
fingers warm.
Here are three men, all want crackers, two,
apple-sauce and one pickles. And yet again,
two wounded men have sent for something
little different to eat with their bread and
sent BURBERRY sauce. We generally keep a
variety OF these things in the cook-tent. One
thing there Is frequent call for, that cannot be
procured here, and that Is nloldsses. do not
know whether it is best to send it or not; you
can use your own Judgment in regard to it.
You can have but slight idea of the value
of the work performed here, through tho Me
Camp Hospital Association. 1t is not only
felt in the liberal amount of supplies distri-
buted, but also in the home thus afforded to our
Maine men. We aim to make it OF that charac-
ter as much as possible. Our sick boys when
they are able to leave their wards ever find
welcome and a sympathizng ear, if they wish
to talk of family and friends far away in the
Pine Tree State. A gentleman from Maine
whose business has called him here for a.tew
days, remarked yesterday that he had been
taking observations along the avenue where
the agencies are pitched and he had found
no other that would compare with the Maine
tent for efficiency. This Is the testimony of
an outside observer One thing however is
wanting, that is, the sanction ofour Governor;
whoever is here should have credentials en-
dorsed by Governor Cony, as we'll as. the Off
GERS of the Association, and should be styled
agent" by the Association.
The object to be attained is to secure Gen.
Grants attention, SO that free pass NAV be
secured to go to the Regiments. Mrs. P. of
New Jersey, and some others have such and
yet they do not begin to meet the demand for
supplies that we do. We have been too busy
with other matters to think of this.
1 am going to walk over to the Cavalry Hos
pital this afternoon to find young man about
whom have received letter from Mrs. Capt.
Coyle. To-day expect an ambulance to take
over large lot of supplies to the sick in the
9Th. Their Chaplain dined here yesterday.
Yours affectionately. II. EATON.