July 18.—I went to the church this afternoon to practice for the choir, and there I found Dr. Quintard and Dr. Cannon enveloped in a cloud of dust. They were both sweeping, trying to make the church look as clean as possible. Mr. Stickney and I went and procured covering for the communion table; after every thing was fixed we scarcely knew the place. Dr. Q. is a man of great energy. He has already collected twenty-five hundred dollars, and contracted for seats for the church.
Dr. Q. introduced me to Colonel Palmer of the Eighteenth Tennessee Regiment. He is a fine-looking man, and I am told brave to a fault. He was wounded at the battle of Murfreesboro.
Our hospital has been divided; Dr. Hunter and the Newsom Hospital have gone to Cleveland in this state. Three of the ladies have gone with it. Mrs. W., Miss Ellis, and myself are going to Kingston, Georgia; Dr. Hopping is going there too. Drs. Burt and Soles are going to a new hospital in this place, called Camp Direction Hospital. I regret leaving Dr. Hunter, as he has been very kind to us, and I also regret leaving his wife, who is a very lovely woman.
I had a visit from Rev. Mr. Williams. We shall miss him very much, as he has been most attentive to our patients, praying and talking to them in season and out of season.
I have spent the best part of the week visiting. I spent one evening at Mr. Corbin’s, Mrs. Dr. Fry’s father; had music, and a very delightful evening.
I spent another with Mrs. Whitesides. There I met quite a pleasant party, and among them some ladies from Kentucky; Dr. Q., and Dr. C., and Mr. Stickney. I had heard much of the vocal powers of one of the Kentucky ladies, but must own I have been sadly disappointed. She had a very remarkable voice, but has put the science of music at defiance; sings to suit her fancy. She sang the “Gloria in Excelsis,” the most solemn and beautiful anthem we have, with as many operatic touches as the “Casta Diva.” Mrs. W. is a refined and highly intelligent lady, and has the faculty of making every one at ease in her house. Her young daughter, who played for us, is a sweet young lady. I shall ever remember the family with pleasure.
My friends, Mr. and Mrs. Brewer, are packing up to leave. The last time I saw them, Mr. B. said he put no faith in General Bragg erecting fortifications, and that he would not be surprised to wake up some morning and find the army gone.
