July 11. [Mobil] —I have just come from the funeral of Mrs. B—— , an old and valued friend. She was an old lady. It is remarked by all that we have had more deaths among our old citizens since the war than we ever had before. They seem to suffer much more mentally from it than do the young.
This has been one of the hottest days I have ever felt.
In the afternoon, a friend and myself paid a visit with Mrs. F. (a lady who visits there daily) to the General Hospital. In going through it I could not but contrast it with those I had seen in Mississippi. Every thing was in perfect order, and as cleanly as any private house. I was very much pleased to see that our men had such nice comfortable quarters to go to in case of their needing them. This was the first time my friend had ever been in a hospital, and she felt quite sad at the sight of so many young men being so far away from their homes. There were few very sick. We met some very nice young Texians, who were delighted to see us. To one, Frank Epperson, of the Eighteenth Texas Regiment, we promised to send some books. The hospital is in charge of Dr. Miller, who is said to be an excellent surgeon.
The ladies of the place have a society, and arrange so that there are some of them in the hospital every day, to attend to the wants of the patients. They prepare the delicacies, and take charge of all things sent as donations, and see that the persons they are meant for receive them.
The patriotism of the ladies of Mobile, I suppose, has not been outdone by any in the Confederacy. As soon as the war commenced, they formed themselves into a body, called the “Military Aid Society,” for the benefit, not only of the soldiers, but their families. They have clothes made for the soldiers, and their families, who need employment, make them. In that way the war has not been felt as much by them as it would otherwise have been. I have been told by one of the clergymen that he has had fewer calls on him for aid than he had before the war. Soldiers coming, strangers, to this place, can have their wants supplied by this society. I believe it is supported by private donations, and money paid by the government for the work done.
