May 5.—Mrs. Ogden is here with four Mobile ladies; the others have returned to their homes. The ladies who are with her are Mrs. May, Miss Wolf, Miss Murphy, and Mrs. Millward. They are on their way to Rienzi to attend the patients. I am glad that they are going, as they will be the means of doing much good.
We have a boy here, named Sloan, from Texas, and a member of the Texas Rangers. He is only thirteen years of age, and lost a leg in a skirmish. He is as happy as if nothing was the matter, and he was at home playing with his brothers and sisters. His father is with him, and is quite proud that his young son has distinguished himself to such a degree, and is very grateful to the ladies for the kind attention which they bestow upon him.
A few days ago a number of wounded men were brought in. In going round, as usual, to see if I knew any one, I saw a man who seemed to have suffered a great deal. His eyes were closed, and while I was looking at him he opened them, and said, with a feeble voice, “Is not this a cruel war.” I requested him to keep quiet. As I left him, a gentleman approached me and remarked, “I see that you have been talking to my friend. He is going to die, and we can ill spare such men. He is one of the bravest and best men in the army.” He informed me that his name was Smith, and at the time of the fight was acting quartermaster of the Twenty-fifth Tennessee Regiment, and that he was also a Methodist minister. After I had given him a cup of tea, I asked one of the surgeons what he thought of his condition. He replied that I could do what I pleased for him as he could not possibly live more than twenty-four hours. After he was shot, he carried a wounded man off the battlefield. He himself was then placed on horseback. The horse, being wild, threw him. He was then placed in a wagon, and carried some four or five miles, over an extremely rough road. From all this he lost much blood. Notwithstanding the opinion of the surgeons, he is improving.
I have just received a box of “good things” for the patients from the kind people of Mobile. My friend, Mr. McLean, has sent his share. I am so grateful for them. If they only knew or could realize one half the suffering that we daily witness, they would do more.
Poor Mr. Jones, the young lad whom Miss Henderson is attending, has had a leg amputated to-day. He conversed very calmly about it before it was done, and seemed to think that he would not survive the operation. He has told Miss H. all about his people, and what she must tell them if he should die. She has nursed him as carefully as if she had been his own sister. He loved to have some of us read the Bible to him.
We have no chaplain to attend the sick and dying men; they often ask for one. I have thought much of this, and wonder why chaplains are not appointed for the hospitals. I think that if there is one place more than another where they should be, it is one like this; not for the dying alone, but for the moral influence it would exert upon the living. We profess to be a Christian people, and should see that all the benefits of Christianity are administered to our dying soldiers.
