“Knickerbocker,” May 27
Dear A., — I wish I could have you by me this delightful afternoon to look at the lovely scene, where “every prospect pleases, and only man is vile” and wretched. The “Spaulding” got off yesterday with three hundred and fifty sick on board, and we then transferred ourselves to this vessel, where we are living a life which Mr. Olmsted feels to be one of such utter discomfort that we all try to make the best of it for his sake. Still, I will admit to you that it is wearing to have no proper place to eat, sit, or sleep. No matter! our dear “Wilson Small” will be back soon, and we shall go back to our happy home life on the top of the old stove.
This boat is in disorder. Her last voyage was made in incompetent hands, — not incompetent as to care of the patients, but as to general organization. These parties are about to be detailed elsewhere, which will leave us free to go to work and reorganize the vessel. Meantime we are busy arranging the “Elm City,” which lies alongside, and was not taken by the Government after all.
We were invited to dine to-day on board the “Webster,” which arrived this morning, prompt as usual, and in perfect order. The rest have gone; but I, like a fool, am hors de combat with an aggravating pain down my leg. We all “prophylac” with exemplary regularity; the last words of our delightful Dr. Draper, as we parted from him on the gang-plank of the “Spaulding,” were: “Don’t forget your quinine!” How intimate this life makes us with those we recognize as true grit; how heartfelt our greetings and our partings with them are! Dr. Grymes and Captain Bletham brought me all my precious cases filled with supplies from dear Newport friends. The Captain says his first thought on arriving is: “Now for the ladies’ cases;” and he always brings them off in the first boat. This vessel (“Knickerbocker”) is full of Zouaves, detailed to the Commission for nurses. I can’t endure them. It might be all very well, and in keeping, to get up a regiment of negroes en Turcos; but for an American citizen to rig himself as an Arab is demoralizing.
