Abby Hopper Gibbons letter to Julia Gibbons

N.S. General Hospital
Beverly New Jersey
August 17th 1864

My dearest Julia

I read thy first
letter most anxiously "Hate seems
to do its worst" and I am ready
for any chance or change. The
second by same mail relieved as
greatly, as I went through the first
I made up my mind it was mumps
but the second assured me that a
little cold had seized the dear bay.
The second night after we arrived
Lucas went down to learn patience
of Maurice. Last night Sally went
came back this morning with better tidings
Maria a little more comfortable.
The fact that she is not worse
is favorable. This evening I shall
go & will remain a day or so

[left side]
if I can do any good, otherwise
shall return, as my experience is
the fewer about a sick person the better
& let that few be the family proper
all else is officiousness & out of place
We have 700 patients, eight buried
last evening. I stored the eyes of
four, who arrived in the Atlantic from
Fortress Monroe not 12 hours before.
Barbarous to put dying men off on
such a journey. We are all needed
every moment, and next 2nd day
will bring 12 more muses. Clara
[?] one of the number & Dr Wagner
glad enough to have her.

Lucy has charge
of the Linen room. She has arranged
it quite elegantly, laying sheets [?]
cares in tasteful news, bed spreads
blankets, shirts Drawers &c &c all
neatly filed, she is a real comfort
and never happier, her cheerfulness
surprises me, and I rejoice that

[right side]
she is here. She looks wonderfully
better already, goes in to bathe
(in the Delaware) every evening.
She takes great pride in her Department.
Sally is hard at work
and I perform my round as I
best can, the greatest difficultly
is to keep the town's people out
which is only done by [?] guard
they want to kill with what they
call kindness.

How hard to believe
that we have lived through so
much the past weeks. I hardly
dare think of a quiet sunset
so stormy has been the morning
& afternoon of my life so far.
But if it all happens while I
am here, and my children are
permitted to enjoy a peaceful noon
& evening. I shall be content & die
happy. Dear Uncle John
what a terrible blank, I think

of us all, with joys abridged and
the world so lovely with him,
a Father is now standing by the bed
side of his son (a boy of 18 years),
since last 2nd day, he has watched
him day & night, and this morning
as I entered he said, oh good
lady, the Doctor says if I keep my
boy to day, he will get up again,
help me, for the old woman cannot
give up her boy, he is the light of
her eyes, and the tears come in torrents
down his cheeks, and I cried too,
for I thought of dear Aunt Rose
& Willie precious boy, how Uncle
John was the light of so many eyes.
Tell Willie I got his pebbles as for
as Washington & [General ?] tells me
he will be at this hospital in two
weeks & will bring them with him
Dr Wagner is going to employ him
([?])

We are the Cottage on the
edge of the water, we draw our
rations & do not allow Dr Wagner

to beat any expense for us, I had
refused his kind offer in the most
decided manner, but when we found
ourselves here it was all we could
do. The muses rooms are to be
ready by 7th day next & we
shall quietly skedaddle soon
as they are furnished, we
live on the best, have a lovely
room & a drive of two miles
morning & evening, but it does
not seem [underlined] our life [/underlined]. Give me Camp
life and its privations [underlined] both [/underlined] the
soldier & [under that I shall?]
we are outside I have too
many comforts, and yet
we have enough work with both
my sick & severely wounded
to make us forgetful of self
Give my dearest love to aunt
Rose, blessed Willie & Isaac

to Lizzy [giving?] thee children
and to thyself my beloved
daughter, strength & hope of
my days a heart brim
full from thy Mother

I had a very nice letter
from Mr Carter to day.
No news but full of loving
kindness.

Sally & Lucy send love
to you all.