James M. Barnard letter to Abby Hopper Gibbons

Mr Barnard

Jefferson Hill
Oct 3, 1863

Dear Mrs. Gibbons
Point Lookout.

Met
A young lady, avery
good friend of mine, has
desired me to ask you if
she could be of any real
service to you at the Point -

If so she would be glad
to volunteer her service -

She is an educated woman,
of good health, excellent
talents, of very pleasing appearance,
about 30 years
of age, & quite desirous of
doing something for the
benefit of our gallant soldiers
I can most heartily commend
her application to your kind
consideration.

Our good friend, Dr.
Stearns is about to leave for
Washington & where he expects

to be sent to some hospital
I wish he was going to
the Point or to any place
where he could be under
your kind influence. He is
a noble fellow, & he seems to
have formed a strong attachment
for you & yours.

I hope that you have received
the little box of books
sent you a week or two
since. I can send more
such if you desire it.

We are visiting the Mts
for a few days. I think
that I met your friends
Misses Malsego at North
[?] among those mts some
4 or 5 years since.

We expect to be in New
York sometime this month
& if so I shall hunt up
Mr. Gibbons in the hopes of
[?] you at home.

Please address me at
#97 Slate St. Boston
I am, Dear Mrs. Gibbons
Your friend & [servant]

Mrs. Gibbons
Point Lookout

[underlined] [James M. Barnard] [/underlined]