Lloyd Knight letter to Abby Hopper Gibbons

[added later:
Geo O Meally]

Point Lookout M.D
Nov. 29. 1863

Mrs A. H. Gibbons.
Dear Friend;

This is Sunday
morning 10 [o'clock] & we are now having
a regular North Western Storm, it rains
& blows furiously, is getting colder & I
think will snow before night. But
I cannot complain of the weather, it has
been very fine up to this time, no
frost here yet, though it has been cold
enough at times. Last Sabbath I wrote
to my wife & family, & to day I thought
it as good employment as I could get
at to devote an hour to one of my next
best friends. By the way, I was sorry
I did not see you when you were
leaving the Point to bid you goodbye,
& once more thank you for your
kindness to me. For believe me, I
speak the truth from the heart, there
is no one I miss so much from this
Point, as Mrs Gibbons, & no one leaving

could fill me with more sincere
regret. Nor is this a selfish feeling;
nor do selfish motives prompt to it.
I know that many others feel & think
as I do on this subject. I know that
no female presence could be more
essential in a Hospital & I know
that many of our poor sick and
wounded soldiers miss you more
even that I. However there are
not many of them here any more,
nearly all gone. 37 more left this
morning. Some for Convalescent [illegible]
near Alexandria, VA & some for their
Regiment. Among the latter our mutual
friend Frank Nichols. Yes, Frank is gone
at last. The Hospital is nearly filled
now with Jonny Rebs. Some few of our
men are here yet on guard duty. Some
are in the Cook house & dining room a
small number ward masters & horses &
perhaps there are 200 patients. Besides
these, there are some few Union
patients admitted occasionally from
the New Hampshire Regiments. I suppose
there are in the Hospital at this time

over a 1000 Rebel sick. And to think
how they are treated to what aim poor
men are at Richmond! O for another
Luther, Knox, or Wesley, that he might
arise in the strength of the Almighty
& Stir the heart of the whole North to
arise as one [man?] & go forth to
deliver our poor fellows from these
vile dens of filth & Starvation. But
it would not be right to treat their men
as they treat ours. That is not the love
of the Saviour. We must return good
for evil, but then I dont believe
in returning [underlined] too much [/underlined] of it to traitors.
I am told that some of those beautiful
white wide bonnetted sisters are better
to the Jonny Rebs than to Union sick.
We certainly should have some protestant
Matron here too, to see after the interest
of our Protestant soldiers. We have not
now I believe one single Protestant
matron or nurse on the Ground. Misses
Pratt & Thomas are gone too. There
are some 11,000 prisoners here now,
& about 15,000 in all on the Point.
There are also a great many visitors here.

to see these rebel friends & bring them
things. The mail Boat runs as usual,
but my business has increased some
what [notwithstanding] for the General
at length, a few days ago, ordered
at least a part of the Rebel mail
to be sent through this office, so
they bring down from the Provost
office everyday some 2000 more
letters. This helps the office very much,
indeed my business would be very poor
without them. Then occasionally we get
some letters to send away from the Regiment
SO upon the whole I am doing right well,
for which I feel thankful to God & to those
who encourage us. My aged father died
peacefully last month at the advanced age
of 83. My family are reasonably well. I
get home about every three months. Mr
[?] with me yet & is well. [Captain Edwards]
& Lucas are here yet connected our
with the Hospital. [Captains] Plato & Cook are
for the military department. Chaplain
Spooner has been absent more than a month
I do not know whether he is coming back any
more or not. Now dear friend write soon
& if there is any thing you wish to know &
I am able to give the information, it shall be freely
done. My compliments to your husband & daughter,
& best wishes for yourself. Lloyd Knight