[added later:
Geo O Meally]
Point Lookout, MD.,
July 10th 1864
Dear Friend.
It is with the greatest
pleasure that I seat myself to
answer your welcome letter. I wrote
to you a few months ago and
receiving no answer concluded
that you were among the sick
and wounded.
My time is out on the 21st of
next month, and nothing would
give me more pleasure than a
situation with the Sanitary Commission
especially if it were to be in the field.
I am running the Gazette for
Everett and have been for the
last four months, and he wishes
me to continue to do so after
my time is up, but I will not
do so if I can better myself,
as I think I have been about
long enough on this Point.
[left side]
If you [underlined] will [/underlined] (I know you can) get
me a situation with the
Sanitary, let me know what
it is to be, and what the
wages will be, so that I may
act accordingly.
I have a very fine assortment
of pebbles for you, I am sorry
that I never got your box finished
but indeed I did not have time.
I will send the pebbles the first
opportunity as you have directed.
Everett has been away and is now
discharged, and back on the
Point again.
There was a great deal of Sanitary
goods lended to Dr. Heger, but
he refused all, goods and nurses
so the Commission agents retired
and we are hard up for want
of nurses. To keep up the appearance
of being a saving man
and the name of a large Hospital
[right side]
Friend, the patients are put to
a great deal [of] inconvenience
especially in the dining-room where
I have heard men say that the
rations they received were very
scant and tainted. That this
should be so at a Hospital where
there is such a chance of getting
what is necessary is something
more than I can account for.
if there is a person sent here
to examine into this matter, all
is as it should be, but let an
officer come here in disguise
and see for himself and he
will be disgusted.
[General Barnes] is now in Command
of this District. He is a very
nice man. We received a letter
from Hobbs, in England, he
wished to be remembered to
Mrs. Gibbons.
I have never heard from Frank
but I was told [he] had been
transferred to Philadelphia.
I am very thankful to you for
the interest you take in me, and
to show you that I appreciate it,
will [underlined] try [/underlined] to do my duty to the best
of my ability.
My brother is at or near City Point
somewhere. I hear that a friend
of mine, Sergeant T. Perry, Co. Lo,
1st U. S. Cavalry, is sick in Hospital
at that place. Should you come
across him, cheer him up, and
I will thank you.
Nothing more I present, but
give my respects to Sallies,
and accept my kind love
yourself.
G. O'Meally
