Jewels from Jane - March 27
Pictured: Soldiers and sisters at the hospital in Matanzas, Cuba.
MARCH 27
Matanzas [Cuba]
March 27, 1899
Dearest Mother [Agatha Guthrie],
I did not intend to keep you waiting for a letter from Cuba so long. Well, to begin I must tell you we all keep well, thank God. The 12 New York are gone home--left Matanzas on the 22nd last. Father Bader felt badly to leave his spiritual daughters behind. He heard our confession before leaving, fearing we may not have the opportunity of having an English-speaking priest very soon. We go to Mass every morning down one short block to the Sisters of Charity at 6 a.m. It is more convenient for us as Mass is early, not having the priest's breakfast to get. Did you receive a letter from the President of this Orphan Asylum here. I told him to write to you and explain why he wishes the American Sisters to take charge of the place. Father Bader mentioned the matter to Archbishop Chappell and he said he would not approve of the Sisters of Charity leaving the asylum. I suppose that matter will be settled with the president and the Sisters. General Sanger asked me what we were going to do. He would like the Americans to take the asylum. I told him Archbishop Chappell did not approve of the change. Of course, he did not understand anything about it. The spiritual part of the matter we could arrange that just as we want to. He thinks these Spanish Sisters have not the make-up we have, and he will be at our beck for anything we want, but this is only all talk, I think. He said he hoped we would stay in the hospital until he would go back to the States, and he would take us home with him. Today the 160 Indiana are leaving for their home, all delighted, of course. The regulars 10th Infantry, the 2nd Cavalry and the 8 Infantry are to replace the volunteers. About the first of May may bring us home if we are to go at all. The officials of the regular army may not want female nurses. The hospital ship will be in tomorrow and take the largest number of our sick men back to the States. Our sick list has not increased much lately. The yellow fever patient recovered and has gone back to his troop. I am taking care at present of two measles and two mumps cases. One or two typhoid fever cases is all the serious cases we have in our hospital. We feel very proud of our neat little home. Will send you some pictures of one of our wards and other scenes in Matanzas. I know you will be pleased with them. The papers you so kindly send to us are all received. Your dear letter and names of delegates also received. Hoping you and all the dear Sisters are well. Wish we could share our nice weather with you. It is getting very warm. The moon is so bright at night you could read with its light. We are expecting General Algiers here today for inspection. We have inspection every a.m. at 9 o'clock by some of the officers. All the wards must be ready at that hour. Dishes washed; kitchen scrubbed; tables set. I can't keep that girl around the hospital. You know it is a military affair. She seems to be a good girl, very dark like the real Cubans are. The family was once well off before the war, had a nice little Plato in the country. All was taken from them. I heard Archbishop Chappell sent back to the States Father Craft and his Indian Sisters. They were a scandal in the Army, to have the garb of a religious on them. Love to all.
Yours affectionately,
Sr. Liguori [McNamara]
Spanish-American War correspondence
