Jewels from Jane - November 8
NOVEMBER 8
Camp Hamilton
Nov. 8, 1898
Dear Rev. Mother [Agatha Guthrie],
Your dear letters just received. I am happy to say no cyclone struck Camp Hamilton. Had a very strong wind Saturday afternoon, shook our tents considerably. The only damage I saw was one or two flags blown down and a few stakes pulled up. We have moved in the pavilion since Sunday as nearly all the tents are down and packed for other quarters. For the last week it is the busiest camp you ever saw, shipping the goods south and the patients to Fort Thomas and another hospital train will be in tomorrow. That will take all our sick except what will come from the regimental hospital. Each regiment has its own hospital on the camping grounds. While the regiments are moving, the sick will be transferred to the few remaining tents left here for that purpose. We will leave here about the 15th for Americus, Georgia. This brigade is made up of the 12 New York, 8 Mass., 160 Ind. It takes 3 regiments to make a brigade. The other 2 posts are a Columbus and Albany, Georgia. We have our choice of Albany or Americus. I think we had better choose Americus for the 12 New York has the only chaplain in this division, and he is very good and zealous. The regiments will remain at these points about 4 weeks, then they will go direct to Cuba. Still it may be changed fifty times before that time comes. Now, dear Rev. Mother, Sr. Bonaventure [Nolan] is very grateful for the permission to go home to see her mother. Her contract, she has to annul. She can't come to join us again unless the government sends for her--or the Majors rather. She may get her transportation today or tomorrow. Maybe our Lord has permitted this for some wise purpose. The scapulars and leaflets I received. I thank you so much. We have some things I will return. Our space is limited. I am going to Lexington to buy a strong trunk. All our trunks are in pieces. Send them to the city to be fixed. With another large one we will get along. All the sisters are well, thank God, and we are all getting fleshy on Uncle Sam's good things and the pure air of camp life. They have been extremely kind, the Sisters of Charity, I shall never forget, or any of us here. Sr. Lydia, we can't say much about. Dr. J.D.Griffith, I saw him on two occasions making his inspection of the hospital. He was as friendly as usual in meeting. He is a busy man and I suppose I looked for too much, and was crushed when I did not receive the attention. It is good to humble me and again I suppose he does not like to interfere with the officials of this camp. Headquarters is about 1 mile from this camp, so taking everything into consideration, we may have condemned him uncharitably. I am sorry poor Sister Cyprian is so ill. How is dear Mother Julia [Littenecker]? I will write to her soon. It is so hard to write a line, so many around. All our sisters came off night duty last night, had a good sleep. We sleep every morning until half past five. We say our morning prayers while dressing, making our meditation during Mass. After Mass breakfast. Everything is very orderly. Our work is not hard by any means, only we must be at our post until the time has expired and we are replaced. The sick soldiers have had every possible comfort. In our best-equipped hospitals they could not have the attention they have received at Camp Hamilton. Just think, the milk alone costs $1,100 a week. No matter what you wish to call for, you can get for these patients. I am pleased you liked the group. We had them taken to send to Washington, D.C.--at least one gentleman was here for that purpose. Another Sister of the Holy Cross went home with fever yesterday, Major Lydia, as the sisters call her, is just another woman like Mother Mary Joseph. If Sr. Bonaventure returns to St. Louis she will tell you all about this. Sr. Lydia--she is the most selfish woman I ever had any dealing with, but we think she is not herself at times. All the same, she has a strong pull with the Majors. We have not opened our Hop Juice yet. If we can get a chance we will put it in small bottles and put it in our satchels. We are afraid they might smell it. Now, dear Rev. Mother, thank the dear Sisters and your own dear self, particularly for all your goodness to us who are so undeserving of so many favors. I am glad the Hospital in Kansas City is getting along so nicely and it will continue to do so. I wish we had more trained nurses among the Sisters or some bright Sisters that could pick it up quickly and Sisters of good common sense--no forward ones. I must say all our sisters behave nicely. One of the St. Paul nuns I have to scold occasionally, her heart is bigger than her head. I think she will mind what I say. We are all united and work to help each other. Mother, send a veil for Sr. Florentia [Downs - St. Paul Province], her veil is a very poor one. And the poor child! She is such a good sister--attentive to every duty. Now, dear Mother, I hope this long letter will not tire you. Please excuse pencil. All the Sisters send much love to you, and all the Sisters. May our dear Lord bless and reward you.
Yours devotedly in the S. Heart,
Sr. Liguori [McNamara]
Spanish-American War correspondence
