Lizzie Brewster - Nurse - MacDougall Hospital, NY - Drawing in Letter

Item MED-8421

Description

Original Civil War nurse's letter. 8 pages, written in period ink. Brewster also served as the Superintendent at Lovell General Hospital, Portsmouth Grove, NH.


McDougall
July 5, 1863

Dear Good Father,

Have you ever written to our Artist yet? Because if you have not, I really wish you would. I too want you to write me a letter on any little line would be very acceptable. Either in a letter on in my album but do write to Ada. Then I will assert my claim, take a sheet of paper and write your name enough times for each of us, your daughters and son, to preserve your autograph. Thank you for those papers. The soldier from Massachusetts was even more pleased than I. So, I am writing a letter to Mr. Andrews for publication. And I hope he may take the hint and send me an extra copy. Why don’t Em write for him some more. I have a white brilliant Garribalden. It is very becoming indeed. This is of course interesting news to you, my father. But I presume you have learned by this time, that any letters are family affairs. I presume you are all saying what of the 4th. I’ll tell you. It broke here upon a quiet rainy morning. I did not hear before I arose a half dozen dismal sounding crackers exploded and that was all I heard during the day. I went down to Headquarters where the oration was, a pavilion was erected upon the steps in front of the church of white sheeting, trimmed with the stars and stripes. This the soldiers and the rest of the crowd remaining around the corridor. [Drawing of this]. The vases don’t look much like the originals. The music was very good. During the day, Collins my night nurse, grew very ill and in the evening was too sick to be left an instant. It was Camp Colic and his suffering was extreme. I stood by him doing all I could. When Gilman came in to see me, he remained in the ward until 4 o’clock. The fireworks were about to commence and I urged all the nurses to go and leave Collins to me. They wanted to go bad enough for it is little enough they have to enjoy. Then I told Gilman to go too. But he said he would not turn round to see them. I was glad to have him with me. For I needed his assistance several times before the nurses returned. Gilman is such a favorite with the men in my ward that they all liked to have him in it. They brought me a pineapple a few days ago and promised me one today again. Collins is quite well again and so is Baxter, who was also very ill. Both I have had placed on gruel. Revolution is the order of the day. Sister Nettie has been removed by high authority and Mrs. Stevens is appointed. Here plan is a good change perhaps. Miss Wolcott has left, not being willing to be under Mrs. S. who was in the Union room and she is a good friend of mine, so I am satisfied. Miss Merrill is a sweet girl and good friend of mine. Dr. Stark has been made physician in charge next to Dr. Bartholow. So, I have lost him and a new Doctor takes my work. I was introduced to him yesterday. But forgot the name. So cannot enlighten you. I have left off practicing on the instrument. There has been an out and out quarrel over the music Chaplin, etc. I thought the Chaplain did not treat Yates right and refused to go in at the Chaplain’s Vickery and take his place. He knowing nothing of it, so I left off going to the Chapel for the Reverend behaved so nearly under handed in all his work that I left in disgust. Yates, he has treated like a tyrant and has provoked the singing class. So here we all stand in a mass, no music at church last sabbath. And if there is a particle of spirit in the place, it will be long before there is any effort again. Just think of the Reverend telling Yates, he lied and he never wanted to see his face again. When “our artist” Yates is truth and honor itself, a dear honest fellow, always gentle and kind, to everyone. Altogether we are in a queer rumpus. Doctor’s leaving, nurses changing, new one, Doctors coming. Dr. Bartholow cross most of the time and a general bil-bil pervades the Hospital. I’ve remained above the dais. Happy and contented. It has not troubled me yet. Hoping it will pass over my ward and leave me alone.


This letter to Father, dear man, was all sealed but I’ll open it and write hoping to answer your questions faithfully. I was sure there was a debt of ours at Fuller’s and had asked. But they told me no. it was no doubt on some old book. I did not know it was so much, but think it all right. It was for rubbers, some groceries and was made at a time when we were having work there. And he unexpectedly had no more. I told you we did not owe them. As I had been told there. But I myself was sure there was some unpaid. It is really their due. I’m sorry I cannot send you something to pay it but I shall have quite a neat little sum for you somewhere in the first of August. I cannot tell you exactly when. I did receive two bunches of May flowers. The last were the freshest. The date of your last letter is June 22 inside and July 2nd outside. About the gold pieces. I read what you wrote and meant to ask you to look again for there is some somewhere. I felt sure that piece of ring is Gold’s so we must not take it. And perhaps I sold that piece of my bracelet for our wonderful sleeve buttons. I cannot tell. Thank you for the pearl. I mean Nannie’s. Good mother of whom you know I have such a terrible dream. So, when Nannie choses to be pleased with us, I like here and when she is not, I try not to care, stayed on my dignity. For truth be told, I do love that child, next to our own. I knew my writing so would puzzle you. (I must confess of all who letters I ever received it is hardest to make heads or tails of this one, your lost). Now here are my questions. Is Ada to remain at home? Or is she intending to return to Boston. If she stays at home, don’t let her stop drawing or crayoning for one instant, except when she is enjoying herself. I can see what a wild spin she has infused into you all by the letter you wrote. It had such an effect. That only writing of it I found I was holding my ink bottom up. Mother must look sweet in her dress, Em. Have not you received the letter I sent you speaking of that picture? And this, somebody thanked me for something but I cannot make out what it looks like. “Battle Roel”, what is it. I am truly sorry about that ring and the letter too. For I recollected I wanted that letter particularly to reach you and the ring was an uncommonly nice one. But I shall have to get you another, that is all. “George Henry” sticks to his old flame, does he? Well! Well! I sincerely wish my dear Em, you were where I am. For you would learn to speak both French and German. If you were, I commenced yesterday on the French. How I shall succeed, I know not. But I hope it will be of longer duration than my music practice. Has Flora and Pet had their teeth attended to? If not, when can they? I sometimes feel as if I must go home and see to it. Our blessed Mother must look sweet in her new dress, I think. I guess you are convinced you think so by this time.

Keep John’s good will Emmie, for I think he is exactly right about the girls. My love to Miss Stetson. Don’t she ever ask after me, naughty woman. You ought to have her to see you while Ada is there. I have plenty of friends in the Union Army now. Friends I love and respect as much as if I had known then for years. Gilman gave me his “carte de visite” yesterday. He is a splendid fellow. And Oh! The good men of my ward. Miss Kingman and I are the same friends, as ever. But did not you know she had returned home. I went down to New York with her when she went. That was the first time I went. Let me know if you get the paper I sent Ernest 4th of July. Those cards are some Martin gave me. I have two more. Had I known Ada was there, I would have sent her something. I am glad I did not. However, as I’m sure I don’t know what I should have sent her. I have another little paper for Pet. Shall I send it to her. One the beautiful Chaplain gave me. Sunday, ice cream. One quart of mornings milk, a tea cup of cream, three or four lemons and a pound of sugar. Squeeze the lemons into as much sugar as it will dissolve. Grate the peel and put in as much as you please. One lemon will do. If you have no more or anything you wish to flavor it with. Only at the lemon peel soak in the milk a while. It is well to have it soak in a cup of the milk so you can strain it. Not letting the peal in. you need only to chop the peel. Freeze it. And then eat it. Done for me. If it is too sweet, put in less sugar. If not sweet enough, put in more.

I wish I could see Ada. Where is Rowse?

Is it not queer Miss Merrill is affected by Miss Gire exactly like Ada? I have to laugh at it. The poor child suffers when they meet in a ward together.

Love to all.

Your daughter,

Lizzie

Tell Kate that they sent the men so much gruel that I have got a tumbler full. Did Em get her ring?