uffer
extremely. The Rebs have not left my family anything. They went so far
as to smash up the furniture, take my horse, all my cattle, and carry
off and destroy my library. They smashed up the clock and cut up the
bedsteads; and, in fact, ruin stares us in the face, and doleful
complaint stuns the ear. Even sick ladies have been dragged out of bed
by the hair of the head, so that the fiends of Davis could search for
hid treasure. All who have labored for the government are destitute.
Since the winter broke, I have been fighting the thieving, murdering
Rebels, and now their number is diminished from two hundred to nine, and
I can ride boldly forth where for the last three years it would have
been certain death. O, how are the mighty fallen!"

On New Year's evening the ladies held a reception. Huge logs burned
brightly in the large old-fashioned fireplace of their dining-room, and
a "Happy New Year to all," in evergreen letters, stood out from the
whitewashed wall. Surgeons and stewards, officers, extra-duty men, and
patients, mingled in groups to exchange friendly good-wishes.
Conversation and singing, with a simple repast of apples, cake, and
lemonade, proved allurements to a long stay. Those who had gained
admission were reluctant to depart to make room for the hundreds
awaiting entrance outside. For days afterwards this evening was talked
over with delight by the men: it was the only party they had attended
since the war began, and it formed the greatest gayety of hospital
experience.

Some of the vessels of the Russian fleet, then cruising in our waters,
wintered at Annapolis. A severe sickness breaking out among the sailors,
their accommodations on shipboard were not found adequate, and, by
invitation of our government, they were received into the hospital.
Their inability to speak one word of English made their sojourn rather a
melancholy affair. Their symptoms were often more successfully guessed
from signs and gestures, than from their attempts to express some
particular wish in words. They all returned to their floating homes in a
little while quite recovered, except one, who met with an accidental
death, and was buried from our chapel with the full ceremonies of the
Greek Church. With his face uncovered, he was carried by his comrades to
the cemetery, and laid by the side of our soldiers. A Greek cross of
black iron, among the white slabs, designates this stranger's grave.

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