as quite
noticeable. I remember that one day a man asked the lady in charge of
his own ward to get another lady, who was arrayed in pink, to come in
from her ward and see him. "But what do you want with her? Can't I do
everything for you?" "W-e-ll, y-e-s; but then she is dressed up so nice;
if she would only walk through the tent, it would make me feel better."

In July there was threatened an invasion of the city of Annapolis, which
produced much excitement in the hospital. As there were between six and
seven hundred officers there at the time as patients, it was not deemed
unlikely that Harry Gilmore, with his band of raiders, would, after
burning Governor Bradford's house at Baltimore, make a dash in our
direction, if only to terrify and then parole the officers and men. By
degrees the telegraphic wires and railway lines were destroyed nearer
and nearer to us, thus isolating the city, and giving rise to fearful
anticipations. Outside the two entrances to the hospital were dug broad
moats, protected by ramparts of earth and a very ludicrous structure of
barrels; while about a mile off a line of rifle-pits was prepared, with
cannon mounted in hastily made forts behind them. Every steamer,
fishing-boat, or craft capable of carrying persons or property was put
into requisition by the people of Annapolis, and kept constantly ready
to start at the first appearance of the foe, and some of the valuable
possessions of the hospital floated on the bay for a few days. Messages
were left with us for home friends by the men hurrying off to the front,
as we termed the spot of the impending encounter, as if the ladies were
expected to be the sole survivors of the affair. Every man who could
handle a spade or a pickaxe was required at this season of alarm. For
three days and nights the reign of terror lasted, causing an injuriously
nervous inquietude to the helpless and sick. It was useless to try to
allay their apprehensions, for those who smiled at the idea of an attack
were merely regarded as endowed with a Quixotic cheerfulness. When
gunboats arrived to protect the city, a ray of hope dawned; and when the
news reached us that the raiders had retreated across the Potomac, all
felt safe once more. A man by the name of Beck, one of the most valued
of the hospital attendants, was accidentally shot, though not fatally.
He was the sole hero of this brief campaign of fright.

It was not until August that any of our wounded who had been