REV. I. O. SLOAN: U. S. GENERAL HOSPITAL, Annapolis, Md., Aug. 30th, 1864. MY DEAR SIR-Allow me to express my gratitude to you for furnishing me with the means to reach my home in Ïllinois, 1,700 miles away. After my husband was wounded and brought here I came to attend him during his suffering. I expected he would receive his pay from the Government, but he did not receive a cent, so I have been left entirely destitute, and if it were not for your aid I don't know what I should do. The Lord reward you and bless the Christian Commission, the noble organization which you represent. My husband, if God spares him, will undoubtedly return you the $20 you loaned me for the purpose of returning to my home. Very respectfully, MRS. MARY M. BALDWIN. Division No. 2, General Hospital. Dr. G. S. Palmer, Surgeon in charge. Rev. J. P. Hammond, of the Protestant Episcopal Church, Chaplain. Capacity, 671. Patients, 326. This hospital occupies the buildings of St. John's College. These buildings are situated in one of the most beautiful as well as one of the most healthy parts of Annapolis. They are about half a mile distant from the grounds formally occupid by the Naval School and now by the Officers' Hospital and Division No. 1, of the General Hospital. The convalescing patients amuse themselves on the College grounds on the green lawn and in Summer beneath the shade of the trees. Their quarters are as beautiful as they are comfortable, affording every facility for exercise and enjoyment. We have received no word from any one connected with this hospital, except the excellent Chaplain, we can therefore say nothing of its surgical department or that of the ladies association. We know the Chaplain personally, and are well enough acquainted with his character to believe that his work is performed well and faithfully. His intelligence and industry are warrants for his capability and activity, and we are satisfied that he is not behind the most faithful and efficient of his brethren in the discharge of his duties. The appearance of the wards and other apartments indicate great care and attention. Neatness and cleanliness and comfort are every where apparent. It sometimes happens that the hospital is overcrowded with patients, when it becomes necessary to erect tents in the lawn and in the yard in which to accommodate them. The worthy Chaplain of Division No. 2, gives the following statement of his labors, exhibiting in brief an extended service. His activity and industry are indicated in the number of his official acts. The good effect of the circular of the Medical Director of the District was experienced in his presence, and highly esteemed. In conversation with him, we have learned how highly he valued the encouragement of a humane and moral service by this officer. ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE HOSPITAL, REV. AND DEAR BROTHER-In answer to your request that I would give you some account of the Chaplain's work in this hospital, I herewith send you a brief statement of my labors for the year ending October 1st, 1864. During this period I have held four hundred and five (405) public services and prayer meetings; have preached twice on every Sunday, and delivered an address at each prayer meeting. I have attended one hundred and twenty-seven (127) funerals, of which fifty-two were in the month of April fast, and thirty-two in September last. The great mortality of these two periods were owing to the fact of large arrivals of sick and wounded prisoners from Richmond at these particular times. I have also been engaged in the constant distribution of religious reading matter throughout the entire hospital. That I have been able to do so has been owing entirely to the fact that the Christian Commission has kept me well supplied with tracts, papers, &c. For this and every other good work in which this noble organization is engaged, I would return my heart felt thanks to it, and to God who put it into the hearts of His people to enter upon so glorious an undertaking. During the month of August last, a circular was sent from the Medical Director of this department to every medical officer in the respective hospitals of the same, enjoining upon them the duty of co-operating with Chaplains in the work which they have been commissioned by the President to perform, and earnestly urging upon them the importance of attending Divine service, and using "their utmost efforts to suppress profanity and other vices that tend so greatly to degrade the soldier." This circular has been a great encouragement to all hospital Chaplains in this department, for it assures them that their work is not looked upon with indifference by our worthy Medical Director. Did my time permit I should be glad to furnish you a more extended account of my work. But it is without doubt the same as that of other Chaplains, and consists of temporal and spiritual ministration to the convalescent, the sick and wounded, and the dying. May God give us all grace and ability to perform it faithfully. Yours truly in Christ, J. P. HAMMOND, Hospital Chaplain, Ú. S. A. Rev. J. N. M'JILTON, D.D. Annapolis Junction. Dr. C. Bacon, Assistant Surgeon, in charge. Annapolis Junction is about midway between Baltimore and Washington cities, on the Washington Branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. It is about equi-distant, say nineteen miles from each of the cities of Baltimore, Washington and Annapolis. The site occupied by the hospital is passed on the north side by the Annapolis Branch, and on the west side by the Washington Branch of the Railroad. It is very nearly a continuous level, broken only by a slight elevation towards the east. The barracks, which are composed of wood, are arranged in rows with a space around which is used as a drill ground for convalescent patients, who are preparing to return to their regiments. The passages between the buildings, being generally flat, are rendered inconvenient in rainy weather by the thin mud which is peculiar to the soil, of whitish appearance and quite tenacious in its character. We happened to experience the inconvenience of passing the aisles of the camp on the occasion of a visit. The spiritual services rendered to this hospital are but occasional. It has no Chaplain of its own, and is dependent for Chaplain's services upon the incumbents of hospitals at and near Annapolis. A number of our delegates have visited the premises, but no very favorable accounts have been given of their services. We had sent books, tracts, and religious newspapers for distribution among the patients, but we have no record to show how they were received, or what benefit was likely to result from their use. We may hope, however, that good seed has been sown, and that by the blessing of God it will bring forth its fruit. The Acting Quartermaster of the hospital, Geo. McNeal, Esq., operates as a kind of local agent of the Commission in the administration of a portion of our department of the service. He assists us in the distribution of reading matter, and affording necessary facilities to visiting delegates. The location of the hospital has but little to recommend it. There is a decided disadvantage in its proximity to the Railroad. It affords facilities for the convenience of loungers about the Junction, while delegates and visitors, who might render service in the premises are indisposed to stop while on their way to the camps and hospitals of the adjacent cities. Camp Parole and Hospital. Dr. T. R. Gross, Surgeon in charge. Rev. G. H. Townsend, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Acting Chaplain. Rev. Erastus Colton, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Assistant Acting Chaplain. Capacity of Hospital 2,000. Patients 1,831. The following statistics of the camp have been furnished by the Acting Chaplains, who are in the service of the Christian Commission: Number of Surgeons, since June 1, 1864....... Aggregate from data, for the year........ Statistics of Officers, Surgeons and Soldiers, in Camp Parole, from September 1, 1863, to September 1, 1864. The Camp at present will accomodate, men......7,000 Number of paroled prisoners who have been in camp during the year...... officers... 200 7,200 ...6,395 15 40 10,000 Number of convalescents, since June 1, 1864..3,550 The 7,227, denoted as gone, from this camp, consist of those who have been sent to their regiments; to Camp Chase, Ohio; to Benton Barracks, Missouri, and to Camp Distribution, Alexandria, Va. All the foregoing facts were furnished by the Clerk at Head Quarters; but some of the items were defective in the record, or some of the actual events, as deaths, were not reported, perhaps, for record. There are no Rebel prisoners of war in this camp. G. H. TOWNSEND, Ag't U. S. C. C., and Act'g Chaplain, Assis't & D. U. S. C. C. Camp Parole, September 22, 1864. |