July 5, 1864
I forgot to tell you that yesterday there appeared a waggon
of the Sanitary Commission bearing a gift for the comfort of Headquarters. With
it came the agent, Mr. Johnson, a dried-up Philadelphian, of a serious
countenance. He brought some ice, mutton, canned fruit, etc., for the behoof of
the suffering hossifers, and was received with sweet smiles. This morning we
made up a quartette, the two Frenchies, Rosencrantz and myself, and made a
journey to City Point, distant some twelve or thirteen miles. It was not unpleasant,
though the sun was extremely hot; for we took back roads in the woods and
escaped a good share of dust. Before getting to the City Point road, near
Bailey's, we stopped at one Epps's house. Epps himself with family had been
called on sudden business to Petersburg, about the time Smith moved up; but
some of his nigs remained. Among others a venerable “Aunty,” of whom I asked
her age. “Dunno,” replied the Venerable, “but I know I'se mighty old: got
double gran' children.” She then began to chuckle much, and said: “Massa allers
made me work, ‘cause he was ugly; but since you uns is come, I don't have to do
nuphun. Oh! I'se powerful glad you uns is come. I didn't know thar was so many
folks in the whole world as I seen round here.” I told the old lady to use up
everything she could find, and left her chuckling continuously and plainly
impressed with the idea that I was a very pleasant gentleman. Guzman, meantime,
looked on with irrepressible astonishment, having never before seen a real,
live slave. At City Point I delivered some despatches at General Grant's, and
after went down and saw the Sanitary boats. They have three of them, large
ones, moored permanently side by side, and full of all sorts of things, and
especially a host of boxes, no two alike. The upper deck, to render it
attractive, was ornamented with a pile of two or three hundred pairs of
crutches. For myself I got some iced lemonade on board, and retired much
refreshed and highly patriotic. One of the great sights down there is the huge
army hospital, a whole plain, white with large tents. These are capable of
receiving 7000 patients and have at present about 3000. All are under charge of
my excellent classmate, Dr. Ned Dalton.
SOURCE: George R. Agassiz, Editor, Meade’s
Headquarters, 1863-1865: Letters of Colonel Theodore Lyman from the Wilderness
to Appomattox, p. 182-4
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