Hilton Head, South Carolina,
July 9, 1862.
My Dear Mrs. Forbes,
— Your box reached us safely this morning. A steamer leaves for New York in two
hours, and I make haste to tell you how much I wish that every regiment in the
service had a Mrs. Forbes to look after its hospital department.
When the doctors began to look around after the engagement
at James Island, they found themselves destitute of a great many things they
needed to make their wounded comfortable. The cavalry regiment had more
material suited to the occasion than any other five regiments in the
expedition. Our chests and boxes were opened wide, and our reputation as always
looking out for No. 1 was never less selfishly exhibited. The credit does not
belong to us, but more than to any one else, to you. I have written Lieutenant
Forbes to-day telling him of the boxes we have received, and begging him to
thank you for us. Without seeing it personally one cannot imagine how much the
want of such material embarrasses an army on the march or the field. At best,
men must suffer a great deal; but without constant attention to the clothing,
bedding, and dressing of the sick and wounded, their condition is terrible. At
present we have need of nothing. The fifty sheets you have sent us have made
our measure full; those we wanted; the rest will be packed away against our
time of need. . . .
SOURCE: Sarah Forbes Hughes, Letters and
Recollections of John Murray Forbes, Volume 1, p. 322-3
