1       Bucks County Intelligencer,  The Hospital Stores for the 104th.  March 29, 1864  Page 3  Col. 3       1

 

The Hospital Stores for the 104th.

Some time since, a quantity of hospital stores were for-

warded by the ladies’ Aid Society of Doylestown to South

Carolina for the use of sick or wounded soldiers of the 104th

Regiment.  They reached their destination safely.  The rec-

ceipt of the stores is then acknowledged !

BEAUFORT, S. C., March 9th, 1864.

Ladies of the Doylestown Aid Society :—I have just finished

unpacking the boxes and barrels directed by you to the Sanitary

Commission of this department.  In behalf of our volunteers,

I thank you.  Coming as they did when the recent defeat in

Florida was causing great demands upon our stores, they were

particularly acceptable.  I have already sent some to men in

hospital from the 104th, (though the regiment was not in the

recent action,) and hope to send others directly to the regiment. 

Allow me to say, that from the quality of the material and the fin-

ish of the work, I should judge that each article was made for one’s

own brother or husband; everything indeed looks as if put up

by considerate affection.  It has warmed my heart towards the

ladies of Doylestown, and I shall take great pleasure in dis-

pensing their charities.  Those little housewives have a pecu-

liar mission, serving as a sort of talisman, and looked upon as

personal property.  You would be surprised to see the values set

on them, and I have seen the eye kindle, as the soldier looks

over the thread, needles, &c., and when he comes to the name

of the giver, with the word of comfort or advice, it is quickly

closed with the look, and sometimes the word, “ I’ll keep

that “

A patch work quilt is always acceptable, and even old pieces

made into quilts are much valued, when neatly sewed.  The

value of the gift is much increased by the neatness of making ;

but Doylestown ladies do not need this admonition, and very

few do.  Under clothing, nearly worn out, is also serviceable

in time of battle, as it can scarcely be used again.

I must mention a very gratifying incident connected with the

arrival of your goods.  Coming in the evening, too late to be

delivered that day, they were exposed on the wharf, and as is

often the case, the heads of the barrels were gone.  Soldiers

close at hand sometimes help themselves, but the 4th New

Hampshire Regiment laid that night near your tempting bar-

rels, and not a thing was missing.  Upon my expressing sur-

prise, one, said to me, “Soldiers will not disturb Sanitary

Commission property, for they know they will have it when

they need it.”  A surgeon mentioned to me another fact, of

which, perhaps, you have heard.  A soldier in hospital was

given up to die, more from despondency than disease.  In mak-

ing some change about him, a patch-work quilt from some Aid

Society was put upon his bed.  It arrested his attention, which

nothing before had been sufficient to do ; and thoroughly

aroused, he began to examine it.  His wife’s name on a corner

of the quilt rewarded his efforts, and from that hour his recov-

ery was rapid.  Does not one such incident pay for a bale of

quilts?  There is much “ bread cast upon the waters,” as truly

found, though not always so clearly manifest.

Hoping you will increase your efforts, strengthened by the

promise that, “He who giveth to the poor, landeth to the

Lord,” I remain truly yours.                 Mas M. M. MARSH