File:Letter signed W.G. Eliot, St. Louis, to James Freeman Clark, November 14, 1861.jpg

English: Asks for instructions concerning the boxes that he is sending; says that the N.E. women have been admirably responsive and the hospitals are almost perfectly supplied; says that they have had 5000 sick and wounded since August 15; lists supplies they still need; explains the hospital system and praises the Ladies' Union Aid Society; discusses the removal of General Fremont; says that Missouri is and will remain in the Union; and expresses admiration for General Halleck.

Transcription:

[in pencil] Letter to James Freeman Clark

St. Louis Nov. 14. 1861

Dear James.

The boxes will undoubtedly arrive in a few days. Are we to understand that they are specifically & absolutely for Dr Dickenson, whether his hospital needs the articles or not? Our custom is to receive every thing at office of the Sany Comm, and distribute to the several Hospitals as needed, — to Benton Barracks Post. Hospital among the rest. All new articles are marked “Westn Sany Comm,” and account kept, &c in proper form.

But if your intention was to send the boxes unopened to Dr. D., it shall be done: or we will open, mark, pass thro our office, and send the whole to him: or we will treat them in our ordinary course, and keep him supplied as heretofore. Please write & say which;— your answer will reach us two or three days after the boxes.

The response from the N. E. women is has been admirable: — our hospitals are getting to be perfectly supplied. Not less than 40 boxes are now in transition. But that the demand has been great & will be, you may see, for since Aug 15.th we have had, in all, 5000 sick & wounded in the St Louis Hospitals, & we now have nearly 2000 in them. The chief demand is for slippers, socks, woolen under-shirts, canton-flannel

[written along left margin] W. G. E.

or woolen drawers, and blankets. Our hospitals here are in excellent condition, and there is now a regular system established: as follows. 1. On the principal R. Roads [Rail Roads], hospital cars run back & forth daily, (or as often as needed) to bring the sick from the interior camps, where there is no fit arrangt for their comfort. 2. Near the Pacific R. R. Station, is a receiving hospital, with 150 beds, where all are brought. This was needed, because the trains generally arrive at night. Here the sick are received, suppered, slept, breakfasted, & on the next day distributed to the hospitals, according to convenience, &c. 3. A special hospital is set apart for contagious diseases, so far as practicable. Small pox patients are sent to the Quarantine Hospital. 4. There are three large hospitals, capable of receiving 600 each, but which we endeavor to limit to 500 each. Two of these are in the City proper, in convenient places, and one of them, at Corner of Chestnut & 5th Sts, is the “Head Quarters,” where the Sanitary Comm meets, where all hospital stores are recd & distributed, where nurses are engaged, &c. &c. In a large store room, on first floor of this building, the Ladies Union aid Socy meets, & does miracles of work, as women only can do it. The Third large Hospital is four miles off, being the new House of Refuge, and its nurses there are “Sisters of Charity”. They do their work well, & will be retained as long as they will stay which will probably be to the end of the war They are regularly paid, in same manner with other nurses. All the other Hospitals are served by female nurses, selected by the Sany. Comm., (acting for Miss Dix), and a more faithful set of women can no where be found. 5. The Post-hospital over which Dr Dickenson presides, has 125 beds, & was estabd [established] especially with reference to the Benton Barracks, wh. are 1/8 mile distant. 6. At Benton Barracks a Convalescent Hospital has been fitted up, by Genl. Curtis’ order, and the men sent there. . . .

Title: Letter signed W.G. Eliot, St. Louis, to James Freeman Clark, November 14, 1861