[Pre-printed address of sender:] Office of Women Nurses,
U.S Hospital Service,
Washington, D.C.
Cambridge March 29th 1865
My Dear Mary
I thank you so
much for the rice sack which
I shall send to -morrow to
our starved returned
Prisoners at Wilmington
2000 are lingering in charge
of my nurses those too weak
to take [em?] on Board the
vessels without sinking out of
life at once. The Oranges
I gave to those at
Baltimore
& Old Point.
Mary many
contribution. -- I feel sure
if I had the Opportunity
I should [beg at ?] all the
tables of quiet comfortable
livers at home now-- for
our patients are many our
wants not limited -- Eggs
rice simple little cakes --
all sorts of fruits &
vegetables -- especially
canned tomatoes & peaches, are
greatly needed -- Dried fruits
do for some Hospitals, -- not
for the skeleton men.
I want Sage -- & any sweet herbs tell any body who has any
thing to give to give now.
I do not hesitate either to
ask or to beg. You may
say this to any Friend -
I want a good Box of things
for a col d Hospital in
S Carolina -
Have reliable distribution.
You & Bessie must go to
work to ask contributions from
all ease - living people at home.
Yrs with love to all
[illegible]
Dorothea Dix
[Superintendent U.S. Hospital Nurses]
Tell yr Sister
Rebecca I sent
the Soldier who called on me with a
verbal message from her - to
Gnl.
Augur’s Head Quarters -
[illegible] it
[illegible] where he would get his wishes
& requests realized.