185 - New Jersey Postal History Society

CIVIL WAR PATRIOTICS & THE BEVERLY, NJ HOSPITAL ~ Hughes, Walton, & Micchelli
Envelopes as this one were used for correspondence such as these letters from Mrs.
Gibbons to a Mrs. Colson, of the Woodbury Ladies’ Aid Society:
For “The Constitution” [Woodbury, N.J. local newspaper]
U. S. General Hospital,
Beverly, N. J. Nov. 19, 1864
Mrs. Asa Colson,
My Dear Madame: In behalf of the sick and wounded soldiers of our country, now in this Hospital, I
beg to acknowledge from the Woodbury Aid Society, the receipt of a half barrel of pickles, 3 jars of
pickles, 4 bottles of catsup, half bushel of dried apples, 6 pillows, 16 pairs of slippers. Several of the
articles were most welcome, as the poor fellows were just then in want of such. The sick and feverish
men often pine for a roast apple. The only ones we have are such as our volunteer nurses send out
and buy with their own money, and at most extravagant prices. I do not like to have them give their
nursing and then have to buy apples too, and get so few for their money. Cannot the friends of the
sick and wounded men make up a barrel and send us? You can hardly imagine how easily many sick
and feverish men may be soothed and made much more comfortable by these small stores. They will
thank you for your kind memory of them in the hour of suffering.
Respectfully, I am, &c.,
A.H. Gibbens [sic]
The above letter seems to have (quite literally) borne fruit, as the letter below shows:
U. S. General Hospital
Beverly, N. J., Nov. 26, 1864
Mrs. Colson:
My Dear Madam, I acknowledge the receipt from the Woodbury Aid Society, the following
articles, for which accept our thanks:
4 jars pickled cherries;
15 jars of pickled tomatoes;
1 jar of pickled cucumbers;
5 jars of catsup;
2 barrels of apples.
Respectfully, I am
A. H. Gibbons
U.S.A. Hospital, Beverly
10
The U.S. Christian Commission supplied stationery and writing materials to soldiers in
hospitals, and sometimes personnel to write letters for patients who were unable to write
themselves. This way soldiers could communicate with their families, even if their writing skills
were not the best, or their injuries prevented it.
These letters were often sent in envelopes like the one in Figure 11, and this explains
why this type of envelope is so often seen during this period from Beverly. This one is dated
Dec. 19 (we presume 1864, as the hospital existed for only one year, covering only one
December).
NJPH 38
Vol. 40/No. 1
Feb 2012 Whole No. 185