Raynors HCA 2015-08
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/27/2015
Civil War era letters written by female military nurses are rare while the one we offer here is perhaps the rarest of them all. This letter was written by Amanda Cordelia Kimball and is a letter of condolence to Ephraim Frost's mother following his death. Kimball was a young twenty-five year-old woman when she volunteered as a nurse at St. John's Hospital, Annapolis in January 1865. Within less than a month of writing this letter, Kimball herself would die, on February 14, 1865, of disease contracted while on her mission of mercy! Originally from Maine her body was removed to the family plot in Rumford Cemetery, Rumsford, Maine. In an interesting aside she is related to brevet brigadier general William King Kimball, also of Maine, who committed suicide in 1875. Kimball wrote her three-page letter, signed "Miss A. C. Kimball", on octavos "U. S. Christian Commission" stationery, "St. John's College Hospital, Annapolis, Md., Jan. 17th 1865", and she writes, in part: "My dear Mrs. Frost, Although a stranger it becomes my painful duty to inform you of the death of your son at this Hospital which occurred on Sunday the 15th, at seven o'clock in the evening…he was improving…he was very weak and very much emaciated…but on…the 8th he was taken delirious…a frequent occurrence in diseases like his. He [?] unconscious for three or four days talking wildly, and then became more calm. I saw him first on Thursday (it being my first day in the ward as lady nurse) he said to me "go away. You are not my mother". I tried to sooth him, told him I was going to take care of him until his mother came…asked him if I could take care of him as well as his mother to which he replied. "I suppose you can". He often spoke of his mother although stupid…he took but little food and that only as I persuaded him, by telling him the Dr. wished him to take it…everything was done for his comfort that could be. The kind physician gave him every attention possible…everyone…seemed interested in his welfare. He continued to grow weaker until Sunday evening when he passed away…although I was standing by…I could not tell when he breathed his last. We were all unwilling to give him up…before he died…he said to him "dr. do you think you can cure me"? to which the Dr. replied that "he hoped so"….dear madam I have been thus particular in writing to you thinking that it might be some consolation to you…most deeply do I sympathize with you in your affliction and earnestly pray that you may seek comfort for your sorrow…yours very truly, A. C. Kimball". A rare find as Civil War nurse letters are concerned with this one being perhaps unique in the market place since she served for only one-month before dying. Overall very good to near fine.
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