"Only four at present."
"You are the surgeon in charge; please give me your name."
"My name is Surgeon Powers, of the Seventh Missouri Regiment."
His name and figures were too plainly recorded to be effaced. Here he turned a perfect somersault, if words could perform the feat. With an affected politeness, bowing himself almost double:
"Madam, I hope you will call again some time; call in the middle of the forenoon or afternoon—very unfavorable about meal-time."
"If I remain a week or ten days longer in the city," I replied, "I shall do so."
"I would be very happy to have you call again, madam; very happy to see you again."
I left with a heavy heart, and called at the sanitary rooms to ascertain the location of five unvisited hospitals. I found the room filled with officers and a few generals of high rank. I introduced myself, as usual, by handing Dr. Warrener, sanitary agent, my papers.
"Then you are visiting the hospitals, with supplies, etc., are you? I am glad to see you, as we have had no visitor from so far North. How do you find them?"
"I have found them," I answered, "more satisfactorily conducted than I anticipated, with but one exception."