Here again we were burdened with kindness from the ladies.  Wines, jellies, strawberries, cakes, flowers, were always abundant, served by beautiful women, with the most bewitching smiles.  I had been so long cut off from refined female society, that I appreciated most profoundly their kind attentions.  So intent were they upon contributing to the comfort of the men who had been wounded in protecting their homes, as they regarded it, that they brought a piano into my ward, and the young ladies vied with each other in delectating us with the Marseillaise, Dixie, and like patriotic songs, interspersing occasionally something about moonlight walks in Southern bowers, &c, which my modesty would not allow me to suppose had any reference to the tall young surgeon.

Selma is a beautiful town of three or four thousand inhabitants, situated on the right bank of the Alabama river, on a level plateau, stretching off from the bank, which rises from forty to fifty feet above the river by a steep ascent.  A distinguishing feature of the place is its Artesian wells, said to be equal to any in the world.  In the main street of the town, at the crossing of other streets, are reservoirs, five in number, which receive the water thrown up from a depth of many hundred feet, and in quantity far beyond the demands of the inhabitants.  The water is slightly impregnated with mineral qualities, is pleasant to the taste, and regarded as medicinal.  The people of Selma are generally highly intelligent and refined, and no more pleasant acquaintances did I form in the South than here.  Their zeal for the Rebel cause was up to fever heat, and their benevolence for its soldiers without stint.  The provisions for the hospital were furnished gratuitously by a committee of the Relief Association, and they appeared grieved that we made no more demands upon them.  That my hospital was a model of neatness and perfection in its line, was attested by a report of Adjutant-general Cooper, who visited incognito the hospitals through the South while I was at Selma.  He gave it the preference over all he had seen, in a publication which appeared shortly after this time in the Southern papers.

At the end of three weeks of attendance here, I obtained a furlough for ten days, that I might go to Richmond to secure my pay.  Securing government transportation, I reached Richmond on the 15th of May, exceedingly anxious to find the quartermaster in an amiable mood and in funds; for upon my success here depended my hopes of a speedy escape.  Money will often accomplish what daring would not.  But here I was disappointed—­at least partially.  I secured but one-fifth of my claim, which was admitted without question; but I was told that the quartermaster of the Western division had funds, and I must get the remainder there.  My remonstrances availed nothing, and I left the office in no amiable mood.

I now determined to avenge myself upon a faithless government, by acquiring all possible information of the status of the Rebel army in and about Richmond, which might be of use to me and my country.  In this I also failed, from the exceeding, and, I must say, wise vigilance of the authorities.  My pass to enter the city allowed nothing further—­I must procure one to remain in the city, and this was called for at almost every street corner; and then another to leave the city, and only in one direction.