The hospital ships were soon crowded, and even the Jersey
herself shortly became about as much of a hospital ship as the
others."
Sherburne was again sent to a hospital ship, where he was rejoiced to
find his uncle convalescing. A man who lay next him had been a nurse,
but had had his feet and legs frozen, the toes and bottom of his feet
fell off.
Two brothers shared a bunk near him. Their names were John and Abraham
Falls. John was twenty-three, and Abraham only sixteen. Both were very
sick. One night Abraham was heard imploring John not to lie on him,
and the other invalids reproached him for his cruelty in thus treating
his young brother. But John was deaf to their reproaches, for he was
dead. Abraham was too ill to move from under him. Next day the dead
brother was removed from the living one, but it was too late to save
him, and the poor boy died that morning.
Sherburne says that only five of his crew of thirteen survived, and
that in many instances a much larger proportion died.
"At length came news of peace. It was exceedingly trying to our
feelings to see our ship mates daily leaving us, until our ship was
almost deserted. We were, however, convalescent, but we gained
exceedingly slowly. * * * I think there were but seven or eight left
on board the hospital ship when we left it, in a small schooner sent
from R. I.
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