Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-11-08
TRIBUTE TO A DEAD soLDIER-fATAL EFPRor
OF ROUTINE AND RED-TAPE

At meeting Of the Cumberland Light Dragon:
Company I'D" 81 Regiment Va Cavalry, on the 26tt
ut Lieut.. James D. Isbell, T. o. Towles, and Z. II
Grigg committee appointed at previous meeting Of
the company to draft resolutions in reference to the
death of Mr. VIM. J. Psmorc, submitted the following
report which was unanimously adopted by the Comps
ny:
Whereas 1t hiss pleased Almighty God 10 remove from
our midst Mr. VIM j. Palmore member Of our troop and
realizing in his death loss TO ourselves, TO his country
and to his bereaved family
Rssoved ls That in the death OF our eomrads we re-
sret the loss Of good soldier, brave honest and
a noble hearted man.
Resolved, a. That we ofsr to the family OF the de-
ceased our sympathy and earnest condolences.
Resolved 3D. That there are circumstances connected
with the death of our friend which afford practical IL
usraton of grievance to which the sick soldier is sub
sctsd under the present system in regard to application
for sick leave
Resolved Al That whilst our OBJ ect 10 MOTIF cast cen
sure upon any particular officer yet We design calling
public attention to this grievance, and therefore make
the following s's emsnt of facts:
The Sd Regiment Of Virginia Cavalry, to which We
belong, has a hospital exclusively for its own uss VIZ
have aso surgeon, Dr. j. II. Berrien, who justly ranks
high N his profession and Who by bis kind and skfu
attentions to our sick comrades has the confidence
and esteem Of the whole regiment Uader the present
SYSTEM whatever may be the condition of the applicant
for sick lelve-however important 1t may be that biz
leave should be promptly granted-yet 1t is necessary
that esch application although made by our own surgeon
who has through knowledge Of the condition Of tie
soldier for whom Leave is sought should 60 to the Med
ca, Director Of the Department and DO BY hin rejected
or granted as 4. may think proper he being necessarily
in entre ignorance Of the condition Of said soldier.
Ia the present CASE application was made for leave oil
absence for Mr.. Palmo-e Dr. Berren stated in the ap
pication the condition of the soldier and recommended
that leave be gialted. This application was approved
By the Colone of the Regiment was sentto Yorktown,
was returned the mex. day With tbs inquiry whether IL
was necessary for the soldier to leave tie Department.
was sent back to Yorktown by Dr. Berrep with the
dorsement tina; The soldiers home being outade Of the
Department he woud probably desire to 80 toit After
several days delay the application again returned
with al order Il to "ssnd the man TO the General
Hospital at Bigler's Wharf" By this time, he had be-
c,me too Ill to be moved lived about ten days. and died
away from home wife and children. Darpg the period
which elapsed from the TINA the application fret
made until this faal order received sick leaves
we're granted aud Others refused ba! upon what general
prinop pie we have been unable to discover.
Il seems to Idle to require that competent sur.
gsou should examine and attend sick soldier and
y to the necessity of urlough for his recovery when
the whole power Of granting d at fuOugh remars In
the hands Of another stationed twelve miles distant who
has not seen, aud who knows nothing Of the condition
of the men.
We recognize in this mode Of procedure either great
iregua,iiy OF else wan,oa and cold hearted dstermi
nation to treat volunteers as Il they were the hirengs
Of usu-pr soldiers who fought for pay, not gentle.
men impeed by sense Of patriotism to leave the com-
forts Of home to 6gh. for liberty.
ssolvsd That We think the prsssn. system well cal.