The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-09-13
Mr.. WILLIS VISITS THE ARMY HOS
PITAL.

In his last letter TO the Home Journal, M.
Willis describes The army hospitals as follows
81 was fortunate enough TO see the interior
of one Of these hospitals, in trip TO Alexandra ia
the other day, my sponsors being three MEM
bers of the SANITARY Commission who were on
one of their visits of inquiIy-Mr. Olmstead,
DR.. Van Buren and DIR. Agnew. With three
such companions, a day anywhere could scarce
be otherwise than interesting, and so was this to
me but faithful description OF It would be
too painful for print. Omltting, therefore,
some of the more narrowing scenes 10 the inte-
rIor of the hospital, Instructive as they were to
my own unpracticed eyes, let me touch upon
one or two of the other points in our visit and
excursion.
"ln one room of fifteen or twenty beds and
patients my medical friends had examined the
stump of young mans right arm, which had
been amputated the day before, and, as they
passed on, / could not help asking question
or two of one whoss cost of fighting for his
country had been 30 great. He was apparent
ly about twenty-five years Of age, and really
excessively handSone-and there he lay help
lessly Gisigured and disabled for the remainder
Of his life What was to repay the youthful
cripple-what TO repay the wife or sweetheart
at home-tor this dread calamity
"He was cheerful under it, however. Pro-
vIdence surely stempers the wind to the shUln
lamb | could not 5ul wonder at the quiet
resignation with which he told me the story of
receiving his wound. 1t appears that his regi-
ment This name was Robert SteeDs, OF Min
nesota,) was led into all ambuscade and, after
their first fire, found themselves with unIoaded
clyat, rfu ftuap -6vai iaef q
company of rihemen, who had suddenly started
up, and who, of course, fired delberately-one
OF their rifle balls shattenng the bone OF bis
right arm. The pain was trifing, something
like boys smart blow with stick. The reg
iment retreated, and he with them; bat, begin
ming to lose strength with the loss of blood, he
lay down by the roadside and there tainted
brought IN afterward, by one of the army am
balances. 1t is short story, but 1t tells OF ihs
spoillng of whole human life.
In this same ward / could not hell noticing
the very attractive features and expression OF
one of the nurses, who seemed especially ZEAL
ouS in her calling. On inquiry, found it was
Mrs. Foster, who had followed her husbands
regiment to the war, and whose services had
been found inestimable in the hospital since the
battle. Miss Dix, finding her there, after cay
or two, had objected to her as too handsome Tor
the position !, but there had been such unive sal
protest among the patients against her with
drawal, that the authorities had allowed her to
remain and she IS now quite the favorite nurse
of the establishment. Dressed in dark color
ed calico, loose gown, with her shortcut black
hair fastened back by round comb, and without
any ornament whatever, she moved about a.
mong the sufferers, 'ministering spirit indeed!
1t was quite evident that she was a woman OF
unusual tact and natural mental superiority. |
wish she could have sdsgree' conferred upon
her, by and by!
"This hospital at Alexander occupied large
building, which was formerly boys academy
situated very near to the old vlne-covered
church where George Washington used to wor-
ship. 1t is the airiest and cleanes: portion of
the town, and the arrangements for exercise in
the yard of the establishment are eagerly made
use of by the convalescent soldiers. A large
tent in the rear accommodated the scrolulous
portion of the patients. The only man wi
seemed 10 be suffering much pain, at The mo-
ment, was poor fellow whose face had been