Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-10-15

Meeting OF Citizens nt the hAerchants' HN-
change-Treatment Of sick and Disabled
Soldiers Rt the Marine Hospitai-A Com.
mIttee Of InvestiaatiOn Appointed.
Pursuant TO a call published in the morn
ing papers, meeting of citizens was held ia
lie Merchants Exchange at half.past nine
o'clock this morning. IL was organized as
follows President, N. w. Thomas; Vice
Presidents, Rev. DIR. Kingston Goddard and
VIM. Proctor; Secretary, Joseph Beggs.
Peter Gibson, Esq, explained the OBJ.
ject of the meeting. He spoke of the
recent arrival of several hundred sick
and disabled soldiers from Western Virginia.
They were taken to the Marine Hospital,
where they hardly had room to stand. 1t
was supposed that Dr.. Wright, VINO had
charge of that institution, would see that
they we're well taken care Of He himself
went there to see but could getno answer
was hardly spoken to. He had been told at
the Hospital that a great many of those
soldiers ought to be in the camp. DT. Wright
said he would send them to Camp Dennison,
remarking: "IIs a way these soldiers have
of getting home to see their friends" This
was on Friday. On Saturday there they
were, without receiving medical attendance.
The object of this meeting was to lay this
subject before Secretary Cameron, so that
another man might be appointed in Dr.
Wrights place, and he sent to Utah, or some
other place, where he could be of service.
The suggestion was here made by the
| Chair and others that If there were any
charges against Doctor Wright they ought
| to be investigated by q committee instead of
being brought before the meeting while the
Doctor was absent. The fact was stated that
| probably five or six hundred more would
shortly be here. The rains of the noun,
tains were very severe upon our soldiers, and
in some of the companies not over fifteen
were left able to muster.
| Colonel King would mention only one fact,
| and there were persons present who would
| vouch for it, that Doctor Wright had kicked
patient and told him to get up inquiriDg,
"What is the matter with your"
DR.. Taft, as a director, had been at the
Hospital; had been there most of the time
since Saturday evening, and would state
what he saw. He found probably one hun.
dIed and fifty in cots and beds somewhat
comfortable, two hundred on the floor, some
with blankets and Overcoats and others with
out them. Some with their heads on KNAPP
sacks, and others with boots for pillows.
Every one sverred that they had had no
medical treatment; all OF them were sick /;
had heard it said that two.thirds of them
ought to be in active service On Saturday,
fifty-seven of the sickest were taken to the
st. Johns Hospital, but it was with the
greatest difficulty they were obtained. The
| inhuman remark was made by some one, he
would not say who, "that these men ought
TO be in camp and made to do double duty"
81 The convalescent soldiers were sent to
Camp Dennison, and when they arrived there
they staggered from the cars and wandered
about till sunset, and what happened after
ward he did not know. He knew those in
the Hospital did not receive the attention
they ought to- All who proffered assistance
were snubbed at once. DR.. Taft stated that
the prospect was favorable for any others
that might be sent here. The Commercial
Hospital could receive from fifty to seventy
FIVE, st. Johns one hundred to one hundred
and fifty, st. Nary's fifty to seventy FIVE, the
German Hospital on Third-street from one
to two hundred and all these would be we'll
cared for. o.,
Rev. Mr.. Mitchell spoke of the unreason-
ableness of refusing to admit female nurses
into the Hospital. Whatever might be said
about medical attendance, this was inexcus-
able.
DR.. Newton would like the committee to
inquire as to more permanent provisions fol
those who might hereafter come. He said
the French Hospital in the Crimeau War was
ten miles long, and the results Of such care
were there manifested. After further re-
marks, on motion of Robt. Buchanan, Esq.
it was resolved that the Chair appoint 6
committee of Eve to investigate the subjec
of the treatment of our sick and disabled
soldiers, and that the committee wait upoI
the Secretary of War and press upon him th
necessity of providing further and ampl,
accommodation for all sick soldiers who MAJ
come here. ... .-
The Chair appointed John D. JONES' Judg,
Garter, DR.. Goddard, Colonel Geoffroy anC
Judge Warren as the committee.
The meeting then adjourned to meet agair
at the call of the committee.