The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-12
THE WOUNDED ON THE FIELD OF BATTLE
LnTpER FROM DIR. KING, THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR ON
GENERAL MD0wELL's STAFF.

10 THE EDITOR THE NEW YORK HERALD
BALTIMORE, August 9, 1861.
After twenty four years OF army life, twenty two Of
which have been spent the extreme frontier find my
se, for the FIRST tme the subject Of wanton and I'M
ouRded attack your editorial she manner performed
my duty Medical Director of the Department Of North
eastern Virginia BY referring to the report Of the General
commanding II will be that he states that all his
staff did everything their power and provided the
troops the best the circumstances admitted" The writer
u the article must, think, have been ignorant Of the
difficulties to be encountered and the exertions
move them far could be done medical officer who
has no military command out Of his own corps. 1t was
DOT intended TO bring all the medical supplies the bat
lie field but to leave them at Centrevile, from whence
had we been victorious, the distance only
miles, two hours after the battle We could have had
them on the ground.
Dr. Magruder and myself had provided ample supply
u dressings and stmuants for the immediate re
tef Of the wounded which used on the occasion by
Ill Four days before we marched made q requstion
FOR twenty wagons, addition to ambuanccs, for
The purpose of enabling the medical officers to bring with
shem everything they wanted. This General Mcdowell
approved, and ordered Captain Tillnghast furnish
them This officer told he thought he could get them
In time but owing TO the great pressure the Quarter
masters Department he failed to do then directed
The medical officers to carry all they could for the sick in
Ihe ambulances and in the company baggage wagons.
This was DONE Anxious however, to provide for the
wounded beyond all contingency, soon arrived
u Ccntrevlle informed the Surgeon General Of our
tuture wants, stating how much the symrathies
Of the people OF the whole country excited
The proper attention for wounded men, and that
DESTROYS that nothing should be wanting my part to
fulfil this expectation, and requesting him to forward
once, without stint, supplies Of all kinds This appeal
responded to by the Surgeon General who informed
me that what wanted would be forwarded to Fairfax
station the next day. II, then, we had not been de-
seated we should have had in day two everything
usually found in well organized hospital available for
our men at Bull run AS II was, we had all that
we had not been driven from the field. Our army had
never been defeated BEFORE and this produced state Of
things widely different from all previous experience
which those who find fault much disposed to over
look.
My sympathies throughout the action were much OK
ward to aid them with hand and heart after the
was over but this was denied without had decided
70 remain prisoner and thus withdraw myself from all
further service during the II did not become to
speak OF personal excrons for the wounded in
port but rather to mention the actions Of Others
therefore said more than necessary to place tho
subject properly before the General commanding in the
briefest manner possible. All have mentioned in this
paper is matter Of record and be verified and will
show think that instead Of being to blame, I had
s0ldiers'the best the circumstances admitted II
must be remembered that medical officers have militia
ry control except in their and therefore they
cannot from this cause, always get what they want.
oountable for the defeat of army, how
IN common JUSTICE he should be censurable for events
yond his power TO control. w. S. KING,
Surgeon Of the United States Army.