The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-08-20

Gen,rq} Ho.gitaI-We availed ourselves of
the invitation of ono OF the city ciorgynen,
who regularly visits the wounded prisoners at
the General Hospital, to accompany him to
that place on Friday evening last. 1t was Our
first visit TO that magnificent building, and
our impression before entering was, that haa
it been originally erected TOR the benevolent
purposes to which it is now devoted, instead
of for an s-Ilou5e, the architect could noe
have been more successful Ia his design, nor
could the city have been moro generous or
humane in the noble liberality Of which il
stands 90 proud q monument. The courteous
Surgeons at the door kindly passed Us through,
and whiia our reverend friend was engaged on
his errand Of mercy, We strolled promiscu-
ously through the different wards, and con
versGd freely with those we found TO be most
seriOUsy wounded.
The lrGt cot we encountered was occupied by 4
bright-eyed, il tellscnt young man, about 30
wears of age, VINO was In one Of the last charges
made by the Eederaiist8, and received ball
through his left thigh. His leg was attached
TO cords fastened to the ceiling, and was there
secured Ia d fixed and comfortable position
He seemed to be unusually eXhilarated, and,
taking seat Dy the side Of his tidy and we'll
arranged c0t,we entered into conversation with
him, and soon found oul the cause of his evil
dent ezultation. For three successive morn
ngs in the early part Of the week, the poor
fellow watched the visit of the physician as the
announcement that ne must prepare 10 submit
to amputation. This operation, he said, he
dreaded even more than death itself. On Friday
morning he was relieved from his terrible sp-
prehensions by the announcement, communi-
Gated to him as tenderly as fthe surgeon "was
my his own brother" that he thought ne
would save his leg. Poor fellow; he was in al
ecstacy Of delight. He then told us that he
was printer, did We not throw the latch
string OF our heart outside when we heard thiS,)
that he worked on the Albany Evening Jour
nal, and that he enlisted under delu5ion. Ea
desired to know if there was any chance for
him to get out, and, if out, if he could obtain
employment in any of the printing Offices in
Richmond.
We gave him our opinion on the matter;
aud when we spoke OF the prelininarios he
must submit to, he expressed himself willing
then and there to take the oath of allegiance
and cast his future destinies in the sunny
South. There was no momentary enthusiasm
about this honest fellow. He was cool DELHI
crate, aud, we believe, honest. lie is native
of New York.
The mex, patient we visited belonged to
Wisconsin regiment. He was shot through
lung. lie was very taciturn-p0or fellow, he
looked like man in the last stage of con-
sumption. He is hopeful, however, of his Ill
innate recovery, and in the few words he
spoke was lavish in his praises of 'fhose
nurses with the Zig white b3nnets," Sisters Of
Charity
We visited most Of the other wards, and
found each neat, clean, weil-ventilat ted, and
attended by one Of the prisoners, who was
ready to answer every call.
We visited one of the kitchens, whore we
found three Sisters of Charity, in front of two
immense iron vat5 or boilers filled with beef
water, vegetables, &c, boiling and bub-
bling in their transformations to soup. This
kitchen was small, tho said vats and furnaces
occupying more than two-thirds Of the area.
We found it uncomfortebiy hot outside the
door, and left with a feeling almost of rever-
ence for the noble hearted Sisters who thus
devote themselves to 50 holy cause. God
BLESS them.
Most Of the wounded prisoners are disposed
to be taciturn, and OF course ordinary polite
ness, as well as considerations of humanity, re-
strained us from engaging with them III an
unwilling conversation. They all, however,
were profuse il their thankfuness and graft
tude for the tender kindness of physicians,
nurses, visitors and guards, and would not be-
lieye the reports they have heard in regard to
the different treatment whion our prisoners re-
ceive at the North. The strangest fact we
el,ite3 was, that all we conversed with were
Democrats, and wished uncle Abe at the ID
when he was elected.