Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-10-05
dMOrtester Daily Syn,
sanitary Condition OF the Two Armies,


When the rebellion first broke out, it was
predicted that the northern troops would not
be able to endure the climate of the southern
ATTITUDES that they would suffer from sick.
ness, which would cause much embarrassment
TO the national army. In fact, it was suppOs-
ell that the severity OF the climate would
prove to be astrong ally to the south, certain
~ during the summer campaign. Thus far,
however, these expectations have not been re-
allied. With very few exceptions the test.
mony OF our own correspondents, as well as
those OF our COGteni poraries and OF the news
paper press, is uniform that the general health
OF the national army is remarkably good.
Even Wilson's Fire Zouaves who went from
New York. and have been encamped on Santa
Rosa Island, before Pensacola, since the 24th
OF June, and who have been labOroasly en-
ployed much of the time in unloading trans.
ports, erecting sand batteries, and in other en-
Payments incident to a soldiers life have sui
tered very little from sickness. DIR. Z. c.
Pease, surgeon to the regiment, writes To the
New York Medical Times, under date of Au-
gust 81, that they t"en had but eighteen men
in the hospital, and these were cases Of ordina-
ry sickness, such as rheumatism, diarrhma,
dysentery, &c. The island sis nothing but
huge sand bank, scarcely any vegetation eX
lists, a few stunted trees OF the coniitrous
species are scattered here and there. The
thermometer ranges from SO to 80 degrees in
the shade" The troops that island are
therefore exposed to the direct rays Of an al
most tropical sun.
On the other hand there has been, and con.
tinues to be a great deal Of sickness among the
southern soldiers. A correspondent OF the
New Orleans Delta, writing from Fredercks
burg, Va, says
"Ihe present is the sickly season in this
county, and our camps are suffering from
prevalence Of measels and typhoid fever. All
the towns are buTthened wl;h a great number
of sick, TO whom the people never weary in
acts OF kindness and hospitality"
a correspondent of the Memphis Appeal,
writing from Richmond, says
II regret to be compelled to give you most
unfavoiabIe account OF the health of our troops
in the field The inac(iou OF the several
large bodies of men in different portions OF the
mmonwealth, for three we. Z past must be
attributed chiefly TO the ctuwti,j state Of their
hospitals. III the peninsula ,ne typlluld fever
has been prevalent, though happily not IN a
malignant form. Al Manassas ana Aguia
Creek, also, this maaiy has Frustrated CON
siderable number iu Bichmond, or RAIDER in
the eanips around H. hIty per CEN vi tine
troops have been stricken down vIli the
me;iales. Private hospitals for the reg, plion
and better treatment OF the invalids l.aNy been
almost every square Of the city, .,, is long
sick list, and ti- ladies are worn oul in their
attentions to the sufferers They do not wea
ry in the spirit ot their good work; but
cessive walchIBE viii exhaust the ply steal
powers. As yet lhere has been no great fatal
ity among the Thousand OF ylses, but just As
soon as dozen have been discharged as wp
from hospital, tlere beds Lave been SLED
and there is no diminu.lnu in the nuHbr,- q!
new cases"
And a captain Of the Mississippi nineteenli,
writing 10 the saihe -i, 4nder date August
25th, says:
''Since We pitched our camps here, gloom
and sorrow lave saddened the countenances
Of all, owing 10 l1e distressing fact that disease
and death have prevailed AMONG ia Onr ey-
posed condition during our camp on Bun Run
and the want OF proper food and water, was
serious blow to His regiment AID to all HE
troops that were likewise unfortunate. In proof
for this, will mention that out OF forty seven
hundred in The brigade, only twenty three
hundred reported for duty on the 2Olh instant,
and companies that before ordinarily turned
out ON drill and parade from sixty five to nine
ty men, do not tGrn out now more than eight
and ten files per day The hardships and SUI
feriugs consC quent upon the movements OF
Gen. J0hnstons division OF the army, which
resulted in such Il glorious success to our
cause at Manassas, has dare say, Frustrated
fully one third OF his force. Nearly every day
the sound of musketry proclaims the death Of
some southern hero who fallen victim to di
sease in camp, and over whose grave blank
cartridges are fired as the last military honor
paid to the dead
a correspondent of another paper, writing
from Manassas recently, says, that going one
morning to order coffin TO bury deceased
friend, he found thirteen orders ahead OF him.
The above gives sad picture OF sickness in
the southern army. VIII. is this il eau
scarcely be attributed to climate influences.
Although many soldiers OF the southern army
in Virginia, live in more southern latitude,
they have been, as yet, subjected to only a
very slight change Of temperature. On the
other hand, the change to many OF the nation
al troops has been very marked. We must,
therefore look to other than climate influences
to account for the remarkable difference in the
sanitary condition OF The national and insur-
rectionary forces.
To our minds the difference is attributable
mainly TO the appointments of .he two armies.
While many in the southern troops are poorly
clothed and prov isioned, and are otherwise i'm
properly cared for, the national troops are
abundantly provided with all that is essential
TO the health and comfort of the soldier, not
the least important at which is suitable cloth
ing aoM flannel neat the skin. We believe that
this recommendation, which was carly made,
has been generally observed The ratons OF
our army, TOO, are good, and the strict discip
line to which the troops are subjected, enio
es an Observance of the laws OF temperance
and sobriety. In the treatment of disease,
also, we have decided advantage over our
antagonists, in that they are deprived Of the
means of procuring appropriate remedies the
blockade having prevented their repenlshng
their exhausted stock OF medicines. The hos.
pital accommodations of our troops are also, in
the main, greatly superior to theirs.
Much ofthis favorable sanitary condition Of
our army is, no doubt, due to the efforts of the
sanitary commission which early offered its
services, and whose organization and labors
have been fostered ard encouraged by govern
ment, as wen as to the untiring energy and
devotion Of Miss Dix and her corps OF nurses
"A bud Girl Feeling for "a sunbeam.
The sun has just burst out through the
clouds and heavy golden beam comes ii at
our window. How bright and cheerful 1t
comes in 50 silently, yet it speaks to the heart.
Yes, thank God for sunshine Ages on ages
it has Illuminated and gIaddened a world, yet
we hardly think of the great fountain OF light
and beauty.
Writing OF sunshine brings to mind touch.
ing incident which came under our observa.
ton as we were travelling in the cars. Opposite
was seated a family OF tour consisting OF
man and his wife, and two chidren-boy and
girl-twns, totally blind Two lOyeller chill
dren we never saw. The family was from the
south. A southern sun had given each cheek
rich olive complexion, relieved by beautiful
bloom upon the childrens countenances The
boy was lightly built, had finely chiseled