The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-08-01
The Sick and Wounded at Charlottesville.

To tbs Editors ~ the Dispatch Are your
readers aware that there are twelve hundred
sick and wounded soldiers ~ this place In
meoiately after the giorious battle CT Manas-
sas the sire Lm began 10 now in this direc ton,
and ever sisCe they have come in day by day,
in steadily Increasing numbers. 1t seems that
" hen the first offers were made by Professors
Cabell and Davis to erect h hospital here,
only limited number of patients was ex-
pee ted and for these simple accomm odations
and excellent medica! attendance We're within
reach The two outer ranges OF dormitories
of the University proper were quickly put In
order and furnished for the reception Of pa
tents. Messrs. Cabell and Davis were duly
commits stoned surgeons of the g. 5 Army.
Owing, however 10 the sudden pressure upon
ihe other hospitals at Manassas and Uulpeper,
hundreds were of a sudden sent to follow the
others. With culpable negligence, no notice
was given OF this mum DER or the time OF their
arrival, and it was n sad and painful sight in
dsad to SEQ on Monday last hundreds of
wounded men lying in Il pc! ting rain at our
station There was no one there to receive
them. A cdIritge, few open wagons and an
omnibus were the only means Of conveyance,
aud it was LETT to a few gentlemen and hand
fui o. servants TO transfer the sufferers. COW
cred with dust aud begrimmed with blood
they came from the battle field, to the dis ttnt
buildings OF the University. Soon all the
public houses and large halls rented for the
purpose were Overlooking, and still new
rivals taropged to the place In vain did the
authorities demonstrate by letter and by tee
men could be received Expediency and hu-
mainly were alike disregarded. Every day
saw the same sorroWtul sight repea ted
Now, every lecture room and domitory, the
great public hall and tho chapel. all ara filled
10 their utmost capacity, aud most OF the pri-
yate houses III town and here Ontain num-
Der OF sick and wounded.
To throw such immense burden, that
ought to be borne by the Uontsderacy large,
upon small community ike this, il as unfair
as it is inexpeo!ent. And yet nsver was q call
more promptly and more nObly responded To-
The phyaicisns here and in town at once
offered and rendered service; from the neigh
borhood ten or twelve were soon added REIN
ges Joined The residen ts, and men like DR.. Fair
fax brought heir long experience and valua-
bic skill to the increasing store or profes 10 na
assistance. The families, and far, sent
day by day supplies in such vast abundance
that there was more danger from over feeding
than from want Clothes and bed linen
poured in from nil quarters, lint WAS made by
skillful hands and baudages prepared to meet
the emergency. Ths professors nursed and
watched The sick and aided in making lists and
reports. The enthusiastically ,25 in number
cheerfully gave up th6ir mattresses, bringing
them in great 6lee slung on their backs and
numerous instances might be mentioned
where men ard women denied themselves not
the luxuries only but the necessities of life to
minister 10 the wants of the poor soldier. The
ladies' rs usual, sat the example of self sacri-
flee, and young and old may now be seen
soothing the sufferer watching by the sleep
less and praying with those TO whom Heaven &
consultations are granted. From far aud near
they come, day by day, to perfOm their sacred
DUTY
AT first the greatest want felt was in medi.
cal stores; the department seemed TO be para.
lyZed, and the licst urgent demands brought
no supply. At last the perseyering energy of
the surgeon sent special messenger 10 Rich
mond, and on the day attar all that wa.
needed for the moment came up.
The state Of the hospital is most satisfactory.
The few cases of death are extremely cheer
ing. Bat one OF the wounded has so far died
he was Yankee and fearfully injured. TIL
largest number OF wounded belong probably
TO the 4th Aiabsma Regiment, and there are
also several brave young men of the Ogle
thorpe Light infantry, from Savannah and
half Il dozen students from the University of
Oxford. Miss, here BY far the large m1-
iority of sick are down with the measles and
will easily recover. Among the more seri-
ously wounded are also two Yankee captains
from New York Regiment.
Thanks 10 the energy and the zeal displayed
on all sides, order begins ID reign and system
to prevail amid the immense number. More
physicians have arrived from other towns:
among them Dr. Alex Rives, late house
geon OF Bellevue Hospital, New York; DR..
Moon, and young lady of the neighborhood, to
whose sKilifnl and experienced hands the care
OF ward has been en- trusted Oiher States
also, ars coming to the relief OF their sons
South Carolina, ever ahead in all noble enter
prises, has already taken measures to provide
houses, provisions and nurses for her wounded
or sick soldiers, and We doubt not that her
example will soon be followed by others. 1t
IS Virginia, however, who of course ought
mainly to sea 10 il that this truly grand insti
tuition should be kept up in Il manner worthy
OF her name and OF the noble men who are
now tended oy her sons and her daughters -
The beneyoleHce of 3 single locality ought
not TO be over taxed the care of wounded
soldiers ought not TO be left to private charity
Nor should their religious III terests be over
looked, and the appointment of a Chaplain
would be wise measure GU The par. OF gov
eminent, and great boon 10 more than a
thousand men, led by sickness and death to
think seriously OF their souls welfare