New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-21

one of which would have been saved by proper hoe.
pital accommodation. Eighteen cases are now in
hospital, some Of which will be fatal for the same
reason. The sudden change Of weather and fall in
the temperature, December 3, was followed by in.
slant increase in the number Of deaths. That night
three literally frozen to death; two cases
of small pox and one Of congestive fever all in fan
way Of recovery, but unable to resist the cold
agairst which there was no protection. The almost
equally sudden change of last Wednesday night
brought with it great increase of suffering TO all the
sick, and two other men i'll with the congesive fever
who would otherwise have recovered, were killed by
the cold. have for these statements the authority
of one Of the abest surgeons attached to the division
who said to me that he would risk bis professional
reputation on the accuracy of the assertion The sick
suffer constantly from the cold the nights being al
ways chilly and they suffer also from the deficiency
of almost every thing necessary for their comfort and
rapid recovery.
two-story building about so feet by 30, occupied
by the rebels as barracks has been used as tempo
rary hospital sncs the landing. II is in every re-
spect unfit for the purpose, unfinished with medical
supplies, without proper officers, and wanting even
the most ordinary comforts and conveniences. The
hospital s in fact destitute of everything that makes
hospital, has 10 bedding, no spoons, knives forks,
or dishes, kitchen, not a stove place for
a stove nor any protection whatever from the cold
but it's shattered walls and roof. Into this building,
which has room for not more than seventy patients,
from hundred and fifty TO two hundred are crowded,
in berths piled one over the other in manner which
makes it a pest-house rather than hospital. There
are no medicines for this hospital. Medical supplies
for the army of two knds-for general hospitals
ard for field service. In the latter ase included only
such as are wanted for regimental use while troops
are in camp. The hospital system divides itself
accordingly into regmental and general. The former
are for mild cases. To the general hospital are sent
ell patients seriously i'll or likely to recover slowly.
The medicines supplied TO regiments are, therefore,
wholly inadequate to the necessities Of division,
many kinds indispensable for general practice not
being furnished at ALL others only in very small guam
titles. For this division there were no general sup
plies whatever and not even the usual regimental
supply at the start. Fifteen regiments left Fortress
Monroe with supplies for only ten. On the passage,
three regiments lost all their stores overheard and
most of the others lost portion. But two lots out
wanted. Nomedical officers but brigade
and regimenal surgeons having been attached to the
expedition, the Medical Director, DR.. Cowper, has
found il necessary to leave the sick in this temporary
hospital to tie care Of their respective regimental
surgeons, and whatever supplies, convenience and
comforts they have had have been from the same
sources The patients for whom no room could be
found have necessarily been cared for in the regimen
tai hospital tents where, however they cannot have
suffered more than in this wretchedly-buil unfur-
nshed and comfotless barracks which does hospital
duty for fifteen thousand men.
In those circumstances, in climate where diseases
become fatal by exposure and whose severity IL con-
nually greater for months TO come, with nearly
hundred men already dead, who might have been
saved if the means Of care aud comfort had existed,
with sick list steadily increasing in numbers and
mortality, while suffering and deaths are both aug.
mented by the want Of proper protection, with no
hospital deserving tie name, on the recommendation
Of the Medical Director Of tho Division, the order
was issned by Gen. Sherman for the immediate
struction Of temporary general hospital. The
building was designed for 300 patients, will be 200
feet long, on three sides Of square, 81 feet wide, Ia
feet high, and was planned in the most economical
ma ner consistent with the comfort Of the rick, At
tenton to hygienic laws, and general fitness for ts
purpose. The estimate of 800 was made for only
two brgades, in the expectation that the third woud
soon 90 elsewhere. It's departure being still uncer-
tain, and re-enforcements having since arrived, the
capacity of the building is likely to be insufficient.
acquisitions had previously been made by the Med
ical Director for supplies, which should have been
furnished wbenthe expedition started and Of which,
whether any hospital is built not there Ii urgent
need. The neglect at the outset was not the fsui OF
the Medical Department at Washington, but Of the
medical officer who was originally detailed as Medi-
cal Director If the expedition, but is not now con-
ncctcd with it. Officers for the hospital are irdis-
pensable to it's organization and successful OPERATION
and medical mel Of wider experience in the diseases
of this climate than surgeons Of Northern regiments
can often have are especially needed. There Is no
bedding except few blankets, not bed-sack, Sheet
or plow-case in the division, outside Of the regi-
mental supplies.
Plans for the building as above described were
prepared by Capt. Saxton, Chief Quartermaser, and
orders for is immediate construction went to New
York by the Illinois, Dec. ii, the building TO be
shipped in parts ready to be put together on arrival
here. This information was communicated to
Quartermaster.Gen Megs. An answer has been
received from him. saying that be has conferred with
the Major-General Commanding and with Surgeons
General Finay, who Of opinion that the climate
does not require tho erection Of building for hos
pital purposes. This opinion is given, although full
accounts concerning the climate, It's diseases, the
suffering from cold, the want.of every comfort the
increasing sickness of the troops and severity Of the
weather. and the almost total deficiency of hospital
accommodations, have been cent some time since to
the Medical Bureau at Washington. The decision
of such questions sproperly the Office of the Surgeon
General, and relying on bis opinion, and that OF Gen.