Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-10-08
The Hospitals Of Western VIrEInia.
WHrrLrNa. Va. Oct. 4. 1861.

WHEELNe, Va, Oct. 4, 1861.
RDrroHs LEADKR; knowing your readers
are always Interested in everything pertain
ing to the welsre Of our ermy in Western
Virginia, take the earliest opportunity to
state from my recent observations how mat
ters and things are, especially pertaining to
the sick.
By way Of acknowledgement am happy
to say I found weeks issue Of the LEADER
here waiting my return, and delayed not a
moment to read up the news, and learn what
was going on in the beloved city of oleve-
land. Our friends, and friends Of our friends,
will always find the LEADER on 6Ie at the
branch offce Of the Sanitary Commission,
iO5l Main street. Wheeling, for their pe-usal.
reached Grafton September 23d, and
found the Hospital there greatly improved in
order and neatness, and many improvements
in progress to furnish additional comforts to
the sick and disabled soldiers. A matron
and one female nurse have been employed
here, aud afford efficient aid and comfort to
Che sick.
AtClarksburg tive large private dwellings
are occupied asPost Hospitals. Theirowners
are of the F. F. vs., who left in haste one day
to seek more cangenial society than Union
troops. A madon is employed st this hos
Dital. and more female assistants will soon be
introduced at the request of the Surgeon.
took dinner with DR.. Winnie and the mAtron,
on regular hospital fare and it was good
enough for any body. The sick in this hos.
pitd are wei cared for.
At Parkersburg there is also Military
Hospital under good management in the
main. There has been some talk of discon-
tinuihg this post
Taking a packet at Parkersburg, went
down the Ohio 80 miles to Gallipolis Ohio.
Here 1 foundl4B in the hospital, and 81 on
wharl-boat, recently down the Kanawha,
waiting transportation to Cincinnati, as there
was no accommodation for them at this post.
Before three o'clock that day there was
meeting of the Union School Board, and on
having the subject Of hospital acoommoda-
tions and the necessity of more generous pro-
vision for our sick soldiers brought before
them, they magnanimously gaveup the Union
School building, containing eight large rooms,
for hospital, and before dark the sick from
the wharf-boat were moved into it.
Every Post Hospital in Western Virginia
Is being provided with q bath-room and good
plain bedding, also cotton shirts and draysrs
to be worn until able to be up and about the
ward. Every patient received is thoroughly
bathed with warm water, his army clothing
cleansed and marked and stored, to be re-
sunled on recovery. Before going into the
field he is to resume his army clothing and
blankets, and sleep in a convalescent ward
with open windows. The change from con-
fined room to the camp has hitherto brought
I on relapse in some cases, and fatal illness.
The regulation for ratiOns IS snoE much
better than heretofore, and friends who
have sons and brothers il the army may be
assured that they VIII Be well provided for
bf careful officers and attendants. Such is
! he general plan Of organization for the hos
bitals IN Western Virginia, and | feel the
most perfect assurance that all will be carried
out fully. To do this, bedding and hospital
clothing must be supplied excepting bed
sacks, outside the Governments To the la
dies Of the Soldiers Aid Society of Cleveland
we are dependent in q great measure for these
hospital supplies. The ladies on the border,
especisllS hEre. and at Gellip0lis, have been
4 taxed to their utmost in fitting out the early
\ regiments, before the Government got in mo
ton. They are all doing what they caa,
/ however, from day to day. At Gallipolis 9
committee Of ladies have for some weeks Wis
tied the hospital daily and taken ratiOns tc
their homes and cooked them and returned
them to the hospital. l met a lady one
4 morning with large platter filed with nic'
well-seasoned toast, and another With coffee
The army regulations make no provision foi
experienced cooks, and this hospital at tha
time had no facilities for cooking to the exten
necessary. s-s IL
Wheeling is busy with warlike prepara
tons. Gov. PieTpoint is at bis, efice earl!
and late, and general feeling Of safety pre-
walls among the people. Q. D. q.