Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-07-31
Fnr the Daily State Sentinel.
For the Daily State sentinel.
Our Army ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Tair-
teenth Indiana i'm Virginia Am e
full Neglect Of the Wounded.


full Neglect Of the wounded.
CAM AT CHEAT MoUNrAIN Pass, Va, July IS,
EEIroR SENTrNEL.-A strange object made its
appearance in our camp this morning. Field off,
GERS and staff, Captains and Lieutenants, non
commissioned officers and privates crowded around
to see the strange and, 10 US, unnatural sight.
We had all seen such sights in Indiana and were
our frequent companions, often carrying them in
our pockets and hats, and frequently, like the
mans milk, Lying around loose" but three long
weeks had elapsed since our eyes beheld the like;
three long weeks of silence, cut off and shut out
are from the world, its jOlity and mirth, its
gaiety and its pleasures, we danced in very joy
when Col. Heffren held up to our astonished gaze
a copy of the Weekly Sentinel of the 10th of July.
All hunger was forgotten, all duty dropped and
one universal thrill ran through the hearts of all
to hear from the old Hoosier State, from
homes, kindred and friends, to see if we of the
18th were forgotten. All listened to every wCrd
and syllable in the paper concerning our share in
the campaign, but silence, dread silence, told all
that we we're as yet unnotced. and that others
carried off the honOrs and laurels that should
grace our brows. But all "'will wait awhile
with patience" until tardy justice can be meted
out to our noble dead and heroic living.
Since / wrote you, we have advanced sixteen
miles farther into the enemy's country, and are
now encamped at the foot of Cheat Mountain
Pass, most important position and one of strong
natural defenses, which we, together with the
18th and 18th Indiana and 18th Ohio, are fortify.
ing and which we are determined to hold at all
hazards. Other columns may be driven back,
but do not believe that this can be. We are
right in the mouth of the pass, and beautiful
mountain stream meanders over its rocky bed
through the narrow valley. There are some fine
speckled mountain trout in the stream which
our manage to catch occasionally.
have fine mess of frogs for one Of the
officers caught out of" Roaring River" and have
no doubt they were enjoyed greatly, while the
''pOor devils" as the boys term themselves, eat
beef and pilot bread. Our march to this place
was in quick time, being l6 miles, with all our
baggage, camp equipage, &C., &c, in one after
noon. 1t was hard march, and such an one
| hope not to experience soon.
Our wounded have been shamefully treated
The hospital surgeons or regmental surgeons, or
whose ever business it is to look after the
sick and wounded and dress their wounds and at
tend their wants, have shamefully neglected
them. For two days have the noble hearted
brave boys of the 18th lain in hospital without
their wounds being dressei and ut Rich Noun
duct does not merit the severest apprehension,
am unable to judge. | will give one instance,
that your readers may judge for themselves One
Fordyce, belonging to Capt. Say les Co. 18th
regiment, lost an arm at Rich Mountain 1t had
to be amputatcd close ND to the arm pit He was
placed in the hospital. and being strong and
athletic and of vigorous constitution, would, it
was thought, easily recover. Weak from loss of
blood he could not leave his position Oh his
IL. .tol F,o- Ial 4
been carried to the hospital at Beverly, he, to
gether with others, were shamefully neglected.
His arm broke o zen airesl, and when DIR. Gall
sent for to go to the hospital, "a place he has
no control over, nor do his duties require him
there,) and see about the wounded he found
FOrdyce's arm with maqgots in il hdlfinch long
If this is the way Indiana soldiers to be
treated, God forbid that any more should be
wounded. think it a disgrace to civilization, a
shame upon humanity morality and Christianity
Last Sunday some of the 18th boys climbed the
high plank at our left and put an American flag
upon its summit. IL is one-half mile to the
top from our camp, and is one thousand
feet higher, so you can judge of the diff
culties in climbing it, On yesterday Col. Heff
rem and about thirty of our men went up, cut off
the brush and trimmed up the tallest tree on the
point and placed the flag still higher 1t can be
for many miles around and serves as a bea-
are covered by "huckeberies" and right well
do We use them. We have no vegetables what
ever. Beef, pork, beans, sugar, coffee, rice, and
vinegar, with hard pilot bread completes our fare
and often on short allowance.
We are now in Gen. Schleich's brigade, and
think him first rate man. We all want our old
patriotic Gen. Reynolds of Indiana, here We
hear he is on the road and when he arrives if you
could be here you would hear such shout
would shake even the mountains around us. 1t
is a little singular that the two leaders of the
Democratic party in the legislatures of Ohio and
Indiana, after being branded and denounced as
secessonists by Republicans at home should be
here in one brigade fighting to put down rebel
lion while their traducers and miligners to a great
extent are at home either too niggardly to leave
home and give their time to their country, or
else too cowardly to face the foe Time makes
great changes and those are often found in the
rear who profess the greatest bravery.
forgot to mention that our mutual friend and
well-wisher, Capt. j. r. Bracken, with his cav
airy came into Beverly about half an hour before
we left. There was joyous shaking of hands
and "how do you do" on all sides. The Capt.
rides his horse well and can 'hold his OATS We
treated him kindly on - and water, and he
says harra for the men of the 18th and we say
hurra for Capt. Bracken AID his men, and all of
Indiana because We had better hurra while we
can.
In conclusion permit me to say ego it SOL, -
and Ego it George" as you both belong to the
same family and may tell the truth OH each other.
am &c, A B. C..