Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-01-31

the Soldiers A;d Socisty, W publish - much
y our limited space will permit Of tho report
Of Ars. Wittsnmyer, after her visit 70 the
hospitals Of the Iowa reginsnts in Aissoori,
shout the lst Of January. She says:
Al false impressions have obtained in some
sections with regard TO the amount Of sup
plies furnished by tho Government We would
Just say that they are by far too limited to
meet the demands Of the sick, ct the present
time, and are not unfrequently doled out with
spsring hand grsdginety. Medical Pur-
veyors, if We may credit the united testimony
ii the Medical staff, reserve to themselves
The right not only 10 restrict but to dictate
with regard to acquisitions, - that in many
cases he s~pp!ies allosesd By tAs Gown
ment are Hot rsessvsd
The Government seems to have lost sight,
in . great msa. ure, If the Medical Depart
.nent Of the army. In proof OF this, We have
,nly to say that when Gen. Frcmooes army
marched to Springfield 10 little attention was
usid to the demands of the Medical staff
that the necessary supplies Of medicines, am
balances. &C., were not obtained, and those
Ealing sick on the way were Without the
means Of transportation.
During the march, whenever On empty Va
ron could bs secured, ~ many sick ~ could
ossibly b crowded into it were thrust in,
and thus they were forced to travel on the
rocky and preci patous roads over the Ozark
Mills, till, in many instances, life was joltsd
from their bodies, and then the dead, side by
,ide with the living sick, were carried on till
generous sight put stop to tho deal march.
Ard even now, at Birds Point, Cairo and the
saups ON the Pacific read, the sick ere hauled
10 ut in army wagons and thrust, unprovl-
led for. into post and other hospitals, while
hundreds Of ambulances and vast xccumula-
;ions Of hospital stores are lying unused in
the city of St. Louis from whence these sup
plies should come.
In the event of an onward movement Of or
army We can scarcely hope for favorable
change in the ollcy Of Government otic' ais.
unless . committee Of Investigation be ap-
pointed, and special order be issued from
the head Of tho Department bsaring directly
on the subject '-.
She then proceeds to give detailed &C
count of the location and condition of the
several regiments, showing that in most in
stances the hospitals were badly conducted
and lily provided with comforts and conven-
fences absolutely necessary. twas found
that the sick in many cases decidedly object
I'd 70 being sent 10 tn hospital, - they are
cut of from the attention and sympathy Of
their comrades and are liable to suffer the
srossest neglect. The hospital at Rolls il
mentioned ~ IN exception, it being better
conducted thsn most Of them.
The sick and wounded of the 7th regiment,
in Be-, ton Barracks, received good share of
supplies in charge of Mrs. W. OF the 18th
she says: 1.-THE regiment. was literally sup
piled from the stores sent out by the lalies
Of the State, while they were in Benton Bar.
racks, and since then supplies have been
sent to their sick at Jefferson City"
Measles was the prevailing disease in the
hospital The 9th regiment at Franklin, had
200 sick of this disease in the hospital and
the 10th regiment about the same number
at Birds Point.
Tho condition of the s;ck in the 8th rcgi-
nent at Sedalia is represented Is truly de-
plorabls. They we're lying on the floor Of
va ant store-room, with nothing but straw,
there being an entire absence of bedsteads,
cots, pillows, beddings, &c.
The report concludes IS follows:
We have thus briefly presented to you, as
far as we are able, true exhibit Of the con-
| iit,on of our lows hospitals, confirming Or
selves to plain statement Of facts, without
aiming TO give them undue prominence or
| coloring As unfavorable as this report may
appear, we have to say that our Iowa hos
pitfalls are in better condition than tho-e of
he troops from other States now in the
Western service. We have visited post and
other hospitals where the inmates were
crowd, together in filthy and i'll ventilated
rooms Ike Pigs in sty. The most loath-
some and disgusting scenes Of misery and
ilthiness We have ever witnessed bear no
| ,mpar ison to some of the hospitals on the
| Pacific Railroad between st. Louis and &c.
| dalia.
The limits Of this paper will not admit US
say that great neglect is manifest on the part
of the officers and surgeons having charge Of
these men, and that it less time was spent in
arrang ng shoulder straps and moe atten-
ion paid to the sanitary arrangements of the
army, there would not be such fearful NOR
tality among the troops.
We have received during the last month,
from different pats of the State, and distrib-
uted to the various Reg ments, q thousand
,ioiiars soo,tA of hosp,'aI supplies. As
large AZ this sum may appear it falls far short
Of tho demand made upon Us, and when d.
vided among SO many Regiments needs to be
magni6cd tea fold. Let there be no tagging
Of our zeal because Of the inclemency of the
weather or other hindra: ces that winter may
present Our hep is needed more now than
yer. What IT, W. is dress and display, or
even the delicacies ef the table, WHEN many
noble patriot is dying on pallet Of straw
We advise the making Of bedsacks. pillows
and comfor,Ables, as the tn ngs most needed
now. Other things may be sent as hereto
ore, but We ask s, .ecial attention to these
articles. Tho goods that you have sent to US
have been d stributed by our own hands, ard
zee knoso that they are beng used by the
sick. We are now receiving large amounts
Of goods from different parts Of the State. In
formation as to the disposition made of them
will be given by Letter You will ship, as
heretofore, to our address ''Keokuk," or to
"St. Louis. caro- of Partridge & Co.," as may
best suit your convenience.
We arc requested to express to you the
deep and heart felt thanks of our suffering
soldiers, who have received such generous,
and timely help at our hands. and to rs-as-
sure you, that they will eyer hold in grateful
remembrance the kind attentions Of the ladies
Of Iowa.
Our societies are under special obligations
to Adjutant Generals McKenny and Kelton
for transportation afford US and the goods,
and for other kind Offices.
ANNIE WrTKNMYKk,