Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-01-25
Letter from the surgeon OF the LIST
VIrginIa Cavalry Regiment

Letter from the Surgeon OF the list
ViFglnIR Cavalry Regiment
RiftorI hieliigaetr:
slas My attention was called few
days Suce, to m article in your issue OF
January 18th, 1862, from correspondent
Of YOUR paper At ROmney, Vn., in which
he makes this sweeping declaration; "The
medical department Of the LIST Virginia
Cavalry Ia disgrace to the country
aud proceeds to give his reasons. "For,'
saws he, 'phe Assistant Surgeon, II. D..
E1och, (whO Is serving with the detAeh-
ment OF this regiment stationed herer)
does the best he eau, bat he has no house
foe a hospital. He makes his surgeon 8
call every morning in his tent, where he
can only examine six patients ut once
Also, che has no medicine worth mention.
ING, and has no phials to putt in" And
also, "that he marked a man for duty who
few hours after became spotted with
measles.p This last Is evidently the nub
of the whole story, for all that precedeS 1t
reilects credit upon the Assistant Surgeon
and the medical department. And fearless.
IL assert that 1t is impossible for the most
experienced surgeon to guard against such
A mistake as the Onu alluded TO, while so
per cent. OF all the troops In the field at
this season Of the year have bad colds
| say it is impossible TO discriminate be.
tween catarrh and measles until the erup'
ton makes lie appearance. | should pass
the communication In your paper without
notice or explanation, but for the fact that
your readers may not generally know the
Inconvenience to which troops in the field
arc necessarily subjected. ! will name a
lsw facts which existed in the particular
case alluded 10 By your correspondent at
tho date Of his article, and leave yoQ,
Nle6sFS. Editors, and your readVFo 70 igdga
q the competency Of the Medical DEPART
msnt Of the PiFIt Regiment Virginia Vols
unteer Cavalry. The regiment numbered
sixteen companies: thirteen Of these were
scattered in Western Va, headquarters at
Clarksburgh, where we had for a hospital
Judge Canidcn'S mansion and every accom-
mediation that can DO furnished At a regular
most Hospital. A detachment Of three
companies werO ordered to reinforce Gen.
Kelley Mt Romney. Assistant Surgeon Il.
D. Eaoch, selected complete assortment
from our abundant supply ofmcdical stores,
and by order reported himself for duty to
Major Chamberlain in command Of bat
talon Of tho lsI Virginia cavalry, ut Rom.
ney. Brig Gen. Kelley had issued a spe.
ciSl order 10 have no hospital Opcsrd at
Romuey. but to send all the sick TO Gum
berland; hence, as your correspondent as
serts, Surgeon EnOch had no hospital
building, aud u, to his having no medicine
worth mentioning, | need only add that
when our forces left Romney IA few days
Nfter this communication was written
about two thousand dollars worth Of medt-
cal stores were lost for want OF transPorta'
ton. .,
As TO surgeon Enoeh's ability, ] do not
think II necessary to add one word. To
question IL would DO casting high imPu'
tatiOn upon the Board Of examining sur
ueons who have passed upon his competency.
In Justice to Surgeon Enoch Twill say, that
since no entered the service he has devo'
ted himself faithfully to the discharge Of
the duties OF his position. cannot con-
clude this communication Mcssrs. Editors,
without saying that regret the necessity
which has promted ii. am sorry to
know that such communication as the
one to which have alluded, can find n
place In your columns. Aud must say
further, that attach more Criminality to
the publishers than to the writer's, for it is
to he presumed that they know that an of
ticUr, in tho medical department Of the U.
S. Army, can obtain his commission only
upon certificate OF qualification, given BY
Board of Examining SurgeonS-and also
that in tho arrangement Of his department
he is at all times subject to the order Of
the General commanding, aud also the
commanding officers Of his regiment. 1t
Is therefore n most grievOus act to lay
before the public the management Of his
department without also giving the orders
by which he is governed and controlled,
this think every reader Of common sense
will fully comprehend. Hoping, dear sirs,
that you will do Surgeon Enoeh, LIST Vir-
GINA Cavalry, and the public service, the
Justice to publish this Communication, /
remain, Most respectfully yours,
II. CAPRHART,
Chief Surg LIST Reg't Calv. Va. Vols.
tbs New York police, Monday night,