The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1862-04-11
Atlanta Hospitals,

Editor Athens Post: Dear Sr--Having few
days since returned from visit to Atlanta, Ga,
to see my wife's brother, James Tolbcrt Thomas,
who was sick in the Hospital in that city, my
short letter may not be uninteresting to your
readers. Upon my arrival in Atlanta, met up
with Mr.. w. B. Wiley, of the Trout House, and
on stating to him my business, after securing my
baggage, he kindly piloted me to the different
Hospitals until l found my relative, who had
been there under medical treatment since the fall
OF Fort Donelson. He was fast improving and
hoped to rejoin the army in a week or two. 1
formed the acquaintance of DR.. John NJ. johnson,
of Paducah, KY, who was the Principal Surgeon
of the Post The old Doctor is quite sociable
gentleman. ] was much touched to hear him re-
late the condition of affairs in his beloved Ken
lucky. learned from him that he was himself
an exile from his country in consequence of his
Southern attachments-his property confscated,
and he beyond the reach or knowledge of his fam
lily. The venerable DR.. johnson, PRINCIPAL Of
Post; DIR. Paul +. Eve, Professor of Surgery, late
of Nashville, Tenn; DR.. II. W. Brown, Professor
of Anatomy, and DIR. w. F. Westmorcland, Pro.
fcssor of Surgery, both of the Atlanta Medical
College, and a competost corps of assistants anG
walters, were laboring day and night to restore
the sick and wounded soldiers under their care
OF about four thousand placed at this post, about
one hundred had died There remained about
eight hundred or a thousand in the different hos
pitfalls, the balance having rejoined the army. I
inspected the hospitals with some care. They
were kept well cleansed. The physicians were
prompt in the discharge of their duties, &c.
saw the ladies of the city visiting the sick at all
times through the day while was in, generally
bringing in something to nourish or comfort them.
| visited the African Church Hospital about sup
per time ono evening, in which there lay about a
hundred sick and wounded soldiers ander one
view. While sitting near my sick relative, saw
pleasant looking little girl of IL or 10 years en-
ter the hospital, accompanied by servant girl,
who took her stand at the head of the aisle to
dish out while Miss Lucie NJ. Cooke as learned
her name to be, passed from. bunk to bunk and
furnished every sick soldier in the hospital with
batter cake and tea. AS she passed where was
sitting asked her where her parents lived? She
informed me that her mother was dead, her father
was in the army, and she lived with her uncle,
Col. Wilson, who commanded regiment on the
Potomac promised to call on her the next day
and make the acquaintance of her aunt, in order
to engage their attention more particularly to my
sick brother Being unacquainted with the plan
of the town, had to enquire for Col. WILSON,
After enquiring of several persons, who were un-
able to point out his residence, asked where Miss
Lucie Cooke lived, the residence was pointed out
to me instantly. Thus / found that Miss Lucie
Cooke had gained more notoriety in the city by
her hospitality and kind attention to the sick sol
diers, in n few weeks, than her uncle had who
had been near year in the army of the Potomac,
having been wounded in the battle of Manassas.
From the spirit that pcrvades the South, am
confident that We will yet be free.
L. r. Hurst.