Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-05-30
Visit to the General Military
HOSPITAL at KeOkuk.

Hospital at A0Okuk.
ME-. EDIroR: AS it may be of interest to
your readers, especially to those who have
friends sick or wounded in the Military
Hospital at Keokuk take pleasure in re-
cording the results of my observations while
on visit to that institution.
l arrived at Keokuk last Thursday morn
ing, and went Immediately to the hospital to
look after the sick and wounded soldiers from
Muscatine county. 1t was my purpose to
bring them home if they were able to endure
the fatigue of the journey. found but one,
who, in the judgement OF the experimenting
surgeon, and in my own, ought to be moved
for several days. This was also the Judge
ment Of the patients themselves, which is the
best evidence of what have to say concern
ing the hospital and its management.
conversed with many Of the patients in
different words and found their uniform tes-
timony to be that they received both from
surgeons and nurses all that they could ask.
Aside from the sympathy and companionships
Of friends the great majority of the patients
ave as well cared for as they could be at home,
taking into account the fact that very many
would be alta distance from suitable medical at
tendance. But when they become convalesent,
it is little doubt that to satisfy the longngs
Of the heart for home and friends would con.
duce to their more rapid improvement.
When this is the case, Surgeon General
Hughes is ever ready to give his patients
furloughs, provided they can assure him
that they have money to bear their expenses
If they cannot, tho furlough is invariably re-
fused. Alas it is too frequent that they lack
this essential, having failed to receive theil
pay for many months.
Hence many would fail of the pleasure and
the benefits of visit homo without aid from
friends.
> 1t is true that passes are sometimes fur
nished the men (they ought always to be-,
but these do not furnish subsistence. TIL
, powers that be are lacking in this respect
little dreaming that while they are enjoying
: the pleasures of home, what the anxiety o
r the soldier IS to enjoy, if possible, few day
with bis friends before he returns to the field
There were no passes to be had when wa
at Keokuk, because they had not been fur
nished the surgeon. Men that hadno none
!, men that fought the battle of Shiloh, an
9 were wounded, were obliged to borrow q
: their friends, if they had any; if not the
, must remain. This ought not to be the case
when one day at home to them, before rejoin
ing their comrades, would be without price
q But am trespassing upon your space.
will therefore close by saying that this hos
pital is we'll located-the building being larg
and commodious-its conduct wise and &C
mirable. In short, it is all the people coul
expect in military hospital. 1t is an homo
to the surgeon in charge, and the city i
d which it is located. The ladies of Keoku
|, are worthy of all praise for their devotion t
the sick and wounded,
: The following persons from Muscatin
county are in the hospital at present: Isaa
Cochran; Chas E. McNall, r. L. Kiser,
, N. lngersoll, D. NJ. Dick, Twigs, an
j. II. Hamilton.
There may be others there from this coun
ty who did not come under my notice.
@. H. REMINGTON,
Secy Nuscatine Go. Soldiers Relief Assoc'r