Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-11-22


ern0r Of Wisconsin = = ez's-.a1 = $50 +
s1R:-In compliance with instructions,
received by telegram of Oct.1 65h, myself
and colleagues, comprising Surgeons
Hatchard, Dunlap, Thompson, Ellsworth
and KISSING, and nurses Babcock, Gas
well, Mitchell. Dewey, Douglas, Rocd,
Furguson, Plummer, Morgan and Hopkins,
proceeded on our mission of aid, and, l
may justly add, of mercy towards the late
battlefield of Chaplin Hills, Ky. We lett
on the hrst train after the receipt of the
telegram, and arrived in Chicago at IL M.
Oct. 18th. We called immediately on
Judge Skinner, Secretary of the U. 5.
0amtary Commission at Chicago, who, on
learning our business, Gas heretofore on all
similar Gccasions.) took hold of the work
as no man can whose whole soul is not
engaged in it. He proceeded to the Com
mission Rooms and ordered the clerk to
box and prepare for transportation every
article on hand that could minister TO the
relief OF the sick and wounded we were
TO visit. The result was thai forGy-two
packages of most appropriate articles were
ready tor the evening train.
We embarked at T 2. NJ, on the Mich
igan Central Railroad for Louisville via
Lafayette, Indianapolis and Jacksonville,
and arrived at Louisville about l o'clock
P. M, Saturday the 18th, stopping at the
Louisville Hotel. The next business was
to procure passes and transportation.
Through letter from Judge Skinner, We
were favorably introduced to the managers
of the q. S. Sanitary Commission at Louis
vile, from whom we desired much valaa-
bic information, and who manifested the
same desire to facilitate our movements
and make our mission success, that we
have constantly met in every depar ment
of this glorious organization. Just here.
let me advise all individuals as well as as
sOciatiOns IN our State, TO send their do
nations 10 the Chicago Sanitary Commits
sioner. If our soldiers DO not get the iden-
tcal articles, others, who p rhaps, ARE both
as needy and worthy viii, and ours in re-
turn receive from other sources like favors
and so let good offices go round, Tor our
soldiers are ali OF the same great family.
We readily succeeded in procuring both
passes and transportation, and commenced
arrangements for leaving on the morrow.
Some vague rulnors had already reached
Louisville that Morgan and his band T
guerrillas were in the rear of our army
and probably along the road towards Leb-
anon. 1t was therefore deemed discreet to
consult Gen. Boyle as to the propriety
of moving directly forward, in the morn
ing. The General advised against it, the
wisdom of which was demonstrated by
subsequent events. Being compelled to
delay, we employed the time in visiting all
the hospitals, thirteen in number. at that
time, and ascertained, by personal nspec-
ton, the condition OF every sick and
wounded soldier from Wisconsin, amount
ing in the aggregate to about three hun
dred; for particulars [ refer to the reports
of the several surgeons returned to me,
and forwarded to your Excellencv from
Louisville. Considering the hurried man
ner in which the hospitals were prepared,
and the rapid accumulation of inmates, the
condition of the sick and wounded was AS
comfortable as could De expected.
1t was not, until Wednesday, October
ODD, deemed advisable to move on towards
Lebanon. The bridge at New Haven, on
the Lebanon branch, was reported finished,
and about 8 o'clock A. M. we were off by
railroad, with prospect of reaching our
destination about as soon as we should
have done, had we set out with our wagon
train on Sunday. On board we met and
became acquainted with Dol. Ohas. B.
Flood, Agent of the U. S. Sanitary Com
mission, having the same destination as
ourselves, to whom, for many courtesies
and favors, we are deeply indebted. A
detention of several hours at New
Haven, from the unfinished state
of the bridge, made our arrival at
Lebanon late-where after some difficulty,
from the over crowded condition of the
public houses, we found quarters for the
night. A portion of Buel's army was
encamped in the ighborhood of Lebanon
including several regiments from Wiscon.
sin-these were visited by most of our
party, whilst preparations were making
for transportation, the arrangements for
which having been completed, we were
again on our way TO Perryviile, the SAM
tary stores having left several hours in ad
vance. About midway we met the chap
lain of the LIST reg. Wis. Vol, captain Nc
Namara, on his route to Lebanon after
sanitary supplies. he gave Us a hearty
welcome, Immediately changed his course
and returned with US. Rooms were Sc
cured at PerryviIle by the Sanitary Com
mission, which on our arrival came under
the charge of commissioner Flood, who
kindly offered us their occupancy, which
we gladly accepted and therein we estab
lshed our headquarters. We found the
chaplain most thoroughly posted as to the
locality, condition. and wants our wouD-
ded Wisconsin soldiers active and untir-
ing-benevolent aud sytnpathlsing, with
ample means now on hand to relieve the
how If
easily be imagined, that aided by the
willing and anxious hands OF oar party-a
rapid and trust judicious distribution of
the saitary stores entrusted to our care,
ensued.
The surgeons were detailed to visit all
the hospitals and examine personally
into the condition of every Wisconsin
soldier, whether sick or wounded and
report at headquarters as early as
practicable-the primary object being,
to better understand their wants, with a
view to more intelligent distribution OF
means for their relief, and next to enable
me to report, as fully and early as possible,
tor the benefit OF all parties concerned
AS soon as returns We're made to me they
were again forwarded, as at Louisville, TO
your Excellency number being as III
the former case. See original report for
particulars.
1t will be readily perceived that these
reports must necessarily, as 10 the num-
bers of sick and wounded, be very imper-
feet, because all the sick and wounded
able to be moved, were constantly forward
ed to Louisville by every available means
of transportation, so that after leaving
Louisville and before arriving at Perryville,