Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-02-12
t H Z j OU r n AL.
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE JOURNAL f,
CAMP PIERroNr, Va, Jan. 80, 1856

CAMP PIERPoNr, Va, Jan. 80, 1862.
DEAR Row AS we have become somewhat
recouciled to camp life, and have banshed
the idea of moving from hero from some time
| thought would try to find material for an
other letter, yet it seems to be somewhat of a
task-but as have just spent six or seven
days in that delectable institution known as
the division Hospitall'' L adopt it as the
suulect.
The Hospital, is a two story house about
two hundred yards from camp, and was for
merly owned by rebel named Cook. l will
only speak of that part in which | was-not
being in such health. neither had | the privi-
lege to visit the apartments. I occupied a
place in the garret where the cots are struck
back under the Iafters, and it requires some
care to get out without bringing your head in
contact with the roof. 1t appears to be most
miserably conducted throughout. The sur
geon does not appear to give that personal at
tentioI to cleanliness in the departments that
the case demands. In the ssroom' occupied
there We're two attendants, who also brought
mp the meals, water, washed the eating u
tensils ,cnt wood, etc. These attendants are
men who have become we'll, and are retained
for two or three days until others are able to
tats their places. This is all we'll enough,
and wish l could stop here. But justice
10 my fellow soldiers forbids it. | noticed
four or five who seemed TO me to be playing
the sold soldier" i. e. only pretending sick
ness. Either one of them could eat as much
as two ordinary men, and of the strongest
kind of diet at that-such as bread, butter
coiiee, cheese, sausage, mackerel, and pound
OF meat, TO the man-furnishing all themselves
except the coffee, bread and meat. Yet for
sooth. these are sick men. 1t strikes me
very forcibly that men who can eat hearty
as these do, are fit go to work. However,
ulis might be overlooked, if they did not mo-
nopolize all the chairs and fire to the exclu-
g. al.
pelicd to lie in bed to keep warm. They. too,
are all enevente tobacco chewers, and the sa-
Iva flows into three or four spit boxes, at the
stove, in a constant stream and the stove be-
ing hot the spittle is kept at nearly boil,
which causes the room to be infected with an
almost intolerable stench-to say nothing of
other nuisances. In my humble opinion,
when a man can eat and digest the strongest
Kind OF food and chew tobacco enough to kill
hog, he should be driven or kicked out, and
set to work, for their presence in the hospital
Is perfect nuisanse. And further, L think
That the rules established by the Sanitary
Commission in regard to cleanliness, pure air,
ETC., shoald be more rigidly enforced in our
hosptals-which, for the sake OF our sick SOL
diers, should be done immediatly. The cook
ing apartment is another part of the establish
ihent that needs some attention. The coffee
IS not bit to drink (being worse than that we
get IN Campo the rice often burnt and fire.
quently neither milk nor sugar with it. IcalIed
Tor soup for my dinner one day not doubling
1t would be rice something of that kind.
but to my surprise they brought me a little
greasy water in which they had boiled their
meat.
This is the way the men are taken care of
IN the "DiVision" Hospital, which is no better
iare than in the camp. Unquestionably, men
who are sick, should have such diet as suits
uleif condition. But, instead of this, the
managers of the cooking department seem
only 10 study their own conveniences, and
nash up anything that is the easiest and quick
est done. These reflections are not written
WIN pleasure, but for the benefit of my fellow
soldiers, who are often made to suffer unneces-
.aFiy, because those who are princely paid by
he government, neglect the important duties
iu'fusted to their care. You have my opinion
80 Tar as my observations extend. You can
rely on this statement, as have no motive to
a'Sgnlse facts; and if ] have Inadvertently
uoa on anybody's corns, let them stand from
"nuer As ever yours. ". r. B.