The national Republican., 1862-02-03

THE HORRORS OF THE ALEXANDRIA
a., HOSPIrAL.
Bone time ago, the State Of Wisconsin ap.
pointed Col. JAMES MANSFIELD its agent to
examine into the condition and attend to the
wants Of TIE Wisconsin, soldiers.
While Tits epsagsd, h reosived note from
soldier Who wss sick, I'D thsn conhned to
Ais bed at the Alexandra Hoapitsl. The writer
Of the note complained~of bad treatment,
which OF once determined theColonel to make
an investigation Of the case; accordingly, he
obtained permission of DR.. Wood, not only 10
visit The hospital, butte see and eontstse With
the soldiers alone, so that II there were abuses
there, or If they were badly treated, they
might speak Of their wrongs without restraint.
On Thursday of last week, Col. Mansfield
commenced his examinations, the result Of
which is astounding and almost Incredible;
but the proof is overwhelming, and will excite
the just indignation Of the whole country.
After the Colonel had freely conversed with
the sick soldiers, and learned the treatment
they had received and were still receiving, he
determined TO present the matter immediately
to Congress, and, as a preliminary etep, he re-
quested number Of the invalids to state in
writing, over their own signatures, the manner
in which they had been treated while in the
hospital, and directed them to state nothing
but what they would swear to, II called
upon to do so.
The following are s,me Of the letters sent to
Col. Mansfield, as requested. They are all
dated-"Ge General Hospital, Alexandria, Jdnuary
20, 1862" and addressed to Col. James Msns-
field; we therefore omit ell preliminaries, and
give merely the substance Of each note:
l certify that I found man confined TO a
room where he had been "a hours without
food that went and got him some crusts Of
bread and carried to him the same day cap.
tain came 10 Dr. Porter with sick soldier, and
requested permission TO leave him till morn.
ing, as he couldn't 60 on to bis regiment that
didn't keep tavern. l also certify that do
not get sufficient TO eat, and have not had
since came here but once or twice. ,.
ANsoN A. CoNE, Attendant,
Company H, Forty-sixth Penn. Reg.
l certify that have several several times
seen patients 10 this hospital dip slop out Of
have seen DR.. Porter strike sick man 10 the
hospital. Also have not had enough to eat
ISAAC L0vEJor,
Company H, Fifth Michigan Reg.
do certify that l, BENZ. F. Cook, did see
some Of the patients Of this hospital dip from
the slop barrel soup that The cooks bad thrown
two, or three, II you wish.
| BENZ. F. Cook,
Company B, Second Mass. Vol.
do hereby certify, upon honor, that hav.
been an invalid 10 the above hospital, dnce th.
lst Of December, and that, during thAt time,
have suffered for the want Of proper food L
eat; also, that what have received has beer
Of very inferior quality, rations for break
last and supper being nothing but dry bread
without butter, and tea or coffee, without
milk or sugar. PAsEo n. MILLER,
| 46th Reg. Com. H., p. v.
hereby certify that have been in this hos
pital since the 10th of December, and that dur
ing that time I have frequently suffered fo
want Of sufficient food. I have been ordered
full diet by my physician each day; but coult
not get 1t. Patients have been confined OF
bread and water for asking for bread, ant
others have been deferred from making com
plants out Of fear. This to my certain know
ledge. E. A. BoT1uM,
| Com. G., 9Th Reg. Wis. VOL
l hereby certify, upon honor, that hav,
been an invalid In the above hospital since th,
3lst OF December last and also that during tha
time have suff red many times for the wan
OF food, and that what Gid receive was of
very inferior quality.
| NATHAN DARLING, oa,
| Com. B. 18th n. Y. Vol.
Iwas sent from camp to be discharged a
soon as was able to 60 home. Was sent {,
Georgetown to the Seminary Hospital the 9Th o
December, sent here the 20thof December, hav,
been here ever since, and cannot get away.
have asked for a discharge but cannot get Il
the Doctor said he would do all he could fo
me, but Doctor Porter would not attend to Il
and for that reason have to stay here. VII,
am kept here an expense to the Government
have tried TO have the Doctor send me to tn
regiment, but he would not do that. hav
sent to the Captain Of my company for dil
charge; he sent back word that must get m,
discharge here; 1t was their business TO dii
charge me while am here, not bis. Now, whs
am to do: stay here and die? am AFRAID
will have to II come one don't help me. l wis
If you can do anything for me that you would
don't care where l 60 II get out Of here.
had much rather go TO the regiment than sta
here. - ..r. ;
l have been In the hospital here, aud 10 th
camp, since the middle OF September. II 70
can get me sent from here don't care where
wish you would. We don't get enough I'd %
here, and are used more like dogs than men.
, don't want TO stay In the service my longer !;
left good home 70 help my country, but nc
to be used as have been here.
Yours truly, D. Il. HoLI.IsrER,
Company d, 5th Reg, Wis. VOL
. have been in the hospital ever since th
= l4th Of August, and have nearly lest the use {
(, my leg; aud they are not doing anything fo
l mo now and have not for the last six week
and am tired Of living in hospital. Twas
Baltimore for more than three months, and v,
sent from there back to Washington TO be di
charged, and the papers we're sent with m,