The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-01-18
OUR SICK SOLDIERS.


Mrs. Annie Wittenmyer, the efficient and de-
voted Secretary of the Soldiers aid Society at
Keokuk, publishes in the Gate City detailed
account Of the Hospitals of our Iowa Volun.
teers. We make a few extracts from the report
Of this noble lady. She says:
We may not, therefore, conceal from you the
painful fact that sickness is fearfulIy on the
increase in our army; that hundreds Of our Iowa
| troops are Frustrated by disease, and that the
| arrangements made for their accommodation are
altogether inadequate to secure their comfort.
As false impressions have obtained in some
sections with regard to the amount Of supplies
furnished iy Government, We would just cay
that they ale by far too limited to meet the de.
maids of the sick at the present time, and are
not unfIequently doled out with spssi; hand
graiyingiy. Medical Puryeyors, If we may credit
the united testimony Of the Medical staff, re-
to themselves the right not only to restrict
but to dictate with regard to acquisitions, 50 that
in many cases Tie supplies aNo1sd by the Go,yra-
| a1ent are not received.
The Medical Department Of the Army, as we'll
as the Army itself, would seem to be largely in
the hands Of men who are acting in the interest
Of the Rebels.
The 4th Regiment il at Rolla They are COM
fortably housed in spacious and substantial win
ter quarters, of their own building. The men
are clean looking and very wei. clothed Their
hospital is an immense log building, erected by
their own hands, and looks very much like .
fort, but it is partitiOned OF with plank, we'll
ventilated, and comfortably fitted up for the
accommodation of nearly Two hundred patients.
Their sick we're all supplied with bedsteajs Of
their own manufacture, except the limited sup
ply of cots furnished BY G0vernment. The reg.
iment were suffering very severely from meaales,
| but their hospital was 90 well arranged. and
| Kept with 70 much regarI TO the cleanliness and
comfort Of the sick, that We Can but commend
them to favorable attention.
The example of Col, Dodge 10 worthy Of all
commentator, ss he. notwithstanding the pres.
sure of official business pisi.s Ais hospital daily,
and has the entire regiment comfortably quar-
tered for the winter at cost to the Govern
ment Of less than two dollars per man. We
are aware that be has had many advantages
over some other Colonels, but it 10 praise
| worthy that be has turned them to 90 good an
account ,sS,
The 5th Regiment is at Syracuse. The men
are still living ia tents, but they are very com.
fortaby clothed. Their hospital 10 ia vacant
etorebouse, and although not we'll suited TO the
purpose, is perhaps the best building tnat could
be obtained in the place. Their hospital was en-.
tireiy destitute of beds, pillows, &C., and the
mep were lying upon straw ON the Aoor, With
thcir coats or knApsscks under their heads The
rooms were As clean as they could well be under
the circumstances, and the attendants appeared
Kind and faithful, but the Surgeon failed to con.
vince Us that that was the best war to quarter
our sick. A large number Of their sick have
been scut to post hospitals-8O nos beng ab-
sent from the regiment We have reason TO hone
that thorough change viii be made in the A.
rangemeh;s Of the establishment, and that very
soon our sick will bs more comfortable. Sup
plies we're afforded. IS
The 9th Regiment 10 at OtteryilIe, and have
for some time past been detailed 70 guard tie
Lsmine bridge. They are quartsred in tents,
aud..are very poorly clo.hed-somSoi the men
are decidedly ragged They have never had 1
rcgimentsl hospital since entering the service
Those slghtly indisposed have been stfeated In
camp, while the very sick have been sent 70 the
post hospitals.
Some Of the post hospitals are we'll conduct
ed-of the one 10 RolIa We can make favorable
meniion,-but q general thing they ere badly
managed, and il il not surprising that the sick
In most casss decidedly object 70 being sent 70
them, - they are cut on from the attention and
sympathy Of their comrades, and ass liable to
ssssr ne grossest neglect.
We found two Of tie sick Of The 9Th regiment
y ne Ress hospital 10 6edalis. 10 most wretch
60 ana soathsone condition. One, Young man
VINO Vas convsiescing from typhoid fsycr. -
Iy'ne ON an uneven pIatform Of bosrde. vithone
any KING o. bedding o. even straw beneath In.
or pillow under bic hesd. sIshonsA - ~
greatly smaciasea The otkcr nsis5t, - -.
suderfng ffeE paesneoiA. ~ eoiirs3 |. vish..s
bedding, except ~ tia eot 81 NSisk ~ ~
lying and rseesd blanket III ~ rSa ~
e:ystIsg Ms fes.iseee - lae1laaaly