Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-12-13
SOLDIERS AID SOCIETY.
SOLDIERS AID Society NORTHERN OHIO, |
CLEVELAND, O., Dec. u, 1852.

Il
letter that the pressing need of supplies
has been somewhat relieved at Perryville,
and that the sick at Bowling Green and
Nashville should now be the special OBJ
jects of our care.
Our friends have been Jealous and ac-
tive the past week, and the generous
receipts at our rooms give token of the in
terest that they feel in the work of relief
We beg they may continue their efforts,
and that the pleasures and the diversions
of the approaching holiday season may
not be suffered to conflict with their labors
for the sick and wounded soldiers.
We are glad to know that the young
people of many towns are active in plan
ming entertainments Of various kinds, for
the benefit of the local Aid Societies. In
this way many societies have received val
liable assistance, and we recommend these
good examples to the imitation of the
young and patriotic of other places.
PERRYvILE AND DANvILLE HOSPITALS.
LOUISVILLE, hY-y Nov. 18th, 1867.
Dr.. J. S. NEwBERRY, Associate Secre-
tary U. S. Sanitary Commission-DEAR
SIR After completing the purchase of
the articles of diet, and the delicacies for
the sick and wounded at Perryville and
Denville and securing transportation for
them, started on my third visit to those
places, in company with the President and
Secretary of the Soldiers Aid Society at
Cleveland-a branch which has sent US
more goods and sent them more promptly,
and has given US evidence of more faith
in the agents and inspectors Of the Com
mission, than any other.
ought, perhaps, to inform you of the
difficulties our Surgeons labor under for
want Of wa1er, especially in Perryville.-
In my first report, wrote of the destitu-
tion in Danville,, which was then OCCASION
ed in part by the increased demand made
by the passing of our army, twice, and
General Bragg's army once, through the
town. The wells are partially filled again,
but now most Of the water is brought in
carts more than q mile. The town con-
tains about three thousand Inhabitants
PerryVille contained before the battle (300)
three hundred inhabitants, and is entirely
destitute Of wster-Chaplin Greek bein
entirely dry-the wells all dry-Gnd all
the water used at the hospitals and by the
inhabitants, is brought from two springs
one mile from the town. These were in
possession of the enemy at the time of the
battle, giving them a supply, las the
springs are large,) while our troops were
destitute Of water, and endured all the
hardships which q soldier in BATTLE must
-. L.,
felt severely in the managementof the hos
pitals. The water is impregnated with
lime, and but little washing is done.
The wounded have been removed, so
that there are now only 700 remaining
These are in q much better condition than |
they were at the time of my second visit |
Most of them have a comfortable bed, |
mot very clean, but not shirts and draw
ers for change, with few exceptions.
The mortality has not been as great |
with the Federals as with the rebels, but has |
been large. Erysipelas and Pyema occur
ring often, and arising principally, as 1 |
believe, from the over-crowded state Of the |
hospitals.
At Danville the improvement in the con-
dition Of the sick was more marked than
at Perryville; the hospitals were all re-
clean, the grounds around were |
well policed, and the means of cooking
somewhat improved. On the 18th there /
were 925 patients, but the poorer hospi-
tails are given up as the sick convalesce, so |
that even now they are overcrowded, but |
not to the same extent as at first.
Louisville and Danville are, one 80 miles
and the other 20 miles from Lebanon-the
nearest point to railroad; and Lebanon is
some rs miles from Louisville. Lebanon
is used as q resting place for the sick
brought from Perryville and Danville, as
well as permanent hospitals for the troops
stationed there-some two regiments at
this time.
Our local agents have distributed the
goods left with them in a very satisfactory
so far as I was enabled TO ascer-
tain, the one at Danville keeping list of
many Of the individuals who received as
as well as that given to separate
hospitals.
Last but not least, would I mention the
very great assistance in both places re-
ceived from the attentions of the ladies'
They hsvelabored systematically, certain
Of them agreeing to visit each hospital
daily and have taken many Of the choice
articles Of diet to the suffering.
The citizens of the surrounding coun-
try are also beginning to send in their
donations quite freely. think we shall
not be required to send any very large
supplies to these places after this, but must
turn our attention to Bowling Green and
with which places communion
lion has been interrupted, but which is
now partially opened-and where there
IS without doubt great suffering.
| would not close this report without
igain referring to the suffering aud NOR
.ahty which our soldiers have experienced
rom the over-crowded state of the small,
badly ventilated rooms they have been
to use as hospitals
Our Surgeons seem TO have done all they
could to remedy this, yet they often show
what seems to me, morbid sensitiveness,
hat prevents their taking nice public
or even charitable institu-
ions which now contain but few inmates,
Tnu U4ziOl-SAEald- ha made comfortable
when the sick could not.
Our great want in this department is
hospitals. Since the war there
has been one built in this department ca
1able Of accommodating eighty men-and
,ne only. May not this, in great meas
ire, be the cause OF that fearful
Inference in the mortality Of the west
,rn troops over the eastern2 And setting
lside all questions of humanity are not
lumber and nails cheaper than men2
Yours, Te-y truly,
LETTER FROM DIR. 4. N. WARMER, AGENT
SANITARY COMMISSION.