The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-03-28
Letter from the Chaplain Of the Fourth
y 4, Regiment. -. -
FORT SMELLING, March Is, l8

e m FL q Regiment .-- .-
FORT SMELLING, March Is, 1862.
To the Editors Of the Pioneer and Democrat:
Allow me, through your columns, to
make known, especially to the generous
and patriotic women of our community, the
necessities of the sick among the troops now
at this post.
There have been nearly two hundred cases
of the measles among them, followed, in
very many instances, by pneumonia, or
some other form Of lung disease. The SOL
dier's great enemy, typhoid fever, has pros.
trated many. Other diseases have added
their powers and pains to these.
The Hospitals have been, for the greater
part of the time since the formation of the
Fifth Regiment commenced, full to crowd
ing and to OVERLOOKING, 60 that many men
have been obliged to undergo severe sickness
in the crowded quarters Of their comrades.
The Hospital accommodations have recent.
ly been enlarged to double their former ca
pacity. That evil is therefore relieved.
There remains, however, one class of
wants which adds greatly to the discomfort
and danger of sickness, and to the difficulty
of successful treatment OF disease. This
want is in the matter of Hospital stores.
The supplies of the General Sanitary Com.
mission are not available to US. Besides,
we prefer Minnesota supplies, rather than
than those prepared by Eastern benevolence
for Eastern troops.
Our sick are clothed in the common sol.
diers' under garments-close fitting, and to
the weak and nervous most annoying.
There are no slippers for the convalescent,
and our hospital floors are not like the sick
rooms of home, carefully carpeted. Any
day you my see men just getting up from
protracted sickness, moving about or sit
ting with only their socks between their
feet and the cold floors. Here are no
wrappers or loose gowns which can easily
be put on or of.
The regiment needs for present and fu-
ture use, good supply of shirts, loose and
large-of drawers likewise, not close. fitting;
few, not too fen, pairs of socks and Slip
pers, and, count it not an extravagant lux
ury ye who have never tried sickness among
strangers in military hospital few
loose dressing gowns,
Many of the sick have been by series
of diseases very much reduced. Often the
measles have been followed by pneumonia
and fever of some typhoid type, leaving
their victims hard by the grave. Their
convalescence is of course very slow, and at
every point of it critical. These do greatly
need the delicacies which home affords, but
our hospital stores do not. Jellies, dain.
ties, cordials-all you tender home nurses
know just what better than I,-are for
these weak, emaciated men not lururiss but
accessories. The last request made of me
one day, by. man who had lain sick for
weeks, was that l woud get him "some
sage. That was what he used to have at
home when be was sick. 1t didn't seem as
if he could live without it." promised !;
but the next day--his cot was empty. He
had gone to his rest. The good housewives
of our town well know how to remind many
sick soldier of distant home and will
gladly stand to him instead of his loved
ones 10 this matter.
The surgeon tells me he is in want of
bardages also. A broken shoulder the
other day, required sheet, so destitute is
the hospital in this particular.
The ladies of st. Anthony are moving
and the first fruits of their kindness are al
ready appearing.
The officers at this post have felt that
these facts only needed to be known that the
wants of the sick might be supplied. Trans.
portation of the troops will be such that all
stores can be easily taken to the field of
action. Shall our regiment 60 abund antly
supplied to the very serious work of a
southern summer campaign? The time for
this preparation IS short. So, in copjunc
ton with the other officers of the regiment,
1 the more urgently commend the matter to
your attention, not doubling the efficient
response OF the citizens of st. Paul.
A. S. FISKE,
Chaplain 4th Regt. Min. Vols.