Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-10-10
rhe Ho.pitnI nr Fort scott. Knnsas.

.EPoRT OE y X. bhOWA5 AGEAI INAAAO
STATES SANITARY COMMISSION, LEAvBN-
WORTH, KANSAS, on CONDITION OF HOsPI-
TAI AT FORT SCOTT.
LEAvESwoRrH, Sept. 18th, 1892.
Ladies Aid Society, ClsUslaHd, Ohio
Dear Friends II have just returned from |
Fort Scott, where I find much more sick
ness than on any previous visit, and am
more than ever convinced of the absolute
necessity for constant, faithful, personal
.abor of all the friends at home for the re-
lief of our sick boys in the field. I have
made an appeal to ladies of LeavenwOrth,
who have responded nObly by bringing in
fruit and other comforts, which I have dis
tributed with my own hands to those most
in need. They also sent with me one OF
their own number to visit the hospitals at
and near Fort Scott, and as she has favor
ed me with g copy of her own report and
appeal, which enclose to you, you are at
liberty to use it in any way you may think
will do the most good.
I am in receipt of four boxes and two
barrels of the first lot which you sent.
I beg of you not to slacken
your efforts to stir up friends at home to
redouble their efforts to keep you supplied
with the comforts that their own kind
hearts will suggest as needed by our sick
friends that are where they cannot assist
themselves. lam satisfied that most of the
goods will 90 to the direct benefit OF the
sick. Rev. S. L. Adair is post chaplain at
Fort Scott, and know him to be faithful.
He will keep constant lookout for any
cases of want and see that they are sup
plied so long as we have anything to sup
DIV them with. hope that you will con-
tinue your iberality to this department
we need more than we dare ask. What
you send shall have my personal attention.
Since writing the above I am in receipt
of the two missing boxes Of the first lot
sent, making the number complete. While
I am writing Lieutenant Deming has ar
rived at Leavenworth with the sad intelli-
gence of the death of Chaplain Hawkins.
His remains will leave here by express to-
day. His death is another heavy stroke
to the 2nd Ohio Cavalry, and one that the
sick boys will feel deeply. saw him
when I was at Fort Scott; he was then
sick but 1 thought he would recover; now
he has gone to a better land.
The Ladies' Aid Society met to-day to
hear the report of Mrs. Douglas, and the
result is that they have at once provided
number of bed-sacis and other things most
needed. We shall send them tomorrow
by Lieutenant Deming.
Yours, J. r. BROWN,
Agent United States Sanitary Commission.
REPORT OF MRS. DOUGLAS ON THE CONDITION
OF THE SICK IN THE HOSPITAL AT FORT
SCOTT.
To the Ladies Aid Society, LeaUsnWOrtf,
Kansas AS a delegat from your society
and in compliance with the request of your
officers, seconded by the Sanitary Commits
sioner Of this Department, Ihave the hon
or to lay before you a report of the cOndi-
ton of our sick and wounded as I saw
them on my recent visit to the hospitals in
and around Fort Scott.
In the field and post hospitals, We found
nearly FIVE hundred sick and wounded,
of the latter, few only, owing l pre-
sumo, to the enemy being
ss-like the circle bounding earth and sky.
Allures from far-yet as we follow iy.
Sun-stroke, rheumatism and fevers (ty-
phOid and brain) were the prevailing dis
eases, contracted on the late Southern Ex-
pedition. In one company there was but
one reported for duty. Their suferings on
this march were very severe. Without
water, and exposed to a scOrching snn,
with mercury at 1902, no wonder that dis
ease thinned their ranks and claimed q
greater per centage of victims, than has
yet the battle field.
At the post hospital we found not far
from two hundred and fifty patients, Oc-
cupying three separate buildings. These
were divided into wards, each containing
from twenty to twenty-five pa
tients, not including the upper halls,
which were also illed. We were accom-
panied by the surgeon and head nurse
both seemingly happy to answer all of our
inquiries, and giving US many items Of
interest. l noticed many cOuntenauces
brighten at the approach of "Aunt Sally's'
happy face. 1t seemed to reflect sunshine
wherever she turned. She calls them
cher boys" and said as duty hurried
her from one to another, she sometimes
found trembling hands grasping her skirt,
striving to detain her, and her heart
ached that she could not do more. How
many women in our land are at the pres
ent time giving all their strength and en-
ergies to this noble work 'Tis, indeed, a
holy mission one that angels may love
to look down upon. God grant, that ~
this kind care, many may be raised from
their beds of pain and languishing tC
again take up arms in defense Of liberty
and the Union. In conversation with
them they almost universally gave testi-
mony to good care and attention. TX
every ten patients there is detailed one
male nurse. The wards were cleanly, anC
now, with open doors and windows, vel
ventilated. But the thought arose in my
mind, that in winter with the presen
arrangements, it would be impossible t
have that free circulation of pure all
4
which is essential to the comfort of thu
sick. We accepted the invitation to g
to supper with the nurses and GONZALES
cents. It consisted Of tea, coffee, veal
stew, bakers bread, butter, apple ant
plum sauce and rice. There seemed to b
an abundance, well served and prepare,
with neatness.
.
In the field hospitals we found many ly
ing in open tents upon pallets ef stray
spread upon the ground. To the hardeno
soldier in health, to lie there through al
the changes of our variable climate, SCENE
q great exposure-hOw much more to on
who is wasting with disease, his systeI
susceptible to every change. But in thes
ield tents it is their choice to remain
They have q horror of the post hospital