Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-05-27
LATEST NEWS
BY THE NAILS.
Letter from Ira II. Clifford.
Pu11rno LAxplxG. Nav IL

Letter from Ira Il. Clifford.
PnnBrso LANDING, Nay II.
Rsy. 4. J. Eysett asd I'd. Rssseu
DEAR FIESDa-Ws reached this place OF
| the 18th at Eve o'clock p. n. sll right, and
reported at once TO DR.. McDougal. Asdiea
Director, very gentlsmanly man. Who q
once gave % oil the instruetioss and advice
necessary for 10. and tslegrsphed to General
HAlleek 10 grant 10 passes-s very difficult
thing to obtsin. We find. After we got our
passes be advised ne to call upon Dr.. Douglas
remsrking that be vas doing more good With
hts sanitary stores than any other eommission
etc. We called upon the Doctor, and found
hin very much Of . gentleman, and kind
hearted conscientious man, and that hs 10 dis
trtbutDg An immense amount OF stores, and
that every surgeon is supplied By seDding. in
his rsqoisitions without regard 70 the State
from whence they came. and I know that
nothing 10 held back. He has the steamboat
Polar Star loaded to the waters edge With
purveyor and eon03e9ary stores. To give yeu
an idea Of the amount Of business hs il doing
in connection with the Acting Medical Pur-
vsyor. DR.. Grinsted, they fitted out during the
last thrss days three beats that will carry 700
With field cots, and everything needed for
hospital boats, supplying fifteen regiments on
the average each day besides.
BE went with % to see DR.. AeDougAl in re-
gard 70 . hospital at Davenport. The Doctor
assured me that he would fill hospital there
With from 500 to loco men, and ell from Iowa
OF Western Illinois, provided the citizens Of
Davenport would fit up the hospital With
everything ready 70 receive them. The Gov.
srnmsnt allows Is cents each daily, % rations,
and am told that when the hospital 10 fully
established this pay affords . revenue. The
contributions from committees will be quite
sufficient to keep the hospital. am also as.
sursd that the same will b kept full all cum
mer. The bedstsads can be sold after they
are not wanted for % much % they cost near
y. On the representation to me by the Medi-
cal Director, ! felt that should apprise you
BY telegraph, advising it.
There are now 1000 sick and wounded at
Hamburg that will be sent away. The cities
Vincennes, Wabash, and many other places are
getting up hospitals on the same plans, and %
soon % the Medical Director 10 informed they
are ready, he sends boat load with q sur
geen.
The Director has advised Gen. Halleck to
establish hospitals on the Upper Mississippi,
on account Of the healthfulnsss Of that re-
gion. Dr. McDougsl tells me that be pitched
HE tent In Davenport before there vas .
house there. Nov there is nothing to pre-
vent your getting . hospital, If little ex-
srtion is made.
l vent to see DR.. Maxwell this afternoon,
ct Hamburg, four miles above. The Doctor
10 we'll, but hard at work. He has 300 Iowa
boys under his charge, and they are all do.
ing we'll. Out of 700 that he has had care
Of not one died; and the men fairly worship
him. - he is so quiet and good natured. The
Doctor has the reputation of being the best
surgeon at the post. Pity he had not
commission % Brigade Surgeon, then be
could BE- known among men.
Capt. Wm. Sears 10 with him, and Is doing
nobly under the direction of Maxwell. he
gsts no pay, and asks none. but he will not be
forgotten.
/ left Center here to look after number Of
sick on the boats, bet he will now 20 up to
Maxwell and assist him. They al have to
work hard. and the Doctor tells me that no
one came to his aid when be needed is most
mean to help nurse-that came to do 90 from
Davenport, and says he will certify the amount
certain ones are entitled to. sent up some Of
the stores to him, and feel shat they will do
much good there. am told by the
Medical Director that the wounded from this
battle will be taken to Corinth, from there to
Memphis. &c.. then North. The battle 10 to
take place on Monday, it is thought 500 cav.
airy we're within mile Of me last night-they
were Van Dorn's men. The gunboat sent up
howl and they left in haste. After waiting
for . boat to day. (Sunday,) to take me to the
horse and came overland. across the battle
feld-oh, what . stencil. 1t is terrible.
The Iowa I'd cavalry have been making 0
charge that takes down all the charges. They
lost some 20 horses, and killed and q woun.
ded-eo l was told by Mr.. Gardner; he is sick
at Hamburg. The Iowa I'd and 7th are ready
to 20 in again. but there are but few Of them
1t was their wish, I an told, to be put in the
advance.
sm eatisfed that goods should be distri-
buted through the United States Sanitary
Commission, but an agent can be very useful
in looking after the men in camps, and see
that the Surgeon sends in to their depot. /
will write you further in regard to that. l
am satisfied that Mrs. Harlan 10 making .
great noise. but does not accomplish as much
as che might another way. OF the goods che
has, some are not wanted by the men, and
then che does not get from Iowa all that they
need and must have-when she should turn
over to the Sanitary Commission, and call upon
them for Just what was needed but will take
. tour on my horse and report to you again.
The weather 10 warm, but not too much 90
to be pleasant. It is very dry. and dust. oh
dear, you have no idea. I am going back to
Hamburg to-day and must hurry. Ishall 20
to the lines and visit all the repiments to.mor
row-they are % miles out II I get In the
fight you will hear from me. and upon return.
ing viii write you fully. Please give my love
to oil friends Tell my wife and family that
you heard from me and that l am we'll. The
haste with which have been compelled to
write, after being disturbed several times,
must be the apology for oil errors, DO. Write
me at Pittsburg Landing,