The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-07-16
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For months past we have been il. receipt
Of COMMUNICATIONS from soldiers In Iowa
Regiments, complaining Of theft Surgeon
for neglect Of duty and brutal treatment Of
the men under their charge. At 6tst Vt
paid little attention to these complaints
thinking it impossible fot man to become
So Hardened as to neglect SICK tr wdGnd
ed soldier when few moments devoted e,
his case would possibly be the means OF
preserving his life. But the complaint
becoming more numerous, and returned
Soldiers confirming them, We set At wori
to ascertain to certainty the truth or fa!.
si:y Of the charges. We regret to say VIC
found them too true, and half had not beer
told us. We have proof positive that ir
several instances the lives Of soldiers have
been sacrificed, and the poor fellows allow.
the culpable neglect Of the Surgeons who
are paid large salaries to attend to the ne,
ccssites Of these very men. We will relate
an instance vouched for by an officer OF the
regular army:
A soldier of one Of the Iowa regitietits;
with mortal sickness stamped upon every
lincament Of his countcnance, approached
the surgeon, who was sitting outside his
tent, picking his tee tn after hearty
meal, and saluting, informed him that, for
several days, he had been troubled with an
acute pain II, the towct part of his stomach;
that he did not like to complain or give up;
but the torture was 50 intense he felt rs II
something must be done. -
Come here to .mOrroU at one o'clock,
and l will look into your case," said the
Surgeon gruffly, too lazy to move from his
chair.
The poor fellow turned away with 8
dropping heart, his disease still gnawing at
his vitals, and his pain unalleviated. The
officer wko furnished US the information
says his heart bled for the soldier, and he
determined to watch and see If the Surgeoi
kept his promise on the morrow. The
next day at the appointed hour, the soldier,
nearly bent double by the pain he suffered;
made his appearance at the Surgeons tent;
but no Surgeon was to be found: He wai.:
ed for near an hour and then his strength
failing him, crept back to his quarters to
suffer in silence alone. The next morning
the officer went to the po&r fellow and told
him that the Surgeon was now in his tent
and would probably attend to him, ut the
same time resolving to be present and hear
what excuses the doctor would offer. The
soldier appeared before the Surgeon and
again made his wants known.
''Come here to morroI at tskelvc," said
the Surgeon.
"But doctor, you told me the other day
to come here yesterday at one o'clock.
clne here and waited as long as | could
hold ny head up, and then had to return
to m7 quarters. am very sick, doctor;
and feel as if should die If something is
not done for me once"
You are damned liar, sir! l never
tcld you to come here at all. You are no
more sick now than am" said the Sur:
geon angIily.
A great tear rolled down the Drowned
check Of the soldier, and he shook from
head to foot like an aspen leaf. The officer
could stand it no longer. Stepping up to
the Surgeon he said:
ut is you who is the liar, sir, you miser-
able scoundrel! 1 was present tw- days
since when you made the appointment tJ
meet this poor fellow. He was here yes.
terday at the hour set. You was loating
somewhere around the camp, and let me
tell you, sir, If you had spoken to me as
you just spoke to this brave man, would
have broken every bone in your body, ana
had he not been so fearfuly i'll, you would
not have dared to address him in the man.
ncr you did. Now, sir, do you attend tJ
his wants at once, or will rcpc TT you Within
an hour"
The Surgeon was completely thunder
struck. That an officer should take up the
cause Of a priuate was to him incompreh hen.
sble. He nuttered something about med.
ding with affairs in which peOple were not
directly concerned, but the case Of the poor
soldier was attended to right quickly. The
threat Of reporting him acted like charm
This not case drawn from fancy, but is
an actual occurrence, and is only one of
thousand. At the proper time the Sur
geon's name will be given to the world
And now word as to the remedy for all
these abuses. Governor Krkwood has
been frequently importuned to appoint i
commission to consist Of fearless, honest
men, who would not hesitate for m oment
to complain to the proper authorities Of ar
officer detected in abusing, in any manner;
the brave volunteers from this State A
commission is wanted for the benefit of the
priuates-the officers can take care Of them.
selves. But Governor Kirkwood appears
to think his mill-dam, bank stock and flu.
ture political schemes Of more Importance
than the lives of our soldiers. Let US say
to him that he is, in measure, accounta-
bic for the death Of many who are dying
through neglect. We hope he will delay
moving in the right direction no longer
Davenport Democrat d Nescs.
Ar. Train In Defence Of Ireland and
lrishmen.
Mr.. Geo. Francis Train, who has resided
for several years in London, during q recent
discussion in that city, made some remarks
in which he defended the Irish from num-
crous charges made against them by Eng.
lishmen. Here are few extracts: