The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-12-19
The Abuses of our Soldiers.

Mar ALEXANDRIA Va, Dec ~, 1907.
Nix IuiToR: One uli!e west of Al-xau-
d.. and near Fort Ellsworth is Pos: Hospi- |
,- or Conyalescent Camp. as it is inditier-
cat.y called disgrace to the Country, the
government and common humanity it is al !
ready awakening the attention of Congress |
and the punlc, and if the facts are made !
alike, will raise a cry of Indignation that
WI. not easily be Quietcd. T:.ere are nearly
1000 men in this camp, and as an illastra-
,ou Of the c!oseness with which they are
r,G,ed, the camp Of the Me-, y. II. and Vt.
'r0ops, comprising five hundred and seventy
..ye men. may give a good idea of the whole;
Than ninety square rods of land. Thus are
tgty-the whole camp-haddled together
aud so dirty filthy and full Of vermin, is it,
that it is enough to shock any one, even an
od soldier.
These men are from hospitals, mostly, and
po2r, clothed, and if not sick, are at least
unfit for duty, or rather to be sent to their
regiments. On their arrival, they are di
viel into fo1r squads; first, those fit for
duty are sent into the s:ragglers camp, and
are pat 70 work or on guard duty; second,
hose unfit for duty are sent to the Gonzales
Crlt Camp; third squad are recruits or those
who belong to new regiments and are sent
10 the recruits camp where they drill; fourth
re paroled prisoners and are sent camp by
Themselves these latter are not counted in
The $1,000.
/ will give some account of the present
condition of the convalescents from Maine,
New Hampshire and Vermont, who are un-
,,r- the command cf Sergt. Hartwell L. Col
iuS Of Go. G., Sd Vt, better man couldn't
be found for the place, as all who know him
will testify: and all who do not, will at least
low the interest he has taken in the men
under his charge, if they read this letter.
Of the men here, 3lS are from Maine, l5C
from New Hampshire and l02 from Vermont
,r after from the following regiments: II
from the I'd, 9, Sd: 26, 4th; 30, 9Th 13, 9th
: 9tA; |, 10th ; aud I from the cavalry.
Dat OF these nearly six hundred men, owe,
one hundred had no Overcoats, until within
. few days; as many had no blankets, and
roW they have only one, and some are not
yet supplied with even ore. Not fifty in the
%Hc.e lave change Of ulder clothing, and
".a'Jael have, is nothing but cotton govern
Me,t shirts and drawers many have worr
.a"m from three to ten wees without change
ot washing. All need socks, many having
hone a, all half of the number also need
N.'s'; If none are entirely barefooted the!
a' loout Is bad Wood we ere furnished
nave I'd bat one load. The tents are lik
.e \ tent with tive or six N each no woot
". ,oye, cxcep; what the men get them
>"'e, nothing but the cold ground to slee
!tt;ons are dealt out to them each day
a"A With the exception Of bread, each ma
COOKS, sells or throws away what he can
s.I. have seen men exchange days IT
N'1s Of bread for two cents worth of SUI
-.s stuff; rice coffee aad sugar for tw
s-:;s pound have known men to sell q ne
,..ahct for seventy-iive cents and then a
most freeze during the night; pants for fit
'~.tS and take their pay in milk at ten CEN
!ec 4uMt Wood the men have to 90 fro,
,.c u three miles, and lug it on their back
and o'ten have nothing TO cut it with exec,
Apocket knife. Frequently an order com
&. these head quarters for the officers in COZ
mand to send several miles after some of
Men who had been put in the guard-hou
'3r stealing tie abattis about the forts.
shade, ornamental and fruit trees have
oeen cut except what are guarded fenc
are out Of question.
Under such circumstances men must suf
and die. 1t is current report through t
camp that seven men froze to death thr
nights ago. Many men die in their ter