Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-05-15


replied, certainly. sir, certainly, sir ;
and at once united my arms. The tern
sir startled me more than the sight o.
the ghsstly dead or the flowing blood
of the wounded. for 1 had heard moth
ing from them but I'D Yankees, -
"d-d Negro thief" de-, from the time
l first descended the stairs.
On looking around the former hospi.
tal-for it was now converted or rather
metamorphosed into prison-I found
everything taken and destroyed. Even
the sick in the hospital bad their quilts
and blankets taken, and forced to en-
dure the long, weary march, with moth
ing to protect them but their thin blouse
and pants. There were two comforts,
however, that escaped their notice; one,
l think, belonged to Mr.. Pollock, and
the other to myself. / discovered mine
lying off in a corner, partially covered
with straw, and at once began TO
wonder how could smuggle it through.
I wanted to go into my Office, which
was up stairs in the same building,
but could not pass from one room into
the other without guard Of two or
three. The guard was appointed to
conduct me to the room had occupied
as an office, and as | passed the corner
where my comfort lay. concluded to
gather it up and take it along with me,
although l felt that my tenure to it { as
lawyer would say) was by no means
,ure. for | saw, before l assembled the
stairs. that their capacious eyes were
upon it; but one of them. more gener-
Gus than the rest, proposed to trade me
an old watch for il. Thinking that
l could secrete the watch much easier
than | could the comfort, and being
well convinced they would take it, at
once struck up trade with my rebel
customer, gave him the comfort. took
the watch and slowed it snugly away
in my fob; | then with my guard en-
tered the room I had occupied as an
Office, and found everything demolished
or carried away, my bandages were all
gone, lint trampled under foot. bottles
broken to pieces, and everything in
state Of chaos. then, with what lit
tie could gather, dressed the wounds
Of our men. Alter | had finished, |
was told there were two down street
that could not be brought up; asked
the privilege to go and see them, which
was granted. and guard of three men
sent with me. As we were proceeding
down street, the guards walked into
old man Ricketts, house, and bid me
follow. l am satisfied they made
mistake, for they never intended that |
should see the dead and wounded Se-
cessionists. but my eyes and ears were
open, and l saw in the front room three
that believe were dead, two / am GER
tain were, and three with whom they
were working as if dressing wounds. /
wanted TO see what was going on in the
next room, but was suddenly turned
round and fastened out. l went first
to see man that was lying in Capt.
Payne's evacuated quarters, who had
his thigh terribly shattered. The poor
fellow must have been suffering severe
", but manifested heroic foriitude; he
bore it without groan, and even talked
cheerfully about amputation. All that
l could do for him that night, was to
confne his limb in straight position,
and let him await an opportunity to am
putate. I gave him dose of NOR
phine, and crossed the street to see an
other wounded man, who was shot
through the upper portion Of the right
knee; although severe wound, yet l
had no doubt that early smputation
would save bis life. 1t was truly sgon-
izing, to hear his groans, and the great
burthen of his mind was, that he would
not live to see his wife, who, believe
lived in Millersport. One of the rebel
surgeons assisted me in dressing the
first mans wound, and Mr.. Hite l be-
lieve it wss) furnished me with pine
box lid for splints, and some material
out of which / made the bandages.
When again returned to the balance
of the prisoners, l found another woun-
ded man there by the name Of Felix,
a German from Barboursville; the ball
entered near the mouth and lodged
Just under the skin in his neck. In a
few minutes brother Of Felix's was
brought in. shot through both arms.
fracturing the ulna Of the left, and pas
sing through the feshy part OF the
right forearm. Since my return, /
have heard Of another wounded man,
that suppose must have made his es-
cape during the night, the nature OF
whose wounds | have not learned; but.
] understand he was well attended TO
by DIR. G. Hall, Of Burlington. As
soon as day daWned they commenced
tying, us, two and two, but before we
marched into the streets. Mrs. Hibru-
ner. a Union lady of Guyandotte, who
had a son among the prisoners, came in
to ask permission for few Of us TO go
to her house and get breakfast before
leaving: but she was refused. She
then told them de6antly that they would
reap the bitter fruits Of their cowardly
act. Then, turning TO her son, who
appeared somewhat desponding, she
said, Stephen. cheer up. and my prayer
is, that you may live TO return and
show these fellows that you are able
and willing to defend your country to
the last" She then FASTENED out tc
bring us some refreshments, but before
,hs could return we were hurried sway