Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-05-09
The Wounded Vermont Soldiers.

lress Monroe, with lG0 wounded Yer.
mont soldiers and letter in the New
York Post from Philadelphia merchant
alleges that they were shamefully neglcc
ted by the surgeons who bad them il
charge. Their condition as witnessed by
benevolent gentleman who went or
board to see them, is thus described;
" He was told by the men that they
had had no breakfast it was then eight
o'clock, and no signs of any were to be
seen. In talking with several he found
they were badly in want OF proper at
tendance; they had tour surgeons and
one hospital steward. Finding the men
looked sick and weary, he procured some
oranges (two boxes)and took them down
to the boat and began to distribute one
box, when the other box was taken up to
tie officer S room and nicely slowed away ;
after the first box was exhausted he went
Up for the other, and after objections be-
ing made by some of the officers to Civ
ing oranges to wounded men, he took the
box and proceeded to distribute that.
Soon some of the men called on the
steward to dress their wounds, but he
was unable to do so, not having the prop
er material to do il with, and, as he said,
not having had sleep for forty eight hours.
He was so hoarse he could hardly speak
above a whisper, and was literally worn
ont. My friend called for some sponge
aud basin, and volunteered to dress the
wounds Of such as he could but the
steward told him he had only two or
three basins and one piece of sponge.
My friend sent for lot of sponge and
twelve tin basins, and provided water, and
set such of the men as could to washing
their own wounds, while he himself took
several Of the worst cases. There was
TO lint or bandages on board, so he got a
piece of muslin from one Of our dry
goods stores, but it was found too stiff
and irritating. He then sent off and got
a lot of old shirts and made bar dages OF
them; also got one Of his clerks and one
or two others to assist bin, and they set
to work washing and dressing the wounds
of the worst wounded.
Cne man was wounded in the thigh,
and a very ugly wound it was, too. This
man said his wound had not been dressed
since leaving Fortress Monroe, on Tues
day, and The matter was running from it
and the stencil almost intolerable. Ny
friend sent for the surgeon who came and
looked at it, probed it and went away.
1t is but right to say that this surgeon
was sick. The men said so, aud he look
ed sick.
Ny friend and his assistants were there
until about l 3 4 o'clock, when the boat
left for New York, and during all that
time, from 7 l2 to II "a not one of
those surgeons came near the wounded
men. When spoken to they showed the
utmost Indifference to the condition OF
the men. This neglect caused much in
dignation, and | trust the proper author
tiles may take them in hand. Some of
these men will die before they reach New
York, and all from the neglect and self
ishness Of those having charge of them.
Some Of the market people sent butter
&c. on board but it was with difficulty
they We're got to the men, the officers or
iering the best sent to them, and seeming
totally Indifferent whether the men had
anything or not"
We hope this matter will be thoroughly
investigated, ana II lhese allegations are
found to be true, that the guilty parties
will be made to suffer for their heartless-
uess and seIfshnes. 1t is due TO the
brave men who have periled their lives
for their country, and are suffering from
the casualties of the Battle field. We
trust, however, that the facts are not so
bad as represented, and that humanity
has not been so foully disgraced.
Baton Rouge, which it appears has
1een taken by our forces, is the capital
IF Louisiana. 1t is situated on the Mis-