Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-08-18
Hospltnl sketches rrom vashInslon.

Hospital Sketches frOm washington.
Wehave already made several quotations
from the letters Of a lady formerly q resi-
dent Of Cleveland, but now Of Washington,
who spends much Of her time in the hOspi-
tails Of that city. These letters, published
in the Ashtabula Sentinel, bring hospital
scenes home to us as ne other sketches we
have seen have done, and cannot fail to be
read with great interest. In her last let
ter she says:
az hnd some fifty Ohio men at Cllffburp
several from the 29th. The Ohio men,
with the exception Of some six or eight arc
convalescents. As fast as they are able to
be moved, they are sent to Alexandria to
the convalescent hospital, whittier Mr..
Wheeler and 60 tomorrow. l want to
find out what is needed there. There are
some terribly mutilated men in some of the
wards. One poor fellow had his face liter
ally blown off with shell. His nose, up
per and lower jaw are gone entirely-just
a cavity, with tongue protruding, for q
face, and that poor fellow is getting well
will live, no doubt tho doctor says; but
can never show himself without a mask
the sight would be so horrible. Oh, | sup
pose life is sweet to him as well as others
but could only pray that he might be per-
mitted to die, without a sight Of his own
Disagreement His eyes were spared
Does il not seem strange that he can sur
vive such an injury
ii kna ~ ~ no
per and envelopes. Thanks 10 the blessed
ladies of Jefferson, can do much for the
comfort Of the poor fellows now. pur-
chased a box Of lemons, twenty pounds Of
crushed sugar, and prepared lemonade with
ice, for all the wards at Clifburn, and such
a treat it was TO them. also purchased
three hundred little sponge cakes, and
passed with the lemonade. In one tent
found eleven Ohio men, all eonvalescing.
1 left with them two cans Of peaches, and q
bottle of currant wine, from the Ashtabula
ladies; and they were perfectly jubilant,
proposing three cheers for Old Ashtabula,
but checked themselves, as the articles al
luded to were slightly oontraband-that is
smuggled in without the surgeons permis-
sion, so they changed their " "hurras' to
'keep dark" The surgeons prefer in most
instances to receive themselves for the pa
tients, (2) such articles as wine fruit, and
that which would be palatable on their
own tables. l have 80 little confidence in
the majority of the surgeons; there is SC
much fraud and iniquity going on. Large
fortunes will be made during this war, and
many poor, miserable medical student
will come out rich before two years go by
And where does the money come from p
One instance Of wickedness has come to
my knowledge, that is too hagrant to b'
passed over; and yet, who is to look intC
it2 One of the nurses in the Judiciary
Hospital states that a poor fellow from one
of the Eastern States, died a few weeks
since and just before his death, he gave tC
her S25, and requested her to send it tC
his poor needy mother, and she faithfully
promised to do so, taking her address fOl
that purpose. As soon as the man died
the surgeon inquired about his effects, an,
being told Of this money, demanded it,
She plead with him to permit her TO fulfil
the promise to the dying man; but the sur
geon preferred to send the money himself
and took possession, but never asked foi
the mothers address, and she alone knew
the address. The nurse finally told Z lady
who gave it to me as above. Mr.. Wheele
is going to try to get the thing investigat
ed. This, have no doubt, is only one o
multitudes of other similar cases.
I have twice purchased chewing tobacco
cigars, pipes and smoking tobacco, and
can never give you the faintest idea how
perfectly wild the poor convalescents wer
for it. Many Of them remain here 70
weeks together without a cent Of money
and as Uncle Sam recognizes no such hos
pital want as tobacco, luxury to almos
any soldier, of course they are deprived o
it, and as it would probably be the las
thing most ladies would think of carrying
to them, you may imagine, if you can, tn
frantic eagerness to get it. Poor fellow
lying wounded and helpless, would ask S
eagerly for chewing tobacco, on being in
formed that had it. In fact do not be
heve anything to be found in this worl
could be to them more acceptable.
took list of the wants Of about fft.
poor fellows yesterday. At first the
would be shy in mentioning any wan
until gave them to understand that kin
ladies from Ohio had furnished me wit
money to supply, as far as I could, thel
wants. have on my list, !, pine-applei
8, oranges; I, rice pudding l, boiled chicE
en-; s, chicken soup; /, baked potatoes
pickles; l, Goldfish and toast; 2, baked al
pies; 8, vegetable soup; l, cOcoanuti
blackberries; 3, cake; l, apple tart;
apple pie l, short-cake and butter;
fried ham; /, bread and butter and pr
serves; l, green tea; 2, bread and mil
and berries; 2, tomatoes 2, custard;
some kind Of fruit; l, home made bread
/, cheese; 50 you see 1 have some work
do to meet all those wants. I shall try
do it, however, though do not know
the surgeon will permit all to be gratife
rust tell you about the boy who wan
2 co5fsh and toast. He rejoices in the CO..
) nomen Of samuel Weller" and thin
he must be the veritable SauliVsE Veil
himself, of Pickwiokian celebrity. ]
: was shot in the foot. He said when
/, was sick at home his mother fixed him I
with Goldfish and toast, and he really ha
kered after some now. l took him SON
Of course.
p A curious theatrical advertisement b
recently appeared at Naples, announciI
that, after being closed for the long peri
=