Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-11-01


In attempting this weekly exhibit Of
sanitary work in the department in which
we labor, we feel that we are only doing
an act of justice to those who are Joined
with US in this good cause, and by whose
cordial cooperation and bOundless iber-
ality the Soldiers Aid Society of North
ern Ohio has been enabled to send SO
much comfort to the hospitals of our army.
SOLDIERS AID SOCIETY.
CARE OF THE WOUNDED At PERRTvILLB.
The following report just received from
Dr.. A. n. Read, Inspector United States
Sanitary Commission, will be read with
much interest by all, and especially by
those having friends among the wounded
in this recent battle:
Rocks u 3. sASIrARY COMMISSION,
| LoUIsyILLE, KY, Oct. -, 1862. J -
DEAR Mrs. RoUsE:-IhaVe just returned
from Perryville and vicinity, where l
| have been locking after the wants Of the
wounded, and though now on the eve OF
my return with fresh supplies l have no
time to give you full report OF what l
have seen and done, it is but proper that
should render to you at least a brief ac-
count of the disposition made of tie stores
so promptly and literally forwarded BY
your Society, in anGwer TO my appeals.
Immediately on reception Of the news Of
the late battle, accompanied by Mr.. ThOm-
asou, of Louisville, started for Perryville
with three wagons loaded with sanitary
stores, of which large part were Of your
contributions.
On arriving at the scene of action, we
we're the first to bring relief when help
was needed more than tongue can tell.
Instead Of 700, as first reported, at least
$500 Union and rebel soldiers were at
that time lying IN great suffering and des-
titution, about Perryville and Harrods-
burg. In addition to these, many had al
ready been removed; and we had met num-
bers of those whose wounds were less Sc
we're, walking and begging their way to
Louisville, eighty-fve miles distant. There
had been an entire want of preparation
for the care of the wounded; and as q con-
sequence the suffering from the want Of
help of all kinds, as well as proper accom-
modation, food, medicine, and hospital
stores, was terrible. Do not blame the
Surgeons, however, for this. Both those
in charge, and those in attend
ance, had done, and were doing,
all in their power to prevent and
mitigate the evils from which our poor fel-
lows were suffering. The fault lies higher
than they-with the superior military su.
Ihorities, who Withheld from the surgeons
the information, and denied them the re-
sources which alone could have enabled
them to meet the emergencies of the case.
Soon after the arrival of the three wagon
loads Of stores before mentioned, there
came twenty ambulances also freighted
with sanitary goods, all Of which furnish
ed the means Of establishing . depot Of
supplies, the value Of which TO surgeons
and patients, reduced to the extremitieS in
which we found them, language can hardly
express, These stores were all forwarded
by the Louisville branch United States
Sanitary Commission whose energy, and
zeal in our work, are above all praise
though they included also, the bounty Of
both Cincinnati and Cleveland.
The vehicles which bore them were fur
nished by my request by DR.. Head, the
Medics1 Director here, whom have always
tOuuu u4Ost BAOA4B Bb dAA Anu Al AAo NSTbP
Grafton with our efforts for the sick and
wounded.
To Captain g. Perkins, of the Quarter
masters Department, formerly from Akron,
Ohio, and well known to some members Of
your socie,y, also feel that special ao-
acknowledgements are due for his readiness
on this and other occasions in giving US
the benefit of the resources or his depart
ment. Through his fundamentally,
was enabled to have our wagons connected
with an ammunition train which had the
road" in preference TO all others, and
travelled night and day. Thanks to this
arrangement, our stores reached Perryville
two days sooner than they would other
wise have done. As TO what was the de-
mand on our means Of assistance at Perry
Vile, and how far this demand was met
you may perhaps gather some idea from the
following extracts from my journal:
"s We found the first hospital
for the wounded at Mscksville; this was q
tavern with sixteen rooms, containing $50
wounded, thirty sick, mostly from Wis
eonsin regiment, Colonel StarkWesther's,
twenty-five were on cots, some on straw,
the others on the floor with blankets
AAp OOOAAAb WAo al NOAp a. q
Fireplace, with two camp kettles, and a
few stew-pans. The ladies of the town
we're however, taking articles home and
cooking them there, thus giving great as
sistance. From this place TO Psrryville,
some ten miles, nearly every house WaJ
hospital. At one log heuse we found
twenty of the 10Th Ohio, including Major
Moore, and Captains Benily and Marmion.
At another house we found several Of the
SD Ohio The family was very poor, but
doing all in their power for those in their
charge The old woman promised to con-
tinue TO DO so, but said with tears in her
eyes, she feared they themselves would
starve. As at the other houses, the sick
bad no regular medical attendance. l
therefore prescribed for them, and left
them medicines. After dark
reached Perryville, Mr.. Thomson giving
his place in the buggy to a young soldier
whom we found lying by the way side, sick
aud unable to walk. l saw him placed in
hospital.
DR.. Marks, Of the 10th Wisconsin, was at
Perryville. He received rs kindly, took
care Of our horse, and gave Us shelter. We
slept On she asOF.