Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-13
THE HOSPITAL AT MANASSAS

To tie Editor If the Wig.
Nay ask . small space in your paper to expose the
cruel treatment Of sick soldiers the hospital
Manassas and II possible to call the prompt attention Of
the proper authorities Of the War Department 10 that
subject do know tina: ary regard is psid by
those authorities to any complaint made public through
the columns Of our newspapers This Is 10: the fret
time that the attention Of our government has been
called to the neglect Of and cruelty to, our sick and
wounded soldiers only ct the hands Of their nur,os
but by the socslled surgeons themselves. DO IN.
tend include in this last clause those surgeons who
deserve the name and who have evinced by their hu.
treatment of the sick that they not only ply
scians but gentlemen. b.: cannot 10 justice tie
suffering thousands of our army, new confined in cur
hospitals, withheld the publication of some extracts
from letter which have lst received from one Of cur
soldiers at Manassas. Here Is his own language:
"The day befors yesterday, went to Manassas with
sick man. hr. and worked very strenuousIy TO have
bin sent to the hospital at Charlottesville but failed
then took him 10 Wsrrentop, and saw him vel
cared for. The hospitals that place well roanag
AT hansseas, the case is very dfsrent Isaw i
the there (e0drs Jruta! sesHdrsis) euy,ipg and
ddmning rho almost too sick 20 iUrn ia bed -
is positive fact M0t they do too sTGSs ivr
the life of man. The attendants in that hospital q,
death by the most borrd instrument Of torture
used In the Spanish Isq1sitiOD. The in which
the sick treated that place. i deep ard dsmning
disgrace to any civilized nation. And unless the Manage
msnt is changed, the present UoluHters ell
list; and no one who has seen much have
10 the last three days, blame them. We do not f6r
tho Yankees; do not dread the dulles OF service, but
have perfect hUrCr OF being cent 10 such hospitals
that at Manassas. wish had iins aud space TO give
you my experience st that He'll on earth That msy
to be very strong language, but it s the most dts
criptve can employ. got my sick fiend away As
/ could, aud took him TO Warrenton, from
whence returned last night to Manassas aud to my
Regiment"
This, Mr.. Editor, is the language Of of SOL
diers who has been nine months in SERVICE
Without having gone home; and who shrirks
from duty, and who leo says hi, captain is one Of the
most faithful and planning prvates in patriotic
army one Who from the beginning openly avosed that
be was n for the war and would have volunteered
but for the privilege of choosing other officers at the end
of the first year. in the of bis not liking bis pres
en-: commanders and last, though not lesst he Is
for whose ruhfulness your correspondent Is fully pre-
pared to vouch 1t has also been said upon other
thority the. Dr.. B. at the hospital favor.
If he can avoid H. Il is also within the reach Of proof
tha. of the physicians, hold the Office Of Asset.
ate Surgeon" in army, when sent fer minister
sick soldiers, and finding them either asleep perhips
in stupor have kicked them up as II they we're 90
many hogs.
Is it any wonder, then, that cur volunteers are seS
10 re-enlising They not brutes to b. kicked AID
cuted about BY every Ipslih:ad who get ofice
Neither they composed Of the dregs Of 10.
ciety but you know, Mr.. Editor they are ccmpoied
uiiny Of the wealth. the patriotism and the chvaIry Of
our Southern country. They are not coSards OR
bloody and victorious battle feds attes: this They arc
not mercenary-heir pitiiu p.y Is consideration
their voluntary surrender Of hgh and lucrative employ
mens clearly proves. TEey 70! afraid Of necessary
or unavoidable hsrdships. They have shown this in
thousand instances by their accomplishing obedience 10
orders, in melting sunshine and in peng storm, in
marches through the long and weary night sad o,oms
day. and in their lonely picket duties in the very teeth
of danger and Of death What then Is the difficulty -
The question Is fully answered in the above extract
ave do MT fear the YiHkiss-N, do no, dread tie da'
tie, Of service, but have pse! horror Of being ssnt.o
such hospitals as that a. Manassas.
81, % sin and shame Mr.. Editor that our ycuDg
men, after giving up all the Injuries AID comforts Of
home the endearmeHa OF friends ant conpanions after
barring their bcsomJ 10 the shafts OF ba', and brcyng
death In his very den, In defence Of homes,
lives and our common country whel worn down by eT-
posure and disease, perhaps maugled on some
culinary battle field, far away from home sDd kindred.
should not only have to slr the prNatons incidental
to camp life and the pains incidental to Bad Of ALL
ton, but to suffer the kicks scci and insults Of
drunken and unfeeng foreigner in tho disguise Of a
nurse. l hope, Mr. ilor for the sake Of humanity,
and In behalf of our sick aud suffering soldiers that you
will call the attention of the proper department in Rich
mond either IA prison or otherwise immc diaeiy TO
examination of the management of our hospitals. LIT
secret agent be sent Eansssss If they have any
doubt Of the truthfulness of the ibove description of
the treatment Of the sick Let such gcn. visit TIE hof
pals at that place in the disguise Of poor soldier for
several days. until he is fully assured either OF The 'GCh
or f.sy of the complaint malc in toe above extract,
aud then let the proper remedy DC applied at once.
The evil calls aloud for redresg.
Respectfully ycura
February 1, 1861. CiVIs