The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-07-04
MINNESOTA IN THE ARMY
OF THE WEST.
OUR TROOPS BEFORE CORINTH.
THEIR SANITARY CONDITIONS AT
THAT TIME
REPORT OF col. JOHN P. OWENS TO
THE GOVERNOR.

10 his EXcellency, Alex. ramsey, governor
Of the State of Minnesota:
SIR I'm accordance with your request
made in letter dated at the Executive
Department of the State, On the 9th day of
May ult., have, since that time, visited
all the military organizations OF Minnesota
now on duty in the States Of Tennessee and
Mississippi.
left St. Paul on the 7th ult.; and after
attending to necessary private business on
the way, arrived at Cincinnati on the 18th.
Immediately put myself in communication
with the Cincinnati branch of the United
States Sanitary Commission, in order to
ascertain whether there were any of our sick
soldiers in the hospitals located in that city
and vicinity. Every facility was afforded
me in the most kind and courteous manner.
I visited all the hospitals in the city, five in
number, and found that what few of our
sick had been sent there after the irregu.
larity and confusion necessarily incif ent to
the battle of Shiloh, bad become we'll, and
had been discharged and sent home. l also
ascertained from enquiry at official quarters
that none of our sick were at the neighbor-
ing hospitals of Covington, Kentucky, and
Camp Dennison.
Through the kindness of Quartermaster
General Wright and Surgeon General Web.
ber, of.Ohio, was rendered a pass from Gin
cinnati to Pittsburg Landing on the steam
er Tycoon, boat chartered by the State
to carry home sick and wounded soldiers of
the Ohio army. On board of her l left
Cincinnati, on Friday, May l6, at eleven
o'clock P. M, and without any incident
worthy of especial note in this place, arriv
ed at Pittsburg Landing on Monday, the
10th, at SPIN.
Here l was very happy to learn that our
old friend, DR.. Cbas. McDougall, long
stationed in years past as post Surgeon at
Fort Smelling, had a short time previous
been assigned as Chief Medical Director to
the Department of theWest, with headquar.
ters at Pittsburg Landing. The next
morning after my arrival visited him at
his quarters, where found him not only
willing to give me all the information in bis
possession in regard to the health of the
Army, but also to furnish me facilities of
the first class for passing any where l wish
ed within the liues. Although DR.. McDcu.
gall had been but two weeks in the admin
L
when l arrived, was assured by those who
ought to and undoubtedly did know, that
there was very marked change for tie bet
ter in the sanitary condition OF the Army.
His long experience with troops at the va
rious posts on the Western frontier, and bis
thorough knowledge of Western diseases,
renders him probably the most be6tting sur
geon in the service for the post be now holds.
In mentioning that it was yoar desire
that our sol diers, disabled from whatever
cause, should be conveyed to the hospitals
at st. Louis, or others as near home as pos.
siole, DR.. McDougaIl assursd me that your
wishes bad been already anticipated so far
as any of our sick had gone forward. They
bad been, since the commencement Of bis
administration, and will continue to be, sent
to st. Louis, Quincy, Keokuk, and other
places on the Mississippi. and liz no case
would any be sent to Cairo or any OF the
hospitals on the Ohio river.
On Wednesday, the 2lst, through the
kindness of Major A. B. Bracket, Of our
cavalry, who had heard of my arrival at the
Landing, borse was sent in for me, and on
that evening arrived among the camps of
the Grand Army of the West. Major
Bracket and bis battalion found imme.
diately attached to General HaiIeck's head
quarters, having been specially detailed by
the General as telegraph guard for the
whole army-a just compliment to the eff
cheney of Minnesota officer and the officers
and men of bis command. As here we're
greater facilities for getting information of
all kinds than at any other place withia my
reach, freely accepted Major Brackett's
invitation to make bis camp my headquart
ers during my stay.
Only one company of the Minnesota Cav
airy was at the time serving in Major BIS
battalion, that of Captain West. The other
Minnesota Company of the battalion, CAPS
tain Shelley's, was on the same duty between
Fort Henry and Smitbland, Kentucky.
regretted to find Captain West himself abb
sent in Wisconsin on sick leave, but the
health of his company was most excellent.
There were, the whole time l was in the
camp, not over an average of three or four
in the hospital, and the ailments of these
were trifing. and readily yielded to the pro.
per medical treatment. Brackett's battalion
of the "Curtis Horse'' has been fortunate in