New-York daily tribune., 1862-04-30
A VOICE FROM THE SICK AND WOUNDED

a VOICE FROM The SICK AND WOU UNDED
IN ONE OF THE PHILADELPHIA HOSPITALS.
To he Editor 0 Then y %TbuH&
SIR: II ia my purpose TO set forth some of the
abuses of the convaescents and show to the country
at large how we are treated. And to commence with,
do not believe our prisoners in Richmond ever re-
ceived much meaner fare than have in this bosp-
tai, and an sure We did not suffer half as much on
the other side of the Potomac, far away from good
and loyal people. When this institution wss fret
opened, a call made requesting the ladies Of the
city to assist in supplying us with clothing and such
other things the sick far from home would require
They responded nobly to the call, and brought in all
kinds OF garments and delicacies necessary to the
comfort Of eonvalescents; and could we obtain the
food suited to the sick which they contribute for u.s.
we should have no reason 10 complains but II is
placed in what is called luxury closet" and we
do not receive it at all. In place thereof, allow your
humble correspondent to give you the bill OF fare for
supper tonight and TO tell You It has been our usual
one for the morning and evening meal ever since we
were placed here: First, a small piece OF bread
iyLou. bntter not large by one-half as the r''-
ton allowed ne by Government next small guam
tity of molasses OF the poorest qn.liiy-sO pU0r i'
deed that few can eat II; this, together with cup
of coffee not fit for well man 70 drink constitutes
the bill Of fare referred to- We do not receive enough
bread TO satisfy hunger and our boys here have
often implored for more bread than was gwen them,
and they have invariably bern refused and on one
occasion when they were calling for ono OF the
persOns in charge came into the dinlngroom ana
threatened TO put the frst man in the guard-bouse
who would dare 10 call for bread. Not content with
imposing the ladies by Withholding whai they ap-
proprate for u.s. they ibe ladies' abused by the
ward-naster whom visiting the various wards to see
if their friends with whom they have become ac.
quainted require anything to make them comfortable;
aud to "a out his designs whatever they may be-
be tried q prevent them from distributing paper
stamps and envelopes TO such Of ne as desired to
correspond with friends we bad left behind, telling
them at the ame time that these articles were gratis
IL 80 would only ask II them, which every one here
will testify tc be positive mlsehood- for we were
charged four cents apiece for stamps when we bought
them here. We complain OF this, because we are 10
great need of such things as these for the majority
OF have not received our pay Tor over three
months and many who have plenty and TO spare at
home have been compelled 10 give up all communl'
cation with friends there because they had not the
means wherewith 10 buy either paper 10 write
on or stamps with which TO send their letters
after they were written. You may think u strange
that under the circumstances, we DO not receive
any funds from home; but | viii inform you
why IL s. Although we receive all ordinary letters
which sent u.s. yet when one ~ cent containing
money We do not receive either letter or money
however,
of the Postmaster Of this city by one OF our own
number, and we hope he will investigate It.
/ Again; Have we none among us who Is lt Tor
ward master that We have 10 put up with an lgnor-
ant foreigner, who is a civilian sha act soldier
In the hospitals around Washington soldiers lcon,
yalescents) were always made ward masters, and
then we were treated humanely; whereas this man
who IA over us now has actually been saed before
magistrate for assault and battery on one OF the
conya Iescents and the case is now pending. 90
not know how it will terminate, however, Tor the
moor fellow who was abused and who made the com.
plant was sent to Washington the next day, so that
| be could not be present next week when the case
comes up.
Another grievance il that they viii not allow us
10 cow out 10 any extent, IN pleasant weathei'
They keep US more like prisoners than disabied soi
diers. and we think it shame thus - treat men 60
whose only crime il that Of volunteering ana ieav-
ing comfortable homes and gong South to assist IN
nni,iug down this wicked rebellion aud IN not hav-
/ mo our constitutions " iron clad to endure the
f,ioue, and exposures incident TO our duties on the
outoosts during the Winter. -
] Are we human beings or not Echo answers NO
But am afraid we have them over us: 1hie bo'
all that could be told Volumes might be written on
The subject. But | forbear-enough has already
h,en said and will only add that we, as lovers OF
our country and as men, wish the institution
Investigated and Justice done us, and we pray ior
so,ue lind oyersecr for our hospital Shall IL
no, be attended to But must clo.e. u
bo' "' " CONVALESCENT.