Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1862-05-09
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by traitorous hands on the late bsltle-
field? We were compelled to leave this
question unanswered and hasten on our
Journey. We arrived at Cairo on the 18th
inst. Up to this time all the news re-
ceived was uncertain as to the extent of
our loss. We were here told, that the
steamer City of Memphis had arrived
with 900 wounded aboard. She soon pro-
ceeded to M,und City and. delivered to
The hospital there this precious freight.
There was serious difficulty in getting ad
mittsnce to these ospital boats, lest visi-
tors might disturb, even with their kind
/ ness, these suffering men. | was admitted
! to one Of these boats on which it was
stated there were 800 wounded. Above
they were arranged in the state rooms ard
on cots in the saloon. Here l saw one
soldier who had evidently fought his last
battle; his eyes were then growing dim in
death. Upon the lower deck. | should
say, there were $50 lying close together
with the same clothes on in which they
had fallen in battle. They appeared to
have been picked up from the field or
brought directly from the tents aboard,
and up to that time had received very few
hospital attentions beyond the dressing
Of their wounds. Gov. Harvey Set all
about him to work, getting the names of
all from Wisconsin, the nature of their
wounds, the hospital to which they were
dest ned and to rendering such assistance
and attentions as were possible
Upon the arrival of Mr.. Munson of
Waterloo, Suter of The 16 h Regiment, We
| learned for the first time something Of our
| loss and that our wouuded were mostly
at Savannah. 1t was from him that We
learned of the death of Capt. Pease. and
also, Think of Col. Alban, M4jor CIane
and Capt Waldo. 1t was then decided
to purchase metallic coffins and return to
men who had borne themselves SO nobly
amid the storm of battle. The Governor
became extremely anxious to get up the
Tennessee and used every effort to hasten
our departure. On Saturday afternoon,
the 18Th of April. his party went on board
the steamer Gladiator bound to Pittsburg.
Mr. C4swel Of Fort A kioson and Mr..
Burnell Of Beloit here joined him. But
the boat, to our regret. did not leave till
he n xt evening. Monday morning, The
14th, we arrived at Paduch, and found it
/ Ike Cairo under martial law. We visited
some of the hospitals and found several Of
the Wisconsin wounded and reported them
! to the Governor. At about eleven O'Clock,
A NJ, we started up the Tennessee and
found the banks of the river an almost
unbroken wilderness. At dusk we passed
Fort Henry and al late hour the Rail
road bridge partly destroyed by our gun
boats. We hal good view of these on
our return.
At religious meeting held on the
boat, the Governor spoke very earnestly,
seeking to impress upon all sense of
the absolute dependence of nations and
individuals upon Divine Providence for
every blessing, The occasion Of the meet
ing was the Ia.e Proclamation of th Pres
ident.
The forest foliage was rapidly advanc-
ing to the full leaf, and the limbs of the
trees abounded with the mistetoe, show
ing themselves in numerous clusters Of
thick leaves.
Tuesday evening We reached Savan-
nah. Here the G,vornor divided his
party, leaving at this place, Drs. Dous-
man, Cody, Grey and Wilson, aud I re-
mained with them t. render what assls-
tfnce was in my power. He proceeded
with the rest of his party to Pitsburg.
| Mr. Lamb of Waterloo, whom we fortu-
nately met here, procured for US very good
boarding place at planters near by, two
! brothers Of whom were in tie rebel army,
and were in the itte btttle. and the svm-
| pathies Of whose family were with b. Sc
cessionists, but who were caring for num-
| bers of our wounded. Savannah We foand
| to be place of some 800 inhabitants;
few of the houses were good but most of
| them indicated that their owners were in
very moderate circumstances. We visited
few Of thess houses that evening, and
| found them filed TO their utmost capa-
city with freshly woun ded soldiers. The
next m orniog Wednesday, the 18th Of
April. / accompanied Dr.. Dousmen and
| Cody in visit through portion of the
| place in search of those from our own
state, and took minutes for them and for
the Governor, while DIS. Carey and Will
son visited other portions Of the town for
| tbs same purpose. l saw and took miu-
utes Of 81 cases of our wounded and at
| the direction Of Drs. DJusman and Cody,
| drew orders on our stores for such
things as they needed l think l saw that
day some twelve hundred wounded men.
The joy and gratitude inspired by this visit
and saryiras rapIeral he thaeo aro;par,