Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-07-30
MISCELLANEOUS,
From the Philadelphia Presbyterian
HOSPITAL SCENES.
BY JANE B. MOORE.

Perhaps the readers of the Presbyterian
would like to hear something of the hos
pitals where so many of the sick and
wounded soldiers of the republic are suf-
fering. We lately visited one in Balti-
more, near the edge of the city, on hill
overlooking the beautiful cemetery of Green
mount. Near by several companies of the
Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania Regiment
are stationed at Camp Dix-the rest were
ordered to Harpcr's Ferry. The long, low
wooded barracks, with the surgery, al
most form square, with large open
space in the centre, which the men were
laying off and sodding in circles, with
young trees and flowers. Here, after the
terrible battle of Williamsburg; about six
ty wounded men were brought, since which
to use their own words, they have received
every attention from the Union citizens
which kindness could dictate. After the
guard passed us, we turned to look back at
his sunburnt face, slowly pacing back and
forth with his musket, in the hot sun, re-
membering as we did so that a soldiers lot
is full of hardship, and that it is always so
in life-great ends, as we'll as glorious vic
tories, are not obtained without much dan
ger, labor and pains.
Several frame buildings are attached
to the hospitals, one occupied by the sick
and another by the wounded, while others
are used as laundry, kitchen, dining room,
arsenal and so forth. In the first room,
which was, on the whole, the most comfor-
table, were twenty one small single cots,
in pairs, with little stand, and sometimes
a chair between. This, we were told, was
where the worst cases, and particularly men
whose limbs had been amputated, were
brought. 1t was, perhaps, as favorable
view of hospital as could be obtained.-
Some time had elapsed since the battle,
and the men whose lives had been spared
were rapidly recovering. Yet it was a sad
sight to see lads of nineteen and twenty
with an arm or leg off, and sadder still to
feel that they had received such CHASTITY
wounds from brethren. Some had bou-
quets in canteens, bottles and tumblers by
their side-freshly gathered roses while
others preserved withered ones, in touch
ing remembrance Of the kind intention Of
the giver. The same benevolent hands
have scattered tracts, religious papers and
magazines in their midst, to while away
with profit many a lonely hour. These lie
here, with card portraits of their Generals,
treasured carefully by those once under
their command. One beautiful bouquet was
shown US with evident pride and pleasure,
containing, in the centre of roses, pinks
and honeysuckle, a miniature flag, under
whose starry folds these brave fellows had
suffered so much.
A number of ladies were present, dis
pensing cake and fruit, with various little
deicacies, which to the sick are peculiarly
acceptable. Going from cot to cot while
supplying their wants, they addressed words
of inquiring sympathy to each. 'These
are excellent calculated man dying sZ0ao-
Ia of lung disease, to whom dish Of straw
berries were given, while others exclaimed
with emotion, You are too good = Poor
fellows, ace felt as if grateful country
could not do too much tor them! Over
each couch, on a small card, the name of
the patient, with his regiment and disease,
are written The funeral Of one was to
take place that day-for constantly from
these hospitals a close vehicle bears some
poor soldier through the streets to his last
resting place, and the government lots in
the principal cemeteries are rapidly filling
up with newly made graves. The patient
in the corner bed, who seems to breath
with so much pain, has just been given up
by the doctor, and seems to read his fate
in the eyes of those around him. Some
one is answering his inquiry for minister,
and taking down the name and address Of
his mother, in one of the far off States OF
eur once happy and prosperous, but ''0''
bleeding land.
Sick at heart, we turn to fine, athletic
young man, the sole dependence of wild
owed mother in Wisconsin, who, looking
up from his paper, says, 1t is very hard
| living here en- lono And "a we remembel