Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-07-02
THE GREATEST GOOD GREATEST NUMBER


| SOLDIERS By raKIa PaYsrclANs.-For months
! past We have been in receipt Of communica-
| tions from soldiers In Iowa Regiments, COM
planning Of their Surgeons for neglect OF duty
| and brutal treatment Of the men under their
charge. At fret we paid little attention to
these complaints, thinking II impossible for 2
man to become so hardened as to neglect a
sick or wounded colder when few moments
devoted TO his Gaze would possibly be the
means of preserving bis life. But the COM
plants becoming more numerous, and re.
turned soldiers confirming them, We set o.
work to ascertain to . certainty the truth or
fslsity Of the charges. We regret to cay We
found them too true. ard that halt had not
been told us. We have proof positive that
in veral in nstances the lives OF soldiers have
been sacrificed. and the poor fellows allowed
to pass to their long account through the cul-
pable neglect Of the Surgeons who are paid
large salaries to attend to the necessities Of
these very men. We will relate an instance
vouched for by an officer Of the regular army ::
A soldier of one Of the Iowa Regiments.
with mortal sickness stamped upon every
lineaEept OF his countenance, approached the
Surgeon, who was citing outside his tent,
picking his teeth after hearty meal. ard
sauting informed him that, for severa! days,
he had been troubled with an acute pain in
the lower part Of his etomach, that he did not
like TO complain or give up, but the torture
| Iof I'll ( oth inc mn ha
DONE
| "Come here to.moYrou 1T one o'clock, and l
| will look into your case, said the Surgeon
gruffly, too lazy to move from bis chair.
The poor fellow turned away With droop-
! ing heart, his disease still gnswing at bis vi.
tails, and bis pain unalleviated. The officer
who furnished US the information says his
heart bled for the soldier, and he determined
to watch and see if the Surgeon kept HE
promi.e on the morrow. The next day at the
| appointed hour, the soldier, nearly bent dou-
Die by the pain he suffered, made his appear.
ance at the Surgeons tent, but NO Surgeon
was to he. found lie waited for near an
| hour and then his strength falling him, crept
back to his quarters to suffer in silence alone
| The next morning the officer went to tue poor
fellow and told him that the Surgeon WAS now
in his tent snd would probably attend to hia
at the same time resolving to be present and
hear what excuses the doctor would offer.
The soldier appeared before the Surgeon and
again made his wants known.
| "Cone here to morrow at twelve" said the
Surgeon.
"But doctor, you told me the other day to
come here vest erday at one o'clock. came
here and waited as long as could hold my
head up. and then had to return to my quar-
ters. l am very sick. doctor. and feel as if l
should die ii something Is not done for me at
once"
"You are q damned liar, sir never told
you to come here at all You are no more
sick now than an" said the Surgeon an.
grly.
! great tear rolled do wn the Drowned chez
of tie colder. and he shook from head to foot
like an aspen leaf. The officer could stand it
no longer. Stepping mp to the Surgeon he
said ut is you who is the liar, sir, you mis-
erable scoundrel! was present two days
since when you made the appointment to meet
this poor fellow. He was here yesterday at
the hour set. You was losfng somewhere
around the camp and let me tell you. sir. if
you had spoken to ne as you just spoke to
this brave man, l wonld have broken every
bone in your body, and had lie not been SO
fearfully III, you would not have dared ad.
dress him in the manner you did. Now. cir,
do you attend to his wants at once. or will
report you within an hour"
The Surgeon was completely thunderstruck.
That 40 officer should take up the cause of a
private was to him incomprehe ensible. He
mutttred something about meddling with af
fairs in which people were not directly con.
cerned. but 'he caae of the poor soldier was
attended to right quickly. The threat of re.
porting him acted like charm.
This is not a case drawn from fancy, but is
Al actual occurrence, and is only ore Of q
thousand. At the proper time the Surgeon's e
name will be given to the world. And Low a
/ "o'o oo W sh0 toueuy IoI tUSSo UUkees.
| Governor Kiykwood has been frequently
importuned to appoint . commission 10 cou.
sst Of fearless. honest men, who would not
hesitate for moEent to complsin to the
proper authorities of an officer detected in
abusing. in any manner. the brave volunteers
from this State. A commission 10 wanted for
the benefit Of the privates-the officers can
take care Of themselves. But Governor Kirk.
wood appears to think his mill.dam, bank
stock and future political schemes Of much
more Importance than the lives Of our eol-
disrs. Let US cay to him that he is,in meas.
ure, accountable for the death of many Who
are dying through neglect. We hope be will
delay moving in the right direction no longer
How TO SPEND THE FOURTH PRO
Mo ExcURsIoN.-On the Fourth Of July the
steamer Rock Island will make an excursion
trip for . general pic mic and fishing party
to Big Island and Black Hawks Tower
leaving Rock Island and Davenport at hall
past eight o'clock A. NJ. and on the return
leaving Camp Blackhawk at s o'clock P. NJ.
Ice cream and other Refreshments will be