Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-04-11


know it, and are grateful, and express
their gratitude by words and grateful
looks. It may also be well to remember |
that when the supplies are limited, and
they are never equal to the demsnd-the |
siekest and most sorely wounded are first |
to be relieved and thousands of these can |
no longer speak their gratitude to the |
friends whose kindness has so much ale |
waited their sufferings in q strange land
and upon their last sick bed.
Let those who think enough is given for
the sick compute for themselves how many
eggs it would take to give the cighty-fve
hundred sick in hospital, to say nothing of
the thirty-fve hundred in conValescent
barracks now in Nashville, one each day
for two weeks; or how many pounds Of
dried apples would, for the same time, give
each a relish with his bread and coffee.
Then, instead of feeling that enough is
contributed and that there would be no
complaint if the goods were all properly
distributed, they would clearly see that
much Of the complaint arises from the
scanty supply, large in the aggregate, but
scanty compared with the great demand.
Allow me to give an incident-a lady
who was looking after the sick in one OF
the large hospitals in this city, called at
our rooms saying she heard we had re-
received goods from the neighborhood
of her home, and she would like TO
distribute come of them. We we're glad
To give them and asked what she would
prefer. She asked for six cans Of peaches
and we gave her twelve. The next day
she returned and stated that she gave out
the twelve cans giving only half peach
to a patient and then had not enough;
some fifty patients did not receive any.
Yet much is done; many goods distribu-
ted and much suffering relieved. For this
we work and are thankful for the gener-
Gus means ofreief supplied, and yet see
as clearly as those do who only complain,
much that needs to be done and he greatly
! increased contributions necessary to ena-
BILE US to do what is now undone.
But the good work done is by no means
confined to the stores furnished to the
sick, great as this is. One case illustrate
ing this will give from my journal.
January 9th 1 visited hospital No -
This was large hospital containing more
than four hundred patients. The wards
we're clean, in good order, and without
careful inspection 1 should have reported
the hospital in good condition. The hunks
we're of rough boards covered with slats
five inches wide laid across the bunk and
designed to be five inches apart but were
not fastened. The cots were bed-saeks
partially filled with straw and coarse nay
and after few days would become very
thin. These Stats, as l found in great
mauv instances had worked apart leaving
/ an opening at least fifteen inches wide un-
der the hips of the patients, and as the
cots we're not stitched there was nothing
but the thin cloth of the sacks between
their hips and the edges of the rough
/ boards. The natural result Of this was
| that at least oue-half Of those confined to
their beds from amputated limbs, wounded
and infamed joints from typhoid fever,
or who from any cause could not help
themselves had within two weeks time bad
bedsores. producing not the kind Of scars
thev were willing to wear as honorable
memeptoes Of their sacrifices for their
country, but daily continued torture. Al
ter overcoming many obstacles which the
surgeon in charge assured me were lnsur-
mountable, one hundred and fifty good
mattresses were provided before night the
Stats fastened and arrangements made by
which all necessary Stats and additional
cots should be promptly furnished.
General Rosecrans has given us every
facility necessary for the accomplishment
of our work, with free transportation for
our agents and our stores. He has given
us a general order to all the officers In his
department to aid us as far as possible )
has issued special order that all conhs-
Gated goods suitable for hospital use should
be turned over to US for distribution to the
sick; has given official testimony to the
yalue of our work with the encouragin g
assurance that we are doing it in the right
way.
As the result of this order Of confsca-
ton, we have received not less than S3,-
900 worth of valuable hospital stores, in
addition to those furnished through the
regular channels of the Commission. l
should add in justice to the faithfulness of
the officers Of the Government and for the
comfort of anxious friends at home, that
the wounded of the late battle were better
and more promptly cared for than has been
usual after battles in the West.
But the Government supplies, which at
first seemed so abundant were In part
soon exhausted, and after the first ten days
there was great want Of shirts anddraW-
ers; and there has been atall times want
of suitable diet for the sick. Vegetables
were seldom obtained until within the last
two or three weeks. Now they are more
fnlIv supplied, but in quantities by no
means sufficient to meet the demands. We
have not been able 10 give the surgeons
more than one third of the quantity asked
for.
As the boats containing one shipment Of
our stores from Cincinnati, passed Fort
Donaldson, Mr.. Gibson special agent in
charge of them, left a partial supply, all
that could be reached, for the gallant sol
diers wounded in their late hard-fought
battle; and as soon as the boat returned,
acting upon Mr.. Gibson's representation
of their destitute condition, we forwarded
a much better supply.
I have visited all the hospitals lnoW
twenty-hve) in Nashville twice; oil In
Murfreesboro' and in the field twice, and a
part Of them three times, besides giving
personal attention to the distribution Of
our stores. My co-laborers in this work
have been DR.. Seymour, Of PalnesVillel
Ohio, one of your inspectors, who labored
day and night until compelled to return
home on account of sickness; Mr.. At
water, Mr.. Merwin, Rev. ]. c. Hoblit Mr.
Robinson, ThomassOn, Bellows, NJ. G
Read and Beman Read, nearly all Of the
time, and temporarily Messrs. Brooks
Gibner and Cist, who came each at differ
ent times with large and well selected sup
plies from the Cincinnati Branch Of the
Commission. We have answered many
letters and kilograms sent by friends tC
learn The condition of their sick and
wounded: have aided many in receiving
and taking away the last remains Of q
husband, brother or son have sent stores
to Bowling Green, Gallatin, Mumfords.
Vile, ETC.; have distributed to many regl'
ments in the field, and what has given us