The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-01-20


ny, and which saps the foundations Of ones
strength, and makes bis existence lingering du-
ration Of misery. l can hardly fad language ade-
quate to express the relief felt when took pos
session of the bed which was to occupy. had
marched many weary mile when | had not
sufficient strength to step on, and raise myself
to, an eminencs foot high, without assisting my
self by my hands, nor to " double quick" dezen
rods, though it were to save the whole Union !;
and now the prospect Of a few days rest in place
hat would bear, at least, favorable comparison
With the comforts Of civil life. was gratifying in
the extreme. 1t seemed too good to be true.
vas actually afraid that should be awakened
some morning, as usual, by the inexorabe com
mand, f" Fall in" and the fond illusion would DO
dispelled as dream. s,sa.s4 T..
am aware that there has been complaint made
by many Of their treatment in these hospitals, but
am unable to see how so many sick men could
be cared fer better than we were at this place.
Other hospitals may be differently managed ); /
do not presume to Judge. Here everything we
desired and needed was unhesitatingly granted.
There was very efficient corps Of nurses, male
and female, and they spared no pains to render
their patients as comfortable as lay in their power.
think they entertained heartfelt sympathy for
the suferings of those under their care, and did
the best they could to alleviate them. Especially
is this true of the women nurses If any who see
this have friends in this hospital, they may take
my word for it, they are we'll treated and have ex-
cellent care, and the prospect of their being re-
stored to health is scarcely less than it would be
if they were at their own homes in Vermont The
diet prescribed vas generally suited to the wants
and condition of the patient. Toasted bread with
butter or apple-sauce was served every day TO the
feebler ones. Boiled rice and milk, meal por.
ridge, farina buildings, and almost any article Of
diet was readily granted by tbs physician if asked
for. never was refused in single instance what
| expressed a preference for. Those who were
able took their meals at the mess barrack togeth-
er. Theirs was the common army ration, with
sometimes little butter or apple-sauce thrown in
for extras. AS convaiescents we had unbounded
freedom, for aught know, of the country around.
never found any limit placed upon our pedes-
tran privileges, providing we were in our tents
when the doctor came around in the. morning and
were in our beds at nine o'clock at night. We
could not go to the city unless we had pass,
without running the risk Of being escorted to the
Central Guard House by the patrol guard, which,
by the way, was not so very risky, providing one
behs we'd himself properly.
visited the Harwood Hospital, which is stua-
ted about one mile east of Mt. Pleasant, and re-
greet that cannot give SO good an account of that
place, as of the hospital where we stayed But it
had then just received large influx Of patients,
larger than there were accommodations to receive,
and they were without efficient organization con-
sequenty there was much complaint and consider
many>of them had no beds. The very sick were
suffering greatly for want of care. | was told |
that the men were not allowed to dig bitches
around their tents to prevent the water from
soaking into them in rainy weather, out of respect
to the rich proprietor of the land but think, if
rae, it was because floors of boards were soon 10 |
be procured, which would render such dissertation !
of the soil unnecessary. There was, it is true.
much complaint at one time at this hospital, but
have heard less since. The tent we occupied |
was always dry, clean and neat. All the tents
had good floors, and the tents themselves were OF
thick, stout material, having fly, or extra root to