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


train. Upon leaving gave orders to |
Chaplain Poncher and my son to give out !
ali the goods we had without delay, as a |
further supply was daily expected by the
boats; directing that when these arrived
one-third Of the amount received should be
sent forward. knew that one-third Of
our sick and wounded were not at Muir
freesboro', but knew also that the desti-
tuition there would be much greater. On
reaching Murfreesboro' found our agent,
Mr.. Atwater, hard at work giving out the
stores he had been able to get through.
At this time there was no systematic
numbering Of the hospitals, and it was
7ery difficult for stranger to find them, in
fact have reason to believe that no one
medical officer knew the location Of all
those even in the town. Lying on the
second floor of q warehouse found forty
five men, most of them severely wounded.
They had but little straw, and two nurses
were all the attendants they had had for
the last two days. Two contract surgeons
had them in charge. 1 enquired if they
could not obtain bedsacks. They replied
that their requisitions were not or would
not be honored, as they were not commits
stoned. Knowing there was a good sup
ply Of bedsacks in the Purveyors rooms, 1
went at once and drsl0 them by taking IF
ty in my arms and carrying them to the
hospital, the Purveyor being out; but as
we occupied one side Of his store with our
goods, and could get them. I did not wait
As soon as 1 saw him I informed
him of my manner of making a re-
QUESTION. He said it was right and he
nkn a. N,T
and Mr.. Atwater, his servant, and
myself, commenced filing the sacks. At
ter we had filed several and carried them
up, saw two soldiers in the room who had
come to visit one of their comrades and
asked them to help us. After few excus-
es they took hold, worked well, and we
soon had them all filled and carried up.
When it was done one Of the soldiers as
sisting remarked that he would gladly do
that if his friend could only have a bed
The room was swept, and before we left
some ten Of the men were put upon the
sacks, and twelve pillows were brought
from the rooms for the most needy. After
inviting the surgeons to go on and send
early for some Of our concentrated beef for
breakfast for their men, we left. During
the same day 1 visited two other hospitals
containing seventy-fve men each, who
were on bedsacks and in all respects COM
paratively comfortable.
The goods sent from Nashville had not
yet arrived and we began to feel uneasy
on account of the delay, having barely
enough for distribution on the morrow.
Upon visiting the hospitals in this field
I called on the Louisville Legion and on
the 101st o. Y. !. The latter regiment bad
suffered very severely, losing in killed and
wounded one hundred and thirty-nine,
(139,) being one-third of their number en-
gagged in the battle. Company D, which,
two months before, had ninety-six 1861
strong young men, had now only eighteen
(16) remaining. One of them said TO me:
Doctor, you have seen our Company full
all that are left are around you now"
gave them $40, blanket and quilt, and
the Surgeon an ounce of quinine, drachm
of morphine and some bottles Of whisky
which had in my buggy. Several had no
blankets, one no coat, one no cap, having
lost all, and they had no money. gave
the quilt to the Lieutenant commanding
the Company, directing him to give ii to
the most needy. He gave it to John Blair,
faithful soldier slightly wounded, who
escaped death only by linen pad he car
ried in his shirt pocket, the ball passing
through his belt, all of his clothing lodg-
ing in the pad and bruising him severely
one-half inch below and q little to the
right of the sternum. When / found him
he had no coat or blanket. The regiment
lost its Colonel, Lieutensnt-C Colonel and
two Lietenants.
then visited all the hospitals in the
field, finding most of the wounded in tents,
with a supply of bedsacks for the most Sc
we're cases. The means of cooking were
limited. They had a full supply Of fresh
beef and hard bread; very rarely vegeta-
bles.
The goods sent from Nashville, found,
had been left at one Of these general field
hospitals instead of being forwarded to
MurfreesbOro' as directed. Some had been
used, but only where needed; for the rest
l obtained teams and sent them forward
to the rooms. Having visited all these
hospitals and leaving such directions for
the distribution of our stores as thought
would secure faithfulness and impartiality,
l returned to Nashville, hoping to find q
new supply from the boats.
Our plan of distribution has been to dis
tribute only on the orders Of the Surgeon
in charge, except in extreme cases. We
ask the Surgeons to state on their orders
the number of their hospital or regiment,
the number of their sick, that they are in
want Of the articles, and that ct the time
they cannot be obtained of Government
provided they ask for such articles as are
usually obtained from Government. This
has been deemed necessary as some sur
geons prefer to draw such articles as shirts.
drawers, &C., from us rather than from the
Government, since they are not compelled
to account for them so strictly; and be-
cause we do not expect to take the place of
Government, but to furnish additional sup
plies when and where they are most need
ed. A receipt is then taken containing a
promise that the goods shall be faithfully
distributed to the sick and wounded under
their charge. All these are charged up
daily on the books, so that it may be known
at glance how large a supply and what
kind of articles each Surgeon has received,
and for the faithful distribution Of which
he has maie limself responsible. To pre-
vent imposition from unknown or un-
worthy women, and serious injury to the
sick from those who from their great kind
ness of heart might give to the sick such
articles as they ought not to have, the Ia
dies distributing stores, except in especial
eases Of want, are required to obtain either
q special or general order from the Sur
geon in charge Of the hospital where they
wish to distribute. This seems hard to
some Of the good ladies, but some such rule
is necessary.
Allow me to give an extract from my
journal written on the Sabbath after my
arrival at Murfrsesboro'.
Have been carrying supplies to the
most needy, and delivering goods to the
Surgeons. After making a bed for Henry
Theodore Tibbetts of the 18th Regulars,
=. A l.