Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-12-10
OUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Statement by the Released Federal Surgeons,

1 Statement by the Released Federal Surgeons.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov u, 1868.
! we, the undersigned surgeons of the Uni
TED States army, and recently prisoners in
richmond, Va, consider il our duty to pub
Hsh few facts that came to our knowledge
while We were inmates of the hospital attach
ed to Libby prison. 49,. Dr. -...,->.-
We enjoyed for several months daily access
to the hospitals where the sick and wounded
among our Union soldiers received treatment.
As the result of our observation, we hereby
declare it our belief that since the battle of
iOmekamauga the number Of deaths per diem
has averaged fully fifty. The prevailing di-
seases are diarrh9a, dysentery, and typhoid
pneumonia. Of late the percentage of
deaths greatly increased, the result of causes
that have been long at work, as insufficient
food, clothing and shelter, combined with
that depression of spirits brought on SO often
by long confinement. s-. e.
1t may seem almost Incredible when we
affirm, OF our personal knowledge, that in the
hospitals for Union soldiers the average NOR
tailty is nearly forty per day, and upon the
most reliable testimony we are forced to be-
| lieve that the deaths in the tobacco factories
and upon the Island will raise the total NOR
tality among all the Union prisoners, fifty
|
The extremely reduced condition of those
| brought from the island argues that hundreds
quite sick are left behind, who with us would
| be considered lit subjects for hospital treat
| ment. Such, too, is the fact as invariably
| stated by scores we have conversed with from
that camp. The same to a degree, holds true
| of prisoners in the city.
1t would be reasonable estimate to nut
| the number who are fit subjects for hospitals.
but who are refused admittance, at FIVE hun
dred. A thousand are already under treat
| ment in the three hospitals, and the Confede
rate surgeons themselves say the number of
patients is only limited by the small accom-
modations provided Thus, we have over ten
per cent Of the whole number of prisoners
held classed as sick men, who need the most
| assiduous and skillful attention. vet in the es
Sentlal matter Of rations they are receiving
| nothing but corn bread and sweet potatoes,
Meat Is no longer furnished to any class of
our prisoners except to the few officers in
Libby Hospital, and all sick or well officers
or privates are now furnished with very
poor article of corn bread in place of wheat
bread, an unsuitable diet for hospital patients
Frustrated with diarrhea, dysentery, and fe-
yer, to say nothing Of the startling instances
OF individual suffering and the horrid pictures
OF death from protracUed sickness and semi
starvation, we have had thrust upon our at
| tention. The first demand of the poor
creatures from the island was always for
something to eat. Sefrespect gone, half
clad and covered with vermin and filth, many
OF them too often beyond all reach of
medical skill. In one instance the ambulan-
ces brought sixteen to the hospital, and du
ring the night seven of them died. Again
eighteen were brought and eleven of them
died in twenty-four hours
At another time twenty-four were admitted,
and III single day ten of them died
Judging from what we have ourselves seen
and do know, we do not hesitate to say that
under a treatment of systematized abuse,
neglect and semi-starvation, the number who
are becoming prematurely broken down in
their constitutions must be reckoned by
thousands.
We leave it for others to say what is de-
manded by this state of things. The Confed-
crate daily papers, in general terms, acknowl-
edge the truth of all we have affirmed, but
usually close their abusive editorials by declar-
ing that even such treatment is better than
the invading Yankees deserve
The E.canai1,e1' in a recent article beerudged
even the little food the prisoners did receive,
and sold boxes sent to US from home, and
closed by eulOglzing the system, and recon-
mended starvation and exposure as well cal
culated to dispose of us.
All this is true, and yet cold weather is
hardly commenced We are Mortified when
we picture the wholesale misery and death
that will come with the bitter frosts of win
ter. Recently seven hundred prisoners per
day were being removed to Danyille In two
instances we were standing IN view of them
as their ranks filed past. 1t was a sad sight |
to see the attenuated forms and pallid faces
of -,
orous health.
Numbers were without shoes, nearly all |
without blankets or overcoats. and not a man |
did we see who was well and fully clad |
But to the credit of the prisoners in Rich
mond, all ranks, be 1T recorded, that all along |
they have shown heroic fortitude under suf- |
terlng, and spurning all idea that their Gov |
ernment had forgotten them. l. They have |
held fast their confidence in the final and |
speedy success Of our cause
In addition to the above statement we want
1t to be distinctly understood that the Con-
tederate me ieal officers, connected with the
hospitals referred to, Surgeon Wilkins, Sam
mons and Saban, and the post steward, Hallet
are not in any way, so far as our own obser-
walton has extended, responsible for the state
of things existing there, but on the other
hand we are bound in justice to bear testi-
mony to their kindness and watchful perform
ance of their-duties, with the limited means
at their disposal.
Signed-Daniel Meeken, Surgeon T. S. N;
Z. +. Sinners, Assistant Surgeon, 9th Regt.
Indiana Vols; j. l.. Brown, Assistant Sur
geon 10th Ohio Vol. Infantry A. NJ Park
er, Assistant Surgeon, 1st Maine Cavalry.
ART IN A REPUBLIC.--"I have a fayorte
belief that in this nation, beyond any other
spot or nation on EARTH is art destined to
thrive and attain its highest result The rea-
son is obvious. All great art appeals to that
which is universal and unchanging When
ever art has languidly fourished under the
protection of aristocracy of princes, it has
been compelled, in some measure, to cater to |
the tastes OF those princes or that arstocracy {
Here art must appeal to universal sympathy.
Here art must appeal to that sentiment of the | ,
beautiful which is deep in the human heart :
which constitutes one of those great qualities {
that make man an immortal being, transoen.
ding all creation around him. Applause |
It is in that appeal 10 the universal sense of s
the beautiful that, in a republic, and nowhere
else than in a republic, can art attain its high
est success. Applause.] If you look through |
the line of ages you will find that there have I
been but few epochs when art has in this man |
ler completely carried out the highest con-
eeptions Of which human genius is capable, 6
and it has been always either in connection
with religion Or in connection with liberty
Here is nation distinguished above all other ,
nations for religiosity and for freedom, and, q
therefore, here above all other nations is art | I