The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-05-30
Letter from st. Louis.
ST. LOUIS, May /:

1IcItcE 1rOlIA Sts 1IOu1Ss
ST. LOUIS, May %, 1868.
Gov. Kirkwood, Adjt. Gen. Baker, and
Hon. Jas. F. Wilson, of our State, arrived
here yesterday, en- route for the army at
Vicksburg. Immediately upon their arri-
val they set out upon a tour Of inspection
to the various hospitals in and around the
city, hunting up and inquiring into the
condition of our Iowa soldiers. 1t has come
to such pass that it is almost impossible
to get sick soldier away from the hospi-
tails here. According to the recent act Of
Congress, when soldier has been in hos
pital the short term of three months, he is
entitled to be removed to his own State,
and placed in medical district nearer his
home-if he only be fortunate to Ire three
months, with disease wasting him away
continually, he can thus avail himself Of
this gener0us privilege. But the Surgeons
of the Medical Department here, in order
to maintain as large a medical corps in the
city, as possible, have united in throwing
every plausible red tape barrier,,in the way
of the removal of soldiers to the hospitals
of their own States. Their pertinacity in
this respect has come to be notorious, and
there is constant conflict between them and
the friends of soldiers who come here to
procure such transfer.
I understand that Gov. kirkwood has
taken the matter in hand, and has driven
the chief surgeon into the issuing OF an
order, providing for the immediate trans
fer of our Iowa soldiers here to the hospi-
tails at Keokuk. They have heretofore
evaded the law Of Congress by transferring
men who had been in one hospital three
months, to some other hospital in a differ
ent part of the city. Rascally as this may
seem, it is undoubtedly true. When you
go into hospital here, the poor fellows
who are able will hobble up to you on their
crutches, and ask why they cannot be sent
to the hospitals in their own State, where
friends can come and visit and care for
them, and to a man who has any Of the
milk of human kindness in his heart, it is
task from which he shrinks to tell them
it is because of the miserable seltshness
and lack of interest on the part Of the Off
GERS who have control over them.
Gen. Schofield has at length assumed
command of this Department, and General
Curtis awaits the orders of the President.
The spectacle presented in such a change
is not calculated to inspire the people of
Missouri with any great degree of conf
dence in the future conduct of affairs. A
feeble effort was made by the Gamble fac
ton to get up a demonstration on the arri-
val Of Schoheld-but it was a weak affair.
Nevertheless the Union finds in it enough
struggles hard to create an impression
abroad that there is a very suspicious state
of affairs about to dawn upon this Depart
ment, but which, in my opinion, the public
hardly deem warranted by the, facts. But
it is certain that there cannot be a too fla
grant trespass upon the rights or the peo-
pie here without causing such revolution
as would make it rather uncomfortable for
Gamble and his pets, who are in the pro-
slavery interest. The loyal sentiment OF
| the people here has been intensified by the
continual conflict that they have sustained
against the disloyal part of community,
and they are in no mood to make any con-
cessions to apologists of treason just now.
The vigorous measures that Gen. Curtis
was carrying forward against secessionists
will now probably cease. 1t was fortunate
that he got boat load or two of the worst
ones transferred to Dixie before being re-
/ lieved his command, for it is very Ques-
tionable whether they will be followed by
any more for some time to come.
We have had a gay season for week OF
| two past in the way of theatricals. Wal
lack, Davenport, and Mrs. Farren have
been giving some Of Shakespeare's best
| tragedies at the st. Louis, drawing i'm
mense houses. 1t is seldom that stronger
cast has appeared on any stage in the west
And Notwithstanding the war and high
prices, the theatres are filled nightly, tier
Il aDONe lleT, WIFI YER anu Nci y
gay, and uncomfortably crowded audien-
ces. Fashions were surely never more ex
travagant, preserving at the same time as
much grace and good taste as they do. But
it would astonish many of the good danes
who do not often visit St. Louis, to come in
and try tour Of shopping for one day
I pity the poor Benedicts who haze mint
of money, as well as those who have not.
4 I lately saw an exquisite steel engraving
in one of the London Art Journals of Har'
riet Hosmer's Beatrice Cenci,' which be
longs to the Mercantile Library here. The
picture can hardly surpass the exquisite
piece of sculpture itself, which stands OF
the north side of the main Library Hail.
The representation in the Art Journal wa
} taken while the work was yet in the Ar
lists Studio at Rome. The statue is per
feet picture of beauty, grace and symmetry
Some day when you come down from tina
busy, quill-driving of yours, you shall for
F get, for an hour, all about the miserabl
; Copperheads, and ''sympathizers,' agains
whom you wage such unrelenting and sue
cessful war, and join me in sessoppin,
f stroll through the Library, not emitting
i quiet dissertation upon the merits of this
one OF the most beautiful creations that wa
: | mn I,l So