Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-05-14
Letter from DR.. West.
CAMP NEAR FRANKLIN, I
TENN. NAV |, 1863. (

TENN, may L, 1905.
EDITOR CHRONICLE: Another month has
passed aud our health as regiment has
been good, compared with other months
since we have been out. True, we have
had considerable number Of cases, but,
with very few exceptions, they had been
mild. The first death that has ever occur.
red in our camp took place the past month.
We have lost men by death beforei but they
all occurred In General Hospital or at home.
The death that occurred in April was WIN.
Knight of Co. f, Capt. Lochary's company.
He was good boy, loved by all his asso-
ciates, and a sterling soldier. His father
lives, believe, in Goshen Township, Bel
mont county, Ohio # is a solemn thing
to die, and more especially in camp, away
from home and the kind soothings of a
mother or sister or other kind friends.
William was well cared for here. He had
been in hospital tent for three or four weeks,
and appeared to be fast recovering, but
was taken with spasm and died in 10 min
utes.
The other case of deatl, was Samuel Nc.
Kinney, Sergeant Of Co. F, Capt. Lacey's
Company. He was one of the best soldiers
in the regiment. The day of his death
Gov. Tod signed commission for him as
2 I Lisuteuant, but the soldier had gone to
serve under The Good Master Oh RiSb, :
There have been 224 cases of sik4ns.- "a
camp during last month, very large pro-
portion have been very slight, Yielding to a
few doses of medicine, and able for duty in
two or three days
Many Of the cases occurring here would
not be noticed at home, but here the sol
dier has either to report for duty or have
an excuse from the Surgeon, and hence he
must be marked on the sick list.
Of the above numbers, there were 81
cases of diarrhea, 3S remittent fever, in
termittent fever,4 typhoid fever, 8 scurvy
/ rheumatism, l3 inflammation Of lungs
nastalgio, small pox, varioloid, ant
Sc of all other diseases.
The arrangement in cash regiment is on,
or two large tents, called Hospital tents. ,
Each one will accommodate from to II
patients, with cots fixed up on forks, an'
poles on these. We place straw beds will
sheets and blankets, one cook to hospital
and one nurse for every ten patients.
believe the men generally do better an,
more return to duty, in tho regimenta
hospital, than when sent to general hospit
al. 1t has become almost provcrbial tha
when we send man to general hospital W
never sec him again. He either dies,
detailed for extra duty or discharged. TIL
hospitals are good institutions, but thei
use is often perverted to, serve the purpose
of dishonest men. They are nice places
and If the Surgeon would send all the il
mates to their regiment he would have I
go to camp duty himself-which would b
{ hard.
The Surgeons of this (Granger's) corr
have formed medical and surgical societ,
hold their meetings once week. The G,
ercses consist in reading papers, repp<kiI
cases in relation TO army and camp disssf
and operations, and discussing the variol
topics Of interest to an army Surgeon. IT
Q meetings are very interesting. The taleI
= in the army is far above mediocrity, and
n far as am acquainted with them thoy al
D sober and moral men.
,The Chaplins also have society, whic
meets once week. Their object is religion
exercise and discussions, in relation to Y
moral and religious interests Of the soldie
They appear to be good men, industriou
|, and fee deep interest in the welfare
Very respectfully,
4. HENRY WEST
Surgeon 9Sth Ohio.