Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-07-17
From the Eleventh Regiment.
FoRr SLoouM, july l, 1868.

uulSCuCS lahc tue HUCitJ Va "ih'"5 ~
again. Though there have been no &C.
currences of particular interest in mill
itary point of view since ! last wrote
you, yet there may be some ideas rela-
ting to our circumstances and surround
ings that might interest our friends in
Orleans county.
Having noticed some statements in
Vermont paper with regard to our hospi-
tai arrangements and its officers that /
thought were calculated to place them in
false light, puts me in mind to say
few words about our conveniences for the
sick, as they have been and as they new
are. At BrattIeboro, even before we left
our native state, the sick were crowded
into small, inconvenient, i'll ventilated
building, with just enough shelter to
keep out the rays of the sun, but not
enough TO keep out the storm, which
drizzled through the roof and dropped
upon the sufferer, in strange contrast with
the comforts of the home he had so re-
Gently left.
After we came to Washington and
camped at Fort Lincoln, our hospital ar
engagements were but little improved
The sick were here placed in hospital
tents, with rows Of beds on each side,
roughly built of poles and covered with
boughs of red cedar. These beds, though
they might answer a very good purpose
for a well man, were moi at all calculated
to promote the greatest possible comfort
to the sick. 1t was here that | witnessed
the closing scenes in the lives of two no.
BILE boys of our company, Thomas Will
liams and Benjamin Ash. After the re-
giment moved to the several forts where
they are now stationed, the hospital was
moved into shady pine grove near TT.
Stevens, where its condition was much |
improved by floors placed in the tents,
good bedsteads, and ticks filled with |
straw. In the winter il was decided to |
remove the hospital to the headquarters
of the regiment. Accordingly a build
ing sixty feet long and twenty wide was
erected on gently rising eminence, and
built so as not only to afford protection
against the storm, but to secure any de-
sirable amount of pure air. 1t was neat
ly constructed, white washed and painted |
and made an ornament to the place as
we'll as a credit TO the regiment. The
grounds around it were by much labor
made to assume neat and homelike as
pect, and is kept in good order by details
from the companies at this fort and now
when We 60 to the hospital and see the
comfortable looking beds neatly arranged
on each side of the building, and every
thing looking so clean and quiet, it almost
tempts one to wish to be sick, aud ex-
change bis hard bunk for good bed,
but health even if one must lie on a hard
board, is better than sickness on a bed of
down.
Before ] close l must say one word
about our surgeon, DIR. Kidder, who be-
sides being man and gentleman, is we
think, the right man in the right place,
and one that understands his business
g We speak what we do know and testify
to what we have SEEM" for on account of
the sickness of friend, have had oc-
casion to visit the hospital nearly every
day for several weeks. He is always on
hand to attend 10 his business and takes
a deep interest in the comfort and vel
fare of those entrusted to his care. In f
The absence Of the surgeon from the hos !
pital there are one or more nurses always =
at hand, who are ready, willing, and ever e
anxious to do all they can for the comfort q
Of the men. So long as we are at this
place our friends in Vermont need have
no fears but that the sick of the l1th
regiment will have the best care that il is
possible for soldiers to have.
The health of the company and regi- .
nent is quite good now, as good | think
Is at any time since we left home. We
have five hours of fatigue duty to do
each day 4; but our principal occupation is
keeping our guns and equipments clean
and bright, and learning how to kin the
greatest number Of human beings to the
pest possible advantage. AS yet we have 6
rad no chance to try our skill in that di
lection, but judging from present pros
)ects we shall not long remain idle. In
whatever position we are placed, think r
'ou will hear a good report from the 1
18th. We have gained reputation for
kilfulness in the use of the spade and
'ick, and | think we can do quite as well
With the sword, rife and cannon. T
In conclusion I wish you much sue !
ess in combating wrong and injustice, ii
nd may the Standard of truth still fling fu