Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1863-01-23

VI uuty on the part OF OBJECTS. we snail
probably have something more to say on this
subject at a future time zssa-a.
In removing sick and wounded soldiers
from one point to another, officers ofttimes
evince disregard of the safety and comfort
Of the men that is nothing less than criminal
In being transferred from Helena to Jeffer.
son Barracks. our brother was with about
three hundred others on a miserable little
steamer, and SO crowded was the boat that
they put the sick on the lower deck, in among
the machinery, out on the guards, and in the
cabins the men were SO closely packed that
the nurses had to walk on the beds of the
sick in getting around among them; and be-
sides all this there was no medicine on board
the boat. Many died during the trip, and
many more died soon after being landed in
consequence Of the privations and hardships
they were compelled to undergo This is
only one instance among many that are daily
transpiring. 1t is barbarous, it is inhuman,
to treat our brave soldiery thus. -.
It 10 - wonder to us how any man seriously
sick in one Of our crowded Government hos
pitfalls can ever get well. The air is so i'm
pure, the associations so depressing, and the
care and attention man receives so little
like what it should be. As far as our expe-
rience goes we have no fault to find with
those in charge Of the hospitals. At Jeffer-
son Barracks we are sure that all was done
that the regulations would admit Of, and that
the limited means at the disposal of the atten-
dants would permit Of Ali with whom we
came in contact were kind, courteous and
attentive, and seemed disposed to do every
thing in their power to alleviate the suffer
ings Of the sick in their charge. The Yards
are kept as clean and neat as the parlor of
any thrift housewife, and especial atten-
ton is also paid to the beds, raiment and
persons of the sick. But the great trouble
is, the lack of sufficient nurses, the great
number that is obliged to he crowdc,; into
one department, and a want Of wholesome
and nutritious diet, That this is so is no.
the Cult Of the hospital attaches, but is
ratf.sr the fault Of the Government which
neglects to properly provide for the wants of
the sick. Diet suitable for soldier in health
is not the thing for soldier in sickness, yet
the latter is obliged to put up with the fare of
the former. Justice and humanity imperative
ly demand a re-modeling Of our hospital sys.
tenn. We could write lengthy article in
this connection, but time and space forbid
this week, and We will only speak of one
thing which should be done by the Ex-
ecutive of this State without delay, and that
IS to appoint special agent whose duty it
should be to look after the sick and wound
ed soldiers in the St. Louis hospitals. There
are many soldiers there from this State who
could be discharged if they had some one to
take an interest in their behalf. Not famil-
liar with the routine to be pursued in pro-
curing discharge, and if they are, perhaps
too weak to attend to the matter for them
selves, they languish and die. Even if they
do get their discharge, many Of them are un-
able, without assistance, to get away from
the hospital; attend to securing their per-
sonal effects, see to drawing their pay get
their railroad tickets, etc. What is wanted is
a good reliable man there whose duty it shall
be to attend to these matters for such as are
unable to help themselves, attend to all the
little particulars which it is necessary should
be done, and which a sick man cannot we'll
do, and see him safely on the train home
ward bound. We believe such an agent in
St. Louis could do an incalculable amount
Of good, and we believe that the people of the
State would heartily and cheerfully endorse
the action of the Governor in appointing an
agent of the character spoken Of He should
be working man, a humane man; one who
would seek work, instead of letting work
seek him. 1t is disgraccful fact that no
Stste has done so little towards attending to
the interests Of its citizen soldiery as Iowa.
In the name of humanity, let us awake from
our lethargy, and commence to do what we
long since should have done. We cannot
close this article without speaking of one
person whom we met in j efferson Barracks.
We allude to Mrs. II. r. CoLFAx, who is a
relative Of the Hon. Schuyler Colfax, Rep
resentative in Congress from Indiana This
estimable lady has been in this hospital for
some fourteen months, and gives her whole
time and attention to the sick and wounded
soldiers at that post. She is a lady of edu-
cation, refinement, and of very pleasing
and attractive personal appearance, She has
given up home, friends, and all that is dear
to refined, polished, loving woman, and
voluntarily places herself in a position on
which we cannot hardly allow our thoughts
to dwell without shudder of disgust There
she is, one gentle woman among hundreds of
rough men, living glorious, heroic, though
life. No case is too repulsive
for her kind ministratlons, and not a sick
nan there but daily halls her gentle presence
with grateful smile. Day after day she
glides among them like an angel Of mercy,
soothing the anguished, encouraging the de-
sVsAI ], ~ r.