Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-02-24
From the Medical aud Surgical Reporter.l
Barbarous Treatment of Sick and Woun
ded men.

1t is with the most puugent feeling of the dis
grace which it hripgs on our country, that we
make the following record. But the "tiulh of
history requires that it be made, The customs
Of all civilized nations exempt hospital tents or
buildings tlom Liability to attack from m enemy
in war, Their precihcte are regarded as neu-
trail ground SO far Ms hustle intrusion is concern
ed. Hitherto, during cur unfortunate civil
troubles, this humane custom has been ia the
main, not only strictly observed, hut We have es.
tab-htd the precedent OF regarding surgeons
aud ohaplains, while engaged in the discharge of
their legitimate duties MS exempt from capture
and detention as prisoners of war.
Iu view of the above, We repeat that it is with
pain that we publish the following instance of
barbarity as MI exception. Or. Ii. Il. Wirz, U,
S. A., Medical Director of the 9th Army Corps,
writes from Holly Springs, Miss, under date of
Dec. 30th, to Gen. Grant us fDlows:-
SIR: have the honor to report that remain
ed behind the advance of tue army for the pur-
pose of establishing large General Hospital at
Holly Springs. took building that had been
built for an Armory by the Contedera es consis-
ting of six large rOoms each 800 feet long and
numerous outhouses, aud after three weeks of in
cessant labor, in which was greatly assisted by
Surgeon Powers, Of the Seventh Missouri lnian-
tfy, had everything prepared for 1000.
The acting Medical Purveyor of the Southern
4 portion Ofthe Department bad been ordered to
bring ali his supplies to this hospital, which lie
did, and on the morning of the ooh of December
one Of the most completely finished and extensive
hospitals in the army was ready 10 receive its
sick.
On that morning the town Of Holly Springs
was taken by the Confederate forces under Gen.
! Van born.
AS soon as l discovered the enemy we're in
possession Of the place, repaired to the head
! quarters of the rebel General near the town, aud
made formal request that the ArmOry Hospital
should not be burnt, entering my solemn protest
on the subject, as the Confederutes had already
set fire to the railroad depot and commssary
stOre.house, and had declared their intentions to
destroy all houses occupied by our troops.
received the assurance by Gen Van Dorn's
! Adjutant that the Armory Hospital should not
be burnt, but that it would be protected by u
guard. Satisfied with this, returned to my
quarters, bu, Ind not been there an hour when
was informed that the building was in flames I;
aud thus this fine structure, with tRo thousand
buuks, an immense lot Of drugs and surgical ap--
! paraius thousands of blankets, sheets And bed
sacks, WAS soon in ashes.
| This proceeding, in violation of an express
promise. and Of all rules of civilized aifafe, is
an evidence of the barbatly and want of prlnci-
! pie in the Confederate officers. But this wa. not
all An attempt was made to destroy ihe Gene
raj Hospital located on the main square, aud
which at the time contained over 500 sick.
quantity of ordnance stores had been de-
| posted in building on the next block 10 the
hospital, and by the order Of Cen Van Dorm, as
Stated by the officer who had charge Of the mat
ter, the barrels OF powder aud boxes containing
shell and cartridgeB, were taken out and piled
up nearly in front Of the hospital and set fire to-
Two medical officers protested against this
want0n act hut their requests were treated with
c0utempt, aud before there was time TO remove
the sick the walls and windows Of the hospital
were riddlrd with flying balls and shell, and
finally terrific explosion took place which SHOOK
tue entire building destroying almost every win
dow mud door in the establishment, wounding
about twenty men, and creating scene of the
widest confusion.
large number Of buildings on the public
square took fire from tue explosion, aud il was
only by the utmost efforts that the hospital was
preserved as a shelter for the men in the night
air.
Together with the medical officers who assis-
ted me in caring for the sick and wounded on
Ihdt trying dny, thought that the rebels had
now done US oil the harm in their power, but to
injury insult was to be added in a manner /
hope never TO witness again. rebel cayalrv
officer named Brewster, who stated he had been
detailed hy Gen. Van Dorm to march of every
| SICK man that had not been pRroled," collected
together, pistol ia hand, about 100 sick soldiers,
flicad them to rise from their beds and fall in
line threatening to shoot the medical officer who
expostulated with him, mud actually made the
poor fellows, suffering from typhoid fever, pneu.
monia aud diarrh@a, start with him on the road
The men fell down in the street and had to rise
again for fear of being shot, when they we're SO
weak that the slightest motion was agony. On
being importuaed if there was Anything in the
Lame Of humanity that could be done to stop his