The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1863-03-04
McGREG0R, IOWA, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1863
Scenes on a Hospital E3oat.

iScenes on a Hospital K3oat.
Brick Pomeroy Of the Lacrosse Den,
crat who is now at and near Helena, A
kansas, sends to his paper the following a.
count Of visit to hospital steamer, ju.
| from Arkansas Post:
At dark last night, q few miles aboy
the mouth Of White River, we met a hos
pital boat aground on bar. Two othe
steamers were trying to pull her off. 1
line was made fast from this boat, an hou
spent in the vain attempt to get her off, b,,
1t could not be done, SO We reluc,antt
proceeded on our way. It seemed tn
more sad to leave, as the grounded boa
had on board four hundred and sixty O
our men, including large list of officers
who were wounded at Arkansas Post, ant
most of them were suffering in addition t,
their severe wounds with hospital gan
creme. The boat left Napoleon twent,
hours previous to the time we met her, ant
in the meantime fourteen Of the wounded
had died, and their corpses were on board
The night was a sorrowt tuI one-sad bcyont
words. There was no more room, or NOR,
would have been aboard. 1t was q CROWD
OF miscry-a gathering Of sad and depress
ed hearts-a boat load Of pain and agony
A very large proportion Of the wounds
were more than usually severe, principally
from shell and riAed cannon. Men with
arms literally torn from their body--witf
legs blown or shattered into fragments
jaws, hands, ears, noses, cheeks, breasts
and shoulders, shot cr blown away by
bursting shells. 1t was a deathly "ftas,
Of blood" Some Of the poor fellows were
too much exhausted to speak-othcrs bore
their suffering without groan though the
nervous twitching Of the face, compressed
lips, closed eyes and hands, told how brave
the heart which from pride or sympathy
would not annoy others with its own trou
bles, great though they were. How many
homes and hearts this unholy and thrice
doubly accursed war is making-how many
it must yet make.
One officer in an Iowa regiment was on
board, both legs carried away by big shot
which struck him just below the knees -
According to all scientific laws, he should
have died at once, but he did not, and was
going home. As he lay on bloody cot,
at tunes he would talk with some around.
Being acquainted with the lieutenant who
was with and attending him, we approach
I'd the poor fellow. He said he was glad to
see us, and though the grimmy hand that
extended slowly betokcned great loss
of blood, it told of will and heart which
seemed to defy death.
Poor fellow you have won the wreath"
'ies, but am lucky-others will never
get home, as | shall ~
God grant, Captain, that you may soon
reach the family circle and get wcll.''
Lower your head. Brick, I have no
family, but there is one love, not yet my
wife. 1t is her love which bears me up -
it is the hope Of feeling her gentle hand
and warm kiss upon my brow and lips that
keeps me alve--that will carry me to her,
for cannot walk
lie spoke slowly, in whisper; and it
was surely no evidence Of weakness that
tears rolled over our checks. Who
could help It? His name is Maitland, but
his company we did not have time to learn
before being called back TO The "Wavc"
There is one singular fact connected with
this war, as we learn on every side. The
strong, hardy, muscular soldiers, who at
home swung the axe or tended saw mill,
are the first to s!ckcn and die, while those
who have led an in door life or have lived
in idl.ncss, escape. The clerk, petted son,
and hanger on around some saloon male
he hardest soldiers. The sloth and mac
tvi,y kills off the rugged and hearty sol
dier who all his life has lived by toll and
while the others escape with com.
parativeiy little sickness. The cavalry ser
vice is the most healthy because the most
active.
1t is heart sickenins to go on board a
boat just starting for some northern hoSpi-
tai with load Of sick soldiers. The state
rooms are full--the cabin floor is covered
50 thickly that one basin, spittoon or other
vessel serves for two men as they lie facing
each other, to vomit in. BY way of change
at times poor fellow sick and lstless, mus
sers strength to turn over and vomit in the
dish OF his cnmrade--no words being spoken
except by the eye.
This war is horrible. They who die on
the battle are indeed fortunate. There is
a cruel difference between the gay and hap
py volunteer who leaves home amid the
waving Of white handkcrchiefs and cheers
nf assembled crowds, and the emaciatcd
skeleton Of a once strong man, whose life
has for months been almost steadily and
literally running away from him. Who
would think that the dirty, suffering sol.
dicr who lies on thc hard cabin floor-or on
the floor Of some house with nothing under
him but blanket. was once the petted low
er-the worshippcd husband-,he prayed
Cor son-the fond aud loving father? Who
wonl,l say that the hundreds Of lips now fe-
yer pa,cbed and cracked as We have seen
them so often hung in cestatic bliss on the
lips Of one who never will know them more
except in memory. There is Il latent fire
in the eye which nothing but love and car.
resses will ever lsht-that can never be.