Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-01-27
Correspondence.
A Soldiers Letter, No. IA.
Mt. Pleasant Hospital,
CAM CoNyALEscENcE, Jan.

CAMP CoEyALEscENCE jan 10.
EDITOR FREEMAN - 1t has been SO long since
have written you anything that fear | shall
have to consider myself stranger to your read
ers again and commence my acquaintance anew.
believe promised in my last, which was as long
ago as last September, that would give an ae-
count Of the pending campaign, in Maryland
but that promise did not fulfill and perhaps
owe an apology Tor not keeping my word. De-
elining health, a misfortune which but few sold
iers can prevent, rendered me- physically, incapa-
with a nua5er Of my comrades, to seek a tenn.
porary asylum in one Of our Army Hospitals |
have noticed great deal Of comment in the news
papers, pro and con, in regard to the Management
aud care Of the sick in these hos tails and | pre-.
sumo enough has been said toacquaini every one
with their proceedings in these places, but Of
ten receive questions from those having friends
here, who are anxious to know in regard to their
welfare, so propose to give a few observations
from my own experience, shall disclose moth
ing new or startling, nor do | propose to enter
into any profound reasoning whereby you may
base the presumption that the suferings and ca
anities Of this war are soon to close Any one
who has read my former letters knows better
than to expect any such thing. lam a common
soldier belonging to the rank and file, and who
ever reads my letters must expect to find them
foil Of nothing but soldiers talk Just bear this
10 mind kind reader, and then your disappOint-
ment will be less keen if your patience allows you
TO follow me through TO find in my letter SO little
that caa interest you.
My destination, after leaving the regiment, on
this occasion, happened to be at the Mt. Pleasant
Hospital, which is situated the best part eta mile
northward from the heart Of the city of Wash
neton, between Seventh and Fourteenth Streets
This hospital is, indeed situated in pleasant place,
but the altitude Of the situation is hardly suff
cient to deserve even the abbreviated title Of
mountain. The building, ITSELF contains ten wards
besides the cook.room, laundry, store-room, dis
pensary, &c. These wards branch off from the
main building or " hall 'at right angles like the
wings or L part Of dwelling. At first view,
from the outside, spectator would suppose that
the ward. were two stories high the height Of
the buildings and their having two rows Of in
dows would Justify such conclusion. But, on
entering them, he finds the space vacant Of all
partitions or ceilings, frSm the floor to the roof
making room at once spacious, airy and well
lighted. A large water tank, elevated high above
the hospital, supplies every part with pure water.
Excellent facilities are afforded each ward for
washing and bathing, and the rules Of cleanliness
are strictly enforced. Those too feeble to help
themselves were waited spon by the nurses.
Each ward contained about thy beds. making
not far from five hundred beds, in all. The bed.
steads were light iron frames admirably adapted
{ or hospital purposes, and each bed was provided
with good mitrsss or strawbed, and every one
had plenty of bed clothes Besides these wards
there were between fifty and sixty triple tents
containing eighteen beds each SO the whole
concern made provisions for some fifteen hundred
men. The tents are intended for conysescents
and those less seriously ailiug, while the ward. are
reserved for those reqniring greater care and at.
tenlion. These are sent to the tents, as fast ts
they are able, to make room for fresh arrivals.
Such was my fate Ter the first month.
On the 10th Of September, Auno Domn Eigh'
teen Hundred and Sixy-two, your humble SER
want was introduced into one of these wards, to be
treated as patient As my eomrai es snd had
made our way TO the hospital through the exer
else Of the powers of Osomotion which Nature ha,
given US, it Heed not be supposed that We we're
ntirely helpless, or confined TO our beds, Our
complaint was that insdous disease, so wide
spread in our army, the chronic diarrhel, which
we contracted in the swsmps Of the Chiekahomi.
ny, and which saps the foundations Of ones
strength, and makes his existence lingering du.
ration Of misery. can hardly find language ade-
quate to express the relief felt when took pos
session Of the bed which was to occupy. | had
marched many a weary mile wheR had not
sufficient strength to step on, aad raise myse !
to, an eminence foot high, without assisting my.
self by my hands, nor to double quick" dozen
rods, though i, were to save the whole Uno.
and now the prospect Of few days res, in place
that would bear, at least, favorable comparison
with the comforts Of civil life, was gratifying in
the extreme. 1t seemed too good to be true.
vas actually afraid that should be awakened
some morning, as u>ul by the inexorable com.
mand, "Fa in," and the fond illusion would b.
dispeed asa dream.
am aware that there has been complaint made
by many of their treatment in these hospitals, but
| am unable to see how so many sick men could
be cared for better than we were at this place.
Other hospitals may be differently managed
do not presume to Judge. Here everything we
desired and needed was unhesitatingly granted
There was very efficient corps Of nurses, male
and female, and they spared no pains to render
their patients as comfortable as lay in their power
| think they entertained heartfelt sympathy for
the suiferings Of those under their care, and did
the best they could to alleviate them. Especial,
is this true Of the women nurses. II any who Sc,
this have friends in this hospital, they may tax,
my word Or it, they are well treated and have ex-
collent care, and the prospect of their being ,e
stored to health is scarcely less than it would b,
Il they were at their own homes in Vermont. Th,