Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-06-05
Our Army Correspondence. }
FROM HOSPITAL.
HosPIrAL 2p VT. BRIGADE. !
May 2sth, 1863 !

FROM HOSPITAL.
HosPlrAL % VT. BRIoADE.
May 2sth, 1868.
Dear Fra Pres:
Probably but few Of your readers
are acquainted with the arrangements of req
mental hospital and it may be interesting to
them to learn what conveniences We have for
our sick soldiers. About the lst OF April | was
taken sick and after staying week in quarter.
was taken to our hospital riding on a stretcher,
a very agreeable method Of travelling If one is
well enough to enjoy it. have had therefore
good opportunity to observe the interior nlachin-
cry of the hospital
The tents are as large as good sized rooms.
with ample ventilation At the top, and in fair
weather the ends are opened allowing the soft
southern breezes to pass through. Zach tent is
called ward and contains sometimes six and
sometimes eight patients, according to the health
Of the regiment Two are appropriated for the
sick and two for the convalescents. During the
winter we had neat iron bed-steads, but IN the
spring they were removed and wooden hunks
substituted. Over the head Of each bed, attached
to the walls Of the tents, are little paper bags
containing the powders for the patients. There
ara six nurses who are divided into three relief.
each standing eight hours on duty. Their duties
are to bring in the food, to administer medicine
snd to do anything which would promote the
comfort Of the sick.
There cannot be too much praise gwen to the
Ladies' Aid Societies Of Vermont for their con-
tributions to the Sanitary Commission II It
were not fer their quilts and comiorters. our boys
would have Jared III indeed during the pas,
winter, white shirts. sheets. pillows and the Ike,
which are furnished In abundance, make great
addition to their comfort and well being. May
God bless cur noble women Of Vermont FOR their
uatiring efforts to strengthen the arms of our
eoldiers in the field
We have three skillful surgeons, Or. Kletcha-,
pr. Command Dr. Ross; the former Was appointed
to the office Of brigade surgeon which he flls to
the satisfaction Of all who have experienced his
carr. This promotion gave pr Conn the
charge Of the regimcnjal hospital, aal | can sly
with truth that he Is the man f5r tho place. The
only thing to complain Of, is the small quantity
and Variety Of medicine i,sael by tho govern
ment; the best physician in the world would
have MS hands tel down hcre,uule-s he r57. in
the hospitals at Alexandra or Washington. But
li,tlc MEDICINE is ls,lt out Co IL and DO Iauh;
many have died for Tho wait, e something which
the doctor did not have 20 Civ, them. This l.
bad hut It cannot - helped, and i7 ought notto
- slway- blamed Tor not saving hi. sieA.
You may think from what have e,ii that the
hospital IS pleasant place, but you would change
your mind if You could $50 what have -1en-
men dying far away from home and those they
love, without one 10 sIeak 60 them q the c.a-o-
htions Of religion or to give them parting
word Of farewell as they enter tic dark valley of
death. Since entered hospital, sixteen men have
died including three from my own company.
whom SIX months companionship in the tolls Of
soldiers life had made almost Ike brothers 70
me. Some frll away 50 gently that We were not
aware Of their death for some minutes; one poor
fellow. the last we lost, in his rawlings continual
~ implored the nurses not to keep him. for It