Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-02-21

EDIroRs LEADER R:-About a week since
my attention was called to q communica-
ton, first published in the Ohio State
Journal, and copied into the Cincinnati En-
ouirer, dated Murfreesboro', and over the
anonymous signature of "Mack " in
which statements are made respecting the
hospitals and hospital officials in and
about Murfressboro', which know to be
grossly untrue That part of the communi-
cation which referred to the conduct Of the
Surgeons and Assistants, charging them,
lOith0Ht exception, with gross and criminal
neglect of the sick and wounded men, I
replied to Immediately in a communica-
tion to the Journal in which I stated from
my personal knowledge, that in most, if
not all, the cases which have come under
my observation the Surgeons are honestly
and faithfully endeayoring to discharge
their arduous and difficult duties to their
patients This statement felt constrain-
ed to make as matter of justice to the
Surgeons of the army in this Depart
ment. With regard to the authorship Of
the communication I have since ascer-
tained that it was written by diseharg-
ed soldier, who acknowledged to a comrade
now here, land whose name can be given
if necessary that he was drunk when he
wrote it and regretted it. The letter,
however, has gone widespread through
the newspapers, and will be read by
thousands who will be ignorant alike of
its source and its falsity.
Among the misstatements made, how
ever, is one calculated to exert an inhu-
ence even more pernicious to the interests
r 1r7fnn oin1r nd
wounded in hosp tails here, and which l
have thought best to meet in a different
manner. In speaking of the Sanitary
stores sent here, "Mack' makes the whole
sale statement that they are all consumed
by the officers and hospital officials and
that the sick and wounded soldiers do not
get any of them Knowing the effect
which such statements, made, 1 am sorry to
say, by others of the "same ilk with
Mack" have had, and will continue to
have upon the source of our supplies at
home, determined atOnee to make the ap-
peal to the soldiers in hospitals and en-
deavor to put the result in such shape as
would settle the question 80 far as the
hospitals here are concerned.
Accordingly have circulated the fol-
lowing statement as l havespassed from
one hospital to another in the performance
of other duties, simply stating the charges
made by Mack and his confreres, and
asking them to sign or not, according to
their positive personal knowledge and ex-
perienee.
The names appended to this paper have
been in every case put there By the vol
untary consent of the men, the signatures
being actually made by the individuals
except when wounds or sickness made it
necessary for another to write at their die
tstion and let me state that eUeTy patient
to whom this paper has been presented,
has not only signed it, but signed it viii
lingly and gladly. The list comprises all
the patients now in hospital here and on
the battle field with the exception of few
whom cannot reach without delaying the
publication, which is demanded noV.
hope that every editor in the North,
who has at heart the interest Of our brave
men, sick and wounded in the common
cause, as well as the vindication of truth
and justice, will publish this list and
thereby sustain and stimulate the thous-
snds whose philsnthropic efforts are flag
ging under the discouraging influence of
statements made by irresponsible and
reckless men, who, like Mack" do not
hesitate to villify holy cause to crafty a
petty spite or the the drunken humor Of q
disappointed selfshness.
ED. HOWARD.