, 1863-04-04
TEE HOSPITALS OF TIE SOUTH
WEST
IN Interesting Letter TO the Sanitary
Commission.


rac. ofa highly interesting and graphic letter
ccived by the Sanitary Commission from one Of
their agents in charge Of stores. 1t il an ablc and
unusually pleasant letter, and We commend 1t to
general pesnsal:
toG T!cksburg.) La, Noncay, March IS, Is.
Hon. Mark Skinner:
Dear Sir: We arrived at Young's Point some
four days since, but have had no opportunity to
mail letter uutil now.
On our arrival we found the sanitary boat l" Sill
yer Waye'. had been ordered to IAzoo Pass, and
that the "Omaha' had been taken for sanitary pur-
poeee. She also WAS ut Lake Providence, and DR..
taken a etate-room on board the "'Champlon'' en-
foute for Memphis. We despatched messengers
for him, and stopped his northern tour. Our stores
Ogden, Temporarily, until the ..Umaha'' could be
RI. called, and 8 tug waa sent for her.
aAe the - Fauny. Ogden, t. in the service ofthc
point 10 point with diepatchcs-the fastest boat
on the ri1er-!yc had no choice but to SO whittier
she bore us. This happened very we'll, as the hor
| rible condition Of The country at loung's Point,
anu the rapid rise Of the river l,ad compelled
transfer Of troops to Millikens Bend Altecn miles
above, and 10 Lake Providence, fofty miles beyond
| tEat. Our first erTand WIS to Mil!kcn's Bend.
| wnerc the whole OF MeClcrnand's army corps IL
cnc.mped. went immediately to General Nc
tltrnand e headquarters, and informed him Of our
Irsfene IN the neishborhood, and also that We
had sanitary stores for the relief Of thpse needing
tn m. He Immediately cent notification to ali
the fnIscone 81 1csimcntal hospitals, who came
| to tile boat with their rcqntsItions which were
filled under the direction Of Or. Andrew. He had
had experience IN this work. and had not, and 30
I gave the matter into bis hands. All the hos
pitale ut this point, and all the sick Of the army
iu the neighbu.hood were fully relieved. I think
| ! never experienced Euch moments OF exquisite
pleasure. a. when I eaw the poor wan fsces IN
tLeEehospitais glowing with pleasure, or sudused
With grateful tears, as they cav the deicaCies we
onions, fsiina pearl barley. iutter y. -tnteriu;
and somc tried 10 express their thanks III broken
childish words.
NJ thie point were many Of the regiments which
hare suffered Moet from sfckness-but most b1
them AIc inpsosiug in health, now that they have
hnr, dry location Nothing can be dntr than this
locality. 1t embraces some Of the dnrst p!anta
II the sichcst III the South. The air was heavy
with the fragrance Of roses and jcssa,nnc. tic
w ~ ne ss ss Rst Of
fath of the Mississippi against tho gras
covered 1t,ccs had delicious sound Of summer
iziEg an immense hospital here. II il called th'
|an Ruren. ard ie already able to- accommodate
9c00 patir1ts. with a sapahilitr Of indefinite ex
tei.sion. 1t ls chiefly for convslssecnts, bu. AZ
Engagements will he made for the care Of very ecl
and wounded men, when necessary
Our hoat was then s.nt hack to Iouns's Poin
with dispatches, where we mad thc satisfaction o
lying IT The mouth Of The canal, within range Q
tLe enemy guns which wcre: han,1neriug away Il
the ltedse boat In the ~ cutoff, on which locd
motive headlight s,s placed. The fash Of tn
canLoEadc glared RID On the sky, and then tn
terrific .concusston shook our boat to the cen:rc
1'nt 10 harm appeared TO be done to any one.
The next Cay our boat was rent to Lake ProTl
dcEee. VIII r. Gen. Macphcrson's army corps, an
parts Of others; arc enca'nrsl; The same conEs
; vas pursued there as at Milliken's Bend, wi,
nrn Of this corps have been admirably cared fol
! rode through two bsigadcs. and though they ha
!. becn IN this location but week. every tent had
, mink ffGGr raised from the rrOt1d ftIc m1tcri.
icr which lad eeen ..j<tked,' in c:.sup rar1anc&
fem surrounding p1antatiots. deserted Of eve.
Ting hEnlan.. The Whole Of this corps are /
N mi.able lca1th assd spirits.
Htrc We found the Omaha, the sanitary bos
and VIC PVT ouE stores on hoard. Ar. Presto
turned over his stores also to the sanitary boa
Trs5e be conrsgncd to Dr, Andrew. hi. .Plattea
bur,b, the accnt Of the st. Louis commission, wh
had about as large supply as ourselves, also Fl
] his goods on boara. Here aaso We net n
: To-day We have rclurnrd to 1oungs> Point, az
/ this n. n had an Interview with Gen. Grant, vi
prohe1td every eivisy, au4 tonosTg" Y
Ell + Az &c oa of as i = C.
d and cunboate. and other points OF: :nttrest Ta'
szc but few tick at Yot.ns's 1on'. anu t'e ~
hospitals located here, arc 10 be broker up 'ua;n
:. dtately. al,d the sick removed elsewhere. ~
II ie!Ht ts no place !or ho>pl!als-
8, We ha.c found the heal.h Of the troops mut
7. r than ws Ind rxpcctctl fron the reports cl
"a ,enl n the North. Al]-oflcere. surgeons, a
~ b,satea-agree 1 in ta.ing that these reports h2
Sspp; s'satiy s' rs mn camp
slowly eme,ins on sna ssem ehe esk IN aosnta!t ~
mrn i. that these cxaesetsteS renoF.s are i
ey Wos t!GoppeIheads. aud were coined to help
region, lying i the us md 1nat r. TO- u
at c.p,on but ifonc can believe sp1 thtnr aseE
me muat ns ass fasai
''h at hon G. and than ~e cxpccttd d 10 hrnf.
1t As eoaec"sa by all sae sanitary gentlemen ,