Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-12-04
How the Rebels TreaTes eur wdnnded af-
ter the Battle Of ChIckauauEas

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OK Bonn rHE U. S. STEAMER NEw YoRx,l
November 25th, 1868.
At meeting Of the medical officers Of
the Army Of the Cumberland" " who were
left in chsrge Of the Federal wounded
after the battle Of Chicamsuga and now
released from Libby Prison, Richmond,
Va, o. Q. Herriek WAS called to the chair
and Surgeon John McCurdy chosen Score
tsry.
The following was stated IS the object
Of the meeting, viz: to collect snd report
statement of facts regarding our trsst-
ment and that Of our wounded by the en-
emy, after falling into their hands. For
this purpose the following committee we're
appointed Surgeons e. J. Herrick, Alex
ander Ewing and Joseph Fithian, who
subjected the following statement, collect
ed from actual experience Of their own,
or well authenticated testimony:
There were established before and after
our forces fell back two principal depots
for the reception Of the wounded, the one
on The extreme right of the field at CraW
Fish Springs, the other on the extreme
left at Clouds Farm. At these hospitals
and on the field were left about twenty
FIVE hundred Of the most severely wound
ed; for the care Of whom forty eight sur
geons and assistant surgeons became VOL
untary prisoners. The commissary and
hospital supplies we're very limited in con-
| . -. -
ed train. No nurses remained, or at least
a very insufficient number.
The enemy entered the camp Of the
Clock Farm Hospital at II clock, on Sun
day, the second day Of the battle, when
some plundering was done, bat subse-
quently on the approach Of freinforcements,
under General Granger, fell back and did
not enter sgsin until Monday morning
when the commands under Forrest and
| Cheathsm first entered. The commanders
assured us thstevery protection and assist
ance should be afforded us in the discharge
Of our duties. Permission was asked to 90
out to the field to collect and attend to those
of our wounded who had received as yet no
care. General Cheatham said that per-
mission could not De permission could not
be granted Immediately, but that in two or
three days there would be no objections;
moreover, that our wounded would be cared
for as their own. Their frank and candid
statements gave the impression that what
reason and humanity should dictate would
be done but it was very soon learned that
here as in other instances where the
promise was secured all that could be hoped
for had been obtained. A guard was left
for our protection from General Forests
command, but it proved in the end to be
an unfortunate datail for us for they de-
pended principally on Us for Tations which
was q matter Of some consideration in view
Of our reduced supplies. Old hsversscks
bad been carefully gathered up for their
now valuable contents, and every scrap
that could lengthen out our supply for the
thousand wounded heroes who were de-
pending upon US for support. In spite Of
the guard constant thieVing was carried
on, often by officers. Moreover, when the
guard was withdrawn, the officer in com
mand stated that his orders were to take
all gum and oil cloth blankets, hence fol-
lowed 8 general plunder of the camp.
Blankets and clothing were taken from the
wounded and dying; also, money and other
Taiusbles, in spite Of sll remonstrance by
the surgeon in charge and the appeals and
prayers Of the wounded. Then, also, most
Of our nurses who had been allowed to as
sist-being selected from the captured on
the feld-Were taken away. So that the
duties Of nurse, sexton and surgeon, most
tt tod OSa58fpiJhssah IF iJhsah RgI5 that time wa Was great
calamity, for the nights were so cold that
ice was observed in the morning one eighth
Of su inch thick in basins Of standing ws-
ter.
The wounded on the field were scattered
over an area Of sbsut ten square miles.
Some Of whom were two and three miles
from water, and provided with food only in
small quantities from collected haVersacks
OF as our surgeons, in their daily rounds,
could furnish from their meager supply,
They were collected into squads Of from
ten to one hundred each and made as com
Portable as possible, with we'll men, or those
more slightly wounded, to give them care.
1t was desired to collect them at one Of the
hospitals, where they could have a sufi-
cheney Of water, at least; but the difficulty
was hov could they be taken there. They
were from two to five miles of, and all we
had was the litter. Officials, almost hour
ly, rode up to the hospitals simply, they
said, ITO inform the Surgeon that squad Of
men, ct such and such point, were suf-
fering greatly for want of attention. with
out Offering suggestion rim the slightest
manner helping hand.
A petition was made for ambulsnces or
wagons. An order was given by General
Preston to take smbulances from any train
that might be found, but there was either
an understanding that such orders were
not binding or else entire disregard WAS
shown to them. Ambulsnces on the march.
going directly past the hospitals could not
be induced, when empty, 10 take in wound.
ed on the rosd and lesYs them as they
passed, which could have detained them
only few moments. Moreover, there
seemed TO be teams enough at leisure.
Thus, in spite of all exertions and entrest-
les, the Surgeons were obliged to provide,
as best they could, for about eight hundred
wounded left on the field until the 26th,
six days after the close Of the battle.
a written statement was early made to
General Bragg, concerning our condition.
By his special order-and his own team,
the Captain said who brought them-about
seven hundred rstions Of corn meal, salt,
and hard bread, with about one hundred
pounds Of salt pork, were issued, which
we're the principal rstions received from
the enemy while the wounded were in
their hands. Three yearling steers were
driven to the hospitals at the farm from
drove passing. One was killed thst even
ing, one died during the night, the other
was unable to get up in the morning and
was killed and eaten to Sdueit.
On the field the rebels selected out their
own dead and buried then leaving ours
stripped Of their clothing to rot upon the
field, the food for buzzards. 0ftea we were