Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-05-14
I..,.r from Mrs. Harvey.

Wo,ns,Eol-Feeltng about he Fort ftAo'o Mas
sacTe.
The following is a letter from Mrs. G. A. P.
HARVEY, State Agent for Wisconsin at vicks-
burg, describing the scene on board the Hos
pital steamer Chegango, which arrived at
vicksburg April 21st, bearing the wounded
from the Red River expedition.
SoLDIER's HONE, VIcKsBURG
Miss, April oath, ls64|
Gov. ]. 7. LEWIS, Madison, Wis.
Dear Sir :-YOu have doubtless before this
received news from the Red River expedi-
ton.
On Thursday last the U. S. Sanitary Com
mission Hospital boat arrived here from be-
low, with sick and wounded. On board
found some of our soldiers from the Esd and
29th regiments. Nathan Ellis wounded in the
arm, from Co. ID, Esd regiment, said that six
from their regiment were killed, thirty-four
wounded and forty missing; could give me
no names ~
Sidney Smith from Co. b, 29th regiment,
could give me no information concerning that
regiment, as he was woundedin the beginning
of the battle, and was brought away before
the regiment left the field.
On this boat they we're all comfortable
We sent about forty from hospitals here to
hospitals further North.
from this boat went on hoard the Che-
mango which came in about two hours later
directly from Red River.
The sights that met my eyes at every step
beggar descriptions; the lower part of the
boat was filed with negroes almost naked, of
from hahips a few bOurS old
old grav-haired men and women. / say filed,
lust like flies in and about a sugar bowl; il
was almost impossible for me TO get through
this mass of human life, to the tainting, fam
ishing and dying ones above. The cabin, the
gunwales, and the hurricane deck were all
covered with our soldiers; some dead, some
dying, all suffering for care. One after anOth-
er surgeons and officers that / met said,
&" Mrs. Harvey come away, you can do moth
ing. These men have had no care since
they we're wounded it is terrible, come
"away. They will be put into hospitals here
"and cared for as soon as possible"
l asked if they had no supplies, no stimu-
Iants. Nothing nothing. One of the
nurses said oh, Mrs Harvey if you will
ONLY bring US some sponges, and small sy
ringes 10 dress wounds, and some lint too"
| FASTENED away, and soon returned with
everything they needed-shirts, drawers,
socks, lemons, sugar, wines, canned peaches,
iellies, nice fresh crackers, pitchers, tum-
blers, wash basins, sponges, soap, towels,
handkerchiefs, cloths, lint and syringes;
these last bought, as they had none at the
commission rooms. Last, but not least, a
most excellent nurse, Miss Wiswall, that
could dress wounds equal to any surgeon. |
asked permission of the surgeon in charge
of the boat to come on board and go 10
work. 1t vas given very gratefully, and we
did go TO work
The day was very warm. The men were
near burning up with fever from their
wounds, or fainting from loss of blood. Cold
water was brought US, and we gave them
lemonade and wine first. Their faces and
hands were bathed and wiped with clean
towels.
then opened cans Of peaches, and gave
each man a cracker and peach. The peaches
were excellent. Oh, that the ones who sent
them could have seen the grateful, fearful
eyes of the sons, brothers, fathers and hus
bands, as | saw them that day, and heard
the fervent "GOd bless you p as did, How
grateful | was, and am every day, that | am
permitted to be the almOner of their bounty.
While l was doing this, Miss Wiswal was
dressing wounds. We labOred until evening,
when the ambulanees came to receive them
and take them to hospitals
know there were many Wisconsin men
on board, but ! could not ask for them; this
you viii think strange, but you would not if
you we're with me. If you ask for men from
any State it makes hearts so sad, that you
do not ask for that often, having done it a
few times. You viii stop it for humanity's
sake.
Many of them knew me, and said to me as
| passed by them, "We knew you would
come" Poor fellows; they wished help
from every body. We are living surrounded
by horrors, and fear the "reign of terror
to us is fast approaching. Since the Fort
Pillow tragedy our eolored troops and their
officers are waiting in breathless anxiety the
action of Government.
The papers do not furnish half the horrors
Of the Fort Pillow affair. Our officers of
negro regiments declare they will take no
more prisoners, and there is death to the reb-
ell in every black mans eye. They are still,
but terrible. They SrU. fgld.
One poor fellow (black) from Red River
had one arm shot off and the other shattered.
When the boat arrived here his arm had NOR
titled, yet was alive with other life than his
own. He said to one of our officers, +" If you
think, massa, shall die, 1 do wish to see my
wife and children in Memphis once more"
When told that il was doubtful if he lived,
he said, ''Bress de Lord have done my
duty fighting for my country and my brethren
and / die man and a free man Dress de
Lord, massa." He has been taken TO Men,
phis, his arm amputated, and it is thought he
will live. The negroes know what they are
doing.
G. A. P. HARVEY,
State Agent.