The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-06-11
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Of the bloomfield Guard. Last week 3
Guard bas letter from Jones, wfittss
from Benton Barracks. which, however,
racy and readable Is il may be-ior be
writes sharpie,ter, does Jones -contains
many statements 10 reference TO Keokuk,
its citizens. its hospitals and those Who
are 10 charge Of them. which are erro
neous and unjust.
But let ia see what he says:
Our men were glad to receive the order
to leave Camp Lincoln, with its dust aud
myriads u Mormon flies, and the herd OF
s~,ndlers and extortioners who hsd BY
talse weights. or through carelessoess in
excusable, failed to deliver full sapplies
of ratious.
Now, 10 reference to the above. We
only remark that we have been informed
that Che officers of the regiment adopted
the policy of reserving a small amount
from the allowance of rations In order TO
create "hospitsl fund.-" and that neat
little sum vas raised in this way during
the few days the regiment remained here
So that if there was a failure "to deliver
full supplies Of ralions" your officers we're
responsible therefor.
We marched down Main street early
after sun up, greeted along the way by
| t-a ar fkxoo hnndvad fof end ka~,ty lr.A,
ing soldiers sflicled with disease know %
in the city as conSalescent, but held at the
hospitals because there was not enough
with any other disease 10 keep the seve-
raj institutions running. The majority
of these soldiers thus termed eonvalesccnt,
are as able bodied rs ever they were, and
anxious 10 return to the field. Many oil
them are engaged around the city saving
wood add making gardens at good wages,
and some few are tending the Medical
Coliese--all to the credit o. the soldiers
but not very fattering to the patriotism
aud integrity OF the persons in charge ol
the hospitals.
As we passed down Min street, there
we're at the corners aud along the side.
walk, 1T least thousand young and able
boiled men who ought 10 be- in the field
get strang. as It may seem, Lee county
has furnished but one company under the
call for the ten thousand men. | have nc
doubt but these tizens are, TO some ex
tent at least, Influenced in their action b,
the presence among them Of so many able
bodied SO idlers retained in the hos pitals
as conva!eseents. The Governor OF the
State and the citizens of Keokuk should
make thorough investigation into thi.
matter, and should, if possible, require al
who are permanently disabled, and al
lingering with chronic disease, to be im
mediately discharged, aud all able bodice
to be seut to the fed, aud along will
them in the ranks without pay, should b
sen. the persons in power who have thu,
sacrificed the interests Of their country To-
their own personal or pecuniary int rest
Many of the leading men OF keokul
openly denounce these wrongs, but non'
have had the courage to beard the lion il
IN his den. As an humble citizen o
lows, | am willing to take the response
bihty of exposing highway robbery ant
swnding wherever it may xist, aud Civ,
these pihks OF patriotism the pene6. 0
this lutte airing free of charge.
That's what Jones Gays, and may Go,
forgive him, for he shouldn't have said it
Part Of the statements above made ar,
untrue. aud all Of them are ,inconsid rat,
aud ili-timed.
How do you know, brother Jones, tina
majority Of the .'two or three huud re,
fat and hearty looking soldiers" tha, 70,
noticed, care as able bodied as ever the,
wereg" Amt the assertion al,ogctbel
gratuitous? Are you not merely guess
ing. And We compliment ou upon tn,
acuteness of your perception 10 that 70,
were able to see. while merely "msrchin,
down Main street, ply steal sounjnes,
and strength in these men. which tn,
surgeons 10 the hospit ia, who are in dali,
contact with them, have failed to discover
af.er repeated examinations. And VIII,
would be likely to be The most competeu
Judge herein, medical men Of skill ane
large learning aud experience as ar.
the surgeons connected with our hpspi
tails, or an Editor from the Hairy Nation
who is not supposed to know ANYTHING
about-the "healing art" and who "passed
down Main street" at the Time he made
the discovery, in such cloud of dust \,
We hope never to be mixed up again? s
But further; not only have our sur.
gcons here, but medical men offi.iallv
here. Tor that very purpose, have failed
after strict and searching examination. to
make the discovery which brother Jones
makes without any examination At ali =
Early in February DR.. Kittoe, who was
In his own words, auuder orders from
| Gen Grant, making round Of vista +,
the q s. Hospitals north Of the Ohid
river, for the purpose of ascertaininJ
whether sny or what number of men f,
for field duty was retained in the seyer,l
hospitals came to Keokuk nm tho str.,,,.h