The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-01-16

WASHINGTON, ID. G., Jan. 18th, 1854.
To the Editor Of the Press:
In November / sent you detailed account
OF the administration of the military hospitals
in this city-an administration so systematic,
SO perfect in its wise forethought. that of the
thousands not patient is overlooked, not one
lacks as watchful and efficient aud almost as
tender care as he could receive at home. /
have since seen camp hospital at its worst.
In one OF the inland towns OF Maine a man
was drafted last summer--an honest industri-
GUS young fellow, whose thoughts rarely wan
dered beyond the fields in which he wrought
early and late, who loved his country as well
as another perhaps, bat chiefly because il con-
tanned his little home, his wife and child. OF
that restless longing for adventure, which
sends so many country boys to the city, to sea.
to California, or in these days into the army.
he had none. For weeks before the draft. his
wife had been distressed by anxious forebod-
ings, such as often seem prophetic and when
at last the day came, his name was drawn
He had saved three or four hundred dollars.
and it was serious question with the young
couple, whether 1t were best to sacrifice these
earnings and savings or to take the war risk
and perhaps alter one or two years begin life
again forehanded. Perhaps, II was d hard
word to speak, or even to think OF; but after
much consultation the choice was made and
the conscript was sent forward to join the 10th
Maine regiment
About three weeks ago his wife received
letter from camp, stating bluntly that her
husband was very sick and would die unless
he could be taken home and that soon. There
upon the poor woman went to my friend the
Sheriff, substantial farmer, well known in
his own county and to some extent through
out the State, and besought him to bring her
soldier home, or If the worst were true, Mt
least to bring the dead body to rest within the
limits of the familiar horizon, so pitcously that
refusal was out of question. Her husband
had worked for my friend; she was his tenant
then. it was easy to see that she would soon
have another little life Ia. watch and tend.
And so it happened that the Sheriff started
next morning, called on me two days later.
BRIEFLY narrated these circumstances, and
concluded by inviting me to 60 down to the
front with him.
We started on the last day OF the year. The
passenger train ON the military railroad leaves
Washington at $50 A. NJ. 1t began to rain
before we reached the station, and two or
three companies of soldiers. packed on shell
terless platform ears, looked uncomfortable
enough. The two passenger cars were crowd
ed as usual, crowded till hardly another man
could even stand up in them. There were
half dozen women aboard, officers wives
going down to try camp life in winter quar-
tiers; and 1t seemed that Their first experience
was likely to be but sorry, for the rain poured
steadily until II began TO ooze through the
car roof, and the air without, as it swept in
occasionally through here and there an open
window, grew colder and colder Hour after
hour we trundled along through the mud and
rain, past dripping huts and drenched tents,
wet, shivering horses tied to trees and posts,
wet soldiers on guard along the road. bemired
wagons and muddy pedestrians. Manassas
.Iuucflou RrisfoW Sf1tinu 1.p
tion, Bealton station every one of these
places was famous, but seen through that
dreary rain all looked alike, a thick paste Of
red mud in the foreground, moist camps here
and there, each with its wet flag sticking to
the staff, anda background of dripping trees
and black sky. No wonder men grew sick
down here, we said, looking out upon the
comfortless prospect. The train was due at
Brandy station at halfpast 2: we arrived
at about 4. The ladies plunged from the stems
into the mud. There was long delay A
knot OF young officers recited boisterously
tbe most nauseous portions Of their late expe-
ence Of Washington life. At length we moved
again. II WAS dark when we reached Gull
peper.
The Sheriff had learned on the road that the
lst corps had moved from the vicinity of Kel-
ly's Ford the week before, and now lay near
Culpepper. The I'd division hospital in which
VIC GA pt|ttu w hiiu Jul pdItiits iau Dttn ltil-
porarily established in one of the village
churches. II would have been difficult by day
light, In the darkness ii was impossible, to find
beneath the pervading mud the narrow plank
sidewalk that borders the narrow streets of
the old-fashioned town. We found the church,
picked our way carefully up the wet, shiny
steps, and entered the wide open doors with
out let or hindrance. A single candle was
burning In the pulpit, which was converted
ito dispensary. and was covered with phi
ais and boxes. There may have been another
candle In the gallery; don't remember. A
surgeon was moving about with lantern.
Every second seat had been torn out, and in
the pens SO formed the sick were laid, on the
floor. Every place was full. The patients
were all dressed in their ordinary clothing,
and covered with their blankets, using their
lanapsacks for pillows. No additional cover
ing seemed TO have been provided, and there
was no FIRE. Through the open door the outer
dampness penetrated till the whole atmosphere
was chilly as a vault. The aisles were every
where covered with thin coating of mud.
Men were constantly going out and coming
in, eating and smoking. Aller all. the tobacco
smoke could have done but little llarm for the
air was letid. II the door was open the win
dows were closed, and there was therefore no
real ventilation. Every breath Of air was i'm.
pregnated with disease. On all sides arose a
dismal chorus Of coughing, which could never
be allayed here.
At first it seemed that nobody knew any.
thing about our conscript: and as | stood
looking around IN some dismay, began to
hope-he was not in this place, at least Ny
friend had sent an attendant, meanwhile. e
bring member Of the 10th, and presently he
came wiry, quick-eyed. brown-beardet
man, detailed as nurse, probably. He knew
our conscript; belonged to the same company
The man was dead; died at Kelly's ford tw,
weeks ago. two days after the letter was sen
TO lis wife, He always seemed little low
the nurse went on TO say, aud after while h
took to moping; would stand about as II III
was lost and not say anything or hardly NOV
for hours; and when he did say anything i