Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-11-29
DAILY I LEADER.
LIFE IN TIE HOSPITAL.
From the Shenandoah 10 philadelphia
-Ehe Shady Side OF a SOIdierHsLife
-Ihe Value Of the Christian Com
miss On-DescrIPtiOn OF the Hospital
AT Chestnut Hill.
UNITED STATES HOSPITAL,
Cr,-,,,,-,r- HnT Pa Nov 23d

full details OF everything given, but COM
paratively i!tlei is known of our large hos
pitfalls and their management. Having had
some few days experience of hospital life,
1 propose to give few notes of the same.
On the 7th inst, being pronounced unfit
for active duty, a large number, including
myself, were sent to the Sheridan Field
Hospital near Winchester. This place
was model for field hospital. 1t con-
sisted of some three hundred large tents,
pitched in regular order, with streets run
ming at right angles, the whole presenting
the idea OF "cotton village" In this
was collected every sort of patient, from
the mortslly wounded to the man unfit for
duty for few days only. The best kind
of care was taken of the patients; the
food good and abundant, and the general
management such as would give satisfac-
ton to all concerned.
On the 9Th we had our election day as
well as those who were at home. During
the day, DR.. Barrett, Surgeon of the 23rd
Ohio, came around with the ballot-box to
secure the votes of such Ohio voters as
could not go to the regular place to vote.
The boys were nearly all enthusiastic for
Lincoln-this was especially the case with
the wounded and manned.
An amusing incident occurred while the
Pennsylvania agent was about. A Hiber-
nian was going to vote for Little Mac be
jsbers," and getting an Ohio electoral tick
ct, was proceeding to fold it for the ballot
box, when some one told him that that was
not the ballot for a Pennsylvania voter.
It took considerable argument to convince
to convince him that we did not vote di-
rect:y for the candidate, but for electors
and that Little Mac ticket for Ohio
wss not the same as for Pennsylvania. He
was fair specimen of the Mcclellan men
in the hospital.
The United States Christian Commission
had a number of agents there, and they
did great deal to lessen the sufferings of
the sick and wounded. They distributed
thousands of cans of preserved meats,
fruits, ielies milk, &C., to such as were
able to eat such luxuries, and by their
kindness and care caused the weary soldier
to pass many cheerful hours which would
otherwise have been spent in dependence
and complaiuings.
On the 18th, about two hundred of us
were put into Government wagons and ia
ken TO Msrtinsburg, distant twenty two
miles. No one has never been placed in
similar circumstances can imagine what it
is TO ride that distance over a rough road
in heavy wagon. To me Il is thesum total
of all miseries. We arrived at Martins
burg shortly after dark, but was nearly
eleven o'clock before we were taken from
the wagons and placed in the cars to pro-
ceed Eastward.
Here again the kind Offices of the Chris
tiRn Commission were shown to US. We
had eaten nothing during the day, with a
prospect of having no supper. But late as
it was, the agent procured US hot coffee,
bread, and milk punch in great plenty,
giving word of encouragement TO each
soldier as he reeaived his allowance
Before morning we reached Frederick
City, Maryland. Here we found large
hospital under charge of DR.. Weir, U. s.
A. 1 wish that could find some point
deserving of praise in that hospital or its
management; but cannot The barracks
were like great barns, cold and comfortless,
and the tents without stoves, and very cold
and comfortless, and the tents without
stoves, and very cold. Such of the pa
tents as did not require light or extra diet,
were nearly starved. Our food was not
only insufficient but Of poor quality, and
the article they called coffee would almost
sicken a well man. Our stay at that place
was however of short duration.
Last Thursday we were again on the
move. The same evening we had good
supper in Baltimore, and then took the
cars for Philadelphia, where we arrived the
following morning. At that place We left
the cars and proceeded to the Citizens
Volunteer Hospital, where with an extra
good breakfast. This hospital WAS built
and ia supported by voluntary contributions
of the citizens and visitors and is principally
used as g resting place for soldiers in tran
sit to the other hospitals In Philadelphia
and those further North.
In the afternoon of the same dsy we
came out to Chestnut Hill, where we are
at present. This is probably the largest
and best regulated Hospital in the United
States, and is capable of holding four
thousand patients. 1t is constructed on
peculiar plan. There is s wide corridor or
ph5shg6 way buAco-lOuItuS VI q Alllo III
length, in nearly circular form on the
outside of this are the wards (forty-seVen
in NUMBER built as wings. Each ward is
calculated to hold sixty person. Here
they eat and sleep. Inside of the corider,
or in the large central grounds, are the
officers quarters, chapel and number of
other building used for various purposes.
Besides the wards there are several large
barracks to accommodate patients. The
whole establishment is well supplied with
good water and is furnished with gas
light.
Each ward and every room is furnished
with buckets that are always Kept filed
with water, as q precauLiOn against fire,
and there is besides well organized fire
company composed of the attendants.
Abundance of good food is given to all
patients on full diet, and those en- extra
diet have the deiicscy of the season
besides.
There is a large and well selected library,
accessible at sll times to those who are
able to walk. The sole aim of all in
authority about the place seems TO be to do
all the good possible and make the suffer-
ings of the soldier as light as possible.
Taken IN comparison with other hospit-
! ais we shall always look upon the Mower,
! United States General Hospital, 1T Chester
Hill, Philsdelphis, as q model, and to
which we can, in the future, look back up
on with feelings of pleasure and gratitude.
SATIs.