The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-06-03
Our WOunded...What Boston Sur.
geOn Says.

geOn Says.
WASHINGTON, May 194The following are
extracts from q private letter. addressed to a
friend In this city by DR.. w. T. G. Morton, of
Boston, who went to the front after the first
engagement at the request of the Surgeon
General, to administer either to those who
were to have surgical operations performed {:
FREDERICKSBURG, Va, May Is, 1854.
MY DEAR -. After leaving Won I went
via Alexandria to Rappahannock Station. on
the Orange & Alexandria Railroad, to which
point General Grant intended to have sent his
wounded, for transportation to Washington.
We had a long train, laden with supplies. and
there was large party of surgeons and nurses.
But on reaching Warrenton junction we
learned that the appearance of guerillas had
made the ambulances laden with wounded
turn back, and we could see the dangerous
customers lowering about, SO we determined
to proceed no further. Telegraphing back to
the War Department for instructions, we were
directed to return to Alexandria and there
to take steamboat for Belle Plain, which we
did. Arriving at Belle Plain, we managed to
get ashore. and camped for the night. Early
next morning. hearing the clatter of wheels.
L saw an ambulance with four horses come
down with the body of General GETTY. and
jumping up, rushed to the Medical Inspector
who at once acceded to my request to return
in it to Fredericksburg. We were stopped on
our way and one pair of horses were taken
from US. Some others have not been equally
fortunate, as they lost not only all their horses
but their personal effects. Even wounded
men have had their clothing and shoes taken
from them. l was thus the first volunteer sur
geon on the ground, and secured good quar-
tiers in an old mansion, somewhat dilapidated.
I was assigned to duty in the ninth corps, and
at once commenced administering anasthetics,
which have since continued to do early and
late. have not. however, produced anaesthe-
STA III as many patients each hour as I did after
the battle OF Fredericksburg, as there has been
scarcity OF instruments for the operating sur
geons to use. They expected to accompany
their wounded to Washington, and were not
provided with instruments.
Wagons and ambulances continue to arrive
loaded with wounded men, lying on pine
boughs. Some of them have often been jolted
about for fOrty-eight hours in wagons over
bad roads, and as may be imagined they are iu
a bad condition. Several hundred packed into
church or hall, without change of clothing
or washing. make the atmosphere unbearable
almost, and gangrene and erysipelas have al
ready began to make their appearance but this
will soon be remedied. d.. Dalton of Boston,
is in charge of all the hospitals here, and there
are several other Boston surgeons here among
them DIR. Coolidge, who has poisoned his hand
badly while dressing wound. Miss Dix
came here with thirteen nurses, but as vet
there is such confusion that she can do but
little; Miss ellison came to-day into the church
In which party OF us were performing opera
tions, and played upon the organ, singing pat
riotic and religious airs. She then visited each
sufferer giving him glas> of milk punch and
saying pleasant word to him.
When wagon load Of supplies for the San
itary Commission arrives, Mr.. Fay of the Com
mission rides about on horseback, announcing
to the surgeons in charge that he can furnish
on their acquisitions. The Christian Commits
sion is also doing good work, but, oh how
much remains to be done for the thousands of
wounded, manned and dying who meet the
eye in every direction Fortunately. fifty tons
OF ice was found, which the rebels stored last
winter. Bandages of old cotton cloth and linen
are more needed than anything else, as we
have only bandages of new cloth, which is
rough upon the wound. and does not retain
moisture. Medicines are also in demand. but
supply will reach here tonight
was professionally engaged in the Baptist
church this morning. 1t is almost packed with
wounded. The tank intended for immersion
is used for bathing tub. and the operations
are performed in the sma pastors study back
OF the pulpit. The Free Masons hall is also
filled with wounded, and there remains much
of the paraphernalia of the lodge in which
Washington received his degrees.
found one poor fellow who was a member
of the fraternity, and At his request had his
bed moved to the platform once occupied by
the Masters chair, where he lay and gazed up
ward at the mystic letter G., as if secure under
its protection. Our dead are being inferred in
an aristocratic old burial ground, where the
poor private's dust will soon mingle with that
OF those proud old Virginians over whose
graves costly marble monuments are erected,
In this grave yard, too, we have to keep the
cows from whom we obtain the hospital sup
plies of milk. There is one Union woman in
town. All the rest sympathize with the rebels.
and wear black clothing as sign of mourn
ing The town is filled with ambulances and
baggage wagons, and reinforcements are to-
day pouring out to the front. Every one is
confident Gen. Grant is to conquer his foe
sooner or later, but fear there is to be much
blOOdShed vet