The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1864-12-14
Stlng gurttsponaratr.
LetieF Ironl q soIdIrr.
DEyNl9oS AVS y. s GINEgAL HoFgrrAL,

s"OueIlsd NetilI write you low lines, giy
lag You little Of my experiences in. hospi
tals. q -1s-s.--
j always had dread of hospitals. an,
= have shnnned them as hong as it was in IN,
power to DO SO, but ON the 22d day of las
July, the HJohnnics rather got the bette
OF me, anu took me and the battery in
which have been on detached service faI
year and a half, rs prisoners an,
conveyed Us to Aniersonville. Ga prison,
where Twas in prison until the o1.h Of Sen
tember when the uews was brought int,
prison By rebel sergeant that there was
twelve hundred of Sherman's men wanted
for an immediate and especial exchange
calling for the men captured the I'D Of July.
but the boys though. il was for some other
purpose, and that WIS FOR hostages. But |
thought 4 man might as Yall be shot as to
starve to death, and | put down my name.
Wiling 70 take most anything for change.
we lett the evening following and in three
days found myself in Sherman's lines. |
was happy boy, although destitute of hat.
blouse and shoes, and in poor health. At
East Point. SIX miles from Atlauta. soon
found my regiment. Asst was 10 0 clock [
lay down, and feeling myself a free man and
IN what was callcd'a free country. | retired
for the night and knew nothing more until
the reyeille beat, The boys were somewhat
surprised, all asking me- how cot there and
when | had come. AbOut two weeks after
the regiment moved after Hood, but, owing
TO my III treatment and exposure while in
prison, was pronounced unfit for travel
by the regimental Surgeon and was sent to
Atlanta, and since that time nay experience
commences in a hospital, as ] have been
transferred from one to another until
reached here. As have been here in Camp
Dennlson long enough to find out the kind
Of treatment that soldiers receive in their
own State, am fully prepared to say with
out dong any discredit to our cwn State.
that as long as | have been in the hospital
here that We have received poorer atten-
dance than at any other hospital between
here and Atlanta. After our arrival at Lou
lsylIie we got for our first meal, it being sup
per, bread and molasses Wei at that we
did not complain, as We came upon them
before they were quite prepared to receive
us, there being about six huntired of us at
different wards. We ccxpee.ed in the morn
ing it would be better but for breakfast we
had quite a change-we had molasses and
bread, with little would-be coffee But
We did not say much, as We knew We would
not remain long, as we We're going to Jeffer-
sonVllle Here we thought we would be
treated well; but imagine our dsappoint-
ment when we went to dinner tall that could
hohble to it, to find as our tare-hread and
coffee substitute. The boys thought il that
vas the way they were to be treated in
: Gods country, as they call the North,
they wanted to get back to the front. Cur
grub continued about the same while
we stayed there. Through the State Agent
we got transferred TO cur own State, where
we expected to be treated as sick and wound
ed men should be. But since our arrival
here we have found out our mistake. We
have not had half enough to eat, and have
seen the sick and wounded soldier rise from
weary couch and tell the Surgeon that he
could not live in that way. Many have sent
home for provisions and lhaye been tempt
ed to do SO myself. We had nothing to eat
from the morning we left Jetfersonvillc until
night, and the wounded had not their
wounds dressed. In coming up the river On
the mail boat they stored Us on the lower
deck just like pack of mules, and we were
not allowed TO go into the cabin to the fire,
and it was very cold. The sick and wound
ed all huddled together, and it was awful to
witness the suffering among them. AS for
myself | nover suffered so with the cold as
NlNt UythLt-LiS LIlC NV al VI tUC DDuJ from
Louisville They took us out Of the hospi- |
tai and brought us down to the landing
about an hour too soon, and there being no
FIRE near we had to stand on the landing. !
huddied up like drove Of cattle or sheep |
waiting to be loaded on the boat. which came |
plodding along after we were pretty near
troze. Some believe had not beeu on the |
boat an hour before they died from the ef- |
fccts of the cold and Of their position-com-
ing out of the hospital where it was so very
warm, into the cold, it being very bitter
cold morning. We arrived at Cincinnati on
the morning of Thanksgiving day, got our
breakfast, and at l. P. NJ, reached Camp
Dennison. Here we expected big dinner |
rs the Sanitary Committee had, we had |
been informed, made extensive preparations |
But could Mt see the thanksgiving. It |
was more OF fast day with US, as we tasted |
from early in the morning until late in the
evening. This is the kind Of reception we
enjoyed on reaching our own State. They |
had no excuse, as the Surgeon in charge at
Jeffersonyllle had teiegraphed that we were
coming. 1t was all through the negligence
ct the Surgeonin charge at Camp Dennison
They never even furnished ANYTHING for
those having the chronic diarrh9a, whose
diet should be of very light nature, such
as the. Sanitary could fuIIisaF it would
But they are the chaps that fill their own
pockets, and care little or nothing about the |
soldier, but make big blow so that it NAV
be kept up. lfthere were not quite so many
Wooden Surgeons and Shoulder-strapped |
gentlemen, think the men would fare con
siderably better. As it is the sick or wound |
cd soldier sent from front to rear for good |
treatment is sadly deceived.
l tell you there is screw loose somewhere |
that should be tightened, have no doubt |
that the ladies' and those connected with the |
Commission here in our State are honest, |
and are trying to aid and comfort the sol |
dler IN the field all they can, and have no |
doubt but the soldier in the front gets it,
but the weary soldier in the hospital in the |
rear gets but little The "Sardine Boxes
get it tthe shoulder-straps | mean. Mr..
Private Soldier is not noticed But when
it comes into battle, then they are bully
boys" until it is over; and if it is in our IA
vor, YOU see it spoken OF, and the galantry
Of one officer or more, and nothing is said
about the privates But if the battle is
lost, then Mr.. ''yelIow-iace don't want any
thing to do with it, When some brigade or
division gives way, then the privates are
blamed-they run or give way some place or
other, and didn't do right. But who is to
blame in such cases. 1t is the commander.
If he does his duty, the men will do their
part. JU
| am in favor of every man having his
own opinion, and soldiers the same; and if
L want "a favor, | will go to those whom the
pretended friends Of the soldier, the Aboli-
tionists, call the "Copperheads." Iii take
the .fCopperheads as the AbolitiOnists
call them, as my friend, and in them know
/ can trust.
ii. Yours truly,