The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-07-15
A Glimpse at the Hospitals.
WASHINGTON, D. CO..

my ability to interest you or your readers;
but it has occurred to m that h,sty glance
at the hospitals-in which SO many OF our
wounded and suffering soldiers are cro"deu'
as involuntary residents-mlght not oe Will
out measure Of sad interest to many OF
your readers.
Few persons at home have any idea OF the
immense number and magnitude of he hos
pitai, that are in and around this city. From
any elevated position their long white walls
can be seen in all directions, cleaning in the
sunlight like immense snow fields. | have
this afternoon for the hundredth time been
through the Campbell hospital, and as this is
one of the most extensive, it will serve as a
fair type Of the rest 1t is situated Just upon
the northern limits of the city, and occupies
eiohteen acres of grouud. 1t is ture the
buildings do not actually cover that amount
of ground, but they are placed around and
over it as thickly as the requirements for
light and ventilation will allow; and so con-
nected together as to constitute an almost
interminable labyrinth, from which stranger
will need direction to find his way out. The
intermediate spaces are filled with garden
vegetables under the most luxuriant state of
cultivation, where cucumbers, peas, beets, on
IONS radishes ETC., are growing in sufficient
quantities to nearly supply the demands of
the hospital. The yard in front of the main
entrance is q mimic wilderness of flowers, laid
out in the most exquisite taste, while the
walks are bordered with perfect blaze Of
yerbenas. All the work is done by GONZALES
cent soldiers, who are thus able to find graft
fcaton and health in the exercise, besides
contributing greatly to the enjoyment of 9TH
ers.
Passing into the main entrance, you stop
for moment at the Office of the efficient and
gen,lemanly " surgeon in charge" Dr.. Shell
don, who is never too busy to give you cour-
teous answers to all inquiries. A long hall,
tiauked on either side by storerooms, piled
with immense quantities of snowy linen,
blankets and medic stores, conducts you to
the first ward from which open others, and
so on in interminable lines, one opening into
the Other The first thing that strikes your
notice is the scrupulous cleanliness and air
of nea.ness that everywhere prevails, from
the well kept grounds outside, to the polish
ed floors and snow white beds which stretch
in long mOnotonous rows before you.
AS YOU stand at the entrance and take
in the scene at glance, and note the long
airy wards, the gay paper hanglnss, the
white curtains, the moss-rimed aquariums,
anu the lille stands bearing books and flow
ers it world be difficult to convince yourself
that this vas the abode Of sutfarirg. were it
not fox the pale, patient ices upon the pill
lows that turn their eyes !anguidly upon you,
saying as plainly as eyes can say, Speak to
me- Here Is ont LIIil IDS IOSt d tIlt
Wilderness, here one tia, left an arm at Cold
IIarbor, and there are others that show by
the crimson blot and the white patch upon
the cheek, where the bullet smote them.
1t IS astonishing to you no che rfully and
heroical,y they bar !Hajr # i *, and how
little ;hey seem 10 ri ." wounds. All
seem hopeful all co"tiIeni, and although
vou will occasionally see countenance Dear
ing in every feature the peculiar expression
Of intense and continual sutferin-, you vii
seldom hear an expression Of pan--ao muir
muring or complaining. The first thing that
they enquire for is news from the army, and
in response to your enquiries, as they relate
the story Of the charge in which they fell
they will glow with animation, and express a
confident hope that they may soon be able tc
return and be their own avengers.
The hospital accommodates about fourteen
hundred patients and at present has only
eight surgeons in attendance, although the
usual regulation is one surgeon and eight
nurses to eighty men. Besides the regular
attendants you frequently see an angel o.
mercy in the shape of a gentle woman, hov
ering over the touches of the sufferers, OF
with basket on arm, passing from one to TIT
other, giving fruit or jelies to these, some
longed-for deicacy to those, and sympa
thetic look and charming smile to all
Surely there is nothing in the character o
woman that so establishes her claim to b
called angelic as her self sacrificing minlstra
ton at the bedside Of sickness and suffering
In this connection let me remark that
wish that the noble army Of ladies who con
stitute the soldiers aid societies thloughou
the country could see the benefcient result O
their labor. If they could see as have ha,
an abundant opportunity to- the world @
good they do, and the world of suffering tina
they alleviate, they would feel more than re
paid for all their efforts, and never be wear
in well doing. If the grateful prayers of tn
patient heroic sufferers who are the recio
ents Of their bounty is heard by the ear {
Divine Justice, the humblest contributor ma
feel assured that she has, in so much, laid u
treasure in heaven. They have the divin
assurance that "lnasmuch as We have don
II unto the least of these, We have done it W
to me- While theirs is not the privilege
performing in person the part of the GOO
Samaritan IN binding up the wounds, surel
they will not 90 unrewarded for contributin
the wine and oil.