The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1869-07-23
From the Toledo Blade.i
A "Reminiscences of the War-Row
Gen. Rossorans Took care of the
Wounded at Ohickamauga

A "Reminiscences of the War-RoW
Gen. Rosscrans Took care of the
Wounded at Chickamauga.
ED1roE BLADE: On the 10Th aud goth days
of September, 1863, we fought the terTibel
battle of Chickamauga. Actually driven
from the field, and saVed from ruin only by
the heroism of General Thomas and his gal
liant command, we fell back to Chattanooga,
carrying with US all that our ambulances
and wagons of all kinds could hold of the
wounded of the two days fierce rain of
minie bullets, shot and shell. ~ r-
On that fatal field We left great numbers of
the more severely wounded, consigning them
to the tender mercies of the wicked rebels,
because we had not means OF transportation,
or because their wounds would not admit Of
their being transported.
All this shattered army fell back to the
little city, or, more properly, village of
Chattanooga. In about ten days ambu-
lances were sent out, and all that remained
of our wounded comrades were brought
within our lines, and cared for to the best
of cur ability. Their wounds were in a
fearful condition for need of care, being
filthy, and 8 vast majority of them filed
with maggots. With those who were brought
in at first, and this new supply of our more
terribly wounded men, our places Of shelter
we're fearfully Overflled. All public build
ings, Protestant churches, private dwellings,
as well as the hospital tents of the army,
were filed to overfowiDg. The writer Of
this was on duty in the rebel hospital
buildings as Surgeon, where long rows of
their wounded lay, there being no means of
heating the building in those damp, chilly
| days aud colder nights, aud neither doors
nor windows shut out either cold or storm.
Added to this fearful condition, we had
almost nothing to eat, the best rations that
these poor fellows could be furnished being
the common dry hard-tack and salt pork,
with coffee, this being type of the general
condition of the whole. At this time, hap
pening to visit the the st. Peters Church
| building, found posted on the door of the
church, and copied into my pass-book, the
following suggestive official order:
HKADo'Rs DEPARTNEEE OF THE C0NBERLASp.
OFFICE PRoyosr MARsAAL GENERAL,
7' CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Oct. 10, 1869.
A safeguard is hereby granted to Rev.
Father j. Nellis for the st. Peters Catholic
Church building, of Chattanooga, including
all rock fences, stables, timber, and every
thing pertaining thereto. 81, r---o. =.
| All officers and soldiers are commanded to
respect this safeguard, the penalty for the
\ violation .of. which is death. li
By command of Major General -Rosecrans,
! I. WILLIAM WILEs,.
| Lieut.. Colonel and Provost Marshal General.
i While every other building in the vicinity
was occupied-business houses, dwelling
houses and Protestant chuTches-this one
church, with everything pertaining thereto,
was kept inviolate, and that, too, will
thousands of men dying for want of the
shelter its roof and walls would have afford
ed. leave soldiers and their, friends Il
draw their own conclusions.
4 20 7'l j. T. WooBs, NJ. D.,
No. IL GRApoLFH BIOoK, ToLEpo, July