The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-01-24
Elmira Prison VS.. Andersonyille.
Statement Of the Surgeon who had charge
of the Hospital Department mt EImirn.
BANGOR, JAN. % 1876.

W speech' anu dllIS retort upon Elmira, as
calculated to renew sectional strife and bitter
ness.
History is valuable only as it is instructive.
Its lessons cannot be treated like the idle fan
cies of novel, otherwise the past would be
blank and the future without profit. Who
would forget the Grecian and Roman Repub-
lies, the rise and fall of the Roman Empire,
the cruelties of Nero, the tortures of the In
QUESTION, the massacre of Bartholomew and
the martyrs of the Reformation?
"And Wickliff's blood shall spread abroad
As wide as the waters be.''
As fire refneth gold, so must the deeds of men
and nations bear the crucible of criticism. As
we would not forget the life and sufferngs of
Christ, SO we would not ignore the sufferings
and death of our poor soldiers in loathsome
Southern prisons, but woald hold up to execrc-
ton, as perpetual warning, the wicked at
tempts to modify Southern cruelties by COM
parison with fancied Northern wrongs.
Hills shameless defense of Andersonville in
the House of Representatives, by attempting
to show that Southern prisoners of war were
treated as cruelty at Elmira, as Federal pris-
oners at Andersonville, should not 60 unre-
buked, and in justice to the government and
myself feel called upon to respond.
Early in August, 1864, being called from ac-
tive service in the field to organize the hospi-
tai department of the prison camp at Elmira,
N. Y, claim to have better knowledge of
the internal workings of that camp, and the
dispositions and efficiency of those upon whom
the well-being of ten thousand prisoners of
war depended, than all of the statistics which
either side may te able to accumulate.
The prison camp at Elmira was 20 acre lot,
rounded by palisades 20 feet high, with a slug
gish stream equally dividing the camp into a
sandy intervale, which drained by percolation
and a rolling slope which drained into this
stream. During the drouth of summer the
water was stagnant and emitted odor, from
having been the receptacle of the garbage of a
few federal regiments which had a rendezvous
here in early summer. This however was cor
rected in time.
Prisoners rapidly accumulated to the num-
ber OF nearly 10000, and were furnished with
the same tent and barrack accommodations fur
nished to our own troops. They were allowed
the full army rations, with the exception Of
tea, coffee and sugar, which being deemed
luxuries, were only allowed TO prison squads
hs
Such was the condition when was called
upon to organize hospital department. Sick
ness multiplied with amazing rapidity The
germs which had been implanted in exhausted
and worn out systems among the pestiferous
and malarial regions of the South, developed
like the spores of yeast, as soon as these SOL
diers settled down into the forlorn abandon of
prison life. More than one thousand sickened
the first month.
Hospital accommodations were rapidly i'm
4
up General Hospital equal in all of its ap-
pointments to the General Hospital of our
army. Few realize the hindrances to rapid
and efficient action in such a work, where
everything must be obtained according to the
inevitable red-tapeism and routine of army
regulations, every demand going by circui-
tous route to the Commssary General of Prs.
oners at Washington for approval, and repeat
edly return ed for further explanations. People
at home have not the remotest idea of the her.
culean labor required to build well regulated
hospital of 800 beds, with its outside relief to
more than 1900 to 1000 ailing in quarters,
wards, sinks, wash -rooms drainage, laundry,
dietary, cuisine, bakery, apothecary shop, med
ical staff. clerical duties, hospital furniture
and bedding, and retinue of nurses and ward
the surgeon-in chief was Immediately respon-
sible. Such was the work laid out and accom-
plished during the fall of 1864.
Sickness continued to increase. The num-
ber under our supervision or receiving some
form of relief was nearly 3000 The hospital
set good table aud was abundantly supplied
with milk, eggs. chickens, crackers, oysters,
onions, potatoes &c. There was coed supply
of bedding, drugs, washing conveniences, &c.
medical officer was on duty night and day,
and the sick had the sympathizing care Of
every official, as the entire corps of nurses,
ward masters, and one-third Of the medical
staff were selected from their own companions
in arms. The hospital steward was federal
appointment as he had charge of the hospital
stores, but was authorized to dispense as freely
upon the rebel surgeons prescriptions as my
own, liquors alone excepted, the latter being
subject to my approval.
Small pox broke out some time in Decem-
Der, shortly before l was ordered to the West.
The cases were few and promptly iso-
lated in tents or com forable gu
ters. Measures were taken to protect
rest Residents of cities know the
required to check an epidemic of s
pox, where most are protected by vac
cination and score of doctors and plentiful
supply of virus. but protecting the gregarious
herd of large camp, where very. many
time. 1t was done however and more sue
cessfully checked than Blackburn's effort.
During my stay, not case of frost-bi.e occur
red as charged by Hill and the only i'll effect
OF cold that ever saw, was upon ONE cases
of typhoid pneumonia, during some of our
hasty construction of some of our hospital
wards.
By the end Of August there were more than
thousand sick Scurvy was an important COM
plication in 1893 of these cases, as was chronic
diarrhea in very many of the cases. These
latter diseases could not have arisen from
causes inherent to the prison camp, as the
worst kind of diet and hygiene could not
have produced them in so short space of time.
The condition of prisoners when admitted ex-
plains the rapid development of disease.
Though not "robbing the cradle and the
grave" they were composed of home guards
whom age aud infrmities disqualified for con-
finement and army rations, conscrpts and old
soldiers of low order, whose constitutions
were undermined and impregnated with Ethe
diseases Of malarial regions and camp life.
As they reported to be enrolled in our little
army of 10 600, they were gaunt, scrawny, ,sallow
and emaciated, half clad and in very many in-
stances infested with vermin. Chronic diarrhea,
fever and ague, congestive chills, reInittent
and typhoid fevers, typhoid pneumonia, and
scurvy showed their spectral hsads in an incred-
IDLY short space of time.
By the end Of October there were between
1000 and 5000 sick, scurvy being an importan.
complication in Two thousand of them, Dur
Ing this time field rations of excellent bread
and meat were issued to the entire camp to-
gether with three rations in seven of vegeta-
bes for soups. The facilities for eating were
good. Besides the above the hospital fur
nshed new potatoes aud onions daily
as high sometimes as TO 1900 applicants
who felt themselves below par. The rebel
prisoners had many Northern sympathizers
who furnished lemons and other good things
ad infinitum. The scene was a lively one,
after the arrival of the morning express, in
opening boxes and delivering packages.
The rate of mortality was large. Over HOO