The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-12-04
crossed my mind that be was at times actually

employed by certain doubtful men in high
command In tba carly. dark davs of tho war as
an instrument 90 bring about the ruin OF GER
tain men WHO were winning distinction whom
tE,y desired 20 have removed out OF Their way
An unimagined extent Of that inquity was
done 10y men since honored as none ever were
before.
never saw Gen. Lauman after the interview
ut Natchez-l think late in September, but
learned subsequently that. his health rapidly
failing, the court-martal continually lndeh-
nitcly postponed, he was finally, when almost
/ a physical and mental wreck gracously per-
mitted 10 return 10 his home at Burlington,
Iowa still under the Official disability, where,
/ from a stroke of paralysis, lie soon died from
I the disease aud sense Of disgrace SO inhumanly
in6icted upon him TO screen from his Just de-
serts the man wholly at fault for whom he
was thus wantonly sacrificed.
As a rule perhaps. time makes all things
even; in this case il must wholly fail. The
! General died in disgrace, absolutely unmerlted,
and his family suffer from the unjust stigma.
/ Sad return for good and faithful service.
1t follows that the slaughter at the Jackson
i charge was terrible; the number Of seriously
wounded was very large-more than usually
results from great general battle where much
! larger numbers have been engaged. SO great
were the numbers and so severe the cases that
the resources Of the hospital department OF the
corps, under Surgeon Hammond, U. 5. A.
WERE TAXED TO THE LIMIT.
The supply Of tents being insufficient for due
shelter and protection, temporary wooden bar
racks had 20 be erected TO accommodate the
large number until thoy could be removed to
/ Niclsburg.
wish to be permitted here TO refer TO sub
ject not often, If ever mentioned In accounts
of army experiences-alleged neglect on the
/ part of medical officers of cases under their
treatment in field and other army hospitals.
IL was most natural for families and friends at
| home TO be s0licitous for the welfare OF the
! wounded and sick soldiers, and often 10 con-
ceive in their sorrow and anxiety, when hear
| ing Of their suferngs and death, that more
/ and better could be or could have been done by
the medical officers. No doubt there were in
stances Of inattention aud neglect-it were inn
possible that il should have been otherwise
among such vast number Of medical men,
| than that some should have failed in their full
| duty; bat i am sure such instances were eNcep-
| tiOnal, though many often found themselves,
| through the emergencies Of the service, de-
prived Of the means of doing all or the best
that could be desired. i can bear full and
grateful testimony 10 the fact that, with the
rarest and widest exceptions all the medical
| gentlemen with whom came in contact during
four years Of medical service were men Of good
education in their profession, ambitious, alert
and faithful TO do their whole duty, and
KIND AND COMPASSIONATE
| 20 the suffering men under their charge. i
make these remarks here seeing that II did
happen during the war that the impression of
such neglect got abroad in different parts Of the
| North, and TO some extent as 10 the treatment
Of certain men after this very Jackson disaster.
When the 53d Ill. was on its veteran furlough
at Ottawa ILL.,. where il was organized, in the
Spring Of 1864 i was called to account in two
orthree instances somewhat seriously by friends
Of men in the regiment badly wounded at jack
son for alleged unwarrantable neglect of them.
VIII say that when full explanations were
made, which they had a right TO claim they
were satisfied; their minds were relieved and
comforted. Even now IL may serve 10 satisfy
others who may still retain lingering doubts
whether all possible was done that could have
been for their loved and lost Of this or other
battles, that, first and general, ii surprised all,
the extent and minuteness of detail of the pro-
visions made for the care and treatment of the
sick and wounded in all military hospitals !;
that in battle where a brigade or more is
engaged general field hospital is established,
divided into wards, where patients are dis
posed in classes according to the nature Of the
cases, and that no particular Surgeon has eX-
elusive charge Of his own men except in so far
as they chance 10 come within the class he is
specially assigned TO treat Moreover, no Sur
geon Of any ward was considered justified in
visiting OF examining patients in other wards,
except by invitation or express permission of
the Surgeon having il in care Ignorance of
this fact led 20 the reflection in instances i
knew of that Regimental Surgeons had in some
cases neglected their men.
The least word implying derogation Of the
women who so nobly and bravely, and in such
numbers, went 10 the front TO succor and en-
courage the sick and wounded men, would not
be for moment tolerated. But il is fair to say
that there are exceptions among them, as with
men. Not all women are judicious and dis
Greet; not all capable Of forming broad and cor
rect judgments, and especially amid the horrors
ofthe battlefield and Of military hospital, where
sympathy and compassion for the sufferers are
so calculated TO obscure the judgment on ac-
count Of their eminently compassionate natures
They reason and act more upon
THEIR NATURAL IMPULSES
than as duly estimating the conditions attend
ant. They are wholly unable fully TO &C.
quaint themselves with all the circumstances
involved in great battle and its results as can
be readily inferred. They mostly but see the
surface; causes conditions, and how mos
properly 70 conform thereto, are not duly con
sdered. have felt justified in making these
references inasmuch as, after this terrible
slaughter, certain women who had taken mos
| l8udable interest in the welfare of sick and
wounded soldiers, not able TO comprehend the
full extent Of the case-so beyond all precedent
cast serious reflection upon the medical serv.
ice there, very greatly TO the disquietude o.
, friends at home lin La Sale County, ILL., thai
, know Of and doubtless elsewhere And il il
believed that even 10 this day that impression
) has not been wholly removed.-WILLIAM w
, WELcH, M. d., Surgeon, SD ILL.,, First Brigade
Fourth Division, Seventeenth Corps, Gales
burg, III.
4