The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-06-08
WAR EXPERIENCES.
CHANGES OF POSITION, AND THINGS

CHANGES OF POSITION, AND THINGS.
As spacious and salubriously located a
was the La Grange College building, II
was in many respects unsuited for a gen.
eral hospital. Neither was it desirable to
occupy II for mild cases Of sickness when
recovery would prospectively be immsdi
ate. Better, If possible, that suitable build
ings, conveniently located, where cases not
likely soon to recover could be best pro
vided for, when not practicable to send
them to the rear, or who were too sick tC
be removed.
Many things to be considered In admin
!strative management Of hospital interests
In modified army, according TO circum.
stances. Occupying permanent camp
indefinitely, the worst cases may be better
cared for In temporarily permanet field
hospital. If buildings and appliances be al
hand to facilitate the plan, while each
command cares for It's own milder cases.
the slightly ailing, and the convalescents
An Immediate general movement pending,
1t Is imperative that the entire army be
dlsencum bered of all possible impedi.
menta.
An excellent place for division gener.
al hospital was found In small hotel in
the village, near the depot, On. & o. r. R)
called the Gait House," where with 9th
ers our then worst cases were sent, while
the milder ones were cared for at their
several regiments SD being encamp-
ed In an old, enclosed pasture, on the edge
of the village, between the Gait House,
and the College. 1t contained, according
to my recollection, about four acres, and
had been grove from which the trees had
been cut, leaving thu most of 1t covered
with stumps. Not possible survivor of
the old SD who was then with us could
have forgotten the camp at the old stump
pasture at La Grange, In the early
summer of 1869. The less so, that
after being stationed at Memphis a
part of July, during August, and into Sep
TENDER; at Bolivar-fghting the battle of
Hatchie River, October 9Th following,-we
had returned to La Grange and occupied
that Identical camping ground for month,
and then gone on that futile expedition of
Grants, towards Grenada, to the Yokona-
patalfa, NJ iss., about the last Of November.
The very sick having been duly disposed
of, my detached hospital and quarters
D." formed Junction with the regiment at
the newly established camp. 1t will be re-
membered by 1.-The boys" that the south
east corner of the fenced camp-lot was en-
croached upon by considerable space of
sandy bottom, of a run" which passed d.
agonally across the road, which was the
west boundary of the stump lot, and
spread out there, overlooking when rain
ing, dry in dry time, rendering 1t the
best possible ground for hospital; smooth,
dry, hard and free from insects, even
fleas, which so affect sandy places. 1t was
accordingly there located.
The "old fellow"-Rev DR.. Somebody
who was President of the college, lived in
good and commodious residence just
across the road from there. He behaved
himself we'll enough 30 far as | saw; but
knowing the thorough bred rebel he was,
a promoter of rebel principles In the high
est, and general disseminator of tactics and
all minuter details of military methods
among the blossoming "highah awdah" of
youthful chivalry and "awnah," | much
fear 1.-The boys" In one paltry way and an.
other, sometimes made life burden to
him. Though he found 1t heavier and
harder load to carry, four months later,
when some general officers established
their quarters In his house, brought their
wives there, holding a general Knightly
and daily carnival there for many days
together. Withal, made 1t the seat of
grand conservatory of music of the patri-
otic order. Held sacred, Hail Coulumbis
concerts; "Shouting the Battls-cry OF
Freedom" and had numerous other of the
like class Of sacred.music pieces on their
programmes. Gen. Logan, remember, was
there, with Mrs. Logan. lie was even then
division commander. His commission
as Col mel, 3lst Ill. Inf, dating Aug. 10,
1861. Promoted Brig. Gen, March 81,
1862. 1t was tried TO put him down, too,
among others who stood In the way Of the
Great Commanders purposers. But spe.
cial thanks are due to God, that we had
such men as he, fit to cope with rebels In
the field as we'll as traitors In the livery of
the Unlon--the Fiz John Porters, and
their distinguished abettOrs and confede
rates, for example.
AT this post | experienced one of my
first drawbacks. CONSEQUENT upon being
IAN educate Iof thu Young in having de-
tailed from me Mr.. VIM. II. Summers, my