The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-03-13

we're brave and noble fellows. Many
ventura K too far, or getting encum
passed by the enemy IN the fortunes OF
he fight, were taken prisoners, wer.
wounded or killed in the line of duty by
hp direct fire, or chance shot.
They were fOur-wheeled vehicles not
unlike an express wagon, well and
trongly made, with wooden bows and
braces and ribs covered with heavy
white canvas not unlike a butchers
cart. They were usually drawn by a
pair OF horses, or mules. Two seats ran
eng hwise along their sides with cTo-s
seat at the front of the body for Il e
driver. Two stretcbers usually were
carried with each ambulance These
were made OF two stout poles about 8 fl.
long, placed about 2 feet apart am
covered and CONNECTED by strong car
vas firmly fixed To the poles at its edges.
making convenient arrangement,
Whereby two men could carry third
Who was sick or wounded, or q de d
body. The fl 'or OF the ambulance WAS
u.u ly strewn with st.aw. pine leave q
ur SOM such litter for comfort an tie
baurptlon Of blood or whatever might
upon It. How many of our poor
; vs. took their last ride in these white
covered army amhulances
l remained several days at the brigade
hospital, and received kind care and
.'treful attention. The food WAS excel
lent and abundant and consisted Of
whit lOaf-hread, uthern corn bread,
sweet potatoes. fresh beef, canned veg.-
tables, eIs.. etc. At he regular hours
our ratlOns were brought in; II great tin
plate full OF what TO IA well soldier would
have been tempting display of kinds
md quality. But to us, how our sIum-
achs and hppetres loathed the sight OF
GOD. The smell OF II, especially those
great, mealy, sUeamIng sweet potatoes,
increased my nau-ealiun. and | turned
my face to the wall,and my ratinns over
to hose who coulI eat them My fever
lid not abaie, my condition did not I'M
prove. and IN few days |. with others,
was put into an ambulance, MAX ny
quite train Of these melancholy car
rIHges. and started to the rear. Slowly
vending our way through forest, slash
my, fl lid, and devastated lands VIZ ar.
lived at and crossed the puntoOn bridge,
over which we had marched two munIhs
before ca our way to the front, and in
Tue course OF time arrived at the hospi-
tai at Guy Point. Down at the pier in
h. james River lay a great white hosp.
al boat with steam up, almost ready TO
wing out INTO the stream with her load
for down river. Point of Rork-, CITY
FONT, and other hospitals had b-en re-
lieved for the time being by Ter load
We were examined ut the amhulancpa.
he more serious cases marched for the
boat, and the others taken INTO hospital
here. With d zen or 80 from our
quad we were taken to the pier and
put on hoard the boat, where We found
everything neat. clean and attractive,
ana attentive surgeons. assistants and
nurses. We were belJed to clean, neat
cuuches, and everything done for our
comfort that could be under he ci cum
stances. This was RESI-. and combined
with medicine, care and nurring does
very much. The great boat soon un
moOrrd and we were gil ling down the
uoble JdI es RIVER. From where we lay,
through The windows we could see the
shores gliding by in harmony to the
throb. throb, lhrob, OF the mighty en-
gine and the FLASHING of the great pad
ole wheels.
The run down the James with the tide
IS a Pleasant one aud brfOre light we
were at the wharf near Hamilton Hos
pltal. couple of miles {! ON Fortress
Monroe. From the boat we were taken
up into The central division of that ipstI.
tuition and into ward composed of wall
Wnts with fly, on gOnd board fl Ior.
SIX single, iron fr mt, low cot beds nc.
one man in ca h TO a tent
Here, in ward 90. l remained from
about DEC Ia. 1854 until about the first
of March 1865 These three months
were months Ut suffering and misery in
their first part, but of convslrscence
and partial recovery in their latter pOr-
non. l was pu on low diet. The sur
Ieon came aItrnrivrly every day. The
ward-ma~ter and nurses loukrd well
after their duties, and life passed on its
rounds. one day being much like its pre-
iecrsSor or successor, xcept change in |
Tea her, or somr camp, or ward, OF per- |
,oDal local c'dent, Varied the sem |
Dlance a Ii tie. Even little things served |
q interest these disab ed men, as the |
human mind is 80 made up that mex
lands and con racts to focallzp its power |
" catch the lIghl as the occassi N NAV |
demand. II we are IN the M DIST of gre I |
md stirring eventa we notice only he |
great ana stirring things paTtIcult rly. |
u we are shut up bI naTrowest bpund- |
sven the minutrst things receive gre. |
attention. S we, cut off from The grra |
Ind stirring even and excitement |
he front, turrrd to those about us for
iccups''nn. Wash u 50 wi you com
AIDES! We eagerly read the paper, look
~ tor letter. from nome, or wrote home
iften, thu to while away time further. |
While health was slowly ss-er ing ~ d |
ION ending It's way, we took up various
hrngs In turn for amusement. Some |
lines W. mad run Of the bone ring aud |
jewellery manufacture. This ,aring |
tut, We took up card playing, CHI, ckrr-
md other games. A week or wO served |
o play these out, 50 far H. IT and nov
lily went, and the mind called To. some
hing new. Drawing wi h pen ~ d INK |
lad Its turn have lot of effol Is now
ImOng my souvenirs of the service
whiting. wood carving and various
u her Ihlngs came 10 relieve the tidiun, |