The National tribune., 1891-12-17


R 80 fE> lave a profoundly un-
SAE,4z. l1sGF|Se lhsiT aae.t'laiion.' Silafo upon
The food though abundant and OF excellent
quality for strong men, was far from the re-
0uiremcnts of the sick healthy aud hungry
man could live well upon the bread, Oeet ana
pork that were issued rs Tations. But when
man began 10 DC sick and 10 lave poor or ca
priciOus appetite and cnieebicd Digestion ne
must either continue to live upon the regular
ration or 20 without; for there was no supply
of meat iuieps aud other nourishmcnt adapted
20 weakened stomach. So many and many a
poor fellow, loathing the hardtack and salt
horse did 20 without until he grew weaker
and weaker and too weak TO rally, aud hnalty
lie went under the sand.
The Sanitary and Christian Commissions
doubtless did grand work for the sick soldiers
but their good things were mostly distributed
20 the general hospitals, while the sek IN regl-
mental hospitals aud in quarters, failed To re-
Ceive what they needed when they needed "
most and SO hundreds and hundreds OF poor
boys succumbed 10 what amounted TO actual
starvation.
Add 90 this what may seem 70 be largely
sentimental aud unnecessary factor, but which
actually proved to he very powerful influence
20 increase the death recaTd-hOme-sickness.
Scores and hundreds of the boys, reduced by
sickness and lack Of nourishmeut only needed
fhis additional depressing influence TO turn the
scale against them,
Every mau had TO pass through the seourge
OF camp diarIhes. None were exempt, hut
some suffered more than others Many never
recovered from IL. Others suffered and dIod
from diseases that seized upon a system dcbiii-
tated aud deprived of its power to resist disease
by this baHe Of army life.
The sinks were established on the shore be-
low the line OF high tide, and a fourth Of mile
HAtn ~. NH N ~
messed Il will ever forget the melancholy pro-
Oession Of Irving skeletons who, day and night
staggered aud lOttered back and forth between
camp aud sink, many Of whom were obliged 10
stop aud rest by the way and To turn back and
repeat the weary journey ere they had time 10
rest themselves in their tent.
Later on diBhtheria appeared and made short
work OF the debilitated systems Of the men.
This dread disease attacked us in its malignant
form and carried of It's victims inside OF "a
hours ia many cases. j do not remember a
single case Of recovery from this disease. Some
cases that occurred after we went % the main
land, and had the benefit Of the New Orleans
market recovered; but only 90 be Frustrated with
paralysis for long months afterwards. For a
period Of several weeks, while on the island,
my single regiment averaged one death day
from diphtheria alone
Tile next horror that came upon us was the
Ecurvv-suilicient proof Of my statement in re-
gard 20 the lack OF proper food. Mems teeth
would turn black as charcoal loosen, and drop
out Of their heads. Purple aud black spots
would appear OR body and limbs, from " hich
the blood would O0ze ont in drops. Infamed
and sponRy gums would bleed upon the slight
est touch. The whole mass Ol the blood would
become thin. watery and devitalized. The flesh
seemed 10 rot alive and when death closed the
scene the miserable, hal-dccOmpOsed body
would have 20 be hurried under tie ground as
soon as possible. The funeral procession, the
mufiled drum. the V8iley OF musketry over the
soldiers grave were daily aud almost hourly
sights and SOUNDS.
No wonder that the poor boys far from home
and friends, when taken sick would lose cour-
age give up TO the fatal depression OF home
sickness, and die Of diseases that al home, and
with all that that means, would be considered
trivial aud easily recovered from.
The above may be called a gloomy picture,
but ID Is far within the truth aud fails 10 por.
tray thr actual horrors Of the situation. Many
times it bias heen said that next 90 the rebel
prison pcus, the hardest place that our boys
were placed in was Ship Island
Naturally, the experiences ul life on the hot
sand began TO tell on the patience 0f the troops
and they began 10 wonder what tho object ui
the occupation ot the Island might be, and when
the decisive movement would take place which
should remnve them from SO undesirable n 10.
caliiy and give them the chance ri active duty
which they now began HTdcntiy TO wish for
When, therefore, the mortar fleet and gunb0ats
began to hoist anchor aud slide out OF the hHr.
Dor. and bodies 0f troops began 10 embark upon
the transports and put b saa, the boys eagerly
welcomed the signs Of movement and the
prospect Of d change.
On April "a, 1852 the cmbarzation com,
mcnced. All that day and the next the steady
stream Of regiments poured along towards th,
harnor and The ships. During the 10th and
l7th the transports were getting under weigl
and one after another disappearing from Oul
view. But still no order 60 break camp cam,
40 the til, aud it finally daWned upon n
that we were 20 be excluded from the graBt
movement, aud must remain 10 garrison tht
Island
Perhaps our disappointment can be appre
elaled by prisoners At hndcrE0nyiile OF LIbbl
whose names were omitted In cartel for eK
change but hardly by anyone else.
On thr afternoon Of the I7th we began {
hear occasional heavy gums aiar off, Gradu
ally tic sounds Increased. aud Tor six DAYS AM
nlFhtE we listened 20 the inccssant roar O
heavy artillery. Sleep was out OF the question
Even at our distance the earth trenIbled ant
shook with the awful conclusions as IL th
world was being rent aud pulverized by te
thousand earthquakes
Through the night 0f the 23d when the Gee
Tan by The forts below New Orleans, il seeme
o. iiall the thuuders and con yulsions Of heaven
earth ana he'll were let loose at once. We coul
only listen ln wonder aud suspense Contra
olct0ry reports OF the c0nfici reached US A
one time we were told that our iie0t and arm
were beaten, sunk and dispersed, and thai n
might expect the rebel fleet down upou as 4
any moment Al another that our forces La
achieved partial sncruss.
When W. learned beyond doubt of the spler
cid victory ~ farragut and that the fort
the great city, and the mouth Of the Father
Waters were actually in thc possession OF on
army aud navy, our gratitude aud enthusiast
knew n0 bounds. aud we felt that the suflr
lnRs and death on Ship Island were measu "a 81
compensated by the brilliant success Of Il
Union arms.-HOsPITAL STEWARD.
ITO be o0HtinUedl
ChiiclzlnE {" The CanEgneor."
EDITOR NATIONAL TnIgrNE.