The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1893-01-20

piece of fly tent and rubber blanket over
me. | suffered so much with cold that
sleep was out of the question. When the
sun came up it shOne in the window near
where | had made my bed and it warmed
me sufficiently so that [ was soon fast
asleep. 1t must have been nearly or quite
ten O'clock when | awoke to find a surgeon
bending over me. He was on his knees
and had evidently been shaking me up
considerably before | was sufficiently
awake to understand what was wanted
One look into his kindly face told me that
had fallen into good hands. He asked
how long had been there, left me few
moments to look up the hospital steward,
He soon returned, and informed me that
the steward would give me room. 1t was
not so good as he would like to have, but
the best that could be done for me at
that time. The steward soon made his
app arance and conducted me to nice
little room. 1t is true the bed was coarse
and hard, but there was plenty OF covers to
keep me warm.
| took one look out of the window only
one for the sight that met my eyes was one
that did not care to behold. The yard
was filled with wounded, in fact 1t was a
full fledged hospital with no less than
three amputating tables sight OF my win
dow. 1t was decidedly bad day, cold and
cloudy nearly half of the time with an
occasional shower. | wondered that some
poor wounded man had not been given
the room and bed that occupied.
1t was not long until the surgeon made
his appearance, made more through exam
nation of my case and then ordered
quinine and whiskey to be taken at least
five times day. He says you will get up
again but it will be some time before you
will have much strength. He again
apologized about the room when Iventured
to ask why it had not been given to some
wounded man as they were all worse off
than l. He then told me that they were
loading the wounded into cars as fast as
possible and were moving them to City
Point where they could be better cared for
think it was about the fourth day after
my arrival at the hospital that the surgeon
told me that we were all going to City
Point, and that l would be in charge of the
men in one car. | was able to be ON my
feet and while at the window | saw Sur
geOn Clark then on his way to the front.
l went down stairs and out to where he
was, told him what was the matter with
me and asked him to take me along with
him. He declared that was not able to go
to the 'front.' and further the war was over
and there was no need of my returning to
the front at all. ..
[ then applied to the Surgeon in charge
Of the hospital to pass me to the front but
he positively declined and of course ] had
to go to City Point. 1t was nearly ten |
o'clock in the evening when our train pull |
ed into the town. Our doors were thrown |
open when several hospital attendants |
came on board. They were bearing |
lanterns with the 9th Corps emblazoned |
thereon. They at once ordered all 9th |
Corps boys from the train. | disliked to |
cave the Surgeon that had alrerdy done so
much for me. | asked him what | should |
do. He said keep still and go with me
which | at once decided to do. The badge |
IN my hat gave me away and l had to say
good bye to as good surgeon and as kind
hearted gentlemaH as the service afford
ed. l was soon inside of field hospital
or the first time in three years service,
he only execution being the four days in
he temporary hostiptal at Burksville.
rhe long row of cots with their snow white
,overlets looked both neat and tidy and [
etired that night feeling that it was as
veil with me as it was.
ITO be continued.