The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-06-24
"IMMENsE NUMBER ON THE PENSION
ROLL"

KOHL
So there are, grumbling friends.
But did you ever stop to think that
everything connected with that terrible
war of the rebellion was immense-far
beyond any previous human conception ?
That is stupendous fact that is likely
to escape you, unless you keep it con-
stantly in mind.
1t is hard work for even us who went
through the long struggle to keep before
us clear conception of its immensely,
and we appreciate the difficulty that you
may have in understanding its proper
tons.
In the first place, it is very hard for
the mind to grasp that there were some
thing over 100000 fighting men on the
Union side, and over 100000 on the
rebel side.
1t is impossible for any mind to
thoroughly realize what so large num-
Der as 100000 means, but it may as
sist the conception to remember that it
is great many more than there are of
men, women and children in the Is
Colonies at the time they won their in
dependence.
Then, if it is recollected that these
100000 men on one side, and 1900
600 on the other, went at each other
with all the deadly weapons that human
ingenuity could devise, that they kept it
up without let or cessation for four long
years. it viii be easy to understand that
they filled the land with the dead, and
manned, and cripples. The astonish-
ment soon becomes not that there are SO
MANI on the pension-rolls, but that there
are not more there.
The mind cannot grasp the fact that
there were actually 100000 combat
ants under one flag and 100000
under the other.
1t cannot realize that the line-ofbattle
was 1000 miles long.
1t cannot comprehend that it was a
frequent occurrence to have several
thousand men killed in single day,
and four or FIVE times as many wounded.
Every figure connected with that
gigantic struggle has startling vast
ness
For example, the terrible strains
lardships, and casualties of the long
struggle are testified to by the fact that
there were 6,049,64S cases of sickness
injuries, accidents, and wounds treated
by the Surgeons in the Union hospitals
The malarious swamps of the Missis
siplyi ard the seacoasts sent 3,2S5,37
cases of fever to the hospitals, of which
10S, 567 resulted fatally, and 1888:
men were so wrecked as to necessItatt
their discharge from the army as in
capable of further service.
The terrible strains of battle and o
anxious nights and fearful days sen
1902 cases of nervous diseases to TIL,
hospitals, of which 5,257 resulted il
death. Besides these, there were %, ion
cases of heart disease, resulting in 2,12;
deaths, and 1927 discharges from TIL
service.
The pelting storms, the freezing sleei
the drenclring rain were responsible fo
504,132 cases of disease of the throa
and lungs, resulting in 24,i00 death.
and the discharge of 20,995 wreck
from tie service. Also, for 1881
cases Of rheumatism, of which 1855
became so hopeless as to compel til
discharge of the sufferers.
Bad and insufficient food and pollute
water sent to the hospitals 563, 239 cast
of diseases Of the stomach and bowels, {
which 44,558 proved fatal and 16, 4S
were discharged as incurable.
A partial report of the wounds treate
in hospitals brings the total up to $50
O4O, of which 49,2O5 resulted fatal
and 34,209 were so serious as to comp
| the discharge of the manned men.