Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-11-05
SCENE IN A TENT HOSPITAL STATION

Myer, Fort MCPHERSON and Fort
Thomas. While a regimental or di-
vision hospital may receive only the
patients of its own organization, from
which the surgeons are selected, gen.
eral hospitals are for the use of any
troops in the United States service.
The general hospitals are excellent,
Fort Myer has now about 35 patients,
many of whom on returning to their
regimentai mess have told me that
they wished themselves back TO tho
flesh pots of Egypt. The general hos
pitfalls are regularly established in
stitutions pertaining to the regular
army. and that is the secret OF their
superiority, for, though the volunteer
officers have meant well, it has been
a problem almost beyond human pow
er to properly systematic the enor-
nous volunteer organizations in any
of its branches In so short a period.
At the Fort Myer hospital every room
has been utilized for the patients, and
even the riding school was converted
into a ward, the largest hospital ward
ever used in this country.
Much has already been done by
way OF transporting the patients TO
the general hospitals. A special hos
pital train OF ten tourist sleeper. has
been commissioned as a transport
and is running constantly from camp
10 camp. The patients in the isolated
hospital tents are being taken away
just as soon as they are strong enough
TO endure the trip. On recent Tues
day Isl regulars were received at
Fort Myer. The next day the same
train took large number to Fort Nc
Pherson. Many of the states have been
and are still making strenuous efforts
TO carry their own sick away from the
division quarters to private hospitals.
Train after train of Pullman sleepers
has taken Missourians, New Workers,
Philadelphians, 0hioans, Yankees and
others from hospitals at Loring, Chick
amauga and elsewhere to their home
states. Thanks to the charitable Phil
adelphiars their edico-chirurgical
hospital alone has quartered almost
two hundred soldiers.
In speaking of private charity, one
must not forget the good Samaritans
OF the gentler sex. What woman has
done TO alleviate the suffering Of thou
sands and thousands of soldiers no his
tory can ever record; but those who
have suffered and have seen the suf-
fering know OF their great and noble
| work. The funds that bought the
ice cream and champagne at Montauk
were secured by and through the eff
forts of women; the transportati ton Of
patients to better quarters was large
ly the work Of women's organizations.
Wher 1t was learned that the soldiers
were sent from camp to camp with
half-sick men among them, crowded
into day coaches and fed at half RAJ
tions and 81 cents coffee money for
"a hours, kind-hearted women met the
trains at every station with refresh
ments for the hungry and pillows and
cushions for the sick. This method OF
comforting soldiers on transports has
been organized into regular prac-
tice at every station from Fernandina,
Fla, to New York city. A great work
has beer accomplished also by Sisters
Of Charity and other trained nurses
who volunteered their services al ths
division and branch hospitals. Sol
der rcst homes have been provided
by the Legion Of Loyal Women and
other organizations. where soldiers on
sick furloughs and Others are re-
freshed, comforted and entsrtained.