Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-09-09
GARNETT, KANSAS, SEPTEMBER 9, 1898.

acter of the nursing given the men is blight
OH the fair name of our rich and glorious gov
ernment. Another feature which
worked hardshps on the nurses was the fact
that they were obliged to nurse eight hours i'll
twenty four, and then do police duty three
hours each day. Before l had been on duty
twenty four hours, entered an earnest protest
against such awful treatment of the sick SOL
diers. My only reward was very sarcastic
reply that when had been there as long as he
the commanding officer-I would cease to
worry over such matters
son the authority of this same surgeon,
there was not mortar, nor plll-tlle, nor
spatula, nor SYRINGE, nor pair of apothecary
scales in or about that hospital. (Yet, drug
clerks must compound medicines with accu-
racyO
"Now, allow me to say that have not even
intimated the half of the awful, brutal, care
less, criminal, helsh facts that can be plo-
,duced, and which, sooner or later, Will be pro-
,duced, to show the American people the damn
able record of these hell-holes at Camp Thomas,
finisnamed division hospitals.
"When that time comes, as come it must and
will, no nom de plumes will be necessary to
protect the witnesses, nor will stars, nor Greek
crosses, nor superior rank be able, in that hour,
ito find things exceedingly favorable nor to
effectually dispose Of the truth by the superior
might of military rank"
Further OH in his letter, the writer gives
few shocking examples Of the abuse heaped
upon our soldier boys. He says:
"Did yous in making your inspection,
- - know the facts when 'efectually dis
posing of all recent sensational adverse reports
and when you found affairs so exceedingly IA
vorable'? Didyou know-did any one tell you
these truths?
"1. That man of the Fifth Missouri, sick
with the measles, was permitted to lie on the
ground without proper attention until he died!
81 That one man died and his body was al
Ilowet to remain from thirty 10 thirty-six hours
jin,close proximity to the sick!
'"3. That another had been neglected,
and had laid in the filth from his own body so
long that he became fy-blown, and his body
was covered with maggots for hours before
death came to his relief?
"a. That another man was discharged from
the hospital and died soon after returning to
his headquarters?
"5. That during all the rainy season there
were no floors in the hospital tents, and that
sick soldiers we're compelled to stand with bare
feet upon the damp ground while their beds
were being changed?
"6 That disinfectants were, for many weeks,
not to be had at all, or i'll such limited quaint
ties as to be almost useless?
81. That the location of the Second division
hospital, Third army corps, is in the immedl-
ate vicinity of the worst maaria-infected spot
in the state of Georgia?
"S. That regiments, against the protest OF
their officers and brigade and division command
ers, were kept encamped upon the same spot SO
long that at last there was no more fresh ground
upon which to dig new sinks?
co. That for weeks the ranks were SO terror
lied by the facts--naked, solid, indisputable
facts-coming from hospitals, that scores and
hundreds of soldiers have concealed the truth
Of their own extreme illness, and have gone on
regular duty rather than be re ported sick and
sent 10 what seemed to them certain death at
the hospital? That scores CT these remained
on duty until they fell by the wayside uncon-
scous?
80. That in disobedience of orders, regi-
mental commanders and surgeons have kept
and protected many of their sick from the d.
vision hospitals by concealing the fact of their
sickness fiom higher authority, and by leaving
them in their own tents?