The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1898-09-22
THE REDWOOD GAZETTE.
BY AIKEN & scHMAnL.
THURSDAY, SEPT. %, 1893.
OUR SICK SOLDIERS.
Impressions Made by the Return
Inc Sick. Minnesota Soldiers.


been at the Windsor Hotel, St. Paul,
when the Minnesota soldier boys who
had been lying in hospitals at Chatta-
nooga, and had convalesced sufficient
ly to return, were brought up to that
popular hostelry in carriages for the
purpose of remaining there until trains
could take them to their homes. "War
is hell" we're the words used by q
great American soldier, in expressing
his sentiments on what war was. If
possible, it is worse than hell, we're the
words that fitted across the mind of
the writer as be saw and conversed
with these apparent wrecks of Ameri-
can manhood. Poor, emaciated
fever stricken boys,unable to cope with
the climate and southern camp life,
returning home to Minnesota ozone
with the hopes of regaining health.
Some so feeble that it was impossible
for them to walk more than a short
distance, and it was necessary to help
them into the spacious dining room,
where, in eating the splendid fare,
their hands trembled while eating the
food that the mattresses had so kindly
prepared ready for the mouth. One
poor fellow was unable to walk.
Rheumatism had attacked one of his
limbs and had increased it TO twice
it's natural size, and as his stronger
comrades helped him about, his only
caution was to beware of hitting that
limb. Some of the boys, more
shrunken in the face than others,
seemed to be in the last stages of con-
sumption, and some of these were
large, strong and healthy men when
they enlisted. Their only complaint
was that they we're not rushed off into
active service as soon as they had been
modified. The poor fellows were
confident that if they had been in bat
tie they would have been in better
condition, and that it was nothing but
the drudgery of camp life that had
pulled down their strong constitutions.
They we're through with camp life
they all said, and they we're glad of it,
but they we're ready for active duty at
any time.
Yes, war is worse than hell, was the
remark made as the writer passed
down to the railroad yards where the
hospital train, on which the boys came
home, was standing. 1t was there that
many boys unable to take carriages to
the hotel, were lying, waiting to be re-
moved to the hospitals of St. Paul and
Minneapolis, or to homes of relatives,
and hospital ambulances we're running
to and fro carrying these boys to good
resting places, to receive the care
given them by trained nurses and ex-
cellent physicians on the train. They
we're weak, oh so weak; haggard and
deathly looking that recovery seemed
impossible, and yet only one has since
died, and the remainder are recover
ing.
The Red Cross was everywhere.
The noble band of young men and
women acting as nurses to the soldiers,
nnder the banner of the Red Cross,
we're active night and day, administer
ing to the wants of the soldiers, and
Tightening the suffering which the
boys we're bearing. The Red Cross
was conspicuous on the right arm oil
each one of these mercy soldiers, and
Stands at the Head.
Aug. J. Bogel, the leading druggist