The National tribune., 1901-05-16

operations and dressings by Surgeons de-
tailed for the more important work, and
avoidance of indiscriminate operations by
incompetent but ambitious men.
Accordingly Surgeon T. D. Fitch, 42d
ILL.,, and myself were detailed as operators
for the division, with instructions to re-
port at the Division Hospital when the
battle opened.
The attack on the right had occurred,
and firing of artillery and muSketry de-
veloped considerably along the center,
when l concluded, from the uninviting ap-
pearance of things, that it was time for
me to obey orders.
l accordingly started for the hewed-log
house that had been selected, when l
found that rebel cavalry raid had swept
everything away and that the officers i.ad
gone to find another location. l rode
around aimlessly in search, all the time
in the miGst of the refugees from the
right, all moving along the rear, hurrying
to get away from where the ava
lanche had swept them on the right
Privates with arms and without officers
of the line, field and staff, artillery without
caisSOGs, caissons without artillery, were
moving on singly and in squads, here and
there a stand of colors still supported by
its guard constituting view that has
fallen to the lot of very few.
To me all this was not only revelation,
but discOuraging one. My duty was,
however, to obey my orders. Finally des-
crying yellow flag l soon found the
place | was looking for. 1t was large,
twO-story brick with outside chimneys,
spacious hallway and rooms, situated
south of OveralI's Greek and on the east
of the Nashville Pike, and in such relation
to the two lines of the inverted letter l.
before referred to that it was quite con-
spcuous to the ambulance drivers.
Thus it became to a great extent a
central point, and wounded were brought
from all parts of the line.
THE BRICK HOUSE HOSPITAL.
A few already had arrived. The be-
ginning of our work was before us, and
without delay the back parlor was selec-
ted for the operating room, two tables
being at once adjusted, without taking up
the brussels carpet. All the paraphernalia,
instruments, bandage, ehloroform, ETC.,
were conveniently placed, and the Brick
House Hospital was at once opened for
business.
We took hold OF our work fully deter
mined that no complaint should follow,
at least, from our lack of diligence and
carefulness. To this end It was at once
arranged that no capital operation should
be undertaken without consultation and
the concurrence OF more than two Sur
geons and the expressed consent of the
patient Thus there could be no indis.
criminate operating. II it was necessary
TO anaesthetiZe the patient before a thor
Ough examination, he was allowed to fully
recover and give his consent to the pro-
posed proceeding. All dressings were ap-
piled before the patient was removed from
the table.
To hasten the work Stretchermen were
selected who, directed by competent
medical man, went to select and bring to
us the worst and most urgent cases.
Our cutting instruments were of an in
ferior quality, and man was selected 10
promptly put and keep them in good con-
dition. Every method OF expediting our
w0:k consistent with dealing justly with
| the unfOrtunateS was promptly adopted
and unfinchingly followed to the end
This crude system sprung spontaneously
outof former chaos and that it attracted at
| tention is evidenced by the fact that on the
next day after its establishment the Sur
geOn of the Fourth Corps "a. J. Phelps
called on tour of inspection and inquired
| of me as to the detail of our proceedings
| and asked what hospital it was, and re-
| piled that IL was the Division Hospital
| mentioning division and corps, TO which
he answered, From this time it Is tbs
| Fourth Corps General Hospital"
On the following day the Assistant Sur
| geon of the Army of the Cumberland came
| on like errand, and asking Of me similar
| questions and receiving similar answer
said: Now this is the General Hospital
Of the Army of the Cumberland" You
will continue in charge of this operating
| table"
Our work was unremittingly continued
until between 2 and o'clock in the morn
| ing, when we sought a little rest to bt
better prepared to resume early in The
morning. Tins work went on day anC
night until after the battle was ended ant
disposition made of all the patients.
| During this time uUmprOue tantS war,
erected all around the brick house, somt
of which were Regimental Surgeons
| operating-tents, and the stream of ambu
lances during the three days of battle wa.
incessant. Regimental hospitals were sc
only III name, for OF necessity all corners