Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-12-26

would remain there all day covered with
flies. Every morning the sand would be
shoveled out and fresh sand put in the
place of II. For nourishment we had hard
tack, rice and New Orleans molasses. If
you could call the man who carried out
and replaced the sand and chunked our
rations at US a nurse, then we were
nursed. never saw a surgeon while at
the hospital. For several days I was de-
lirious and when I changed for the better
there was nothing I could eat. Never
before had known the worth of my kind
mother There was nothing I would not
have given to have heard again her sooth-
ing voice and felt the tender touch of her
gentle hands as she smoothed my aching
brow. I remained at the hospital about
two weeks and was then sent to GONZALES
cent quarters in the fort. There I saw
but one officer, Captain Wallace, officer of
the day, and he was not on an errand OF
mercy. Instead of inquiring about our
condition and treatment he ordered US to
get up and salute him. After a hard
struggle I succeeded in getting on my
feet but could not steady myself, the rest
Of the sick doing the same way. con-
sidered 1t the most uncalled for, heartless
act / saw during the war. Captain Wal
lace may have distinguished himself dur
ing the war, but If he did 1t was not with
the First Georgia regiment.
There were over 100 cases OF measles in
the regiment, and don't claim that
suffered or was neglected more than the
rest, for we all Jared alike, but do claim
we should have been given proper care
and attention. II was at the beginning Of
the war when everybody seemed wild to
do something for the soldiers, and within
eighteen miles of the hospitable city of Sa-
vannah, where everything could be OBJ
tanned from both sea and land that was
eatable. But not one thing did see that
was sent to the sick from any source.
II we had been as wealthy as the Van
derbilts we could not have procured one
thing on the island. Savannah was the
nearest point, and so far as we were con-
cerned everything might have been in New
York
For twomonths was unfit for duty, and
If we had remained on the coast my dust
would now be smoldering in the sand on
the coast. Going to Virginia restored my
health and strength. More men died dur
ing the war from hardshtps and neglect
than died from the bullets. For my part
I would prefer fighting over any ten bat
ties I was in during the war than to go
through with again that case OF measles
and the treatment I received while had
them. AS General Sherman said, war is
hell at its best, but 1t can be made worse
for the want Of proper treatment.
One that has never served in the army
knows no more about it than he does
about heaven. For a money consideration
1 would not go through the war again for
all in America. But for the love Of coun-
try and home would again bare my
heart to the storm OF iron and lead.
see in The Journal where Comrade
johnson, Of the Second South Carolina
volunteers, admits he never traded any
tobacco for coffee during the war. I was
on the picket and firing line in Florida,
Georgia, North and South Carolina, Vir-
ginia and Maryland, and I saw no trad
ing or meeting between the lines.
w. H. ANDREWS.
Sugar Valley, Ca