The National tribune., 1901-05-16

blood condition was. demonstrated by the
post mortems referred to. No post NOR
TENS were made hefe, but there had been
no change in food Or otherwise that could
bloot1. coagulaton aud consequent certain
death. Hospithl gangrene is result frors
this among other pathological conditions.
l was not then able to solve the diff
cult question, and / may say that no one
seemed to comprehend it, but now l am
wholly satisfieE that a supply of fresh
meats and green Vegetables would have
saved lives that no surgery, no care, no
nursing, no medication could have done or
can do.
THE SANITARY AND CHRISTIAN COM
MISSIONS.
We were but five miles from MurfreeS-
borO the Headquarters of the Sanitary and
Christian Commissions, and question may
arise as to why we were so wholly without
supplies that the good people at home
trusted them to distribute where they
would do the most good. The fact is that
| received but one package, a storebox full
of various articles of clothing and various
other articles, as towels, socks, sheets,
handkerchiefs, etc, but nothing edible.
l knew that the articles were within
reach, and made formal application by
letter.
In addition TO this l was absolutely
tormented by the agents of these Com
InlSSlpllS On lutiE way " tHS lHty
came by way of wagon train, and walking
4 part OF the time. They were nice peo-
pie whose hearts were full of goodness,
determined to serve 1.-The boy at the
front"
TO start on their itinerary they put on
their Sunday clothes, including clOse-fit-
ting calf boots, and arrived within the
borders of the/scenes of the "Pomp and
glorious circumstance of war;" wet, mud
dy, tired, with wilted ideas of pomp.
They knew nothing but how to get in
the way. They hailed a hospital as
le gitimate haven of rest.
| shared my food, bed room and bed
material with each and all. But, alas,
for pomp and even comfort. My bed room
was a spare kitchen apartment, where all
the attendants, comprising a prOmiscuous
personal staff, wrapped their blankets
around them and sought for sleep on the
unyielding floor. Weak, overworked and
weary | could not get to sleep early and
along in the morning between 4 and 5 my
visitors commenced to stir, after which
there was no sleep for me. The first thing
was to get on their wet, muddy, shrunken
boots, while / lay muttering imprecatiOns
unheard by them and | now hope un-
heard beyond. Under like circumstances
| would rehearse them today, but l think
a little louder, if not more forcibly. There
was but one sOlace, and that was when
the visitors did not snore, which was IN
usual. After breaking bread (crackers),
they went on their winding way.
| must say they were all polite and
courteous, thanking me profusely, giving
me their names and to which of the Com
missions they belonged, asking very par
ticularly what | needed, and promising
earnestly to send it to me at once. Alas,
J. must say that | received nothing, and
never heard OF one of them after they
left the front door.
Tho fraunpOt nf HCnnripp''
and boots with no returns from prOmi-
Ses led me to feel a sense of relief when
these angels OF mercy had flown.
Undoubtedly they at the time meant
what they promised, but when they ar
rived at Headquarters they had to take
and peace were different; that there were
not enough mercies and delcacies in stock
to go around, and possibly recalling the
passage that sets forth that 'he who does
not care for his own household is worse
than an infidel"
But my needs were great, and l applied
direct by letter, sending a team to bring
what might be sent. | received nothing.
l impressed n team and sent guard with
it, so there could be no mistake. These
methods | repeatedly adopted with the
same result. l then sent letter to the
Chief of the Sanitary Commission, that
L cannot quote, and would decline to do so
If | could, as all conventional forms of eX
preston were omitted and every word
represented temperature of 800 degrees.
1t brought the gentlemen to see me, and
good conscientious gentleman he was. L
unmasked the same battery of fiery indig-
nation, using terms that l presume would
have court-martialed me if he had re-
ported them. He assured me that he had
sent Il wagon load to me, but that in run
ming the gauntlet of the hospitals en- route
the articles had been appropriated by
others. i have now no doubt that such
was the case and that ! was in the wrong.
1t may be that after this interview some
articles were obtained, but more than 80
years after | do not remember.
The lapse of a few weeks led to tho
breaking up of the many hospitals scat
tered over the battlefelds, the well being
sent to their commands, the convalescents
be taken to Nashville came under my
care.
Thus the burden OF care and work was
increased while at the same time COM
manders were day by day taking away
their men who had served me as nurses.
How we got along as well as we did is
now mystery.
In due course I was ordered to distri-
butte my patients, taking the cases to hos
pitals at Nashville and sending all others
to their commands. I was then placed
for brief time in charge of hospital in
Murfreesboro and obtained leave of abb
| sence on Surgeons certificate that such
leave was necessary to save my life.
1t would be both idle and false to say
that all this toll and suffering developed
no complaint at all, for In the nature of
things such must be tho case 1t is, how
ever, true that such faultindings were
| made in way surprisingly modest and
with loyal regard to the capability Of the
| country and grand sense of devotion to
| her honor. There was no bewailing and
| bemoaning, no elimination Of departments,
| even when circumstances were most try
ing and severe.
I have seen men stirring the dust where
cracker boxes had been opened or the
| mules fed their rations OF corn and cheeri-
| ly picking up the broken pieces of the one
or the grains of the other with which to
supply the absence of army rations.
The soldiers seemed TO feel conscious
| that war involved toll, suffering and sacri-
| fee, that patient endurance emphasized
his soldierly qualities and patriotism, and
| that the fact of his enlistment bound him in
| honor to accept what might befal him as
became true soldier. Mortal agony only
| could wiring from him a groan, and the
wounded and dying often charged me to
assure their friends that they regretted no
sacrifice made for their country.
Crhe End)
|
Work Of the Pension ONCE.
The report OF the certificates issued for the
week ending May 4. shows:
Army invalid: Original, IL; Increase, 200;
reissue, 20; restoration. 81 renewal, IL; sup
elemental. 3; duplicate, z; accrued, III.
| Total 437.