The National tribune., 1901-09-19

to decimate the ranks rs effectively as
bullets in q fair fight. The steamboats,
chartered by many of the States TO trans
port wounded from the field of Shiloh
were required to carry home the FEVER
stricken victims of the siege OF Corlnth.
Thousands of these were carried to North
ern HOSPITALS or furlOughed to their homes,
but many declined to be furloughed or
sent to hospital. because they were too
proud to give up their places in the ranks
while the greatest battle Of the war was
daily expected to occur.
The writer belonged to the latter class,
and was little more than 4 skeleton when
he faced the enemy on the sklrmSh hne
at the last moment of the siege OF Corinth.
But that was his last service Tor -FOUR
months, for on returning with his com
many from Coriuth be crawled into his
rent TO become delirious with fever, and
a few DAYS later, when the army marched
away. he was so near death that it was
considered needless cruelty to move MN
to the hospital; so the Surgeon IN charge
was notified that two sick and one dying
soldier would be found in q solitary tent
in the midst of the deserted camp. But
the Surgeon of the field hospital, 10 miles
distant, forgot all about the solitary tent
and IFS inmates, who were left to SHIRT
for themselves, without medicine or food:
The writer was happily unconscious OF
his surroundings. and no entry appears In
10 days following the end of the siege.
June 10 was the first day after more
than Il weeks illness that l was con-
scicus of my surroundings. My first
glance of recognition disclosed q canopy
of green boughs built over my head to
keen out the fierce rays of the sun, while
at my side sat a faithful c0mrade, Har-
risen Sage, brushing away great swarms
of flies which settled on my face the mo-
ment he ceased tanning.
My bed was the ground just outside the
door of our tent, while inside was another
faithful comrade, Jesse Baker, recovering
from serious illness, too weak TO walk,
yet able at times to relieve Sage in caring
for me- Sage himself was an invalid,
mere skeleton, scarcely able to carry
water from the Notwithstanding
wells-dug by the regiment. Very little
of the vile fluid was required for me 10
my delirium, so my comrades said, for Ma
ture refused TO recognize it as water, and
with the cup at my lips there was no ces-
sation to my continual cry of Water,
water"
Without medicine or food for his help
less charges, and without hope, now, that
the expected ambulance would be sent for
US, poor Sage knew not where to go for
assistance, being ignorant of the location
of any of the field hospitals; but he de-
ciared he would start early the next morn
ing and spend the entire day, il neces-
SaIy, IN searching tOr alu.
According to his plan of the previous
day, Sage started early June II, while it
was cool. and was rewarded after long
walk through deserted encampments by
the welcome sight of white tents in the
distance, which proved to be a hospital
belonging to Pope's army. The Surgeon
in charge promised to relieve us, and
Sage returned about noon to supply our
wants and give us the cheering news. a
little soup, the first nourishment perhaps
in two weeks, gave me a new lease on
life. But the day wore away, and the
promised ambulance did not come. Sage
concluded rightly that because we did not
belong TO Pope's command we must wait
for one Of Buelrs hospital Surgeons to
discover us.
Being too weak and helpless to under
stand the situation, this disappointment
made little impression upon me. My COM
rades, however, were much depressed by
the failure of the ambulance to appear.
But on June u help came from an IN
expected quarter. As we were lying in
the tent We heard the distant rumble of
army wagons on the corduroy road. Sage
rushed away to meet them as fast as his
unsteady legs would permit. The wag-
ons were on the way to the river landing
for provisions, under charge of a Quarter
master, who, rs soon as he was informed
by Sage Of our situation, sent one to our
tent and busted himself in getting US
epieaIIHB as many DlanketS on the potion
placed as comfortably as possible by
Of the wagon as he could gather, at the
same time expressing his opinion of our
Surgeons in language borrowed from his
teamsters for the occasion.
HOSPITAL EXPERIENCES.
The road to the general field hospital
OF Buell. army was a rough one, much
Of it corduroy, and very little life was
left IN me when tendery lifted out by
the attendants, one of whom remarked:
Here's a bundle of bones tied up in a
soldiers suit" Two Observation-Disclosures
detailed as nurseS-toOk me in charge,
bathed me as tenderly as an infant, put
on clean linen and placed me upon a com
Portable cot, after which the Surgeon
came and prescribed stimulants and nour-
lshment. / found myself in a large tent
with about ~ invalids on. cots, side by
SIDE, IN two rows, leaving a passage
through the CENTER our heads being
turned to the wall of the tent on each
side.
Delighted as / was TO reach the shell
ter Of this hospital there was one object
more than all others that attracted and
fascinated my gaZe-a camp kettle filed
with pure cold spring water: but my dis
appointment was great when my allow
ance was liked at one swallow at long in
teryals-sometimes hours 1t was in vain
that begged for one good, hearty drink
tlS 1AAtA4Nal4NS we're ObuufdIe, the Sur
geons orders must be obeyed to the let
ter. One of my neighbors almost con-
unuaiIy begs, prays or curses for water;
but he gets his allowance, and no more
II the vessels Of water did not stand in
our plain view il would not be so tantaliz-
ing. Patients who are eble to get out of
their cots and help themselves during the
absence Of the attendants are strictly for
hidden to help their less fortunate com
rades to n drink of water.
My allowance by June IS was increased
10 two swallows at time, and the hope
cheers my waking hours or illumines nv
dreams that some day not far distant /
may be able, when the attendants are out
OF sight, to raise myself from my cot and
tottcr from one support 10 another to the
blessed water and drink my fill without
counting the swallows After that nv
next dearest wish may be realized when
able TO visit the spring itself, where the
water has not lost its freshness by con-
hnement IN an old iron camp kettle.
a thunder shower occurred on June
IL, which threatened to blow our tent
over, but IT was a welcome visitor, as il
cooled the air.
Only two or three inmates of our tent
nave been able TO walk about. One of
these had been the envy of MS ali he
cause he was able TO help himself To
water as he pleased, and even walked out
SIDE when the attendants were not watch.
ing. True, he was a mere skeleton, his
legs SO weak and shaky that he staggered
from one cot to another but in such a
sprghtly manner and appeared so cheer