The National tribune., 1901-08-01

We remained in 7th street hospital until
about the last of August, when, all near
by hospitals being needed for the sick and
wounded of Pope's army of Virginia"
those of us able to be moved were sent
farther North: our squad of about 20 be-
ing sent to Patterson Park, Baltimore.
Our stay here was brief and we left with
out a single regret. Patterson Park par
took too much of the nature of jail to
render a residence there desirable. We
were given very little freedom and treated
more like criminals than citizen soldiers.
While in this hospital an incident occurred
illustrating at once the generous thought
fulness of women and the boorishness of
some of our officers.
An Ohio lady residing in Washington,
who had been a frequent and welcome
visitor TO the hospitals of that city, and
who was, ! believe, a member of the
Christian Commission ian organization
similar to the Red Cross Society of today,
having occasion to visit Baltimore, de-
cided to cali upon 'her boys" as she
called us. So one fine day in September
she presented herself at the entrance to
the hospital (having with her a basket of
peaches), and asked admittance to the
grounds and wards. She was conducted to
the office of the Surgeon in charge, and
was informed by that dignitary-his eyes
the while looking wistfully at the basket
that she could go through the wards,
but that the peaches must be left at the
office, and if intended for any of the in
mates the physician in charge of the ward
in which they were being in the nature Of
things the best judge of the patients
needs, would distribute the peaches to
them.
The lady was not in the least phased by
this turn of affairs. She had been there
before Producing a pass signed by the
Surgeon-G General. which by its terms gave
the bearer permission to enter any u. 5.
hospital and allowed her to distribute any
article of food or clothing to the wounded
which in the exercise of sound discretion
she might regard as beneficial. This was
handed to the Surgeon by the lady, who
at the same time asked the officer that a
pass be given two of her friends (namlng
them, who were inmates of the institu-
ton. permitting them to go with her into
the city to visit some friends. This rea-
sonable request was curtly and emphati-
callv denied. Her boys" missed the
pleasure of a stroll around the city, but
| they got the peaches, which was a wei
come innovation on the everyday hospital
menu.
A few days after this occurrence about
20 Of US were ordered to get ready to re-
ioin our regiments. AS we were boarding
the train that was to take us from
Baltimore we were glad to note
that it was headed Washington
ward There was none but knew full
well we were in no condition to reJoln
our regiment, and our hearts bounded
with the thought that we would again
| be quartered in the National Capital. By
the time the train reached the city we
had decided upon which hospital we were
to enter. and some had even settled upon
which bunk they would occupy; but, alas.
''the hest laid plans Of mice and men
aft gang aglee."
Immediately upon our arrival at the
depot we were examined and most of our
number sent direct to Camp Gonzales
at this camp until the latter part of Oc-
tober. Nothing Of moment occurred to
| interrupt the everyday routine of ia
! tigue duty and sending details of men to
work in the trenches and upon the fOrti-
ficatiOns. A pilgrimage was made to
| Mount Vernon and a visit made to the
hotel where the gallant young Ellsworth
fell, pierced by traitors bullet The
steps and the floor where Ellsworth fell,
were nearly all gone, cut away by relic
hunters.
OFF FOR THE FRONT.
On Oct. &c, 1000 of the convalcsccnts
belonging to the different regiments of
Porters Fifth Corps were ordered to re-
port (eauipped) at headquarters of the
post, where they were placed under the
command Of a Captain q think of the
9th Mass, and sent to the front to re,
join their command, then supposed to be
at Smokers Gap, Va.
Nearly every regiment belonging to the
1 corps was represented, and as the men
lined up before camp headquarters their
appearance was grotesque in the extreme
Dressed in whole or in part in the va
rious uniforms of the corps, supplemented
here and there with articles of citizens
clothing, their feet encased in boots
bOotees and slippers of various styles
while upon their heads was worn every.