The National tribune., 1903-10-22

! subsection to the horrors of Salisbury,
| Florence, AIilIcn or AndersOnvile.
| 81 and Shorty talked to many of them,
but found that they were generally from
the Army of the Potomac. and mostly had
been at Salisbury, and Richmond, so that
| they were likely to know nothing about
his friends, or other Westerners.
| But they learned that men from the
prisons farther South were coming in
daily by boats, and landing at the Naval
Academy grounds. 81 and the rest went
on into the spacious grounds of the Naval
Academy. The Naval School had been
transferred to Newport, X. l.. and tn"
buildings appropriated for the use Of one
Of the very finest and best of the many
splendid hospitals established Immediately
around Washington.
| The Surgeon charge WAS not only a
skillful and enlightened physician. keep
ing himself fully abreast of the progress
of his art in alternating human suffering.
but he was man of the highest cxecii-
tive ability, who could have commanded
4 brigade, n division or n corps in the field
with the greatest success. He would have
shone as 4 Chief Quartcrmastcr.
| He had selected this post Of duty be-
cause of love of his great profession. and
because he felt that he could there he
much more Use to his country than any
where else. To him nothing WIS more
inspiring that to organize a giant sana-
forum where thousands of young soldiers.
physically wrecked by march and battle.
could at once be given the benefit Of the
highest human skill and the best sur
rOundings and he returned to duty in the
shortest time with restored health. This
was as near the work OF divinity rs man
could reach. and n noble ambition for any
sincere patriot eager to serve his cOun
try.
= T. III, h. l.,
with q despOtic sway. but it WAS deSpnt-
ism of the highest intelligence, directed
toward the best good. The discipline of
Surgeons. Hospital Stewards. Wardmast-
ers, nurses, attendants. cooks and help
ers was iron in its rigidty. but it was
the iron of perfect system OF doing
everything at exactly the right time. and
in the best known way. There could he
nothing slip-shod. nothing half-lone, moth
ing delayed. nothing left TO chance.
The first thing that attracted 81 and
Shorty's attention was the ScrupulOus
cleanness Of the walks and grounds. The
Surgeons idea was that the first step to-
ward making n sick man well was the
most absolute cleanliness. and he began
this with the litter on the sward and the
walks upon which the sick mans eyes
must earliest rest. First impressions are
highly important, and the patient coming
in would get his first and favorable ideas
Of his treatment and chances by the looks
of the surroundings.
A fine band. In spotless uniforms, was
playing inspiring and patriotic airs, upon
stand in the grounds. The Surgeon
held that the money expended for this
brought far better returns than that laid
ont In drugs. Sick mems minds needed
as much ministration rs their bodies.
The convalescents who were strolIiug
about. or seated listening, were all in new.
clean uniforms, without suggestion of
soil anywhere, and no permanent detach
ment" Of any Regular Army post could
have been more fastidiously neat and trim
in person and clothes than the officers
and attendants seen hurrying about their
duties. quick. alert, brief and decisive, but
very considerate and polite
As 81 and the rest drew near the cen
trail building, in which were the head
Quarters, they mingled with a crowd of
sad-faced civilians-fathers and mothers
como to inquire for sons last heard Of on
the list OF missing" young girlwives
whose last knowledge of their husban ds
had been that the great gates of the
stockades at Andersonvile or Salisbury
had closed upon them. Many wore deep
black for those reported killed. but still
hoped against hope that they had been
captured, and would return to them with
the opening of the prison doors.
A few-alaS, but very few-of these
were to have their faith rewarded. An
incomparably greater number were to
have life turned to ashes by the stories
told by the comrades. OF the loved ones
whom they had FASTENED to Annapolis to
meet. of long. lingering deaths by starva-
ton ard scurvy. inside those awful stock
| dies.
Aged mothers. crushed under their last
rrirf: young widows. prostrat ted nv their
- awful bereavement. came sinking out
al The Office. supported by Borrowing kins-