Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1905-05-05
THE HEALTH OF SOLDIERS
Conflict Which Sometimes Comes Be-
tween the Generals and the
Medical Staff.

There have been a good many ref
erences lately" said the doctor, Ito
the improved sanitary regulations of
modern armies. 1t is explained that
the sanitary corps of the Japanese
army marks in advance the quality of
the water to be used by the soldiers,
and insists upon officers complying
with directions as to camp sites and
sanitary regulations. In short, an at
tempt is made to have us believe that
a Japanese soldier never fills his can
teen or gets his feet wet without con-
sulting the microbe specialists, and
that, because of the superiority of
modern methods soldiers fight better.
"All this is very amusing to an old
stager, and reminds me of a story. In
our own war there were doctors who
assumed authority superior to that of
the commanding general. They made
a point of making health rules for the
troops which could not be and were
not observed in strenuous campaigns
or in time Of battle. On one occasion
Gen. Sheridan was fretting about one
of his divisions being slow in getting
Into position. He started, in rage,
to see what was the matter, and found
the men crossing a small river in sim
gle file on a foot log.
He asked in his own emphatic way
what all this meant, and was informed
that the division surgeon had said the
health of the men must not be jeopar-
died by wading the stream. Then
the wrath of the general found express
sion, and. jumping off his horse, ne
waded the stream, and said, Boys,
want you in this fight at once. Cross
the river And he waded back, the
men following him in a mass. The
crossing was effected in five minutes,
and the troops went into battle un-
mindful of wet clothes and shoes.
I'm another case earlier in the war
Gen. William Nelson won the eternal
'enmity of the surgeons in his division.
Buells army had come to Duck river
in its march through Tennessee to
Pittsburg Landing, and found all the
bridges burned. However, there was
necessity for haste, and Nelson volun-
teered to put his division across the
river without bridges. He ordered col
'onels to march their regiments to the
river, have their men remove their
outer clothing and shoes and stock
ings. and wade the river in their
shirts and drawers. This was in
March, and, on seeing the order many
surgeons protested, saying such ex-
posure would kill more men than
would be lost in a battle
Gen. Nelson stood by his order, and
Buell. approved it. The next morning
when the order was read to the regi-
ments the boys laughed and cheered.
They marched down to the river
quietly and cheerily. They stacked
arms according to orders. They re
moved their outer clothing and their
shoes and stockings, according to or.
ders. Then they removed their shirts
and drawers, and, taking arms, pro-
ceeded to wade the river stark naked
Nelson ragged at first, and ordered :hs
men back to put on their undercloth-
ing. They yelled in derision, and
frolicking like so many boys, splashed
into the cold water and waded across
Then they expected to have more
fun, but Nelson was there himself tc
superlntend the rest of the perform.
ance, supported by corps of surgeons
He made the men dry themselves
dress in hurry, and urged them into
ranks, saying there was need of then
in front. Believing the enemy hac
attacked. the boys hustled into line
and were double quicked for more
than mile to find-nothing. Then il
was explained that the double quicl
march was to get UP good circulation
and counteract the influence of the colo
bath The boys accepted the situation
saying one to another, Old Jakey ism
such darned fool after all Tht
division held the advance of Buell.!
army, and was the first of that army
to reach the field at oh."-Intel
Ocean