The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-03-26

points Tor Organization aud uEill. tie
raw troops thus assembled suffered
as soldiers Away, do, until they are
accustomed to camp life. From these
scattered camps. with the seeds OF
disease already sown, the troops were
hastily gathered at Manassas. To
furnish food, arms, equipment and
transportation taxed the government
to its utmost capacity; there was only
one poorly equipped railroad from
Richmond to Manassas. and the ordl-
nary box car was used for the trans
portation Of the supplies and the
soldiers and was often the only means
of transport Of the sick to the rear.
Medical supplies were almost an un-
known quantity. \ surgeon and as
sistant surgeon and hospital steward,
with a small camp chest Of medicine
and surgical supplies for regiment
and its camp followers numbering l.
900 men, was the ordinary outfit.
There were no hospital supplies.
Sickness to an alarming extent soon
became prevalent: accounts OF the
sick and suffering soldiers lying ex-
posed to the weather without tents
or bedding or food or nurse. moved
every heart with anguish and SYM
pathv, and every one soldier and civ
ilian, asked what could be done.
The college chaplain, as he read
these reports in his quiet study, felt
his call. Immediately upon the clos
ing of the college term, in June, 1861,
he hurried on to Manassas. Upon the
field his clear and comprehensive
mind took in the situation at once.
He saw, he planned. he went to work.
From Manassas he went to Richmond
to lay his plans before the authorities
and in his report made afterward to
the State legislature we find the fol-
lowing:
"On the 4th day Of July. 1861. a
proposition was made by the Rev. K.
W. BarnweH. with the advice Of DR..
LaBorde. to President Davis. and 10
the surgeon general, DR.. Camden De-
Loach. to give permission and coun-
tenance to the establishment of hos
pitfalls along the line of our defenses,
under the care of certain ladies and
gentlemen of the State, who had vol
unteered for the work. It did not
meet with such approval as Was de-
sirable, and the scheme was deemed
impracticable and promotive only Of
confusion and evil; it was said that it
could not promise any permanent re-
lief, and was calculated to impede
rather than promote the operations OF
the medical staff of the army
Not discouraged by this failure,
Mr.. Barnwell returned to Manassas
and Immediately planned establish
ing depository Of hospital supplies.
This met with the approval of the
medical director of the army, Sur
geon T. H. Williams, and was at once
put i'm operation.
Tie battle of Manassas added fear
fully to the distress and suffering Of
the soldiers, owing to the inadequate
supply Of hospital equipment and
nurses. Mr.. Barnwell at once tele-
eraphed and wrote for aid to Caro-
lima, making suggestions with plans
for establishing district and village
hospital aid societies, that were
promptly adopted, and supplies of all
sorts came pouring in and physicians
and nurses were soon on hand. Cui-
pepper was first selected, but Char
lottesville was soon made the centre
for the reception Of supplies and a
large two-story building rented for
their storage and distribution.
The sick and wounded, often lying
exposed at the depot without food or
shelter, led to the renting of build
ing nearby for their protection. Soon
afterward Dr.. J. L. Cabell, surgeon
Of the post, offered TO turn over to
Mr.. Barnwell, if he would pay the
rent and furnish the house, the large
four7storv brick building, containing
"a rooms, besides the basement, that
fronted upon the beautiful Midway
avenue leading down from the univer-
sity to the town. The offer was ac-
eepted promptly and from that day
to the close Of the war it was known
as Midway hospital. Thus during Au-
gust, 1861, the first South Carolina
LState hospital and the first State hos
z5ital was opened for the reception of