New-York tribune., 1910-01-30
HAD ONE BoUNTIFUL SPREAD.

We had many opportunities TO test the
benefits Of fasting in those days" he said,
tn answer TO a question. II remember one
time, however, when we had a royal feast.
Just before Alexandra burned I went to
the head OF the medical department. Doc
tor he asked, have you any wagons?
Yes I replied Bring them ali to head
quarters
! did so. and they We're heaped high
with canned chicken and beef, good beer
and wine of excellent quality. We took
them back and distributed them among the
soldiers. We enjoyed that meal more than
many finer one since. Everything had to
be destroyed, as We could not take them
next day on our retreat, and the orders
were 10 leave nothing for the pursuing
enemy"
Sir Charles is most loyal TO the men I'M
der whom ne served, and could not be in
duced 10 utter word of adverse criticism
as TO their methods OF management during
the war. Hints of mismanagement of hos
pitfalls, lack Of supplies met with no en-
couragement. I'VE usually were well pro-
vided with hospital supplies" he said. BE
sides those the government furnished, we
received many more things from the SAM
tary Commission, TO which people contribut
ed most generously"
But the pay. that must have been very
Nttie."
The pay for surgeons in the army was
very liberal, being 800 month at the
beginning, with possible increase TO $50"
While Sir Charles was loath TO tell tales
OF the dark side Of our war, We have the
records Of American surgeons to reveal the
state Of affairs that existed in the care Of
the sick and wounded.
Surgeon A B. Howard, in t'The Medical
and Surgical History Of the Rebellion" de-
picts the conditions after the second battle
OF Bull Run. He says:
Many OF the woun1ed had no drink or
FOOD or assistance from the time they fell
until four days aftergard. There were
thunderstornS. and the hot sun and drench-
tng showers alternated to the great dis
comfort of the sufferers. The most pain
ful thing was hunger. There were three
Operations were performed on the field, and
although operating constantly / had only
G little tea, brandy and water
Surgeon H. s. Schell. in the same vol
urne. describes the hospital at Gaines Mills
as follows:
Il had no floor and only a little straw
for the worst cases 10 lie on. There were
no sheets. blankets, piLowcases or clean
clothes for the patients The rude build
sng was overtiowlng with the sick, wound
ed and dying and surrounded for miles
with the dead bodies of men and horses
The fierce July sun beat down on these
putrefying bodies and added to the stencil
IN the hospital maggots and Yermin in
Tested the sores OF the wounded. We had
TO disinfectants, no chloroforIn 10 use
81 amputatons and few Instruments &c
work with. The surgeons had but three as
sistants, and the sick soldiers who could
walk or crawl around had 10 help nurse the
others. Salt pork or beef, bacon and hard
bread We're the only things provided fol-
the sufferers 10 eat
The sick and injured were ordered re-
rl1isundersta nding they were left lying by
the hundreds in their dirty, bloody clothes
scattered along the railroad track or piled
UP In bitches. They kept calling for water
food and medical attendance. Many died
from starvation and exposure, and Others
PRAYED for DEATH