Year: 1863

u r.


given them is administered by an attendant
called q ward master, or in particular cases
the hospital steward attends to this duty


Hundreds and thousands Of brave and patri-
otic soldiers, who have left al. the comforts of
home IN the North, and an the endeafments
of domestic life, to fight for the Constitution
and country they love. die in these miserable
hospitals, with no one to give them a sup Of
water to cool their parched tongues or to re
ceive their last request. In the morning, as
the attendant goes his rounds, the glazed
eye and stihened corpse Of a soldier in the
range viii meat his eye, and with a Pencilih he
marked his number. A box VIII be ordsfed


and the poor fellow will soon be hustled to


!" Potter's Field" s5 r..f .a aae


This, 7 am aware, is strong talk, but it is
the trutb-and for its confirmation appeal


to our Northern soldiers-men Of worth and
integrity, who have been inmates Of these
miserable abortions. There is one thing more
I forgot to mention, and then I am through
with the dark side Of the picture. There are
in the North thousands Of SOLDIERS Aid So
eieties, the inception, the object, and the
continuation ofwhich, reflect honor on lhu-
man nature but let me tell them, and tell
them honestly, that in nine cases. out of ten
their donations are .misapplied. They may
get them up with all the care and caution
they are capable of-appoint member Of
The Sanitary Commission to accompany them,
and in person they may deliver them to the
person in charge Of the hospital, take his re-
ceipt, and this. be published to the world yet
say, and can prove, that the poor rssIcE SOL
der never. taste of the delicacies, never sees
or feels the soft pillows intended by the BEN
efcent doners! They are all eaten and taken
possession ofby the swarms Of hospital stew
ards and attendentsl Do you believe this !?
Go, as I have done and ask the poor, SITTER
ing soldier, stretched on his miserable bunk
filed with Verrnin, and he win frankly tell
you. si


It is nova pleasure to turn from this dark
and dismal description of the majority Of our
hospitals to an oasis--an something that is in
reality bright and cheering. There is a. sect
called Roman GathoTcs-a sect that, in my
younger days, was taught to look upon as
monsters, capable of any crime in the calen-
dar Of human frailties-who have hospitals
under their own charge attended by Sisters
of Charity should be called angels
who know what true disinterested humani-
ty is. Ihave visited them, therefore I speak
what 1 Lnow. Every thing in and about
them is clean and comfortable, scarcely a
death takes place within their portals IF a
soldier is dangerously sick you will see by
the side Of his clean and tidy cot one of these
heavenly born angels q can call them no:h-
ing else) ninistering to his every want With
the tender care of mother or sister they
glide noiselessly from cot to cot, cheering the
despondent and speaking words of kindness
to all. No one who has the heart Of man
can help loving them with holy, sisterly
love. There is not a soldier in our regiment
but would beg, if possible, that when wound
ed or sick he should be taken to such hos
pitaI, and for myself sooner than be taken. to
any other, would rather die by the way
side, with Gods canopy my only covering
Would to God there were more Of them.


One thing more, and then I am done, for
perhaps, I have already said too much. The
great State of Ohio should send for her sick
and wounded soldiers, and take them home,
and let them remain there until they get
well. With few. exceptions the members Of
the old regiments have not seen home. Or
friends since they enlisted, and those of them
who are well, are content to stay and fight
it out to the end; but they do ask that tlIeir
wounded companions may have the privilege
of visiting their homes until they are. again
able to take the field. They don't want to
stay in these miserable hospitals to die. There
is not man of them but will come back as
soon as he is able to shoulder his musket-
OEio State Journal. Mack.