Year: 1865

An OLn TFAcHER..


Examination of the Sick.


Wednesday August Sd, the Surgeons coma
menced an examination ofthe sick. Notice was
given out that there would be sick call at half
past nmo, About s o'clock the sick began TO
accumulate around the South gate where the
surgeons were going to examine them Those
that were unable o walk, were carried on
blankets. From the gate to the creek was crowd
ed SO full of sick that it was impossible to get
through without stepping on some one. We
were obliged to 90 around nearly quarter of
the camp to get to the gate and then we had to
go very slow and careful. The ground was
covered with men and boys SO run down with
diarrhea that they were not able to stand
Many were not even able to sit up, and lay
stretched out at full length in the scalding rays
of the sun waiting for a chance to see the DR..
hoplrg that he woald give them something or
do something to prolong their lives Most of
these were old prisoners and were covered with
scurYy sores Legs and arms all swollen, rotten,
and covered with maggots. Many with rotten
mouths, that had no cups would beg aud plead
for water; but no one would lend them cup
for fear they would catch the scurvy. Some
were out of their head raying crazy talking of
this and that, some praying to God for help.
others cursiug the same. Some, not knowing
what they were talking about would ask for
things to eat that it was impossible to get. In
this way they lay and waited until noon and
not a surgeon came near. The call was post
poncd until O'clock Some went back to their
quarters orto the place wherethey stayed; some
were bound to sec the DR.. and set into tho
hospital if fpossible and waited all day without
a norsel to eat. When the Dr. did come he
only looked at a few. Probably not more than
hundred out Of three or four thousand got to
the hospital, Many would die before they could
be got back to the spot where they staid Day
after day would this same crowd gather around
the gate and be disappointed in getting to the
hospital, or getting any medicine. Sometimes
they would take out four or five hundred in
day. man that could walk would hardly be
looked at Sometimes the surgeon would come
along and give man a kick and say "What in
HI ails yonP' on being told would say, "welI
get up and go to your tent and you will be bet
ter by and by" SO they wond be better when
death came not before Lots of men died
every night. It was a common occurrence to
wake up in the morning and find a dozen dead
bodies within few rods. When one died their
tent or mess mates would take their clothes and
what other stuff they had. / have heard men
say they should be glad when their companions
died, so they could get their things. Thousands
Of brave men who left their homes with cheerful
hearts, and bright antcipations Of the future,
died, when if they could only had shelter from
the sun and storm, to say nothing Of the un-
wholesome food, might have lived to see their
homes again. Willard Mtrse of Morgan died
suddenly Tuesday August ID. We went to roll
call in the morning and on returning found him
dead. Wcknew he had not been very we'll for
some time, but he never complained and no ono
thought he was going to die until he was gone.
Elhridge Farnam Of Morgan died in nearly tho
same way, Saturday August 18th. Francis A.
Doying ofIrasburgh died Saturday August 2Oth.
He was very poor; diarrhea had run hin down
to a skeleton. Morse and Doying were two as
tough men as we had in our Co. before we were
taken prisoners. B. B. Stratton of Derby, died
Saturday August 9th. Scrgt. VIM. TaIlman
went 10 the hospital August 21d, and Hiram
Burroughs Sept. 9th. We never heard word
flom either since-supposed to be dead. Ths
examination of The sick was continued ; and
several loads were seen to go or on the cars
On the 9TH Of September the well ones began to
he taken out and sent off This encouraged us a
great deal. On the 10th the 99th detachment
had orders to be ready. Our detachment was
the Tooth detachment; we shall come next we
expected orders; we got them inst atnight; we
were drawing rations at the time; we left our
rations and hurried to tear down our shade and
get into line. There was more excitement than
l ever saw in battle where every man was in
danger Of his life. If man was gone, some
one else of some other detachment was put in
his place and he was lanked. Everybody was
anxious to go. Some hobbled along with a stick.
others not able to hobble were helped by their
friends. We were Obliged 20 leave several of
the boys from onr squad behind to go to the
hospital A. C. Bumps, Geo. Bcmis, I. d. Crow
ley, Joseph Kidder, and +. A. Raymo were all
left and VIC never heard from them since We
get on the ears a little after dark Crammed in
JeiN@ tss NC Ait1 beNt btttits We ulu nOE KNOW
where VIC were agoing but it was the general
were going to be paroled. Iheard
a New York boy ask ono Of the guards if he
thought it was so. He said he knew it was so.
This was encouraging. Some sold what few
they had for bread, because they
thought they were going home and should not
need them Many cut the buttons off their
clothes and sold them for tobacco. One fellow
sold his wife's picture for something TO eat and
cried like q child because he had
sold it. We arrived at Macon at 2 o'clock at
night. The next day at o'clock P. NJ we were
in Augusta. Here the citizens came out and
gave the boys tobacco and told US we were
going to Savannah to be exchanged This made
the boys shout for joy.


ELLERY II. WEBSTER


Irasburgh, March 10Th, 1865.


He prayeth hest who loveth we'll