Friday, March 23, 2012

Prisoners At The Hospitals

Two hundred and fifty sick of the prisoners of war recently taken at Fort Donelson, are now in the large military hospital, at the corner of Fifth and Chestnut streets.  They occupy the two upper wards, which are the best in the building, and receive the kindest treatment, faring in every possible respect as well as the Union soldiers, and as well as the inmates of the best ordered hospitals in the United States.  The sick prisoners generally, have been received in a very exhausted condition, and require and receive a great deal of careful attention from the hospital physicians and nurses and members of the Sanitary Commission.  Most of them are free in expressions of gratitude for the kind treatment extended them.  Yesterday afternoon the sick from the steamer White Cloud were sent up to the Hospital.  The Union soldiers who led them ashore to the ambulance conducted themselves towards their captives with more than humanity.  It was a tenderness that was extremely touching.  The tones of the brave fellows, speaking sympathy and encouragement, were of the gentlest, and their touch as delicate as brother would extend to brother.  Some of the captives bore death marks in their hollow eyes and shriveled faces but looked a gratitude more fervent than they could have expressed in words.  Even JEFF. DAVIS, and the most heartless of his secession knaves, would have been moved to something like remorse at the sight. –{St. Louis Republican.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2

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