Showing posts with label 23rd IN INF. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 23rd IN INF. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Lieutenant-Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes to Sardis Birchard, September 6, 1862

Washington City, September 6, 1862.

Dear Uncle: — We left Upton's Hill and its earthworks to be guarded by less serviceable troops than ours, and marched here through heat and dust today. We (that is General Cox's six Ohio regiments and the artillery and cavalry that we had on [the] Kanawha) are attached to General Burnside's Army Corps. Pope is under a cloud; promised and boasted too much, and has failed in performance. We like General Burnside and his reputation.

We suppose we are destined for the defense of Maryland, but don't know. Being with General Burnside, you can keep the run of us. I am told that my commission as colonel of the Seventy-ninth has issued, and that influences are at work to get me released here. I do and say nothing in the premises.

It is very touching, the journey of Father Works, mentioned in a letter I got from you last night, to see his friends at Fremont. His desire, under such circumstances, to see you all, and his anxiety not to put you to the trouble of visiting him. He is a noble old man. It would be well if we had many like him. Regards to all. I am gratified that you approve my being here.

Sincerely,
R. B. Hayes.
S. BlRCHARD.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 346

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Diary of 1st Sergeant John L. Ransom: December 18, 1863

To-day as a squad was drawn up in front of us, waiting for clothing, I saw an Irishman in the ranks who looked familiar. Looked at him for some time and finally thought I recognized in him an old neighbor of mine in Jackson Michigan; one Jimmy Devers, a whole souled and comical genius as ever it was my fortune to meet. Went up to him and asked what regiment he belonged to; said he belonged to the 23d Indiana, at which I could not believe it was my old acquaintance. Went back to my work Pretty soon he said to me: “Ain't you Johnny Ransom?” And then I knew I was right. He had lived in Jackson, but had enlisted in an Indiana regiment. Well, we were glad to see one another and you may just bet that Jimmy got as good a suit of clothes as ever he had in our own lines. Jimmy is a case; was captured on the 1st day of July at the Gettysburg battle, and is consequently an old prisoner. Is very tough and hardy. Says the Johnny Rebs have a big contract on their hands to kill him. But I tell him to take good care of himself anyway, as there is no knowing what he will be called upon to pass through yet.

SOURCE: John L. Ransom, Andersonville Diary, p. 19

Friday, November 7, 2014

23rd Indiana Infantry

Organized at New Albany, Ind., and mustered In July 29, 1861. Left State for Paducah, Ky., August 15. Attached to District of Paducah, Ky., to February, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, Army of the Tennessee, to March, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Army of the Tennessee, to July, 1862. Unattached, District of Jackson, Tenn., to November, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Left Wing 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 13th Army Corps, December, 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 17th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, to January, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, 17th Army Corps, to April, 1864. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 17th Army Corps, to July, 1865.

SERVICE. – Duty at Paducah, Ky., till February, 1862. Demonstration from Paducah on Columbus, Ky., November 7-9, 1861. Moved to Fort Donelson, Tenn., February 12-15, 1862. Expedition toward Purdy and operations about Crump's Landing, Tenn., March 9-14. Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. March to Purdy, thence to Bolivar, Tenn., and duty there till September. March to Iuka, Miss., September 1-20. Duty in District of Jackson till November. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign November 2, 1862, to January 10, 1863. Reconnoissance from LaGrange November 8-9, 1862. Moved to Memphis, Tenn., January 20, 1863; thence to Lake Providence, La., February 21, and to Milliken's Bend, La., April 17. Passage of Vicksburg and Warrenton Batteries April 22 (Detachment). Movement on Bruinsburg and turning Grand Gulf April 25-30. Battle of Port Gibson, Miss., May 1. Bayou Pierrie, May 3. Ingraham's Heights May 3. Bruins-Burg May 6. Battle of Raymond May 12. Jackson May 14. Battle of Champion's Hill May 16. Siege of Vicksburg May 18-July 4. Assaults on Vicksburg May 19 and 22. Surrender of Vicksburg July 4, and duty there till February, 1864. Expedition to Monroe, La., August 20-September 2, 1863. Operations about Natchez, Miss., December 1-10. Meridian Campaign February 3-March 2, 1864. Veterans on furlough March and April. Moved to Bird's Point, Mo.; thence to Clifton, Tenn,; thence march to Ackworth, Ga., May 5-June 8. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign June 9 to September 8. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Assault on Kenesaw June 27. Nickajack Creek July 2-5. Chattahoochie River July 5-17. Nickajack Creek July 6-8. Leggett's (or Bald) Hill July 20-21. Battle of Atlanta July 22. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Lovejoy Station September 2-6. Operations against Hood in North Georgia and North Alabama September 20-November 3. Shadow Church and Westbrook, near Fairburn, October 1-3. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Ball's Ferry and Georgia Central Railroad Bridge, Oconee River, November 23-25. Siege of Savannah December 10-21. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Pocotaligo, S.C., January 14. Salkehatchie Swamp February 2-5. Rivers Bridge February 3. South Edisto River February 9. Orangeburg February 12-13. Columbia February 16-17. Fayetteville, N. C., March 11. Battle of Bentonville March 19-21. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24. Advance on Raleigh April 10-14. Occupation of Raleigh April 14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington, D.C., via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 19. Grand Review May 24. Moved to Louisville June, and duty there till July 23. Mustered out July 23, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 4 Officers and 68 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 143 Enlisted men by disease. Total 217.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the 3, p. Rebellion, Part 1128

Friday, January 13, 2012

Reliable Details of the Fight

Special to the Chicago Tribune.

CAIRO, April 10.

We are just beginning to get some reliable details from the great battle at Pittsburg.  From several gentlemen who were on the field afterwards on in the fight, the following are gathered and sent.  Our informant left the battle field on Wednesday morning at 5 o’clock:

The rebels Attacked Prentiss’s brigade 4 o’clock on Sunday morning, while they were at breakfast.  It consisted of the 61st Illinois, 16th Wisconsin, 24th Indiana and 71st Ohio.  The rebels were said to be 120,000 strong.  Prentiss had no artillery.  His brigade was cut to pieces, and forced to retire, with Prentiss and many other prisoners.  At 12 m. the entire line was fiercely engaged, but in full retreat.

At 4 p. m. the enemy had taken Swartz’s battery – 6 guns, Dresden’s, of 4 guns, Waterhouse’s battery, 2 rifled Ohio 56-guns, and another Ohio battery.  Thousands of our soldiers had taken refuge under the bank of the river, and utterly refused to fight – in fact they could not, for officers and men were in inextricable confusion, and the army seemed utterly demoralized.

Gen. Mitchell’s [sic] division, about this time arrived on the opposite shore with 15,000 men, who were ferried across during the night.

The gunboats Lexington and Tyler opened a tremendous fire of shell upon the enemy, and kept it up every half hour during the night, saving the army from utter ruin. – They set the woods on fire, and many of the rebels were burned.  At 7 the firing generally ceased.  At midnight the rebels attempted to plant a battery within three hundred yards of our siege guns, but they were driven back by the gunboats and siege guns, supported by three regiments of Mitchell’s division.

Our informants persist in estimating our loss on Sunday at 3,000 killed and 5,000 wounded as a low figure.  It was undoubtedly tremendous.  During the night the rebels were reinforced by Price and Van Dorn from Arkansas, with a very large force.

Gen. Lew Wallace came up from Crump’s Landing with the 18th and 23d Ind., 44th Ill., 8th Mo and Willard’s battery, and in the morning fiercely attacked the left wing of the enemy.  They went into the fight on the double quick with tremendous shouts, and did terrible execution.  By 10 o’clock they had driven the rebels back two miles.  The battery performed prodigies of valor.

About 10 o’clock the rebels were reinforced, and for a few minutes our gallant boys were forced to yield.

The other divisions of Buell’s army now appeared and at once became fully engaged, and for two hours all the destructive elements of earth seamed striving for the mastery on that fatal field.  Southern chivalry proved no match for the unflinching courage of the army of freedom, and the rebels fled in all directions with some 12,000 troops.  Gen. Buell followed the fugitives taking thousands of prisoners and smiting without mercy those who would not surrender.  He was reported to have taken Corinth with all the immense stores of arms and ammunition.  Carson, the scout had his head torn off on Monday by a round shot.

The rebel troops were mostly from Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi, with many from Georgia and Alabama.  They fought like tigers.  Our informant could ride through the battle field where our forces were posted, but the dead were so thick in the enemy’s line that they could not do it.  They assure us that the rebels surprised our camps on Sunday night, took care of our sick and wounded, but destroyed nothing, expecting confidently to have our entire army the next day.  They thought the battle already won on Sunday.

Gen. McClernand cut his way through the enemy that had surrounded him.  Most of his troops behaved with great gallantry; but the 53rd Ohio was ordered to the rear in disgrace for refusing to fight.

Capt. Harvy of Bloomington, Illinois is among the killed.

Our informants were assured by those who know the man, that John C. Breckenridge was taken Prisoner.  They saw him pass to the General’s quarters.

It is impossible to get lists of the killed and wounded.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, April 12, 1862, p. 2

Monday, December 7, 2009

COLONEL HARVEY GRAHAM

SECOND COLONEL, TWENTY-SECOND INFANTRY.

Harvey Graham was born in the year 1827, in the State of Pennsylvania. He is an old resident of Iowa City, and entered the service from that place; but, of the time he first came to the State, I am unadvised. He is a mill-wright by trade.

Colonel Graham's connection with the volunteer service dates from the beginning of the war. He was one of the first men from Johnson county to enter the army, in the spring of 1861. He was the 1st Lieutenant of Company B, 1st Iowa Infantry, and commanded his company at the battle of Wilson's Creek, where he was slightly wounded. On the organization of the 22d Iowa Infantry, he was commissioned major of the regiment, and, a few days later, was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy, vice John A. Garrett, promoted to the colonelcy of the 40th Iowa. He served with his regiment as lieutenant-colonel till the resignation of Colonel, now Governor Stone, when he was commissioned colonel.

Subsequently to the fall of Vicksburg and up to July, 1864, the history of the 22d Iowa is much the same as are those of the 21st and 23d Iowa Regiments. It served in Louisiana, and on the Texan coast. But in July, 1864, it was one of the three Iowa regiments that were transferred to the Shenandoah Valley. At the time it sailed for that destination, there were other Iowa troops under orders for the same place; but the unsettled condition of affairs in Arkansas demanded their services, and the orders, as regarded them, were revoked.

The following is from the history of the 22d Iowa, which appears in the Adjutant-General's Reports for the year 1865:

"The 13th Army Corps having been temporarily discontinued by the War Department, the 22d Iowa was ordered to report to General Reynolds at New Orleans. Embarked on transports, reached New Orleans July 6th, and was ordered into camp at Algiers, Louisiana. Here was assigned to the Second Brigade of General Grover's (second) Division, 19th Army Corps. The Second Brigade consisted of the 131st and 159th New York, 13th Connecticut, and 3d Massachusetts Cavalry, and was afterward joined by the 22d Iowa and 11th Indiana, and was commanded by Colonel E. L. Molineaux, of the 159th New York.

"The 19th Army Corps, as reorganized, comprised three divisions: 1st, General Dwight's, composed of Eastern troops exclusively; 2d, General Grover's, of five Western regiments and the remainder Eastern troops; 3d, General Lawler's, of Western troops. The 1st and 2d Divisions having been ordered to report to Washington, D. C., the 22d Iowa, with the 131st and 159th New York, embarked on the 17th of July on the steamship Cahawba, and, after a voyage void of incident, arrived at Fortress Monroe on the 24th of July, and anchored in Hampton Roads. Weighed anchor on the 25th at eight A. M., and proceeded up James River. Dis-embarked at Bermuda Hundreds Landing, and after marching seven miles joined the forces of General Butler.

" The 22d Iowa, and 131st and 159th New York, being the only regiments of the division ordered to this place, the other portion of it having gone direct to Washington, they were temporarily attached to General Terry's Division of General Birney's Corps, and placed on duty in the trenches extending across the peninsula from the James to the Appomattox, occupying a portion of the line in General Butler's front until the 31st, when orders were received to report at Washington. Marched at two o'clock A. M., and reached Bermuda Hundreds Landing at day-light; embarked on transport Wenona, and steamed down the James river to Fortress Monroe and from thence up the Potomac to Washington, arriving at noon on the 1st of August.

From Washington the regiment marched to the Shenandoah, joining Sheridan at Berryville, at mid-night — August 18th. Sheridan was at the time falling back before Early; and, for a month after the arrival of the 19th Corps, he did little more than watch his opportunity and maneuver in the face of the enemy. Nor were his maneuvers fruitless; for, during this time, he parried Early's second contemplated raid into Pennsylvania. Finally, the rebel Kershaw's Division leaving Early for Richmond, Sheridan promptly assumed the offensive. He was at the time lying intrenched, near Berryville, while Early was on the west side of Opequan Creek, and near Winchester. The advance was begun before day-light on the morning of the 19th of September, over the Winchester and Berryville pike, and the enemy encountered across the Opequan, shortly before ten o'clock. The 6th Corps led the advance, or rather followed close on the heels of the cavalry, sent forward to open up a crossing over the Opequan.

The battle of Winchester or Opequan, says a captain of the 19th Corps who fought on the same ground with the 22d Iowa, was after this plan:

"A narrow ravine, winding among hills so steep and thickly wooded as to be impassable for any troops but light infantry, debouches into an irregular, undulating valley, faced on the south by an amphitheatre of stony hights, laid, with regard to each other, like detached fortifications. The object of Sheridan was to pass through this ravine, deploy in the valley, amuse the enemy's right, fight his centre vigorously, and turn and force his left. The object of Early was to allow us to deploy up to a certain extent; then to beat in our attacking columns, and throw them back in confusion on the line of advance; lastly, to ruin us by pushing his strong left through our right, and reaching the gorge, so as to cut off our retreat. To effect this final purpose, his line was not drawn up at right angles to the pike, but diagonally to it, so as to bring his left near to our vital debouching point."

The 6th Corps, as already stated, encountered the enemy about ten o'clock. Emerging from the ravine, they swung rapidly down against the enemy's right, in two lines of battle, and gained the position assigned, without much hard fighting. The position of the 19th Corps was in the centre, and the ground it was to take and hold involved the severest fighting of the day. It was to break back the rebel centre, and secure a position that would enable the 8th Corps to move up and against the enemy's left. It was the key to all positions — the place of supreme importance, which, if not taken, would insure a repulse, and, if not held when taken, would insure disastrous defeat.

The fighting had already begun, as the 22d Iowa neared the Opequan; and, as they pressed on at a rapid pace through the narrow, crowded highway, wounded men, lying pale and quiet upon their bloody stretchers, were frequently met. Soon the creek was reached and crossed, and line of battle formed, when the struggle with the 19th Corps began. The fortunes of the 22d Iowa in this battle were, I am told, the same as those of other regiments of its division. It was at first successful, driving the enemy back under one of the most destructive fires ever witnessed, and was then in turn as signally repulsed. Finally, it rallied, and when the enemy's left was assailed by the intrepid Crook, joined in pressing their centre to total rout. It was a dear, but most signal victory. I again quote from the history of the regiment: "It would be impossible to make any discrimination among officers or men for gallant and meritorious conduct in this action. The regiment never fought better. Not a man faltered or fell back, although it required more than momentary excitement to charge over a mile, and subjected to a heavy fire. None lacked the courage and determination to do so. Captain D. J. Davis, of Company A, and Captain B. D. Parks, Company E, were instantly killed at the head of their companies, and at the post of honor. Sergeant-Major George A. Remley, as noble as he was brave, was pierced with three balls, and fell dead. Lieutenant-Colonel E. G. White was slightly wounded in the face by the explosion of a shell. Lieutenant James A. Boarts was severely wounded in the head by a Minnie-ball, and has since died. Lieutenants Jones, of Company A, and Hull, of Company K, were both captured. Colonel Graham, Lieutenant-Colonel White, Major Gearkee, Captains Mullins, Humphrey, Cree, Clark, Shocker, Hartley and Morsman, and Lieutenants Turnbull, Davis, Needham, Messenger and Chandler, are all entitled to great praise for their gallantry throughout the battle in encouraging and rallying the men to the colors. Surgeon Shrader was on the field during the engagement, and was indefatigable in his exertions to care for the wounded. Quarter-master Sterling, Hospital-Steward Ealy, and Commissary-Sergeant Brown rendered efficient service in carrying off the wounded, and conducting the ambulances to different parts of the field, and can not be too highly commended. The total loss of the regiment in this action was one hundred and nine killed, wounded and missing."

Next came the pursuit and the engagement at Fisher's Hill, and then the pursuit to Harrisonburg. At Fisher's Hill, the regiment took a conspicuous part, charging in company with the 28th Iowa, and 128th New York, the strong works of the enemy, and capturing a six-gun battery and many prisoners.

The bloody and well-nigh disastrous affair at Cedar Creek, is thus given by Adjutant Samuel D. Pryce, the regiment's excellent historian:

"On the night of the 18th instant, the 22d Iowa, with the brigade under Colonel Mollineaux, was ordered to be ready to move at five o'clock on the coming morning, on a reconnoissance in the direction of Strasburg, to ascertain the force and develop the lines of the enemy. Accordingly, at the hour designated, the brigade was in line ready to move, when the enemy suddenly attacked the extreme left flank of the army, consisting of the 8th Corps, taking them completely by surprise, and routing them from their works, and before day-light had succeeded in throwing their entire army in the rear of the 6th and 19th Corps. At this juncture, the 22d Iowa was detached, and double-quicked one-half mile to save a battery from capture, and also to protect it until it could take up a new position. We had not, however, reached to within two hundred yards of the ground, when it was ascertained that the enemy had possession of the guns, and were charging over their works. The regiment opened fire, and held its ground against the force, checking their advance, but were obliged to fall back and join the brigade, to save being isolated and captured. In this retreat, the regiment retained its organization, and rallied four times alone, each time checking the advance of the enemy. The army fell back gradually for three miles in the direction of Winchester, when, General Sheridan arriving on the field, the troops re-formed, and preparations were made to retrieve the disaster of the morning. General Sheridan rode along the line, reviewed the troops, and then ordered an advance on the enemy's lines. In the advance, the Western regiments were formed together in one line, and the duty of changing the fortune of the day confided to their intrepid courage. The enemy met the advance with stubborn resistance, but were compelled to give way before the tremendous fighting of General Grover's Division of the 19th Corps. The enemy fell back to a line of breast-works, thrown up by them in the morning to provide against a reverse, where they attempted to make a stand to resist the fierce and determined attack of the Western troops, who, with a deafening cheer, again charged them, routing them from their breast-works, and driving them in confusion in every direction. The disaster of the morning had been turned into a victory, and the army, inspired with success, pursued the routed enemy, driving them through the camp occupied in the morning, and over Cedar Creek, capturing thousands of prisoners, and a great portion of their trains and artillery. The cavalry took up the pursuit, making heavy additional captures, rendering the defeat of the enemy the most disastrous during the campaign. The total loss of the regiment in this hardly-contested battle was seventy-seven killed, wounded and missing.

Among the wounded of the 22d Iowa, in the battle of Cedar Creek, were Captains L. F. Mullin, A. B. McCree and Charles Hartley, and Lieutenants E. F. Dudley and N. C. Messenger. Captain G. W. Clark was captured.

When Sherman left Savannah and Beaufort, on his march northward, the 22d Iowa, with its division, left the Shenandoah Valley for Eastern Georgia; but all the chief points of interest in the regiment's history have been already given.

SOURCE: Addison A. Stuart, Iowa Colonels and Regiments, p. 375-80

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Medical Abuses in the Donelson Army – The Truth about the Neglect of the Sick and Wounded

{Special Correspondence of the Cincinnati Gazette}

SAVANNAH, Tenn., March, 31.

There has been some public complaint of the medical management in this District, and subsequent Congressional inquiry, finally abandoned “for want of facts.”

Let me furnish a few facts. I propose to state nothing except what I am prepared to prove, by abundant testimony, before any committee of investigation, Congressional or otherwise.

Surgeon H. C. Hewitt, of New York city, (a person who has at some time, I believe, had some sort of connection with the regular army,) has been, by virtue of the date of his commission, the Medical Director of Gen. Grant’s army, at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, and up to this point, in the Southern campaign. To the miserable incompetency and inefficiency of this man are traceable nearly all the abuses and neglects in the medical departments here that have been such fruitful sources of just complaint.

Take this as Surgeon Hewitt’s opening performance. It occurred at Paducah, before the advance up the Cumberland.

A private of the Ninth Illinois, who had been shot through the shoulder on one of the reconnoitering expeditions from Paducah, was bro’t into the hospital, four days after the wound had been received. Examination showed that the ball had passed through the pectoral muscle, shattered the bone, and injured the main artery of the arm. The parts were very much swollen and inflamed. Dr. Hewitt began by passing his fingers, unoiled, entirely through the wound thus causing the most exquisite pain, and almost throwing the unfortunate soldier into spasms. Subsequently the artery commenced bleeding very copiously. Dr. Hewitt undertook to tie it up, and instead of the artery, succeeded in tying up the nerve. Fifteen minutes afterward the soldier was dead. The doctor then got drunk, went reeling through the streets of Paducah in a state of beastly intoxication,, finally fell into a mud-hole in the main thoroughfare of the city, lost his spectacles, covered himself with filth, and wound up by being placed under arrest by Gen. Smith.

At Fort Henry, His courtesy to the captured rebel surgeons was in such marked contrast with his rudeness to those of our own army, as to provoke some comment. Offended at this, he denounced everybody that objected to his course as a d----d mobbite and no gentleman, and declared with emphasis – directing his remarks to Division Surgeon Fry, brother of the gallant Col. Fry of Kentucky, who distinguished himself in Zollicoffer’s defeat at Cliff Creek – that “if any man there dared doubt the honor and chivalry of Tilghman and his companions, he would challenge him to fight a duel.” Altercation followed, which ended in his calling Dr. Fry a liar, and in Dr. Fry’s promptly knocking him down.

No official notice was taken of the affair, except that Dr. Hewitt, without giving Dr. Fry any notice, selected a military commission, composed of one Missouri and two Illinois Colonels, to investigate it. He had the witnesses summoned himself, and of course made the best showing he could. The Missouri member of this self-selected jury of his at once gave verdict that the Medical Director should be stripped and required to endure thirty blows from Dr. Fry’s cane! The others agreed that Dr. Fry had only erred in waiting too long before resenting the insults but finally decided that Dr. Hewitt should present a written apology to Dr. Fry for insulting him and [that then] Dr. Fry should hive him a written apology for [striking] a superior officer. Dr. Fry refused to do anything of the kind, and there the matter rested.

I may as well add the fact – of little importance in itself, but showing the nature of the man – that some weeks afterward the Medical Director of our “grand army” was again knocked down, this time by a Second Lieutenant, for claiming some forage that he had no manner of claim to, and trying to interfere with the rightful owner in taking it away. As before, nothing further was heard of it.

At Fort Donelson, the Medical Director ordered surgeons to accompany their regiments into the midst of the battle, and yet forbade them to perform any operations on the field. Some surgeons having violated his orders, and by timely operations saved the lives of wounded soldiers, he rebuked them bitterly for their disobedience, telling them it was [their] duty to send back their wounded to him. What [other object] he had in breaking the custom by sending [his] surgeons into the fight, is not apparent.

Out of the numerous just causes for complaint, after the battle, one or two may be selected.

The day of the surrender, when his service were more urgently needed than at any other time, he again got drunk – so drunk as to be unable to walk without staggering, much less to perform surgical operations. He was seen in this condition by hundreds of soldiers and officers, including at least one Major General.

A large number of the wounded, together with many who had become sick from the effects of the terrible exposure and the excitement, where put aboard the steamer, Thomas E. Tutt. This steamer the Medical Director sent down to Mound City, without a Surgeon or assistant on board, and with the sick and wounded absolutely dependent on the charity of accidental passengers for nursing and medical attendance.

Much needless suffering grew out of the Medical Director’s unwillingness to give any information to Brigade and Regimental Surgeons, inquiring after their wounded and seeking to wait upon them. On this point I happen to give this extract from the report of one of the three Division Surgeons.

“The Surgeons of this Division generally complain of discourteous treatment on the part of Medical Director H. C. Hewitt, when manifesting an earnest solicitude for the wounded, and making inquiries as to the time and manner of their removal, and their ultimate destination, the Surgeons were rudely and offensively repulsed, without the desired information. They also complain that in the exercise of arbitrary power, they were deprived of the privilege of attending their own men, or dressing their wounds, when taken to the boats. The report of such conduct is to me a matter of deep regret, and against it I beg leave to protest.”

A subsequent portion of the same report expresses the fear that the mortality would be greatly and needlessly increased, (we all know how sadly the fear became a reality,) by sending of, on crowded steamboats, patients on whom amputations or other severe operations had been performed, where the hurry of moving, the displacement of dressings, and the pain of the incessant jarring, must add fearfully to their dangerous condition. There were plenty of good houses that might have been taken for hospitals for these men; there was abundance of surgical and, volunteer as well as from the officers; nurses could have been detailed to any extent required; there was no danger from the enemy; and in short, there was no excuse for the virtual murder of these wounded heroes, save the Medical Director so commanded.

There were other glaring cases, in which Surgeons who had little or no sickness in their regiments, asked permission to wait on their own wounded, so long as they were kept at Donelson, and were surlily [sic] refused and ordered back to their regiments; but enough has been given to illustrate the character of the medical management after our great victory.

After the present expedition up the Tennessee had begun, there was a great deal of sickness among the men, caused by their privations, lack of air, exercise, opportunities for bathing, cooking and the like on board the transports. The arrangements for some of the sick were miserable. Appeals to the Medical Director, and descriptions of the suffering of their sick by the surgeons elicited only the response, which I give word for word as he repeated the expression to different parties: “What of it? What’s the use of complaining? What did soldiers enlist for but to sicken and die and be killed?” And that as an answer to just complaints of neglect to our sick soldiers, from the Medical Director of one of the largest armies we have in the field!

At this time, when the sickness incident to a change of climate is at its hight [sic], there are divisions in our army almost absolutely destitute of the commonest medicines for the prevailing diseases. The depots at the headquarters of the Department in St. Louis are doubtless crowded with ample medical stores, but of what avail are they to the poor fellows dying her on the banks of the Tennessee? It is the duty of the Medical Director to have the proper supplies issued – Take this chance conversation I chanced to hear between a regimental surgeon and his surgeon of Division as an illustration of how the Medical Director performs his work.

“Pneumonia is very prevalent in our regiment. I want some medicines for it.”

“We have none. The medical director pays no attention to my requisitions.”

“Can’t you give me some syrup of squills?”

“I have none. Sent in requisitions for it long ago, but they are unnoticed.”

“Let me have some ipecac.”

“I have none.”

“Some opium or some of the fluid extracts.”

“I have none.”

“Diarrheas and dysenteries are very common. Can you let me have some morphia, or tannin, or kino?”

“Of one I have a very little, of the rest none at all.”

“Can you give me some quinine for our intermittents?”

“I have none.”

“Some Stimulants?”

“I had none, till to-day I succeeded in getting a barrel of common whiskey from a commissary.”

I do not mean to say that there was not the profusest abundance of all these things somewhere – perhaps in purveyor’s boats not three miles off – but I do say, that after repeated requisitions on the medical director, he left one entire division, as indicated above, destitute of the commonest remedies for the three commonest diseases of the camps.

As illustration of the way the Medical Director has been discharging other portions of his duty, take the following: A “sick leave” was granted to Assistant Surgeon Crane, of the Second Illinois Cavalry, and forwarded to the Medical Director through the proper channels, for approval. He indorsed it, “From the within it would appear that Dr. Crane is too ill to perform his duties. Service in the field now requires vigor, and I therefore recommend Dr. Crane to resign.”

Another sick-leave was granted to Surgeon Austin of the 23rd Indiana, drawn up in precisely the same terms, giving precisely the same reasons for granting the leave, and forwarded to the same Medical Director. He promptly approved it. And more: After remaining at home some time Dr. Austin returned and tendered his resignation, assigning as a reason, that his diseases would permanently disable him from discharging the duties of a Surgeon in the army. The Medical Director, after having recommended the Surgeon to resign because he asked for a short leave, prevailed upon the other, who had returned from a sick-leave convinced that he ought to resign, not to carry out his determination, promising him that he should be relieved from field service and given some easy place at a post hospital. The promise was fulfilled, and Dr. Austin is at Paducah, while his regiment is here without either surgeon or assistant.

The secret of the different action in the two cases is supposed to be that one doctor is a favorite with the Medical Director, and the other is not; but it remains to be decided how far such extraordinary conduct is in accordance with official oaths, common honor, or plain duty to the army.

I might fill columns with such details, might tell of brutality to parents looking for wounded sons, and and [sic] insult to surgeons who earnestly wanted to do their duty, but surely I have given enough.

Only let me add this Medical Director has on three or four occasions, each time in the presence of numerous witnesses, expressed this sentiment in almost precisely these words: “The Union is gone. It can never be reconstructed, and I don’t want it to be. I think and hope that our difficulties will crystallize into a strong military despotism, instead of our present form of government, and I hope to be fortunate enough to be one of the crystals.”

There are pictures, studiously drawn in neutral tints, which are all the more effective from their very lack of coloring. I have sought to make this simple recital such a picture. It were easy to make the facts above presented, and weave them into the bitterest of invectives against an incompetent, inefficient and unfaithful officer in the most responsible of positions. I have not thought it necessary. The facts are ample of themselves. Only let those who have control in these matters remember that we are here, if not the largest, certainly the second in size of all our national armies, with the enemy’s best General and his most formidable force hardly two day’s march from us; and that at the head of the surgical department for this army, so soon expecting to be engaged in the decisive contest of the war, we have an officer notorious for stupid blunders, cold-blooded neglect of the wounded, expressed disloyalty, and drunkenness when most needed on the field.

I have only to add, that for every statement made above I have chapter and verse, date and place, and names of witnesses.

AGATE.

– Published in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 12, 1862, p. 1