CAIRO, Feb 28, 1862.
MR. EDITOR:– I presume the different members of your city relief committee now in this vicinity, have kept your readers fully posted in regard to what is to be done, and what is being done, by them and others to relieve the sufferings and wants of the brave defenders of our country. – Therefore I propose, briefly, to give you some special incidents and descriptions of cases; believing it will give your readers a more accurate knowledge of the late daily scenes in Cairo and its vicinity than can possibly be derived from reading general descriptions. Steamboats have daily and sometimes hourly arrived from Fort Donelson, freighted with the sick and wounded, dirty and filthy, to an extent absolutely sickening. In very many instances this cannot be avoided owing to the profuse suppurations of wounds and the bad odor caused.
As an example I propose to give you an outline of the nature of the wounds and diseases on board of the steamer “John H. Dickey.” It had on board 125 persons, about half of which were wounded, the balance sick and with a very few exceptions very sick. This boat was sent from Cairo to St. Louis, in charge of Dr. White of Iowa City, with whom you are acquainted – assisted by Dr. Johns, of Decatur, Illinois – (Ex-President of the Illinois State Agricultural Society.) He is an active man, and judging from the dispatch and tenderness with which he dresses wounds, we think him a good Surgeon. His kind and unceasing attentions called forth many an expression of gratitude from those upon whom he waited. Dr. W. was also assisted by Dr. Bartlett of Marengo and Dr. A. B. Turner of Tipton – both attentive Physicians and good nurses – both have the kind remembrance of those upon whom they attended.
R. L. Powers, 21 years old, a member of Co. B, 18th Ill. Regiment. Shot through the left thigh, by a minie ball. The wound large and suppurating profusely – at least a pint every 12 hours. Properly attended, will recover.
J. G. Brill, Co. G, 29th Ill. Regiment. – Shot under the left arm, ball passing through the heavy muscles of the chest and the external portion of the lungs and coming out near the spine; also shot through the lower portion of the fore-arm and one of the bones broken – both wounds suppurating profusely – recovery doubtful.
John Dickery, 22 years old, Co. D, 18th Illinois regiment. Shot ten times in as many different places through the fleshy portions of the legs, arms, sides of the body and head, not a bone broken. Recovering rapidly, will undoubtedly be able for duty again soon.
James M Wealthy, 21 years old, Co. C, 18th Illinois regiment. Shot obliquely through the left thigh, carrying away a portion of the bone. Suppurating profusely, doing well, but recovery doubtful.
George Harris, 21 years old, Co. C, 18th Illinois regiment. Shot through both ankles of the lower jaw and tongue, separating the anterior portion of the jaw from the posterior, complete loss of speech. Will probably recover to a certain extent the use of jaw and speech.
Meady D. Dupont, Co. C, 18th Illinois regiment. Shot through the external portion of the left knee; a bad wound. Will probably lose the leg, perhaps his life.
Michael O’Connor, Co. E, 18th Illinois regiment. Shot through the left shoulder, passing through the shoulder blade and coming out near the spine. Not suppurating much; after a long while may recover the use of the arm.
Talbot Horseley, a rebel prisoner from Sumner county, middle Tennessee, a member of the 30th Tenn. Regt. Vol. under Col. Murphy, 63 years old. Shot in the knee, breaking knee-cap; a dangerous wound. Is a particularly good-hearted man and deeply regrets ever taking up arms against the Union; often speaks feelingly of the marked kindness he has uniformly received since he fell into our hands, and hopes to live to see the old flag floating over every court house in the Southern States; blames a few political leaders for grossly deceiving him and others as to the feeling and intentions of the Northern men.
Isaac W. Likens, 37 years old, 29th Illinois regiment. Shot about four inches below the knee, both bones broken, the larger badly split up, with a large external wound on both sides of leg. On the appearance of mortification, Dr. White amputated the leg about three inches below the knee; patient comfortable and doing well.
John Madden, 17 years old, Co. E 29th Illinois, shot in the left arm, ball passing in above the elbow up the arm and coming out near the spine. He says he was in the act of shooting when he was shot, his arm being extended. The ball passed about eighteen inches before coming out. It is doing well.
One of the most remarkable cases on this boat was that of a boy who, like Geo. Harris, was shot through the lower jaw and tongue with like results, with the addition of being shot through the muscles on the side of the head, just above the ear. Another ball entered the ankle and broke the small bone of the leg; another ball entered the other foot – the ball being still imbedded in the small bones of the foot, but not yet to be reached with a probe. His case is a curious one. His general health is good and his wounds are healthy.
The diseases were mostly pneumonia, (or lung diseases,) measles and typhoid fever. There were at least thirty of the former. Most of the patients’ expectoration was very excessive and of a bloody brick-dust character. Each of these, as well as others requiring it, were supplied at Cairo with small tins to spit in. These diseases were mostly caused by the great exposure while on the battle-field, and the continued changes they had to endure before reaching a hospital or permanent place to rest.
The patients were placed in the lower berths of the state rooms, while the cabin floor was covered from one end to the other, their heads toward the state rooms, leaving just room enough to pass the head of each patient and up and down through the boat. All were mixed in together, rebels and Federals, just as they happened to be carried on to the boat. As far as practicable, and as the good of the patient would permit, Dr. W. had those of the same disease placed together.
Two deaths occurred on the boat soon after landing – Sergeant Van Meter, so jusdged from the fact that there was found in his pocket a needle cushion with Van Meter marked on it, and because he had on the sleeves of his coat a Sergeant’s straps. Died from inflammation of the brain. Also John S. Short, of Co. C, 18th Ill. Regiment. Coffee was burnt and hourly carried through the cabin, to kill the bad odor, the stench being almost unbearable even to physicians. Just such sights and just such disagreeable stench was noticeable on every boat. It must be seen to be realized. Your friend, *
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, March 4, 1862, p. 2
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