MR. EDITOR: In order
that the following report be rightly understood by your readers, it may be
necessary to say that, though the whole is signed by Drs. Maxwell and Gamble,
it is a joint report only up to the
29th ult., from which date it is continued by Dr. Maxwell alone, Dr. G. having
entered the U. S. service as surgeon of the Iowa 3rd Infantry. It is also proper to state that Dr. Maxwell
is now in the employ of the State, and is therefore no longer under the direction
of the Scott Co. Soldier’s relief Association, but is now acting under Dr.
Hughes, Surgeon General of Iowa.
Respectfully,
EDWARD RUSSELL, Corres.
Sec.
To H. Price, President
Scott County Soldiers Relief Society; Rev. A. J. Kynett, Corresponding
Secretary Iowa Sanitary Commission:
The undersigned surgeons, deputed by your respective
societies to visit the scene of the late sanguinary conflict at Pittsburg
Height, Tenn., beg leave to report:
We, together with Messrs. Burwell and Brown, as nurses, left
Davenport on Thursday morning, April 11th, by railroad, and arrived at Cairo on
the morning of the 12th, at 6 o’clock’ where we immediately reported to Dr.
Taggart, medical surveyor, and Gen. Strong, commander of the post; also to Dr.
Douglas, agent for sanitary commission.
The medical surveyor tendered us the position of surgeons in charge of
rebel prisoners on their way to Columbus, Ohio.
This position, as well as several others of a similar character which
would have interfered with our special mission, we respectfully declined.
To facilitate the purpose for which we were sent, at 8 o’clock
on the morning of Friday we held a consultation with Gov. Yates and the Surgeon
General of Illinois, at the St. Charles Hotel, Cairo, which resulted in many
fair promises on their part, but which promises were afterwards studiously
evaded by his Excellency and suit.
At 9 o’clock a. m., by order of Gen. Strong, we proceeded to
Mound City Hospital, to care for about seven hundred wounded soldiers, just
arrived from Pittsburg on board the steamer “City of Memphis.” Here we were tendered the position of ward
surgeons, by contract, but deeming the position incompatible with your
instructions to us, we declined the same.
Among the wounded on board the Memphis, your committee labored several
hours in dressing wounds and supplying the immediate wants of such Iowa troops
as we could find on board – of which there were about seventy. A full list of their respective names,
regiments and the character of their wounds was also obtained. Here Dr. Maxwell, by detail, remained until
the next day, to assist in several surgical operations; and when he left the
troops were all in comfortable quarters in the hospital. And by special request, Dr. Cottle, of
Albany, Ill., promised to see such as needed particular attention.
Dr. Gamble and Messrs. Burwell and Brown returned to Cairo
and took passage on the steamer Empress for Pittsburg. – They arrived at
Savannah on Sunday morning, and learning that there were many wounded soldiers
there, and in need of surgical aid, Dr. Gamble remained whilst Messrs. Burwell
and Brown proceeded up to Pittsburg. At
Savannah were found about three thousand wounded and sick solders, among whom
were about four hundred Iowa troops.
Among these Dr. Gamble labored assiduously until Tuesday, rendering such
professional and pecuniary assistance as could be conferred under the circumstances. Here were found several regimental surgeons,
with whom we most cheerfully co-operated.
It is but right that we should here state, that the regular as well as
the volunteer surgeons were seriously embarrassed in their efforts to relieve the
wounded, by the want of material to dress wounds, and also the want of
medicines and proper food for the sick. – The preparation for the sick and
wounded was very imperfect. They were
crowded into any and every place without regard to location or comfort, and
often left for days together without medical aid, or even the common attentions
of camp life.
On Tuesday your committee met at Pittsburg and reported to
Dr. Simons, Medical Director, and solicited and obtained transports to remove
our wounded and sick soldiers to a more northern clime. We also spent a portion of our time in
visiting the several Iowa regiments then in camp – Ascertaining the names of
the wounded, their condition and the character of the wounds, and also the
location of such as had been removed previous to our arrival. In our efforts to obtain transportation for
the wounded, we were ably assisted by Mrs. Wittermyer [sic] of Keokuk, and by
Mrs. Senator Harlan, of Iowa; also, by our fellow citizen, Hiram Price of
Davenport, and Mr. E. Clonky, of Iowa City.
By the steamer D. A. January we removed nearly all our wounded remaining
at Pittsburg, and all at Savannah except about one hundred.
On Thursday we returned to Savannah, and have since been
diligently laboring in the various hospitals, which number about thirty, among
the wounded and sick, rendering such aid as we could. We have also labored most assiduously, day
and night in getting our wounded men on board transports on their way
north. Those remaining here will be
removed as soon an opportunity offers.
On our way up from Cairo, care was taken to visit all
hospital boats, and make inquiries as to the condition and destination of the
troops on board; and when opportunity offered, accurate lists of the names,
regiments, and casualties, were made. At
Cairo a meeting of the surgeons, nurses, and citizens of Iowa there present,
was held, and Dr. Emeis, of Iowa, at his on request, was delegated to remain
and visit all the hospital boats arriving at that point, and obtain the names,
destination, and character of the wounds of such troops as were on board. –
This was done that none should be overlooked.
While at Savannah, we co-operated with the Wisconsin
delegation, at the head of which was Gov. L. P. Harvey, whose suite consisted
of some of the most eminent men of that State; among them were general Broadhead,
Quartermaster General; Gen. Wadsworth, Com. General; and Dr. Wolcott, Surgeon
General of the State. In them we found
accomplished gentlemen, and active and efficient co-laborers. Our intercourse served but to create an
unusual respect for them, which will long be remembered with pleasure. This intercourse was suddenly terminated, on
the evening of the 19th, by the accidental drowning of Gov. Harvey. While we were sitting in the cabin of the
steamer Dunleith, counseling as to the best plans for accomplishing our humane
mission, the steamer Hiawatha came alongside, and the Governor stepped out to
obtain passage for a portion of his suite.
A moment after, we were startled by the cry of “A man overboard!” Immediate investigation proved it to be the
Governor. – Prompt and heroic efforts were made to render him assistance, but
in the extreme darkness of the night, the rapid current, and amidst steamboats
and barges, all proved useless. . . Gov.
Harvey, the accomplished gentleman, the friend of suffering humanity, and the
devoted practical Christian, was thus in a moment taken from his field of
usefulness to his reward.
Mr. Brown, being sick, was put on board the Hiawatha for
home; Mr. Burwell had previously left on the D. A. January, with our wounded
for St. Louis.
What of the future?
In view of coming events, your committee would earnestly recommend that
efficient agents be appointed, by authority of the State, and be assigned to
positions with the army, and at the nearest post hospitals, whose duty it
should be to take charge of the sanitary goods, and be on hand and ready at all
times to render immediate and efficient aid to our forces in the field, and to
the sick and wounded of the battle. They
should also be required to communicate with our State officers and communities,
from time to time, and advise them of the particular wants of the sick and
wounded. After the battle, and until the
wounded soldier is removed to the hospital, is when assistance is most needed –
immediate and efficient aid then would save hundreds of lives. Here let us most earnestly protest against
States, or cities sending large delegations, calculated to interfere with the
operations of the army near the scene of conflict. This is worse than useless. A few efficient agents can do great good, but
a multitude does great harm.
When it is practicable, the State should have a large,
well-ventilated steamer. Properly furnished for hospital purposes, and provided
with able surgeons and practical nurses, to visit the nearest navigable point
to the scene of the battle. This course,
your committee think, would prove more beneficial to the soldiers and meet more
directly the intentions of the people than any other; and in a pecuniary point
would not be objectionable. The States
that have adopted this plan have done much more for their men than those who
have relied entirely upon government transportation.
Your committee having thus given you a brief memoranda of
their labors, deem it but just to themselves to state some of the difficulties
with which they have had to contend.
From the time of leaving Iowa they have fared as the common
soldier. They have been obstructed at
almost every step by official arrogance and egotism – more especially was this
the case by the Regular Army Medical Staff.
While traveling on boats they have had to furnish their own provisions
and bedding, and when on land, they have traveled through drenching rains and
deep mud – the latter such as only Tennessee can produce. At night they have frequently slept on the
ground with only a thin blanket for a covering.
When they did rely on the public for accommodations, the charges were
enormous, and the fare most miserable.
Your committee, however, do not regret their hard fare, as amidst it
all, many were cheering evidences of kind appreciations received from the
suffering soldiers, and many the kind and gentlemanly courtesies tendered them
by the surgeons of the volunteer regiments, among whom we take pleasure in
mentioning Drs. Gibbon, of the 15th; Nassau, of the 2d; Staples of the 12th,
and Watson and Loyd of the 11th Iowa regiments.
Also Dr. Leggitt, of the Ohio 15th.
To Dr. Taggart, Medical Purveyor, and Dr. Douglas, Sanitary Agent, of
Cairo, we are also under obligation for many gentlemanly courtesies.
On the 24th we proceeded to Pittsburg Landing, to visit all
Iowa regiments, to learn their condition, and found men and officers of the
7th, 11th and 13th in good spirits. The
8th, 12th and 14th were somewhat dissatisfied, having been, contrary to their wishes,
forced into a “Union Brigade” with the 28th Ill. regiment, and commanded by a
Captain of that regiment, being rank officer.
I think it, however under the circumstances, the best that could be
done.
On the 25th, by the kindness of Capt. G. Dodge, of Port
Byron, of the 4th Ill. Cavalry, we were provided with horses and equipments to
visit regiments. We were able to find
all but the 15th and 16th – they being on the front lines, we did not reach
them. There are not less than 500 sick
in our regiments – 200 in hospitals here – principally camp fever.
On the 26th, Dr. Gamble, with a view of being assigned to
the 3d Iowa regiment, which was without a surgeon, entered the U. S. service by
contract; since which, I have operated single-handed in both the field and
hospitals. On my return to Savannah, I
found the steamer Tycoon taking on the wounded.
I succeeded, by the politeness of Dr. Woods, of Cincinnati, in getting
on, in comfortable quarters, all of the Iowa’s sick and wounded here that would
come under the general order, in all 30 – destination Cincinnati. During our absence on the 25th, a number of
sick and wounded were taken by the City of Memphis to St. Louis.
29th. – Visited all hospitals here and had our remaining
sick and wounded put into the best hospitals, being about thirty still
here. I. H. Work hand his leg amputated,
on the 24th, and died 28th.
May 1st. – I visited, by order of Dr. McDougal, of Gen.
Halleck’s staff, Hamburg, six miles above Pittsburg Landing, and aided in
establishing hospitals for the convalescing soldiers.
2d. – Returned, after putting into quarters 3,700 sick; and
having everything in running order under surgeon Vairous of N. Y. But few Iowa sick are there, but those that
are there are in good condition and fair quarters.
3d. – This morning I have the promises from surgeon in
charge of Black Hawk to take on a few of our worst cases here and leave them at
Quincy, Ill. I have to report to Dr.
McDougal this morning.
On the 2st inst. I received Adj. Baker’s orders, and Mr. E.
Russell’s of the 12th ult. – the only communication, save the telegraph
dispatch to remain here until otherwise ordered. I am doing all I can to relieve our sick and
wounded. You will see by my financial
report I have expended but little money safe for board and traveling
expenses. This owning to the fact that I
used in all cases, when I could get them, sanitary supplies for soldiers. I have reported by letter to Prof. Hughes for
instructions, &c. Below I give you
the character and number of Iowa wounded:
Head 27, face 39, neck 21, chest 107, abdomen 13, back and spine 31,
upper extremities 422, lower extremities 381, large joints, 52.
Respectfully
submitted.
A. S. MAXWELL, Chn.
JAS. GAMBLE
– Published in The
Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, May 9, 1862, p. 2
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