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and returned, and then I will let you have the stoves.
“” But my men may die meantime.
“” I can't help that; I must have the requisition.
“” It is my firm belief that there are men now in a dangerous state whom another night will certainly kill.
“” I really can do nothing; I must have a requisition properly signed before I can give one of those stoves away.
“” For God's sake, then, lend me some; I'll be responsible for their safety.
“” I really can do nothing of the kind.
“” But, consider, this requisition will take time to be filled up and signed, and meantime these poor fellows will go. “” I cannot help that.
“” I'll be responsible for any thing you do. “” Oh, no, that can't be done.
“” Will a requisition signed by the post medical officer of this place be of any use?
“No.”
“Will it answer if he takes on himself the responsibility?”
“Certainly not.”
The surgeon went off in sorrow and disgust, knowing well that brave men were doomed to death by the obstinacy of this keeper of her Majesty's stores.
Another fact: In the middle of this terrible winter there was a period of three weeks when the hospitals nearest the main body of the army were totally destitute of medicines for the three most frequent diseases of an army in winter quarters; namely, fever, rheumatism, and diarrhea.
The most agonizing circumstance was, that the government had provided everything in superabundance.
But one hospital would have a prodigious superfluity of fuel, and no mattresses.
Another would have tons of pork, and no rice.
Another would have plenty of the materials for making soup, but no vessels to make it in. Here, there would be an abundance of coffee, but no means of roasting it; and, there, a hundred chests of tea, and not a pound of sugar to put in it. Again, there would be a house full of some needed article, and no officer within miles who had authority to serve it out. The surgeons did their best; but what could the few surgeons of
S. M. Betts and Company. Hartford, Conn. 1871.
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