Our Correspondence.
An appeal in behalf of sick soldiers.
Charles City, Sept. 7, 1861.
To the Editors of the Dispatch:
--I cannot resist an appeal through the medium of your paper; if you think it worth the space, please publish it.
So many accounts of the distressing condition of our soldiers, suffering from wounds and disease, reach us from numerous sources, would it not be better to remove them from the camp hospitals, where such an amount of fever must become contagious?
Let every county open its doors, distributing them among the many families, who will glaldy receive them.
If cases of contagion, let each county have its hospital, where good nurses and comforts will be provided.
My county has not made the formal offer, though not from lack of interest.
We are one and all ready to render whatever assistance we can to add to the comfort and well being of our soldiers.
One word more to my lady friends; It is hard to realize that winter is so near.
Soon our comforts and blankets for hospitals and camps will be in requisition.
More industriously still must we work — socks, flannels, overcoats and woolen goods of every description will be indispensable.
The supply, of course, will devolve somewhat on home enterprise.
The loom and spinning-wheel must be brought from their hiding places; the demand must be met. A cause so sacred needs no special plea.
To the Editors of the Dispatch:
Mistakes corrected.
To the Editors of the Dispatch:
--In the Dispatch of the 5th Inst., a correspondent, over the signature of ‘"Ithuriel,"’ in describing the taking of Munson's hill mentions the names of officers in connection with that affair who were not in the expedition at all — and does not mention the names of a single one who was. As careless correspondents are constantly communicating such incorrect reports to the papers, I deem it proper to correct the mistake, stating, however, that this is done without the knowledge of the parties concerned, and in no way by their suggestion.
Col. J. E. B. Stuart, of the 1st Regiment Virginia Cavalry, with detachments from the 13th Virginia Regiment, under Maj. Terrel, and from the 1st Maryland Regiment, under Maj. Johnson, with a section of artillery, under Capt. Beckem, were the principal officers concerned.
The infantry went straight across from Mason's hill, and the artillery went around by
the road.
The most of the fighting was done back of Upton's house — the picket at Munson's hill making no resistance, but leaving five of their number prisoners in our hands, so complete was the surprise.
The skirmish was as hot, considering the numbers engaged, as such things generally get. Justice.
September 11th, 1861.
Typhoid fever in the camps.
The immediate cause of the prevailing low grade of fever among the soldiers is breathing the bad air (carbonic acid) in tents which are not well ventilated. The tents are constructed generally with only one door. The impure gasses will not escape from the tents by simply raising the canvas at the bottom of the tents — the usual way of ventilating them. There should be an ample opening near the top of the tent, opposite the door, which should remain open, unless in case of storms. Unless this suggestion is heeded, and immediately acted upon, the camp fever will prevail and increase, as the tents will be kept closer as the cold weather approaches. J. Stone, Ass't Surg'n 15th Reg. Ga. Vols.
