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I recently transcribed an account of a sick soldier's journey from Tennessee to Jefferson Barracks, and as I have rarely seen an account of life on a hospital ship, I thought this might be of interest to others. The source is the Macomb Journal, August 1, 1862.
The anonymous author belongs to the 16th Illinois, Co. B.; I have been unable to find why he is in the hospital at this time.
For the Journal.
From Jefferson Barracks, July 27, 1862.
Messrs Editors: I wrote you from the General Hospital at Hamburg, informing you that we were awaiting the arrival at this place of a hospital boat to convey us to the north. I also promised you that as I proceeded northward, I would favor you with an occasional letter, which promise I will now endeavor to fulfill.
On the evening of the 18th of July, we embarked on board the U.S. Hospital steamer Decatur, and at 2 o’clock p.m. of the next day we were underway for the north. The river was in good stage, having been swollen by recent rains, and our boat glided along with ease and gracefulness. We had soldiers aboard from the following States: Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa and Ohio, in all about 270.
As the most of your readers are probably unfamiliar with the arrangements and facilities of those boats for carrying sick and disabled soldiers, I will endeavor to give them, as near as possible, a correct idea of it. A person could not ask for bedding more comfortable than is furnished him on board the Decatur. He is furnished with a good roomy bedstead, on which is placed a nice clean husk mat, with white cotton sheets, linen overspreads, blanket and pillow. The bedsteads are placed in rows on the boiler deck and on the guards, and are so arranged as to leave a passage-way between every two tiers. The sickest of the soldiers are furnished with beds in in the cabin – the convalesants, as they are called, are placed on boiler deck.
An entire change of clothing is made as soon as the soldier is placed upon the boat. He is in the first place made to wash himself thoroughly, after which he is furnished with clean drawers, shirt, sock and dasting gowns. These indispensible articles are furnished thro’ the benevolent efforts of the Western Sanitary Commission and Ladies Union Aid Society.
Nothing is allowed the soldiers in the way of eatables except what is brought to him at meal times by the nurses. – The grub consists of the best of light bread, dried fruits, boiled beef – but lightly seasoned, and coffee or tea. – But enough on this subject.
We were from Saturday 2 o’clock p.m., to Tuesday morning making the trip from Hamburg to Jefferson Barracks. We lost only one man on the trip whose body was put off the boat at Cairo.
Jefferson Barracks is indeed a delightful place as every person acquainted with it will attest. It is located 10 miles below St. Louis, on the bank of the river. The buildings are all stone and of the most improved style. The grounds and shade trees are picturesque in the extreme. But as I shall occasion to refer to this again I drop the subject for the present.
At present the chances for getting furloughs of leave of absence is next thing to an impossibility. An order has been issued from Dr. Fish, the surgeon in command, stating that after the 25th of the present month, no furloughs or leave of absence will be granted on any condition whatever. So unless a soldier be discharged there is no hope for him to get to see his folks at home. He will have to remain here until he is able to return to his regiment. Discharges, however, are being granted to a great many.
Mr. Thos. Beavens, of Prairie City, of whom mention was made in my last, has obtained a discharge, and will start for home on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. Mr. C.E. Sackett, of Co. A, 16th Illinois, has also obtained a discharged, and will leave for his home at Bushnell on Tuesday or Wednesday next. The balance of us from that Co. and reg. will await the general examination some time during the coming week.
But I have written quite as much at present as my exhausted energies will permit, so I bring my letter to a close. I will write to you again in a short time.
Respectfully, &c.,
Harry.
P.S. – While I write a boat load of sick soldiers is just landing from Hamburg. Our hospital will soon be full.
H.
From Jefferson Barracks, July 27, 1862.
Messrs Editors: I wrote you from the General Hospital at Hamburg, informing you that we were awaiting the arrival at this place of a hospital boat to convey us to the north. I also promised you that as I proceeded northward, I would favor you with an occasional letter, which promise I will now endeavor to fulfill.
On the evening of the 18th of July, we embarked on board the U.S. Hospital steamer Decatur, and at 2 o’clock p.m. of the next day we were underway for the north. The river was in good stage, having been swollen by recent rains, and our boat glided along with ease and gracefulness. We had soldiers aboard from the following States: Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa and Ohio, in all about 270.
As the most of your readers are probably unfamiliar with the arrangements and facilities of those boats for carrying sick and disabled soldiers, I will endeavor to give them, as near as possible, a correct idea of it. A person could not ask for bedding more comfortable than is furnished him on board the Decatur. He is furnished with a good roomy bedstead, on which is placed a nice clean husk mat, with white cotton sheets, linen overspreads, blanket and pillow. The bedsteads are placed in rows on the boiler deck and on the guards, and are so arranged as to leave a passage-way between every two tiers. The sickest of the soldiers are furnished with beds in in the cabin – the convalesants, as they are called, are placed on boiler deck.
An entire change of clothing is made as soon as the soldier is placed upon the boat. He is in the first place made to wash himself thoroughly, after which he is furnished with clean drawers, shirt, sock and dasting gowns. These indispensible articles are furnished thro’ the benevolent efforts of the Western Sanitary Commission and Ladies Union Aid Society.
Nothing is allowed the soldiers in the way of eatables except what is brought to him at meal times by the nurses. – The grub consists of the best of light bread, dried fruits, boiled beef – but lightly seasoned, and coffee or tea. – But enough on this subject.
We were from Saturday 2 o’clock p.m., to Tuesday morning making the trip from Hamburg to Jefferson Barracks. We lost only one man on the trip whose body was put off the boat at Cairo.
Jefferson Barracks is indeed a delightful place as every person acquainted with it will attest. It is located 10 miles below St. Louis, on the bank of the river. The buildings are all stone and of the most improved style. The grounds and shade trees are picturesque in the extreme. But as I shall occasion to refer to this again I drop the subject for the present.
At present the chances for getting furloughs of leave of absence is next thing to an impossibility. An order has been issued from Dr. Fish, the surgeon in command, stating that after the 25th of the present month, no furloughs or leave of absence will be granted on any condition whatever. So unless a soldier be discharged there is no hope for him to get to see his folks at home. He will have to remain here until he is able to return to his regiment. Discharges, however, are being granted to a great many.
Mr. Thos. Beavens, of Prairie City, of whom mention was made in my last, has obtained a discharge, and will start for home on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. Mr. C.E. Sackett, of Co. A, 16th Illinois, has also obtained a discharged, and will leave for his home at Bushnell on Tuesday or Wednesday next. The balance of us from that Co. and reg. will await the general examination some time during the coming week.
But I have written quite as much at present as my exhausted energies will permit, so I bring my letter to a close. I will write to you again in a short time.
Respectfully, &c.,
Harry.
P.S. – While I write a boat load of sick soldiers is just landing from Hamburg. Our hospital will soon be full.
H.
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