The hospitals provided for the common soldier during the Civil War would not be tolerated at the present day. I judge from my own experience. I did not have proper care while 1 was badly wounded and helpless. One day I discovered maggots in my wound, that was because it was not properly dressed. The nurses were mostly cowardly shirks, no good at the front or anywhere else. The government furnished condensed milk and whiskey to make into punch for a stimulant for those who were badly hurt. The nurses drank most of the whiskey. The food was poor and not enough of it when a man became convalescent and hungry.



    I made two applications before I gained the Doctor's permission to join my company, and then he told me that he did not think I would be able to do much marching under the conditions at the front. However, I got started after a while, went by transport to City Point, thence by the Military Railroad sitting on a bale of hay to the end of the road. From there to the 2nd corps, then to the third Division, then to my Regiment and Company H, all tired out. I reported to Captain Smith for duty, but I told him I was afraid I should not be able to do much marching. He informed me that the regiment was under marching orders, and would pack up and start next morning. There would be a detail for picket duty and he would send me in command of the squad. So that night I went on picket about one mile from camp. The next morning along came the 2nd corps, with a squadron of Calvery in advance. The pickets were ordered to fall in with the Regiment. It was supposed we were going on one of those raids so the Captain gave me a pass and ordered me to go back to the camp and look