August 1.—I have had a visit from my old friend, Dr. P. Thornton, who is in General Wharton’s command. I told him all I had heard against General Wheeler. He says General W. has no taste for raiding or running after raiders. His forte is in defending the rear of the army in a retreat, and in that capacity he can not be excelled. Dr. T. also says that nearly all the men were exhausted, as they have been chasing these raiders since last Tuesday.
On Saturday General W. ordered General Anderson, who had fresh men, to hurry and intercept the enemy at a place called Corinth, where there is a good crossing on the river. He had failed to get up in time, but the doctor thinks few of them will escape. He thinks we have captured and killed at least eight or nine hundred, and they still continue to be brought in, and not an hour in the day but droves of horses are driven past.
Dr. Wellford has nearly all the wounded to attend, as Dr. Reesse has gone to the front, and Dr. Burks is very sick; and, to add to our distress, many of our best nurses have been sent to the front, and among them Dr. W.’s head nurse, Mr. Martin, from South Carolina, one of the best nurses we had; his health is bad. I think it is sinful to take such men away from these poor sufferers.
Dr. Henderson told me he was at the receiving field hospital when some of these same men were sent back from the army; and our surgeons got a few blessings from the doctors, as they had enough to do without taking care of such sick men.
