April 15.—Enjoyed a very good night’s rest in a crowded room. Had part of a mattress upon the floor, but so many were upon it that for half of the night I was under a table.
My patients are doing well. My own health is excellent. While I was down stairs this morning a gentleman requested me to give him something to eat for some fifty or sixty wounded men whom he had in his care. He had nothing for them, but was expecting something from his home in Tennessee. It would be some days before he could get it. Mrs. Ogden gave them what she could. He informed us that his name was Cannon; that he was a doctor, and a clergyman of the Episcopal Church. Ho said that if our men were not better treated than at the present time, it would be the means of demoralizing them more than the enemy’s balls.
While passing through the large ward yesterday, a young man lying upon the floor called me, and asked me if I did not recollect him. His name was Shutterlee; he was from Mobile, and a member of the Twenty-first Alabama Regiment. I remembered that I had often seen him, when a little boy, playing with my brother. Poor fellow! he was badly wounded, and suffered a great deal. I asked him if I could do any thing for him. He told me that Mrs. Lyons of Mobile was taking care of him, but wished me to write to his mother, and inform her where and how he was, which I lost no time in doing.
Mr. Wasson is cheerful, and is doing well; tells me much about his home in Texas and the nice fruit there; says that I must go home with him, as his family would be so glad to see me.
Mrs. Lyons is sitting up day and night, attending to some eight or nine patients. One of them is shot in the face, and has it covered with a cloth, as it is so lacerated that it presents a most revolting aspect. Mrs. L. is also taking care of some prisoners. There is a Federal surgeon named Young waiting on them. I have been told that Dr. Lyle, one of our surgeons, refused to attend them, as he had just lost two brothers in the war, and has heard that his father is a prisoner. His feelings are such that he is fearful he might not do justice to the sufferers. If there were no other surgeons here, he would endeavor to do his duty by them.
