Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 20.djvu/120

 114 Southern Historical Society Papers.

countrymen, administered to the sufferings of the sick and wounded Confederate soldiers, and extended their noble and disinterested charities to the widows and orphans of their bereaved and distressed country.

Whilst political soldiers rose to power and wealth upon the shoul- ders of the sick and disabled soldiers of the Confederate army, by sounding upon all occasions " their war records" the modest veterans of the Medical Corps of the Confederate Army and Navy were con- tent to serve their sick, wounded and distressed comrades, asking and receiving no other reward than that " peace which passeth all under- standing," which flows from the love of humanity, springing from a generous and undefiled heart. It is but just and right that a Roll of Honor should be formed of this band of medical heroes and veterans.

MAGNITUDE OF THE LABORS OF THE MEDICAL CORPS OF THE CON- FEDERATE ARMY AND NAVY.

Some conception of the magnitude of the labors performed in field and hospital service, by the officers of the Medical Corps of the Confederate Army, may be formed by the consideration of the following general results :

KILLED, WOUNDED AND PRISONERS OF THE CONFEDERATE ARMY.

Killed. Wounded. Prisoners.

1,315 4,054 2,772

18,582 68,659 48,300

11,876 5 I >3 I 3 7 1, 211

22,200 70,000

1 80,000

Total, 1861-5 53,973 194,026 202,283

During the period of nineteen months, January, 1862, July, 1863, inclusive, over one million cases of wounds and disease were entered upon the Confederate field reports, and over four hundred thousand cases of wounds upon the hospital reports. The number of cases of wounds and disease treated in the Confederate field and general hospitals were, however, greater during the following twenty-two months, ending April, 1865. It is safe to affirm, therefore, that more than three million cases of wounds and disease were cared for by