O.R.--SERIES II--VOLUME VIII [S# 121]

UNION AND CONFEDERATE CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, ETC., RELATING TO PRISONERS OF WAR AND STATE FROM JANUARY 1, 1865, TO THE END.--#13

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HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT,
Richmond, February 23, 1865.

            Lieut. Gen. R. S. EWELL, Commanding Department of Richmond:

GENERAL: I have the honor to report that in accordance with your instructions I to-day inspected the hospital for Federal prisoners. This is under the charge of Surg G. W. Semple and is conducted upon the same principles as the general Confederate hospitals--the same proportion of assistant surgeons, the same rations, &c. All the attendants, cooks, &c., are Federal prisoners, and as any number can be had that are necessary, the hospital has in this particular an advantage over the Confederate hospitals. The police of the hospital is good; every[thing] about it being neat and in good order. During this month the average number of patients has been 500 per day, and the number of deaths a very small fraction over two per day, the deaths being mostly from diarrhea and pneumonia. There are no contagious or infectious diseases among the patients. The reason why twelve men were buried from the hospital in one day was owing to the fact that the undertaker did not furnish the coffins for several days and the dead <ar121_301> accumulated. This undertaker has been discharged and a new one appointed. A large number of sick men arrived at the hospital this morning from Salisbury, N.C. I was informed by the surgeon that met them at the depot that forty died on the way here. Thirteen dead bodies had already been brought to the hospital while I was there.

Your obedient servant,

J. W. PEGRAM,
Major and Assistant Inspector-General.

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