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had a greater proportion of this duty than any in this army,
for we have generally acted in Brigade under Northern Briga-
diers General, who have seldom failed to favor their own and
put the laboring oar on our Regiment, but it has perhaps
made us the better soldiers, our Commander in chief is an
excellent man and it would be happy for the United States if
there was as much propriety in the appointments in every
department below his. It is not owing to any want of precau-
tion in him that discipline is not exacted with more rigour,
much must depend respecting this, on the superior officers
next under him in command; and here there seems to be a
total ignorance of and inattention to this system, so necessary
to render an army formidable.
Our next greatest suffering proceeds from the great neglect
of the sick, and his orders relative to this Department are
most salutary were these to be duly attended to but here too
there is not only a shameful but even an inhuman neglect
daily exhibited. The Directors of the General Hospitals
supply and provide for the sick, who are extremely remiss and
inattentive to the well being and comfort of these unhappy
men, out of this train they cannot be taken. I have withdrawn
all mine long ago and had them placed in a comfortable house
in the country, and supplied with only the common rations,
even this is preferable to the fare of a general hospital, two of
these regimental Hospitals after I have had them put in order,
one has been taken away by the Directors for a General Hos-
pital and my people turned out of doors, and the other would
have been taken in the same manner, had I not have applyed
to Genl Washington who told me to keep it. the misfortune
is that every supply to the Regimental Hospitals of necessa-
ries suitable for the sick, must come from an order from these
Directors and is very seldom obtained. I have more than
once applyed that my Quarter Master might furnish and make
a charge for what was supplied, by which means I could have
rendered the situation of the sick much more comfortable, at
a less expense, but could not be allowed. I wish this could
be obtained. I foresee the evils arising from the shameful
neglect in this Department, one good seasoned and well
trained soldier recovered to health, is worth a dozen new
recruits, and is often easier recovered, than to get a recruit,
exclusive of which, this neglect is very discouraging to the
soldiery and must injure the service upon the new enlistments;
after the troops go into winter quarters, if the Convention &
Council should judge it consistent with the interests of the
province, and the good of the service,! could wish the regular
troops might return home to refresh themselves in good
winter quarters, and recruit the complement wanting, this I
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C. S. C.
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