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Camp of 2nd Brigade, Near Little Rock,
Thursday, April the 16th, 1863.
To the Division Field Officer of the Day, Price’s Div., District of Ark’s.
Sir—I have the honor of submitting the following as my report as Brigade Field Officer of the Day for the past week, being relieved this morning, viz:
Hospitals.
I visited the St. Johns College Hospital, thoroughly inspected every ward, every room, the kitchen, bakery, poutry yard, cow pen, &c, and am proud to say that I never in my life saw every thing in better condition. I found about seventy-five patients in the same. All with comfortable and clean beds or bunks. The wards clean and in very neat style. No filthiness in or about the same. The food well cooked. All sick men were supplied with sufficient milk from the cows there and also a sufficiency of flour. The sick men are also supplied to a considerable extent with vegetables procured from the hospital fund. In regard to our regimental hospitals I find them in tolerable neat condition. The bunks are tolerably comfortable and clean. The food well prepared. I find in them a great deficiency in chamber mugs which are very essential for sick men. Also I find that Col. King’s hospital has no spittoons. The season is now growing gradually warmer and unless hospitals are supplied with the two last named articles there will soon be a great quantity of this about them. They are already becoming numerous. There are but few sick in any of the hospitals and those in them are doing very well.
The Sinks.
When entering on duty I found that Col. Hawthorn had just had new sinks dug. The sinks of other regiments were pretty well filled and had become offensive. I had new ones dug for the three other regiments and now I have the honor of reporting all of the sinks in the brigade in very good condition and not offensive at all. Guard sink also is in very good condition.
Regimental Company Quarters, &c.
I find that the company quarters are kept in tolerable neat style. Streets are all clean. Trenches are kept cleaned out, offal generally buried or burned. I noticed old beef, beef bones, &c., near the color line opposite most all of the reg’ts. This I had removed by the old guard. Trash in the streets is invariably picked up and burned. Tents hoisted & bedding, clothing &c aired or sunned when weather permits. I find that the front has been frequently defiled by the men except Col. Hawthorn’s reg’t for the reason I presume that the sinks as above stated were then offensive.
Wagon Yard.
This I am sorry to report is not in as nice condition as it should be. I am fully satisfied by looking at it that there has been no sweeping or burning there for Lo these many weeks if ever it has been done. Every thing looks very dirty and filthy. The sheds are suitable for the mules and the troughs also. I have not found any hitching of animals to wagons. The mules are also frequently loose and running at large and annoying the Field and Staff officers’ horses. I burned one dead mule near the wagon yard. I found a dead horse near the same. I could not find out to whom he belonged. I had him burned also.
The Guard & Guard-house.
The guard, including officers, non-commissioned officers and privates, performed their duties respectively to my entire satisfaction. Of their conduct during the whole week I have no just cause of complaint. The guard-house and around near the same is regularly policed and in pretty fair condition, using the prisoners for this purpose. While on duty the last time before this I had the guard-house floored with puncheons. When I came on duty this time I found no floor to the same & must I think have been burned. It is still without a floor.
Order from Gen. Price.
Late on Sunday evening I received an order originally from Maj. Gen. Price and endorsed by the brigade commander directing that all brush, timber, filth, &c, be removed from near or adjacent to the different regiments, &c. I have used the old guard to accomplish this and have I think complied with the intent of the order. The weather being inclement and raining a good deal I could not do much at it until yesterday. Today’s work will put the whole brigade in the condition required by said order, admitting that you construe it strictly.
Conclusion.
I have no suggestions to make except what is stated above. I find every thing working very well. The men are in good health and in fine spirits. They have plenty of money now and seem anxious to meet the enemy.
Respectfully submitted,
JNO. B. COCKE,
Maj. & Brigade Field Officer of the Day.