e._, he was a
Connecticut youth, probably of less than the age of twenty-five years,
the four last of which he had spent in active service in the war in
all parts of the country.) The two were chatting of one thing and
another. The fever soldier spoke of John C. Calhoun's monument, which
he had seen, and was describing it. The veteran said: "I have seen
Calhoun's monument. That you saw is not the real monument. But I
have seen it. It is the desolated, ruined south; nearly the whole
generation of young men between seventeen and thirty destroyed or
maim'd; all the old families used up--the rich impoverish'd, the
plantations cover'd with weeds, the slaves unloos'd and become the
masters, and the name of southerner blacken'd with every shame--all
that is Calhoun's real monument."
HOSPITALS CLOSING
October 3_.--There are two army hospitals now remaining. I went to the
largest of these (Douglas) and spent the afternoon and evening. There
are many sad cases, old wounds, incurable sickness, and some of the
wounded from the March and April battles before Richmond. Few realize
how sharp and bloody those closing battles were. Our men exposed
themselves more than usual; press'd ahead without urging. Then the
southerners fought with extra desperation. Both sides knew that with
the successful chasing of the rebel cabal from Richmond, and the
occupation of that city by the national troops, the game was up.
The dead and wounded were unusually many. Of the wounded the last
lingering driblets have been brought to hospital here.
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