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Gov. Yates On a "Big Bender."
The People Foot the Bill.
The New York World, one of the leading Republican papers in the United States, gives the following account of how Gov. Yates ministers to the wants of our sick and wounded soldiers. This rotten whisky-bloat has been absent from his post of duty for months, on just such excursions as the one described, while the people are sweating at home to raise money to pay the expenses. But to the World's story:
The public will have been gratified to see the laudable endeavors of the authorities and patriotic citizens of the western States to alleviate the sufferings of the sick and wounded soldiers with this army. — Sanitary commissioners, hired surgeons, nurses and others have flocked here in great numbers, and the general belief is that they have been instrumental in caring for thousands of our sick and wounded. — One case has just been brought to our notice by responsible authority, where the government has been the victim of a remorseless swindle, and what was designed as an errand of mercy converted into a frolicking party. Gov. Yates, of Illinois, it is related, telegraphed to Gen. Halleck at Pittsburg, that he was desirous of accompanying a corps of surgeons and nurses up the Tennessee for the purpose of caring for the wounded in the expected battle. — Gen. Halleck replied instructing Col. Parsons to provide transportations from St. Louis for Gov. Yates, surgeons and nurses. Col. Parsons at once ordered the captain of the government chartered steamer Champion to reserve rooms for Governor Yates and party. The result of which was, a company of ladies and gentlemen, nearly a hundred, got on board, the worthy Governor stating that he had chartered the boat on account of the State.
The trip down the river was a scene of festivity, gaiety and luxury. At one point on the river the boat was stopped four hours to accommodate a few of the leaders in a stroll through the woods for the purpose of seeing some curious springs. By an unusual freak of folly, Gov. Yates recently appointed a Mrs. Reynolds, the handsome wife of a Lieutenant in the army, a Major of volunteers. To keep up the puerile fancy, this lady Major was placed in command of the boat. The Governor and the fair Major were the last to return from their rambles, having, as they said, lost their way in the woods. At Cairo this precious crew was swelled to the list of a hundred. Cards, dancing, and merriment were the order of the day. — Wines, delicacies and sanitary stores were consumed by the guests unreservedly. — On their arrival at Pittsburg, certain persons on the hospital boats sent over to the Champion for nurses to assist them in their attentions to the wounded, when not a single nurse volunteered. It further appears that only three surgeons got on board at St. Louis, the rest being merely curious pleasure-seekers.
We learn further that Governor Yates, on his arrival, did undoubted injury to the cause, by telling the soldiers that any of them that were unable to march would be sent back to the river, the consequence of which was that a hundred and ten out of one regiment and one hundred and fifteen out of another, availed themselves of the opportunity causelessly. These we submit as indignities which ought to be made public.