284 
Indiana University 
authorized “to bring home the sick from Nashville hospitals 
as proposed in your telegram”. The men were rushed 
home.^2 Wilson arranged with Dr. Perrin at Louisville to dis- 
charge all not likely to be fit for service soon.^^ Many of 
those coming to Indiana were sent home on furlough if they 
were strong enough to travel.^^ Morton reprimanded Wilson 
for not making more adequate provision for the welfare of the 
men on the homeward journey.^’ 
The attitude of the generals in the field was by no means 
entirely in favor of Morton’s practices. They seemed to have 
the greatest difficulty in realizing the exact needs of soldiers 
in the hospitals. Nor would the Medical Bureau take sug- 
gestions made from civilians whether they came in an official 
capacity or as a petition from individuals. They regarded 
Morton’s plan of bringing home men disabled for any consid- 
erable length of time, as for thirty to sixty days, as demoral- 
izing to the service. During February there was little active 
opposition to his assistance, but in April more strict federal 
supervision began to be imposed.^® On April 19 he appealed 
to Stanton for permission “to bring to their homes or to our 
hospitals from New Madrid, Mo., and other places south and 
west all the Indiana sick who are able to be moved”.^^ Within 
ten days they were removed.^® On April 25 Morton asked 
Secretary Stanton for permission “to transport hospital stores 
and bring home Indiana sick and wounded wherever I may 
find them. . . He was authorized to receive such 
. . . “as may be designated by the senior medical officer in 
charge”. 
Morton wanted to be on the ground in case of another battle 
in the region of Shiloh, consequently he went to Pittsburg 
Landing, starting May 10, 1862.^^ He anticipated a battle 
E. M. Stanton to O. P. Morton, April 17, 1862, General Telegrams, III, 165. 
Ibid. Ill, 167, 172, 175, 181, 189. Morton authorized Wilson to contract for a 
steamboat for their transportation, which he did at the rate of one dollar per man. 
^Uhid., Ill, 181. 
*^Ibid., Ill, 147, 181, 180, 186, 190. 
^^Ibid., Ill, 180. 
‘^^Documentary Journal, 1865, II, 175; Terrell, Report, I, 347; General Telegrams, 
III, 186, 187. 
O. P. Morton to E. M. Stanton, April 19, 1862, ibid.. Ill, 170, 184. 
Ill, 205. 
O. P. Morton to Joseph A. Wright, April 25, 1862, ibid.. Ill, 182, 183. 
Surgeon-General W. A. Hammond to Joseph A. Wright, April 28, 1862, ibid.. Ill, 
195. Such soldiers were carried home at state expense if the United States would not 
furnish transportation. Ibid. Ill, 224, 225 ; ibid., IV, 20. 
^^Ibid., Ill, 230. 
