51                                  HISTORY OF THE SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT O.V.V.I.

           In the beginning of the war the medical department was very imperfectly managed, and men everywhere destitute of experience, and the whole army not inured to the service, the climate and exposures of field and camp life, necessarily caused more sickness, and a greater amount of mortality than in the latter part of the war. This excited some ill-feelings towards surgeons, because they were not successful in curing disease, and preventing death. Major Reeves had much opposition to contend with, arising from these circumstances, which were beyond the control of any surgeon or army commandents. Men would frequently be sent to hospitals, or convalescent camps; when once there, they pass from the hands of the regimental surgeons, into the hands of those detailed to take charge of such hospitals and convalescent camps. If a man died at one of the places away from his regiment, the Surgeon of the regiment was frequently charged with neglect, and held by friends as partially accountable for his death; all arising from mistaken notions of army divisions, and details in its system of management. When these things become better understood by the people, opposition and bad feeling towards surgeons ceased in a measure; and surgeons as well as the people became better acquainted with with their duties; and understood the treatment of disease in the army much better, and become therefore much more successful. All these elements of opposition were brought to bear against Surgeon Reeves. But he out-lived them all, and vindicated himself by skillful practice, from all censure, and false accusation. Although his disposition is an unhappy one, and of many peculiarities, yet he made a bright record in the army, and leaves it with a high reputation as a skillful physician and surgeon.

CHAPLAIN O. M. TODD

Was a resident of New Lisbon, Ohio, and pastor of the Presbyterian Church of that place. He took a very active interest in raising the Seventy-Eighth Regiment, making recruiting speeches throughout his county, soliciting volunteers, and with much success.*

           He entered upon his duties as chaplain, when the regiment was stationed at Camp Gilbert, Zanesville, Ohio. He was a man of rather more than ordinary ability; good, close, practical preacher. After the regiment left the State there was little opportunity for divine service of any kind, the regiment being almost constantly on the move. The Chaplain was charged with neglecting the sick, but this amounts to but little; every person was blamed merely because circumstances existed beyond the control of any one. Men could not work miracles and save people from disease and the grave, in this age of the world; and that too when a war that excited the civilized world was raging all over our territory.

           The Chaplain and Surgeon were frequently in conflict, and bitter feelings existed. It is a rare thing for surgeons and chaplains to agree; the surgeon being very sensitive in reference to any supposed interference with the duties of the medical department, which sometimes takes in a very wide range, and again becomes quite limited, just in proportion as responsibilities are involved. The chaplain on the other hand is an independent character, who considers it his business to be somewhat meddlesome, inasmuch as his position is one that has to do with all duties rather than with any particular one; therefore what he regards his duty frequently is regarded an impertinence and interference, on the part of others. Chaplain Todd, suffered much from ill-health, and not willing longer

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*See Company "I".

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