The Unpopular History of the United States
sertion, the Federal army at Antietam had 101,756 absentees, with 87,164 present.
Out of a certain army corps 13,000 were in ranks, while 15,000 were absent. Not more than one-tenth of the sick who were left behind ever rejoined their regiments. My son, listen to your Uncle Samuel, and get this straight. I am not trying to hurt anybody's feelings, but merely showing you how a bad system can destroy the usefulness of good men. Much of this was caused by a state hospital system, which grew out of politics, and politics won't mix with soldiering.
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