The United States sanitary commission. A sketch of its purposes and its work

Front matter

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THE

UNITED STATES

Part I. Organization

PAGE

Aspect of the war to women 2

Women's meeting in New York, April 25, 1861; plan to centralize work 3

Dr. Bellows gives advice, and goes with others to Washington . . 3

Address to Secretary of War, May 18, 1861 4

Acting Surgeon-General to Secretary of War, May 22, 1861 9

Powers asked from Government, May 23 12

Secretary of War establishes Commission, June 13, 1861 16

Attitude of Government to Commission. Objections removed by

experience 19-21

Army recognizes value of Commission 22

Names of members 22

Executive Committee begins work at once and meets daily 23

Special merits of most active members 23, 24

Present General Secretary 25

Associate members, present number over 500 25

To whom should Commission look for money 25

INSPECTION.

Permission to inquire into sanitary condition of the Army 26

Inspection begins at once in armies of Potomac and West 28

Twofold duty of inquiry and advice 28

Physicians needed as Inspectors, and found ready to serve 29

Standing of present Inspectors; duties in camps and camp hospitals 30

Their influence 31

Effect of sanitary inquiries, and influence of a good regiment. . 32

Treatises on sanitary subjects distributed 33

Army surgeons ask for fresh copies of these treatises 34

Inspectors' reports tabulated; 1470 up to this time 34 viii CONTENTS.

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Inspectors' duties in the field 35

Statistics of Crimean army 36

Statistics of present war 37

Special inspection of army general hospitals 38

Standing of these Inspectors; respect paid them by Surgeon- General 39

Office of Statistics, data obtained from Adjutant-General's office 39

Department of Vital Statistics 40

Value of this statistical work for the future 40

BRANCHES.— SOURCES OF SUPPLY.

Relations of men and women in service of the Commission 41

Waste of unorganized efforts; mistake of sectional work 43

Broad principles of Commission appreciated by the people 45

Sacrifices made in country homes 46

Council held in Washington, November, 1862 46

Closer relations with auxiliaries 47

Circular letter from branches 48

Relation of branches to central body 48

Western branches: Northern Ohio, April 20; Cincinnati, November 27, 1861 49

Circular of December 13th, 1861 52

Supplies issued from Western branches, September, 1861, to

September, 1863 53

Eastern branches 53

Business done in storehouses of branches 55

Accounts sent in weekly from branches and relief agents 56

Five storehouses in Washington, and care used 57

Only one case known to be lost out of 20,000 57

Part II. General Relief

Work of relief began after Bull Run, July, 1861 58

Extract from Mr. Knapp's Report, August 25, 1861 59

System of current supply, 1861-62 60

ARMIES OF VIRGINIA. Peninsular Campaign, 1862 62

Commission applies for steamers to use as hospitals 62

CONTENTS. ix

PAGE

Secretary of War gives order; the " Daniel Webster" assigned

to Commission, April 25th 62

Reaches York River, April 30th. First sick men received, May 1st 63

" Daniel Webster " sent to New York. " Ocean Queen " fitted out 63

" Ocean Queen " sent off 65

At West Point. First wounded men, May 9th 65

Services of Commission on Government boats 66

Despatching " Knickerbocker " and Elm City " 66

Return to Yorktown. "Daniel Webster" arrives May 11th;

sails May 12th 67

"Elm City" goes north. May 14th. Routine of work 68

"Knickerbocker" goes north, May 17th 69

Division of work 69, 70

Army at White House, May 16 71

Commission Transport at White House, May 17. Lady's letter,

May 18 7J

"Daniel Webster" arrives May 19th, sails 20th. "Elm City"

and " Knickerbocker " arrive 20th 72

Efforts to establish system; difficulties in the way 73

Recall of boats to Quartermaster's Department, and retransfer to

Commission 74

Commissariat of Commission 75

Scenes on the transports. Lady's letter 76

Night excursion in a storm. Lady's letter 79

Another excursion to bring in sick men. Lady's letter 80

Battle of Fail' Oaks, June 1, 1862. Commission ready 82

Confusion on Government boats; Commission assists 83

Hospital kitchen tent brings great relief 84

Letter of member of Commission visiting the transport 85

Prepare for change of base, and leave White House 88

Norfolk, June 30, 1862 89

Harrison's Bar, July 1. Lady's letter 90

Medical Department better prepared; Commission leaves all but

work of supply 92

Commission Inspector at Norfolk for a year to supply armies of

Virginia 94

Depot at Norfolk left to Relief Agent, August, 1863 95

Two inspectors sent to Cedar Mountain, August, 1862 96

Commission in charge of trains of wounded going to Washington 96

Second Battle of Bull Run, August, 1862 96

Government supplies captured 97

X

Contents

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Commission supplies sent, and inspectors act as surgeons 97

Commission at Centreville 98

Part III. - Special Relief

Care of discharged soldiers on the way home 221

The " Home " in Washington 222

Care at landing of men coming from the Army 223

Internal arrangements of the " Home " 223

What was done at the " Home " in nine months 225

CONTENTS. xiii

PAGE

Lodges near railroads and U. S. Pay Department 226

Collection of pensions and back-pay 227

Lodges at 6th Street Wharf and Alexandria Railroad 228

" Soldier's Rest " 229

Convalescent Camp 230

Nurse's " Home" 230

Question of continued care of invalid soldiers 231

Hospital Directory 234

Anecdotes 235

Conclusion

What means has the Commission had for its great work 238

Mr. Bloor's letter to the Branches 239

Estimate of value of goods contributed 240

Liberality of Telegraph and Express Companies, &c 240

Amount of money received 241

Complaints and answers 243

True work of women in General Hospitals 246

Medical Department 249

Reformed by Act of Congress, April, 1862 250

Present Surgeon-General, and his measures 251

Sanitary Commission as a teacher 253

Extract from " Atlantic Monthly " 254

Appendix A. Resolutions on Mr. Olmsted's resignation, and

Roster of the Commission 259

44 B. Circulars, June 21 and 22, 1861 261

44 C. List of surgical monographs 266

44 D. List of Inspectors of General Hospitals 268

44 E. Circular letter, and answers to complaints 271

44 F. Chicago Branch, and appeal to soldiers' families 282

44 G. Supplies to Army of Potomac 284

44 H. Help for prisoners in Richmond 285

44 I. Hospital cars 287

44 K. An officer's feelings toward the Commission. . . . 288

44 L. Expressions of gratitude from private soldiers . . 293

THE

UNITED STATES SANITAEY COMMISSION.