The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1779-06-19 00:00:00, page 2

ba. MORGAN's Vindication 1
(Continued from our lafl.)
Tty 0 letters to the Medical Committee of Congress,
giving information of the state of the General Hof
gjtal, pointing out thekwants thereof and defects in the
ellablifhment, and ' calling for the necessary regulations
and power to introduce order, fyflem and regularity.'
Ne^w trk, June z *77,
To the Honourable SAMUEL ADAMS, % Mm-,
ber of the Medical Committee of Congref.
SIR, 1
q*^ H E state of the army in Canada, according to Dr.
& Lind's account, (who is just arrived from thence,
by order of General Sullivan, for a supply of medicines)
is truly deplorable.- I have seen no return of the sick, but
he assures me, that in the beginning of this month, there
were no less than 1800 men down with the final! pox ; and
the total of sick and unfit for duty amounted to 3300
men; and be fays, they have no medicines: Such a re
port is scarcely credible, but you may learn the phrticu^
tars, yourfelf, from him, as he intends going to Phila
delphia.'
General Gates sets out to morrow, to take the command
es the army in Canada. Dr. Potts will accompany him.
I have therefore given orders to supply him,, from the
General Hospital, with a large chert of inch medicines as
I can best spare; and which can be got ready to-morrow
before his departure.
From all I am able to learn, every thing in the medical
department, in Canada, displays' one Scene of confufion
and anarchy: Nor have the Congress taken upon itfelf to
eftabidh, or verted any person whatever, with a power
Efficient to establish a general Hospital in Canada.
The Congress cannot, in my humble opinion, be too
fpcedy in determining what steps are to be taken for this
purpose, and for fettling a due subordination amonffl the
Surgeons there. It would be of particular use, that the l
intentions, of Congress were made known in refpeH to
' Dr. Stringer and Dr. Potts, whether either of them is to
be considered as Director, by appointment of Congress,
and which of them; or whether they are both to be look
ed upon as Surgeons depending on, and anting by in
flruftions from me. I have never seen Dr. Stringer's
.cemmiffion. In either case, they gill require more help
than they have at present; and in the latter, I foppofe I
ought to have the appointment of three or four more Hos
pital Surgeons, an Apothecary, and a efficiency of Mates
in that department, without diminifhmg the number I
have allowed me for the army at New-York, as I have \
none here that are fuperfluous. O&er officers, as a Store
keeper, Stewart and Matron, are also wanted in Canada,
with Nurses and oocafionai Labourers, Whatever is de
termined on, inrefpeH to these matters, I should be glad
0 know immediately 1 Till then, my hands are tied up,
andthe arr^y fuffering for want of help. lam not sure
that our disgrace and misfortunes in Canada are not ow
ing, in a great measure, to the fhameful proceedings of
the Surgeons, in fprbading the small pot by innoculadon,
amongrt the soldiery, in f\c§ of the enemy. Indeed of
innoculating the soldiery, under like circumfanres before
Borton, General Washington, upon my representation,
Continued to keep in pay a Surgeon and Mate, to attend
all that fell ill of the finall-pox. A Hospital was fixed for
their reception only, in a retired place, and a guard set
round it, and all communication betwixt it and the array
cut off; awd so soon as any one was feited with 'the in
fe&jou, of whatever rank, he was sent to the small pox
Hospital. By this means, every inconveniency, arising
from the appearance of the (mall-pox, was prevented, and
the army effectually secured from danger, from that
quarter.
Had there been a General Hospital in Canada, there
would have been better orders, and fom^ subordination
observed, which is now wholly, wanting; and it is to be
feared, that whilst the Congress, occupied in a multipli
city of weighty concerns, can proceed but slowly on this
matter, the opportunity may be loft. Rather than peft
pone, however, so important a concern, would it not be
right to place full Confidence and power in a proper per-'
son, capable to arrange these matters, as they ought to be,
with ample authority 'for the purpose, and rather than fuf
fer a less of men, to the difeouragement of the whole ar
my, for want of a dueprpvifipn being made for the sick
and wounded.
If the Congress will fix on the means and manner of
establishing a General Hospital at Canada, it will ease me
of much trouble; but if they are not at leisure, or not fuf
ficjently acquainted with what is the proper manner, and
will order me to do it for them, giving me such power as
they think adequate, I will do the befl I can toe/ed this
definable .end 'immediately. Excufy Sir, my dwelling
so earnestly on this fobjeft; it is of the utmost conse
quence to the service, and delays are dangerous I can
not expeH to receive inftruHions, on this matter, from
General Wafliington ; he supposes, that I underhand the
affairs of this department, and relies wholly on me for
every thing which relates t® it.. Bui I neither durfl, nor
•will I prefame, to meddle in affairs, cut of my province,
or that are beyond the f,here, in ^bich, I fappofe, I ^as
defined originally, by Cengrty, . to mo^,—Such, I ima
gine, is the arrangement of Hospital affairs, in Canada,
and the undertaking to supply the Surgeons there with
what is neCeffary for a General Hospital, without frefli in
ftruftions, or more ample power than I now have, either
from the Congress or Commander in Chief, as my com
mission directs me to look to them, for orders.
I wait, impatiently, for an Order from Congress, to im
power me to demand such a proportion of the Continental
medicines, left in the care of Messieurs Delany and Smith,
as they may think fit to allot for this department. In de
termining that proportion, they will please to confider,
(if we can trust to Dr. Lind's account) that there is not
ah article of medicine in Canada, in the hands of any
Surgeon on that expedition.
}une 26, 1776. Since writing the above, Dr. Potts
having received a supply of medicines, from the General
Hospital store.. Dr. Lind has set off with General Gates
awd him, for Canada. I remain, with great esteem. Sir,
Your most obedient, and very humble servant,
JOHNMORGAN.
•#* Ibis may certify, that I remember to have heard.
Doctor MORGAN ,read the foregoing letter, in July,
1776, togetbr with je^eral otherr, upon the fubjefi oj the
General Hospital and Regimental Surgeons, all inculcating
the immediate neceffty 0, putting them uton a proper foot
ing. JOHN WARREN, Hospital Surgeon,
' Before. 1 proceed in laying before the public, 'fofecond
letter in my narrative to the Committee of Congress, it ^tll
net be improper to inform the reader of tie occafan off.
Having been returned to camp about a fortnight, from st
conference with the Medical Committee of Congress at P^M
del; hia, in switch I had set forth my mfaffeitne), without
farther po^wer aridinJirua10,4, to anftuer all the calls dcii
iy made on me, in an extenjive and unfetlLd department ;
and having received no ordersJrom Congress all this vubile,
in anfiver to m) prefog a/plication for the puffe; conJi
dcring the inexperience and prevailing ignorance of the ge
nerality of the Rcgimental Surgeons in she duties of their mili
tary flatten. 1 dreia up a fct of inftruaions to ascertain
their duties, particularly in case of aftion; these being com
municated to the General were approved of by him in the or
der of the day, which required every Surgeon in the army to
take a copy and to regulate kimfelf accordingly. Upon refere
fentationjrom them importuning to be allodved Regimental or•
Brigade Hojpitais, and represent tug that they laboured under
many inconveniences and difficulties for want of attention in
their original appointments, to make fuitakle provifon for
tbsmrl drew up aft of regulations, which they were great
1, pl?afed dvitb, for that purpose. to be laid before Congress
for its approbation, but which, however, were never rati
fied, on account of a different plan that was for after adopt
ed by its autboriy, and order ed to be carried into execution.
L E T/T E R SECOND.
Nevr York, July, 1776.
To Mefoeurs SAMUEL ADAMS, A/?; ardtbe rest
of the Medical Committee of Congress.
Gentlemen,
^, AVING put the General Hospital on a good footing
JLX at New-York, and provided it with a pretty consi
derable stock of what it may stand in need or (as a Ge
lic.d Hospital), I have thought it my duty to turn myat
tentiob to the Regimental Surgeons. Their situation, ever
finc^ Thave been in the army, has been such as to require
a great deal of regulation.
If I were to confine myfelf to the true and proper busi
ness of Director General of the Hospital, I Ihonld have
\very little e^ncetns with them as Regimented Surgeons,
according to th'e plan of the Britilh eftabliihmept. It
would be principally confined to .the receiving such sick
from them, into the General Hospital, as they could not
take care of themselves ; to assist in the examination of such
as.offered themfeWes candidates for,the places of Surgeons
and Mates ; and to give orders to them to'fupply tnem
felves with proper medicinal chests, for each regiment, and
all the infiruments aod implements neceffafy for them to
be provided with, and fee it done. The making provision
of thole articles mould depend on themselves; but they
ought to be supplied 'with the means, whether by an allow
.ance of money adequate to the provision, or by a fioppage
from the mens pay.
I found them, upon enquiry, deftitude of every article;
whether of medicine!, instruments, bandages or other im
plements of surgery ; and not knowing where to provide
what was nectifary,^ or who to look to for afliftahee.
With a view to promote the service all that lay in my
power, I hath attempted to bring them together, to exa
mine into the state of their wants ; to poiup out what they
ought to be furnilhed with ; todire& them where to look
fcr supplies; and to bring th,n under fonne proper regu
lations.
To answer these feverahput^ofes, I began, by requeuing
the General to issue out orders for each Surgeon, to make
a return of wnat medicines he had 011 hand. To my sor
row, I must fay it, excepting two or three regiments, the
flock of all the regiments at Cambridge put together, would
scarcely have ma&e one good chefi. I procured all I could
get at Boflon, and have, from thence, and from some
purchases of (hops at Salem, and some articles I got at
Newport, Norwich and New York, furnished regiment
-1 al chests to all the Regimental Surgeons, who have hither
to applied, to the amount of near twenty ; and am fiill
furniihing all the new regiments that daily come in.
In the next place, I sketched out a plan ofcondud, for
the Surgeons of regiments in case of action, of which the
General approved, and gave out in orders, that they should
attend, and take directions from me, on that head. At
the fame time, I defirtd a report to be delivered in, of their
Surgeons infiruments, andjaandages fit for use, agreeable
to a form given them for the purpose. Fifteen Regiment
al Surgecus made their returns accordingly ; from which
I have drawn up-one general return,- to ihew the amount :
I fuppbfe them to be, at lead, as well provided as any o
thers, that have neglected to pay due attention t® the or
der, and do find, that the regiments now coming in have
Surgeons and Mates, but not one article of medicine, or
any thing in the way of Surgery, but all depend on me
for fupplie.%,
I have sketched out, what in my opinion, every regi
ment ought to be supplied with, in the way of inrtruments.
By comparing this sketch, with the returns made for fifteen
regiments, the great want of every thing essential to them,
as Surgeons, will be evident.
To make amends for their defeat, lam well off in the
General Hospital, except in a few particulars. I have pro
vided ie,ooo bandages, have some hundred old Sheets, and
a ftock~of medicines (tho' unafforted;) I have of capital
inflruments nearly enough for Hospital use. But, in the
mean time, what is to become of the Regimental Surgeons ?
Should I divide my stores amongst them, they would be
dissipated, and ourselves left dertithte. To observe a me
dium. I have ordered to be issued fr©m the General Hos
pital stores, 60 bandages, 2 flieets, 4 tourniquets, a quan
tity of lint and tow, and a chest of medicines, oat of what
I have collected with the assistance of the Hospital Sur
geons and Mates, who bar# no proportion, in number, to
the Regimental Surgeons and Mates, (there being perhaps
40 regiments here) reserving the rest to supply that parti
cular part of the army which may fiand in most need:
But of instruments, I have none to spare, and I begin to
want some capital medicines.—Moreover, symptoms of a
putrid fever begin to appear.
In this situation, I have called many of the Regimental
Surgeons together ; have had a conference witk them ; de
sired a deputation from each brigade; have given them a
plan of regulations for Regimental Hospitals, and a form
of a memorial, or representation to Congress. They all
look to me, for supplies of every thing they want, I have
no authority for that purpose. It is contrary to my
ju^gme^t to supply there with all they want. To provu
this, I refer yow to all who k^ow dry tmn~ of the maMer.
I refer you to Dr. Bass, in Philadelphia, ' who knows these
matters as well as any man: I refer you fb a copy of a
letter, on this Abject, from a man of experience, which I
enclose . I must not, I durfl not transgress orders, or ex
ceed my line of duty more than disobey, or go contrary to
them. It is the fame thing, I call lor orders. I thui
lllrink from no fatigue : Say whrt is my duty, and to the
best of my ppwer, I will obey : But left ve me not without
orders. Every General, every Colonel of a regiment, ever,
Surgten lathe army think I have full power, and amble
ihflra&ions, and know not wher^ to apply for tee relief of
their men, if sick or wounded, and needing uncommon
supplies, i, I cannot afford them. It is a cruel situation.
My errant to Philadelphia was to represent these things ,
to fettle the channels of supply; to obtain fufficienomeaas,
or authority fuhitient to procure them. L^m bouhd to u
spot: Scarcely could I obtain pefmifEon.tofcwe this
place, for a few days, to come to Philadelphia, and l; : y
these metiers before you.
Again, I am prefled cn the fide o f Canada I have
wrote preffmgly on this subj. H. I have sent you a letter
from Dr. Potts. He fays, mere are 3000 sick, coming to
Albany. I have not received the leaft.anfw% or instruc
tion from Congress; nor can I give any, assistance to that
part o' the army, without.order^cr power. Let them give
me orders, whether limited or ample, they shall be obeyed.
I will answer for my condcH. But do not make me no
minal General Dfr&&or, and leave me, at the fame time;
a derthute, ah, Iplefs one. I have 'requeued my propor
tion of the, niirdicipes in the hands of Meffiebrs Delany
and Smith, to be kept farced, untouched, fubjeft to my
order: Perhaps it is too late to repeat the requefi.
I will inclofe fhis, with a plan observed by the Eriirfh.,
in the conduct of. their Qcucral and Regimental Hospitals ;
and papers to'illuftrate andiuppta utiat I have written ;
fufiicient to compile feme rules, or 'form force orders. I
, eg inrtruments may be feat us, particularly, amputating ;
crooked ,needles and fpung^. The enemy are at hand -:
The campaign is caving: I have done all my limited
power will allow. I hope, though late; almost too late„
yet that it is not altogether so, either to receive power,
inftru&tons; or meads to regulate the affairs of my depart
ment. I have done try duty, in guJug the secefiafy in
fcrmaticn for what is conceded with it, and in preparing
for the faithful difehargeof my trust. I new rest the mat
ter on your.determinations, being, with all pefEble re
gard, Gentlemen,, Your inert dutiful and obedient Ser
vant, 4 JOHN Morgan.
On the i,th day 6f July, 1776, Congress parted a refulve,
^' forbidding the iffu:n, of Hospital stores to regimental
'' SurgtOils," This measure, though deeded by Con-,
grefs to be absolutely necefiary, produced an universal dif
centent among the regimental Surgeons, who peured forth
their clamors ^gainft the Hospital Department, as is set
forth in Meffeurs Crofoys and Ridgely's certificate. In
cohfequence, 2 Council of General Officers, confining of
Generals Futnam, Heath, Spencer, Sullivan, Green,
Lord Stirling, and Knox, -was held about the firft of Au
gurt; but before this Council, the regimental Surgeons
unaiLmoufly declared themselves, “ to be well fatished
“ with my condud, my attention to, and my endeavours
" to serve them." "And two of them, who were appoint
ed by the rest of the regimental Surgeons to confider of
the proper fleps to be taken, to get them placed on a foot
ing more fatisfaftory to them, having been at force pains
to give a particular account of my proposals, and efforts
to co-operate with them, so far as I might, confident with
fry Ration and the refo/ves of Congress for the general
good of the service; do, in behalf of themselves, and other
regimental Surgeons, proceed thus ——" The proposals
“ above-mentioned for regulating all these matters, and
•" the memorial and petition to .Congress, drawn up by
" the Director General, to be finned by the regimental
“ Surgeons, and fecondea by bimfeif, representing the
" distressed situation of the regimental Surgeons, the
' want of proper supplies of iuftruments, chirurgical im
" plements, and Hospital stores, as well as of every other
" necessary and convenience for difeharging our duty to
" the sick and wounded, praying for relief, were read, de^
" liberated upon, and approved by the regimental Sur
" geons, and agreed to be sent: And we are of opinion,
“ that, if those proposals could have been adopted, they,
" would haye given general fatisfaHion, and tended to
" prevent those many grievances and complaints which
“ afterwards arose for want thereof. But certain resolves
" of Congress, dated July 17, 1776, appearing at that
" time, put a fiop to our proceedings.—At this, as well
" as at all other times, the Director General appeared
" willing to use his utmost influence for the redress of our
" grievances, and anxi^uJly fo!icitou> for promoting the
“ ufefulnefs of the regimental Surgeons, and having them
" placed on a better footing."
(Signed) “ JAMES COGSWELL, late Surgeon
of Col. Silliman's Regiment.
" WILLIAM EUSTIS, late Surgeon
of Col. Knox's Reg. of Artillery."
His Excellency, General Reed, President of the State
of Pennsylvania, thus expresses himfelf relative to my at
tention in the Medical Department i " I am of opinion,
" from what I observed, (having at that time the honour
'? of being Adjutant General of the army) that Doctor
" Morgan difeovered very great industry and application
“ to the Medical Department, in forming rules and re
“ gelations for the sick, and also in collecting stores and
“ medicines. JOSEPH REED."
(To be continued. )
^^^^^^b^t^
Philadelphia, June id.
THIRTY DOLLARS REWARD
STRAYED or STOLEN from off the Commons,
' on Saturday th^ twelfth infant, a black HORSE,
about xz or 13 years old, between 13 and 14 hands high,
a natural faft pacer, with a lofty carriage, very heavy
ears and under lip, both bis eye-lids tore, and a short
Switch tail,; when feeding very greedy, and when stand
ing very sleepy ; be is lew in frih. Whoever brings Did
horse to the fubferiber at Mr. Hiltzbeimer's yard, shall
receive the above reward from Mr. Hiltzhtimer, or
JAMESBARRETT.