Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-07-29

The sanitary commission have issued a re.
cent circular to the public, of which the fol.
lowing is the essential part =
All volunteers in the service of the United
States can claim as their right, under the army
regulations, suitable clothing and equipment.
The quartermaster's department is now able to
supply nearly all proper demands upon it, and
will soon be prepared to do SO still more fully
and certainly. Before the end of the month,
the department will have engaged for instance
100000 yards Of flannel, 100000 pairs of
bootees, 500 900 pairs OF wooden stockings, 200,-
600 felt hats, 100000 haversacks, with blan.
kets, etc, in prOportiOn-these quantities being
in addition to what had been previously Sc.
cured. These supplies are of much superior
quality to those furnished by the state govern
ments, or those generally furnished by patriot
ic societies and individuals for the volunteers.
A large proportion of the articles furnished
soldiers gratuitously, or which they purchase
for their own use, are soon found to be incum.
ORANGES, and are thrown away or left behind,
where they will be useless, at the first impor
tant march of a campaign.
The same is true Of regmental hospital
supplies. 1t is not intended that men serious.
y i'll or wounded, shall remain with their reg
irnents, but that they shall be taken to 'gen-
eral hospitals" No provision is therefore
made for the supply or the conveyance of reg
mental hospitals. On an important advance
OF the troops, the surgeons stores, including
his tents and half wagon load, and when an
action is anticipated, a knapsack full is often
all that is allo ed to be carried. The wound
ed and sick are expected to be removed las
soon as their most immediate and urgent ne
cessities have been attended to, as far as prac-
tcabe in the open field) by means of ambu-
lances, TO general troop hospitals, in the rear
Regimental hospital supplies are thus of little
use.
It must be admitted that the provision for
general hospitals, however, is not all that the
country demands it should be for its dear vol
unteers. After great battles, or in case cpl
denies should rage in the army, large quaint.
ties OF bed clothing would be much wanted
for, under the present regulations, only straw
beds and blankets, without sheets or pillow
cases, can be at once provided, and the wound
ed lie in their field clothing. Precisely when
and where these articles will be wanted, can
not be known beforehand. The government
sanitary commission has, by advice of the sur
geon general, arranged to receive and hold in
readiness all such suitable articles as may be
furnished by voluntary contributions, and will
supply them where they will be most needed,
guarding against the waste which must attend
unsystematzed liberality.
It's best that all societies and individuals
disposed to aid the army, for the present con-
centrate their labor on the class OF articles in.
dicated. The sanitary commission will estab,
fish depots and forwarding agencies at differ
ent points, u list of which will soon be pub
lished For the present there is immediate
need of all that can be sent, at Washington.
Donations of materials and of money, may be
addressed to Fred. Law Olmstead, resident
secretary, office Of the Sanitary Commission,
Treasury Building, Washington.