The national Republican., 1861-10-25
GENERAL. ORDrR-

GENERAL. ORDER.
The following general order has been issued
at the Adjutant Generals Office:
l. II Is observed that many officers Of The
army pay postage on official communica ions
addressed to the Adjutant General, and that
others address their COMMUNICATIONS to the As
sistants in the Adjutant Generals ONCE. Both
OF these practices are wrong and must cease.
The Adjutant General Is authorized to frank
They should, therefore, be left unpaid and ad.
dressed, in oil cases, to The Adjutant General
Of the Army"
II. The attention of officers having part in
the discharge of soldiers for disability, is
called to paragraphs l67 and 16s, Revised Reg
ulation Of the Army, to the instructions for the
commander Of the company contained In the
form of the Certificate Of Disabili y, (page 1926
Revised Regulations,) and to note attached
to that form, which il In the following words
"When probable case Tor pension, special
care must be taken to state the degree Of dis
ability" r.
The neglect OF company commanders to state
the cause, when known, and other facts con.
nected whh the disability and of the Surgeon
to state Its degree, may deprive worthy men
of the pensions to which they are entitled.
DUTIES OF BRIGADE SURGEONS, ETC.
| HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Washington. Oct. 3, 1861.
General Orders, No. 20.
| The following regulations respecting the du
ties Of brigade surgeons are published for the
government of oil concerned:
| l. The brigade surgeons will frequently in
spect the police. cooking, clothing, and cleanli
ness Of the camps and men in their respective
brigades; the position and condition Of the
sinks, the drainage of the camp grounds, the
ventilation. of the tents, etc.; making written
reports to the brigade commanders whenever,
In their opinion, any errors In these respects
require correction, and sending duplicates Of
these reports to the medical director of the
army
2. They will see that the medicines, hospital
stores instruments, and dressings Of the several
regimental surgeons are kept constantly suff
cient in quantity, in good order and always
ready for active service
3. They will collect from the several regi.
mental surgeons, and transmit, every Saturday
morning, to the medical director, q COPY OF
their morniug report made to the commanding
officer of their regiment, and will accompany
these with remarks showing the character O
the principal diseases prevailing.
4. They will promptly report TO the m ,dcal
director all changes in station, or location, O
themselves, or of any of the medical officers IL
thority of the order by which such changes
were made.
5. They will inspect carefully all men receiv
ing certificates Of disability for discharge, and
if they approve, they will countersign sucl
certificates.
6. The hospital attendants to the numbe
Of ten to a regiment, and the regimental bands
will be assembled under the supervision of tn,
brigade surgeons, aud will be drilled one hou
each day, except Sunday, by the regimenta
medical officers, in setting up and dismautlinl
the hand.stretchers, litters, and smbulances. il
i handling men carefully placing them upon II,
Q ters and ambulance beds, putting them into tn
Q ambulances taking them out etc.; carryin
8 men upon the hand-strei chers, (observing tha
|, the leading bearers step off with the left foot
! ! and the rear bearers with the rights in shor
: in everything that can render this service efftc
4 tive and the most comfortable for the wouude
;, who are to be transported.
I 7. Brigade surgeons will see that the order
OF the commanding general, in relation to th
uses to which ambulances ure to be applied
are strictly obeyed, and they will repor
promptly to the brigade commands all infrac
8 tions of these orders.
t 8. Whenever n skirmish or affair of outp st
v occurs, in which any portion of their brigades
tengaged, they will see that the ambulanc an
y ST. etchers properly manned with the drille
% men are In immediate readiness and attendanc
a to bring off the wounded and that the reg
It men al medical officers are at their posts, wit
"a their instruments, dressings, and hospital knaI
sacks in complete order, and ready for immt
:, diate use, 80 that no delay may occur in.rende
u ing the necessary surgical aid to the wounded
+ 8. They will report In writing to the m
d ical director, within twenty-four hours afte
y any affair with the enemy, the name rank, ar
, regiment, of each Of the wounded, the natur
and situation Cf the wounds, and the surgics
o means adopted in the case.
r 10. Brigade surgeons will be held respons
BILE that the hospital service in their brigades
kept constantly effective and In readiness for an
sl emergency. No remissness In this respect wi
d be tolerated or overlooked.
3 By command Of Major General Mcclellan:
:, S. WILLIAMS, Assist Adj't Geu'
~ Official: RTCH'D B. IRWIN, Aide. Camp
y Note.-The medical director desires that ca
e SECTION Of the shoulder and elbow Joints sha
j" be resorted to in preference to amputation,
a. all cases Offering reasonable hope of succes
n and that Pirigotfs, operation at the aukl
should be preferred to Choparts or to ampr
@ tation above the ankle, in cases that might az
], nit Of q choice.