The national Republican., 1861-10-26
brsad 70 the army, by the means suggested by

The company fund arrangement has been
successfully established in five regiments and
partially 90 In six more The plan has not
oeen Understood heretofore aud difficulties
have been thrown In the way Of the company
oficers by the regimental ccmmissaries. Re-
cent orders from head quarters have simplifcd
the process, so that more regiments are daily
adopting the plan.
About halt the regiments have suffers, some
appointed by the Secretary of War, most by
the colonels of the respective regiments. All
have the prices of articles fixed by board, as
defined by the regulations. Ardent spirits are
prohibited from all the regiments without an
exception. But little intoxication is apparent.
excepting Immediately after pay day.
There are but few absences from camp,
among the regiments under General Banks
more In those under General Dix, which IL ac-
counted for by the fact that the latter are situ-
ated in and about the city Of Baltimore, which
offers inducements for leave of absence. g.ut
There are no amusements of q systematic
character 10 camp. The men are in good
spirits, singing and dancing constituting their
chief recreation.
The Minnesota First, which was engaged In
the battle of the 2ls. July, has quite recovered
from the depression subsequent to that battle,
and is now not only in the best moral condi-
ton, but in the most effective state of disci-
pline. Nearly every regiment has lis regimen.
tai band, which aids the men in their efforts at .
amusement.
There have been no benevolent societies in
stituted IN any OF the regiments. At the time
of my visit, and at the time of the visit Of the
inspectors, but few of The regiments had been
paid, consequently no information was to be
obtained in relation to the disposition of the
men to send home part of their pay. l'
In discipline there has been a great improve.
ment The efficiency Of the army of the Upper
Potomac, Is being increased each day by the
frequent drlliugs in company, by regimeuta
parades, and reviews in brigade. ,..r
Eighteen of the regiments were thoroughly
inspected at the time OF enlistment or imme-
diately subsequent to it, either by State med
ical officer or the surgeon Of the regiment. The
rest were but partially inspected, or not at ALL
The men Of fifteen regiments have been sys-
tematically vaccinated. Five surgeons have
made acquisitions for vaccine virus for their
| regiments, but had not received supply. No
data in relation to vaccination, and the humber
of cases of success, have been collected, In
general, the medical officers ore men of expert
ence, and have passed medical examination
before board appointed by the Governor Of
the State from which the regiment came, and
were recommended by the board, and appoint
ed by the Governor upon this recommenda-
ton.
Camp hospitals have been organized in all of
the regiments, and are generally well supplied
with all the requisite instruments and necessary
medicines. The deficiencies are In hospital
furniture, such as beds, sheets, blankets, shirts,
drawers, stockings, &c, &c. These have in a
| great measure been supplied, as needed by the
Commission, upon the requisition Of an inspec-
tor.
There have been dist ibuted during the last
month, $40 shirts, 493 pairs drawers, 244 sheets
243 pairs socks 1G7 pocket handkerchiefs, 12S
| had nko NIL -
mel belts, so pairs slippers, IL boxes jelly, and
water beds; besides sick gowns, farina, sago,
and other delicacies. Some of the regiments
had \ supply Of most of these articles brought
from home. All the regiments have not yet
received aid from the Commission. As their
time in the field lengthens, they will require
these articles, and their wants will increase
with their length of service.
A brigade hospital is In process of construc.
tion in Poolesvile, under the able management
of DR.. A. B. Crosby. tits to be bnilt ofboards
upon plan furnished me. which beg to call
your attention to. (Doc. d. At DR.. Crosby's
request, have sent him quite complete set
Of sheets, shirts, and other hospital stores for
this hospital which is to have the capacity of
| thirty.two bGds.
Ther regiments are not generally we'll supplied
with ambulances' or field stretchers They all
have from two TO five ambulan:es. mostly the
two.wheeled. The opinion of those who have
had occasion to use the ambulances is, that the
| fisd stretchers will prove of more real service
on the field than the two-wheeed ambulances,
| and that the four-wheeled ambulances are to be
preferred for carrying the wounded over rough
roads. In but one regiment Twelfth Massa-
chuset!s) has an ambulance corps been organ.
lied and drilled in its duty.
Excellent care is universally taken of the
sick. The accessories are not always the best.
Bedticks are greatly needed by many of the
regiments.
The inspectors have attem pied to supply this
want whenever 1t was urgent. Cots are also
wanted. The Massachusetts, regiments are
usually fitted out with hospital cots of iroa,
folding up. and easy both of setting up and OF
transportation. The surgeons, however, do not
like them. The form Of cot with sacking bot.
tom, used in the general hospital at Baltimore,
seemed to me to answer the purpose, in some
respects, better than any have seen. have
i obtained one from the makers to present to the
Commission. Made Of wood, it is little more
bulky than the iron cot, but can be rolled into
small compass; so that dozen will take but
little more room than dozen Of the iron cots
now used and transported by the Massachusetts,
regiments.
The diseases prevailing are the different
forms of fever-typhoid, remittent, and inter-
mittent. Measles has mostly disappeared
Pneumonia has commenced to appear, and
acute rheumatism has increased in frequency.
Comparatively few have been transferred to
the general hospital, which is too far away.
The transfers have to be carried 20 miles by
ambulance to the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
at Monrovia, or rs miles to Frederick, over
hiily and rough road, and thence by rail so or
60 miles to Baltimore. The result is that when
the very sick are sent, the journey ia of great
injury b them. The mistake Is made of send
ing their cases of typhoid fever too late.
The mortality in the regimental hospitals
has been slight. Some regiments have been in
the field from three to five months without
having death from disease. (Tweniy eighth
New York, First Minnesota.) The rule is, that
all the regiments are improving in general
health. In but one regiment has any prophy-
Tactic for malaria been used. First Minnesota.)
Quinne bitters were furnished to the mrpeon
of this regiment Or. Murphy by the Com