The national Republican., 1861-08-15
- ComfnIt OF the Soldiers " and "Care
OF the Sick"
SANITARY COMMISSION.
Washington, Treasury Building,

w August II, 1861.
To The ELto,s If he National Mteliiq.ncer:
The e White House for the accommodation
Of soldiers arriving In this city, noticed in your
issue Of Friday. has been built by order Of
General Mansfield, whose humanity thus sup.
plies what has heretofore been felt as a griev-
Gus want.
In another paragraph of the same date you
refer to building used a, place for storing
and asserting supple, for the s. ok and wound.
ed, in charge OF the Sanitary Commission.
Til accommodation thus eri,y,d by the com
mission In Its work Is, in fact, due to gencr-
ous response on the part of the Government
to the benevolent labors of the women Of the
country, and, more Immediately, to the prompt
and generous action Of the enlisbt ned head Of
the Qiut rmaster's Department, to whose en-
ersetlc and comprehensive views of duty the
nation has yet to be informed In what innu-
mcrubl. ways It is indebted.
ii wing had better means of knowing with
certainty and exactness the condition Of the
military hospitals than 1t is probable your re-
porter could have had, 1t may be proper for
me 10 confirm your statement Of their general
good management The buildings are badly
al 'pied to their purpose, and serious Difficult.
ties have had TO be commended with, but the
surgeons In charge have made the best use OF
the means at their command, and the degree
OF health, case, and comfort OF their patients
is generally as surprising as il is gratifying. l
need not say that statemcn, which appear d
In New York paper, to the I, fleet that the
condition Of the hospitals was so hopelessly
bad hat the secretary II the Sanitary Com.
mission was about to establish hospital for
The volunteers, to be supported independently
OF Government, is entirely an error. There
has been. | fear, disposition in some quar-
lcrs TO regard the commission as Ia some way
antagonistic 10 Government. or rat her OF the
more regular and eslabli.hed Government
agencies. There could not be a greater mis-
take. The commission was constituted by the
W,r Department. at the suggestion of the SIR
geon General.
II would b. false 10 its origin and un,uccass-
ful in i's purpose II II failed to harmoniz4 with
and strengthen The Government in all depart.
meats The general staff Of the army, organ.
'zel for small body Of soldiers, under per-
lcclly trained and experienced officers haa
suddenly 10 adapt itself to vast hos, of i'm
patient armed men, without capable inte? me
dia'e officers, without any knOaledge Gf the
business they have undertaken. without order
or discipline. Responsible differs of the Gov.
crnment cannot be expected. under these cir
cnmstances. TO occupy their time In studying
details, In considering the complaints. or pro
posals, dr advice. az even The offer Of material
rious motives. be d'sp"s "sed TO tender them
They have 10 deal with the slf, ,irs of the mo.
ment in the best way they "a with the ma
chinrry, and, as far as possible. in the manner
10 which they have been accustomed. II is
somewhat different, however, with Representa-
lions received from body Of gentlemen of
known probity and patriotism, givin. their
services without remuneration. including IN
their number some Uf established professional
aud scientific reputation, and appointed by
authority Of the Secretary If War; approved by
the President. The function and The respon-
sibiliIy OF ih' sanitary Commission is thus evi-
dent II may discov,r that which II deems to
be wrong mist ken. or insufficient; and, il so.
1t will point ont and urge the II medy frankly
directly. md with energy. persistence, aud zeal
corresponding to III strength Of | conviction
and the Importance which It's duty Of inquiry
has led ID to attach 10 III matter IN question.
lui IL. duty IL moi, rs soma have seemed TO
suppose. nnler any circumstance, to cmbar.
rass or 'hwart th- ola"s OF any department or
officer Of the Go:rrnmeat On The contrary,
Il Is It's dry and purpose /, aid those plans.
AID as far as possible TO bring into harmony
with them the popular and extra official mill
tary judgment, skill and b.nevol.nce OF the
country.
In accor'!nnca with this parposc. The supplies
for hospitals which have been entrusted TO the
Commission are delivered only where The 70
quest of hospital surgeon or other officer OF
the Government gives assurance that they are
need d. II Is apparent that no small part OF
lit gi's of the people hitherto offered the army
have been wasted. This il due. in part, to
disregard of I'll" plan ofhospital service adopted
by the Government, In which no provision is
made for the support aad carriage Of we'll
equipped regimental field hospitals. The Gov
erEment assumes, in the first plac' that men
enlisted for soldiers are sound strong, and
tough, capable Of enduring considerable fatigue
and hardship without serious injury. When
such men fall i'll, or are troubled with slight
soreness, wounds, or bruises, they may be re-
lieved from the fatigue and excessive exposure
Of guard duty, &o ard, II the regiment is on
the march, from the weight Of their mlsket and
knapsack. Unless severely III or disabled, how
ever, they are expected to be able still to en-
dnre the ordinary priVations Of soldiers, with.
ont spsoia! advantages of diet lodging, or
clothing, The surgeon Is the jadge of their
upiliness for regular duty, and if necessary,
administers remedies. For the accommodation
oi the surgeon when required to perform oper.