New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-06
WAR MOVEMENTS IN NEW-YORk.
WHAT PRIVATE BENEv0LENCE CAN Do
FOR THE ARMY.
CoorER INSTITUTE, n. Y, RooM No. :

the Board of the WOmen5 CentTal AseoclaliOn Va Nv
lief, at ts meeting, May D. 1861, and ordered 70 DO
printed for public information
REPORT.
The Executive Committee Of the Womens Cen'i"'
Association Of Relief have devoted Themselves since inc
organization of the Board 10 careful and exac 'nq
concerning the actual and probable sanitary vans -
the Army in the present campaign. Aver ione anu
thorough communication with the U. O. IA hieu'"'
Purvevor in New-York-;he highest authority eA'eP'
the Bnresu Mt Washington, and able to give al inior
nation which could be obtained at headqaanen-the
Committee ia able TO offer the following information
for the general guidance Of this ana other AsSoclos
for extra-Oicial ana. - .:.1. H.,
bv the bonevolenoe of the public 1t l. necessary 10
know what is done and what viii be done by the Gov
eminent iiself for the health and healing OF le army
The military forces OF the tLIed States are mace up
Of fret, the regular army second, volunteer corps;
hind drafts from the militia of the States The t5,OCl
men called for by the first proclamation Of the fe',
dent and the new levy made by the second, are all
mustered at Into the service Of the ned STATES
Government aud provided for under the ordinary laws
which govern the army. The volunteers, who were
cent oil like the 9TH Regiment and others. to the I'M
mediate defense OF the captl do not belong 10 The
IS 900 and at the expense OF the State thai cent
them until actually coming under the command OF lie
authorities at Washington. IL q certain sense, all the
regiments mot expressly created az an addition 10 the
regular army volunteers, because tire PATRIOTISM OF
tie country has rushed into the ranks. But there Il
difference between those who volunteered Tor thHty
DAYS for tie defense OF the capital and those who are
enlisted under the President procamations.
This explanation necessary 70 accoun, for the large
amount Of oxtra-otcia AMI required, both IN tue rhls
ING, forwarding and furnishing with supplies ana
medical stores Of many regiments. The thirlT-day
volunteers had 10 claim the Government mill they
reached the seat of tie struggle. Aud many OF Tue
other regiments whose claim was perfect from their
organization, did not exactly know ihelI nights or now
10 assert them. There has BEEN then considerable
claim founded in reality, and still larger one founded
in ms;ake uuon the asi tanCe Of private sources Of
supply of lint bandages and medical st0rcs ana there
is still demand which WI! probably disappear oniy
when the organization Of the medical barcau IL unceI-
stood by the public. This we now propose 10 explain
The Medical SAT- Of he army consist Of q Surgeon
General with bureau at Washington, at the head OF
n corps of surgeons and surgeons l07 In mum.
Der in the latest army list. These are carefully selected
men of high moral character and good professional
attanments Al al f0rtIesses forte arsenal ports, or
wherever the soldiers Of the United States Army are
they are ACCOMPANIED and watched over IN peace AMI
Ia war by the army surgeons. AND from the eAamn&-
ton of the reports regularly made BY these surgeons
and which are systematically tabuated IN the Medical
Statistics OF the United States Arn-a quaiio OF two
volumes extending over the main history OF the army
it is plain that a high degree of discipline H.
penee and activity exists in this department. An
army medical board meets once year for the exam
nation of candidates. and Is az liberty 10 suggest any
improvements III the Service aid these are usually
adopted
Ills obvious from an inspection Of the reports Of the
surgeons and the army medical board, that unsined
pains are taken BY the Government IN the care and for
Tie care Of the sick and wounded and that IN ordinary
needs no advice aid perusal Of
the tables Of medical supplies will prove that nothing
esteemed important, useful comforting 10 the tlck
of the army, overlooked If we except certain articles
Of coting hereafter to be named; that full s1iIy Of
lint bandages medcines slints, wine, eTe allotted to
L urd nd that QT
all within the reach Of the common medical
purveyor who st once hls every order for stores
made by authority, in favor of any and AL regiments
in the service Of the United States. Some OF The reg-
ments la, ly buried on have already explained
were not when mskingup thoE supplies. in the sory-
ice of the United States aud therefore not entitled 70
draw upon the medical Puryeyor. depot of stores,
however exists at Washington, and these regiments
had no real occasion to encamber tlemselyes with
medical supplies, which awaited their order when they
reached the scene where they would be wanted. Tie
statements IN the papers can eally DC
reconclled By a due consideration Of these facts.
Ii ia proper to add that with d few exceptions, no
special demand exists any time, or 10 likely "a exist
for extra stores of any kud in the hospitals es ibhshed
near the seat OF war; or on the frontier Is! an excel
lent Arrangement fund fully adequate 10 meet al the
wants of the sick and wounded not provided for BY the
Regulations accrucs in this special way. The money
value of the rations which the sick are entitled TO- bu
cannot eat Is credited TO The Hospital iund ana Drawn
mon for all necessary comforts aud tbs Il rarely or
never exbaus cd. 10 iildstraie: In the Mexican war
Gen. Scott, who humanely forbade the facAing Of the
CITY of Mexico demanded and received $lN,oJO from
the authorities the piIce oil this iOroeaidure VI
ia sIn 500 600 was consecrated 10 the founding OF
Soldiers Home in Washington 10 which the soldiers
nav 81 50 year from their pay, which entities them,
when DISABLED, to a refuge there for life. Twenty
thousand dollars he placed IN the hands Oh me medical
director of our MeXIcan army 70 exc out The comfort
Of the slek and wounded in the hospitals But the
medical director reported that he cOuo way of
amending any additional money for their comfort which
was amply provided for and asked and obtained leave
in lieu Of this TO divide this sum S0OOO among tic
W ounded, in money.
II il ro,sibe Al hough not by any means acknowl
edged bv the authorities that the large supply Of lint.
bandages, &c, which the impulsive bcncyolenCe Of
the women il pouring into the depots may he, under
convenience TO the Government. II certainly saves
them some money aud time, and there can be no
wisdom in rudelv stopping natural and spontaneous
form Of eymrathy with the exposed brohers friends,
and lovers who have gone into the field. But there s
no reel necessity for il. The Government has money
TO buy and can Immediately order, any amount OF
these stores any OF those found upon the long care
full and nearly complete list Of the liable Tor General
and Port HosIilals' Orthe Table for Field Service
The only articles which tleauthOrt!is confess them
selves unable TO innish and Of which they stand in
need are tie following, not upon the army st, and
not within their legal reach Dressng-gowns, night
shirts flannel undertaking m general, drawers
made loosel socks slippers flannel bandagcs for the
abdomen yard long inches wide.
1t certainly seems unwise 10 exhaust the private
benefcence of the country On what belongs to and
i cheerfuly and efficiently assumed by the Govern
ment. Beside stepping into sphere where interfer
ence cOrnpcaes and even embarrasses the public ac
ton il is a work OF supererogaiOn that Weaken5 the
ability 10 rence Bubstaus services in other directions.
Ii is recommended that the industry of associations
shall be turned into the direction indicated By the
above hst aud that considerable portion Of the labor
now beuCyolently bused should be turned into efforts
to supply the wants OF tie rel, who need p,eeauon-
arv supplies of shirs, fannels, drawers, Hayelock
sbo IN M at