Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-10-31
THE SANITARY COMMISSION.

Il
..-r--r-u---zu.u---s--zszrs
THE SANITARY COMMISSION.
AS our American people learn again from
new experience the sad details of war, 1t is
found not to consist entirely in the shock OF
arms and the deadly encounter with visible
foe. These are the features that claim the at
tention of the historian, while the prominent
actors therein are accounted the heroes of
campaign and it must be allowed that by such
events decision of the contest is effected.
However, the unwritten history of any cam
paign would record acts of heroism and traits
of courage, in those departments where the
soldier is simply sustained and prepared for his
feld-duties, or nursed and revived after an ac-
tual conflict, which would lose nothing in
comparison with the former.
One of our recent volunteers from this vii
lage, remarked in relation to his undertaking
in this new profession, 81 am tough now, mean
to take good care of myself in camp, and there
is only now and then a day Of fighting, you
know" A rough way of calculating the chan
ces of coming back from the war; to be sure
but not so far from the logic of facts, after all.
1t is known that in almost every war, the eight
ing-days" are not the most destructive, they
being less numerous of course, but the days in
which the soldier is left to endure hunger and
fatigue without the the excitement of the battle,
or to languish in the hospital with inadequate
provision for his recovery.
The Sanitary Commission, of which much
hoe dc IL, fhn nd
elsewhere, contemplates a work in the hospitals
and camps of our army, which must in great
measure alleviate the condition of our men at
the seat of war; AL hough its actions are over
and above what the Government is bound to do
for her soldiers-though through the magnitude
of the emergency, her agents are confessedly
incompetent to fulfil even this at present, who
shall say that the projectors of the Sanitary
Commission undertake too much or ask too
much?
The undertaking is, that of frequently and
regularly visiting every camp and military hos
pital in the entire army, to ascertain its wants
and to minister to the same to tie extent of
their ability. With broad view to the crcum-
stances of the whole case, the "ounce of pre-
vention" is not forgotten, but the agents of the
Commission are on the alert to discover those
matters which may prejudice the health of any
camp, in its location or the habits of the men
and in suggesting those things which conduce
to the best physical condition of the men, which
may have been overlooked by the military Off
GERS in pressure of other claims, they have
been favorably listened to by the highest off
GERS, and indeed their whole work commands
the approval of the Secy. of War and Gen.
Mcclellan. An Office is afforded the Commits
sion, in the Treasury Buildings at Washington,
and it is stated by the agents. whose known
character assures the truthfuness of the report,
that of sixty thousand articles which have been
received by them, not one has failed to reach
its destination.
The patriotic women of this village have Or
ganized an association for purposes of making
articles as designated by the commission viz
Blankets, Quilts, Knit Wooden Socks, &C., and
place of deposit has been arranged at D. w.
Lewis shoe-store, where articles may be left by
any person, with an assurance that they will he
forwarded direct to Washington, and become
useful to those for whom they intended, be-
You'd preadventure. Meetings for the dstri-
button of work and the discussion of all mat
tiers connected with the prosecution of the OBJ
jects of the association are held each Tuesday
P. NJ at the Chapel of the Congregational
Church. The invitation is general. Persons
from cur whole neighborhood may obtain fur
Their information of the plans and objects con-
templated, by attending these meetings; and if
they choose may cooperate under this same ar
rangement. We are glad to an ounce the ac-
ticn of the women of our village in this con-
nection. as We are tLus only brought up even
with the towns and villages throughout the
State.