Litchfield enquirer., 1862-05-01
.... .s.y. -.tE.a . For the Enquirsr.
 THE HEALTH OF OUR ARMY. Y

| It IS now about year snce tho hrSt unarmss cd, delencsless band of Massachusetts militia passed through insurrectionary Baltimore on ttheir way to the threatened National Capital. About year since tho inexperienced, citizen soldiery, unused to the severe bodily sxertions necessary to war, dropped exhausted beneath the burning sun, on the toilsome road from Annap- oils to Washington. We were people totally unused to war; 6 house divided against itself {; from our iong dream of peaceful security, to find 1 our own trusted brethren in battle array against us. The strong arms of the National Govern ment, the Army and Navy, were now bereft of their power by the cunning hands of Treason. Oar forces were betrayed by their Commanders The Navy was scattered far and wide over the oceans of the world. There was no magic in the land to summon them back at need from China, Japan, or the African Coast. It has required superhuman, Divinely inspired energy on the part of both Government and people to create, almost from nothing, the vast Army now carry ing terror to the very homes of our enemies |; and the large efficient Navy, which, in spite of the assertions of our adverssries, and coldshoul- dered friends, has kept blockade sufficient to deprive all--anxious England-of cotton for the past nine months
 To raise, provision, arm, equip and drill so enormous, and-in unskillful hands-so un- wieldy force for active service in the field, has required all the efforts of an Herculean strength:
 Knowing this, and taught by the experience of the Allied Armies in the Crimea, and of the French forces in Italy, an Association was form ed by trustworthy, benevolent, scientific and en- ergetic gentlemen of New York, and other cit ies, to take upon themselves, as far as might be- the task of preserving the health, and saving the lives of as many of +heir country noble sons as possible. That this arduous duty could not be performed through any paid, Government agen- cy, half as we'll as by the gratuitous labors of ac. lively benevolent patriots, is amply demonstra- ted by tho experience of England France. Says the London Times. usually no favorable critic on American affairs. /" Had our Army in the Crimea possessed an Association half so untiring in its devotion, or scientific in attainment, as the San itary Commissioner of the Northern States far fewer hearts would have been compelled to look back to that campaign with the sickening thought, there my loved ono psrished from neglect.
 The labors of the Commission are 50 multitu diuous, and varied ss the soils, and climate, over which they extend; concerning with the selec ton of the Camp ground, the construction of a tent, and the quality, and preparation of food
 
 interfered with by those who should most uphold them, the Surgeons. From these the Commis sion passes to the care of the sick and wounded in the Hospitals. Government provides the buildings, rations, medical attendance, drugs cots, and ambulances. All else for the comfor, and care of the sufferers, whether on the field or of, must be furnished by the Sanitary Commis sion who are in turn dependant upon the dona tions of generous men, and the kind hearted ex ertions of women who have souls willing for the work"
 "Itis scarcely possible to number says again the London Times" the advantages to the Ma ton of this original Sanitary Commission. Oul Yankee Cousin, always fruitful of inventions, has now presented the world with one of the mos, beneicent novelties of the age an association o its most scientific, and patriotic citizens, back ed by the whole moral strength of the Country the purpose of relieving to as great an extent as possible, the horrors of war. Their ministra- nons are extended alike to all in distress wheth- er niend, or fallen foe, and the world have never ssen 70 thorough and effectual, an organization Tor any benevolent object The results accom. pisnsa 2, have been really marvellous
 l, n" sn@. was written previous to the news of our M iaee victores in North Carolina and the west, wnlcn nave still further demonstrated the oseIulnsss Q. .ee Commission To every post patched the corps of nurses w;th ths;, garments 6tted for the Hospitals. v;tb tbs. Tried articles of medical necsssity, vhose ys,, thames arc scarcely known to those in ham, ;s' norance of the wants of wouaded mep, and x;sh ;1 all the little comforts and delicaces, which evsr, mother or wife, would 50 gladly provide for thes suferiug, helpless one she loves.
 But the call for these stories of every kicd, pro ducsd by the large number of sick and wounded now in the hospitals; tho sad price which our beloved soldiers must pay to Treason for their hard fought victoriss, has now almost exhausted ths resources If ths Commission, They ass