Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-05-26

BY THE NAILS.
Letter from Ira n. (2taora.

The following b . portion ef letter jos,
received BY the Corresponding Secretary ol
the State Sanitary Commission and of The
Scott County Relief Association, from Mr.. Gif
ford. recently sent 70 Pittabsrg Landing BY
Gov. Kirkwo It viii interest our readers
Rev n. J. Kyae!t s~d Ed. Russell:
GxNrLnaxN.-I have Just returned to DIR.
Aaxweli's headquarters, and having . few
moments leisure improve them merely to send
you word Of the wants of our soldiers as they
occur to me and % they are represented to me
by Others Everything here is hurry and
confusion, and 1t 10 not to be wondered ct If all
that should be said and done 10 not said and
done imm ediately.
Dr.. Maxwell Gays that the porter or ale
should be sent 10 kegs or barrels and not in
bottles, - they are both expensive and bulky.
Pepper sauce 10 valuable, and they are very
much in want Of soda crackers and butter. and
anythiDg Of nsurishing nature. Thin shirts
and drawers are much needed. and should be
supplied by the ladies 1t once. There are
great many sick here. The water 10 poor, and
is the caues of great deal Of siekness. The
Iowa boys and all others fad sure relief from
Dr. Maxwell. He ia untiriDg in bis efforts to
~S't s10uSS UuO eO Iut uue OeeU very euCCeess
ful-not having loste man. The Dr. 10 de.
lighted with the management Of the United
States Sanitary Agency, aud he sends there
for all bis dslicscies, such as fruits, butter,
lemons, liquor, clothing, etc., which be gets by
rsquisition at any time and 60 With all the
regiments, If they send for them. But Dr.
Maxwell tells me that many Of the regiments
do not get the benefit of this arrangement
from the neglect of their surgeons.
Mr.. Douglas tells me that now while l am
here. he will gil all orders that may send in
to him for supplies for soldiers l have con-
ferred very freely with him, and can eifect an
arrangement that will be perfectly easisfactory
to the soldiers and should be to the ladies. II
they would be willing to act in concert With
the Comm ission, much more would be ac-
complished. cannot find but that the sup
plies Of every kind are fully kept rp, and il
there is scarcity Of sanitary supplies in any
iowa or other regiment. It is owing to the ne.
glect Of the surgeons to send in requisition
to Mr.. Douglass. l am now looking after the
matter and trying to have it properly UNDER
stood. DR.. Maxwell has also tried to get the
Iowa regiments to send promptly to Dr. Doug
las and get the benefit Of their supplies, and
it is now becoming more customary. Mr..
Douglas tells mo that he has distributed more
supplies sent from Boston to Iowa men than
has been sent them from Iowa through him.
/ would recommend-andD DR.. Maxwell joins
me herein-the organization of Relief Sscie-
ty at the Convention called for the 2sth inst.
to be known as the branch OF the United
States Sanitary Commission. and that they call
upon all relief societies and sanitary commit
tees to come together and act in harmony AID
do away with all petty jealousy. The socie-
ties already formed need not disband, bot re-
sslve to send their supplies to one fountain
head, and they will in that way have the same
voice ard representation, and will be entitled
to an agent in the o. 8 Commission who, be-
ing an Iowa man will Of course zee that Iowa
soldiers do not suffer.
The chartering of boat is needless ex-
pense and will not do as much towards re-
l'ev;ng the soldier as at first supposed. The
wounded from this battle will not, in all pro-
liability. be sent down the river, and it is 60
rapidly falling that boat of ordinary draught
cannot get up the river to remain With safety.
The matter Of fitting up hospitals on the
river in our State. should be discussed as the
prominent idea of relief at the coming Con-
vention. Dr. Maxwell informs me that there
have been sent away from, here over ten thou.
sand since he came here (about two weeks }
of Iowa men about five hundred. There are
now here about two thousand. exclusive of
sick in camp and Iowa alone has at least one
thousand sick in camp. The number Of sick
is rapidly increasing. Many have diseases
that cannot be cured in this climate, and they
are here in tents and poor houses. and really
suffering in that respect. The fact Is I do not
see how. in very man7 instances. they can re>
cover.
/ now leave on horseback to visit the camps.
Will you write on my return, when l expect
to receive favorable ans er to the telegra ,hic
despatch sent.
Guns are heard constantly in the direction
Of the enemy, and q battle will soon take
place. Sigel is here. Love to all.
Good .bye, IRA N. CLIFFORD.