, 1862-03-28
REF0RTETO THE CHICAGO SArI-
TARX EO1fnYfaSTONs

!, Having been requested BY my associates of
the Chicago Sanitary Commission to prepare
2 statement, for the information Of those Rho
hare go literally furnished: the supplies for
our depot, Of The results of our Operations,
and Of the present condition Of the hospitals
within cur district, said statement to be based
Oh the records and correspondence Of the
Commission, and on facts obtained BY q per
sonal tour Of inspection, and having Just re.
turned from such tour, I respectfully submit
'0 4'''o"1's ..aon :==z::,
The operations Of the Chicago Sanitary
Commission have been conducted so noise-
nents and al indisposition to seek ;neRs-
paper notoriety, that few, beside its mem
bers, hoye been aware Of the. extent and eff1-
caey Of Its operations. From this and the
acts Of parties who bare sought the public
have ?suppoeod that the Commission has ac.
,complfshed but little; that either through
Ignorance, or q blind adherence to formal
method, it had fallen quite behind various in
diylduals and committees, in the worik. of min:
tsteImg to the actual wants of the sick; and
wounded soldiers. Indeed, it has been stated
alta public meeting In this city, by Jealous
persons, acting under a natural temptation to
magnify their office and gain credit for: their
labor, subsequent to the battle at Fort Done1-
son, that the Sanitary Commission intended
well, and would, no doubt, have accomplished
much good, bad It known exactly what arti-
:cles were needed for the emergency; but
that, unfortunately, it was not prepared suita.
bly, for the occasion,i Such mistaken repre-
sentations will find their best denial in The
facts which are submitted below.
AMOUNT AND Rule OF DISTRIBUTION.
(, Since the organization Of the Chicago Sanl-
tary Commission, In October Last, It has for
Tarded from it's main depot, No. fl Wabash
4xenus. a1ss up to this date precisely $50 pack
were directed BY the donors to particular regi-
ments, and o1ong as the army was stationary,
al such boxes were forwarded faithfully TO
lhoEe regiments; bnt since the movements of
the troops have rendered this impossible, such
@ pozes have been declined, and, all supplies
have been applied, according to published
notice, at the discretion Of the Commission
and its agents.
Before giving the particulars Of: the distri-
button, it should be stated, that the rule his
been, to send articles only on the 4equisition Of
.3espoasibe parties, usually the surgeons Of
'tMother Angela" atMound CITY, Or resident
benevolent visitor, like Miss Stafford at Cairo.
Great complaint has been made of this rule bv
parties who wished as unconditional access to
our valuable stores, Us they had enjoyed to
lhose OF s9ndry committees, and who were
accustomed to go around with their arms
laden with valuable articles, offering them
without discrimination to all who wo1ld &C.
cept. The reason Of our rule is two fold.
First: 1t prevents waste and misapplication,
BY combining the distribution to intelligent and
discreet parties, whose receipt Is taken for the
articles, and who can be held responsible for
their bestowa. Secondly: It avoids conflict
with the hospital authorities, while it encour-
ages them to use their utmost eudeayors to pro-
mote the recovery and comfort Of the patients.
Hence it is pleasant fact, that neither the
Commission nor any Of its..accredited agents,
though faithfully pointing. out evils and
of the army, military or medical; a TACT which
contrasts with the frequent difficulties INTO
which others have contriyed to plunge. And
surely it is not surprising that SURGEONS who
are both morally and officially responsible for
the health Of those under their care, should
to those who insist upon distributing dainties
to t.YcrY uatient and thinlc thai.. 5ud.znaa.f