, 1862-07-26
hPPEAL OF THE q. s. SANITARY
COMMISSION.
A Call from Our Hospitals.
Help for the Sick and Wounded,

Y. Aozsor OF % g E. s4saA9S c9nss1oH
To all Loyal Citizens Of the United States:
The executive committee Of the United
States Sanitary Commission, acting under au-
thority from the National government, is
once more compelled to appeal to the people
on hehalf Of the sick and wounded Of the peo-:
PIES armies East and West. For their relief
1t asks money and auppues-at once, and in
abundance.
The necessity is too urgent to admit OF any
elaborate statement Of its nature and extent,
or Of the work the commission is doing. Some
information on both points will be obtained
from letters and papers herewith laid before
the public. They have been taken almost at
1andom, for there ~is-not time e7en to look
through the letters and reports Ia the hands
Of the executive committees 1T Is sufficient
to add, that high officers, q. many points, have
repeatedly acknowledged the eerviee rendered
by the commission, Tor rsther by the people,
Of whom the commission is an almoner,) to
the respective commands, as OF the highest
value and Importance.
From May to July !, the commission has
expended $57, ,585 72-1n0 dollars. About nine
tenths Of this sum has been laid out in the pur-
chase Of hospital stores and appliances for the
relief of the siek- and wounded at every i'm
portant military station, and In the equip
ment Of the foti1la Of steamers and sailing
vessels now in the service Of the commission
az hospital transports. Its treasury is now
nearly exhausted, at the very moment when
the army most needs its aid, aud when, If 1t
had s100, COO at it's cou1mand, it would stin be
far too weak for the urgent work before it,
and would sill be obliged to see hundreds
perishing Tor want Of its aid, in the army Of
| the Potomac alone.
Thousands of brave men are now lying
without sufficient shelter, food, or attendance,
in the camps and depots on James River.
Very many Of them are destined to perish
| Who could have been preserved by q blanket,
a suit of hospital clothing, and few days
allowance cf proper diet and stimu1ants in
| stead Of their ordinary Fations. The commits
sion has saved hundreds if not thousands of
men since this campaign began, By supplying
| these Inexpensive wants. A very few dollars
provides what can save soldiers life, worth
in mere money value hundreds of dollars to
the army and to the community. At this
time, Of all others, the country cannot afford
to waste the lgas Of men trained by years.
experience, and made veterans by the terrible
week Of continuous battle through which
they hare just triumphantly passed. The
transport service OF the commission is also
rendering Indispensable aid to the couutry in
| bringing North men who would have perished
| if lett In the malarlou6 hospitals of Virginia
| but Who are enatled, after short sojo1rn in
healthy Northern climate, to rsjoiu their
regiments. Bg thorough SYSTEM. complete
tSAtAAAtAV43 AtLEutlUA ~ al b4u1%1It LQuul-
tions, and liberal supply OF comforts and
appliances, which the government does not
Yet provide, 1t is believed that these ts float
ing hospitals" have been made superior to
those heretofore employed in the service Of
This ie but part Of the work on which the
commission is engaged. But it is, at this mo-
| ment, BY far the most pressing. Its magni-
tude Is appalling, in view Of the multitude OF
those to whom be question whether help from
the people shall reach them to-day or to-mor,
row is question Of life or death-and in view,
also, Of the moral certainty that few daye
will increase that number by thousands. Fo1
the sake Of this work the commission has
thought it right to contract Its other opara-
tions for the present and concentrate It resour
ces mainly on the relief Of the sick and wound.
ed On the p enin6u1a
Il may be said that the government should
do all this without help from private charity
We're this true, the default of government
wtnld not excuse us in leaving our soldiers tt
perish without an effort to save them. But il
are in progress, and especially at the close el
great battles, the prompt and thorough relie
and treatment ofthe sick and wounded reguies
an amount OF force, in men, material and trans
portation, which no government has hereto
1ofs been able 10 keep permanently attached
to lis medical department. At such times
volunteer aid from without Is Indispensable te
| prevent the most fearful suffering, and waste
| of life, however 1nithfui and untfrfng the med
1cal staff may be. Sucl aid must be regularly
organized, in order to be economina1 aud Ell
citnt, and the commission, with its large corpi
Of offfctrs and agents on the ground, expert
enced in their duties, and in confidential com
munication with the military authorities
seems the best organization through which th.
sympathy and affection Of the people can react
ard relieVe the peoples army.
It should be added that the improvement:
lately made in the organization Of the medica
bureau, and the exertlous Of its ab>eaud ener
gehe head surgeoD-generaa Hammond, will, il
all probability, soon render large and costly
portion OF the work originally undertaken b.
the commission THAT Of sanitary inspection,
supeftluous.
Contributions in money are earnestly sole
tied. They may be addressed to
| GeoTgeT Strong, Treasurer Of the Commis
sion, 68 VI all street, New York
Thomas Il. Falle, DR., Superintendent 0
NeE. York Agency, 499 broadway.
Horace Binney, sr., 2..7 South Sixth street
Philadelphia.
Dr.. s. G. Howe, Boston.
| Frederick La" oimstead, Secretary, &c, "a:
+ street, Washington.
Hon. Mark Skinner, Chicago.
| Dr.. ]. =. NeWberry, Cleveland.
Hon. Geo. Hoadley, Cincinnati.
For the kind OF supplies required, reference
is made to the letter of Mr. A. T. Bloor, ap
pended hereto. These supplies should be sen
to the Office OF The Women's Central Relic
Association, No. 20 Cooper Institute, N. 7.
Or TO =. T. o}mstead, Secretary, 244 F street
Among the supplies now most urgentl
needed, are vegetables, fresh Or canned, a
anti.tcrobutics, beef etock, hospital clothing
and bedding.
By order Of the Executive Committee.
G. 7. STRONG, Treasurer.
i h, W. BELLOWS, President.