Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-19
Reports TO the Executive.
INDIANAPOLIS, May ., IcU<
To His ErceLlencn GorerRor Morton:

To His ErceIlency Governor Morton:
SIR-The undersigned, physicians appointed by
your Excellency OH the llth ult to visit and
render assistance to the sick and wounded Indi-
soldiers in hospitals at Winchester, Va
Frederick, Md, Baltimore. Washington and AL
exandria have the honor TO report that we made
personal inspection of the hospitals ia the re-
spectlve cities above named, and found to our
great satisfaction that the sick and wounded are
comfortably situated in good and well-arranged
wards, where abundant materials are always on
hand To enable the Surgeon to render every posi-
BILE assistance. There is no scarcity Of anything
which may in any way add, by judicious applica-
ton. to the restoration of the patient. Where
the Government have failed to furnish hospital
stores, the Sanitary Commission have beautifully
| filed the deficiency.
The wards in most instances clean and we'll
ventilated. The food is simple, and consists of
the proper kind The beds and bedding in a
large majority of the wards are unexceptonable.
The clothes Of the soldiers, however, in a large
proportion of those recently admitted 10 the hos
pital are sadly deficient. Where patients have
been confined for several months in the wards
the Surgeons have managed 70 secure a supply of
clothing for them, and we feel satisfied that the
earliest opportunity will be embraced by those
in charge OF the hospital to furnish like supply
10 patients who come in needy.
Although the nature Of our mission would not
admit of much delay in the several wards, nor
much time spent with individual patients, yet we
devoted enough time to them to learn their wants,
and impress them with the sincere sympathy
which pervaded every patriot bosom in Indiana
for the suffering volunteer who has risked bis
life Tor the perpetuation of the Union. We
found Surgeon Gall in attendance at the hospi
tails in Winchester. where lie was assiduously la
boring in his profession among the sick and
wounded. He honors his position DR.. Chitten-
den, too, at Frederick, was devoting his profes-
si0nal energies to the duties pertaining 10 the
treatment OF patients. fifTsf
We can not omit on this occasion to mention
the names of Mrs. DR.. New aud Mrs Caleb b
Smith rs prominent among Indianians who are
deyotng their time and attention to mitigating
the sufferings Of the sick and wounded soldiers
The former we found at Winchester, the latter al
Washington City, engaged like ministerng an
gels in ameliorstBg the situation of our brave
men. When our wires, mothers, sisters and
daughters throw their influence ON the side OF our
country. the result OF the present unnatural con
hict can not remain doubtful very long. The
policy Of following up the army with a competent
corps of surgeons to see that the sick and wound
ed properly cared for, has resulted already in
bringing order out OF confusion AS well as in Sc
curing far better class Of medical men to man
age the hospitals. Besides the direct benefit that
may follow immediate attention to the sick and
wounded, the fact that citizens have visited the