The Portland daily press., 1862-10-07

trains, wagon and sadde-horse for DIR.
Dunning and the same for Dr. Brink. l have
given them written instructions to use the sad
dle-horses to explore the barn yards and ham,
lets OF the country, and the wagons to accom-
pany with stores.
Our plans so far are working splendidly.
thanks to the vigor with which you at Wash
ington have crowded forward supplies. We
have been ahead OF every one, and at least two
days ahead Of the supplies of the Medical Bu-
reau, the latter fact due to its want of inde-
pendent transportation. A single item will
show the value Of our supplies; we have given
out over thirty pounds Of chloroform within
three days after the battle. The medical au-
thorities had not one hundreth part of what
was needed, and in many places important op-
erations were allowed to be neglected, and life
lost. Our chloroform saved at least fifty lives
and saved several hundred from the pain of
severe operations. The want of chloroform
was the most serious deficiency in the regular
medical supplies, and as the result, amputa-
tion which should have been primary, will now
bessecondary, or impossible. The mortality
from secondary amputationis very much great
er than from primary
But everything in the way of medical sup
plies was deficient; poor fellows, with lacerat-
ed and broken thighs had to be carried out of
barns into the open fields to answer a call of
nature; men suffering the agony of terrible
wounds were without opiates; tourniquets
were wanting in many instances stimulants en-
tlreiy wanting; concentrated food also want
ing; in fact everything that wounded men
need, except place to lie down, and the at
tention Of personally devoted surgeons with
out proper stores, however) was deficient
The deficiency was greater than usual for two
reasons--one, the hurry of the army i'm passing
from campaign In which everything in the
way of supplies was exhausted or lost; the
other the obstruction of the Monocacy, and
the want of Independent transportation on tho
part of the Bureau, which would have enabled
it TO 60 by the turnpike. Some blame for the
non-arrival of the medical stores lies in the
fact that OF all the surgeons-forty or more
sent by the Surgeon General no one consid-
cred himself charged with the function of hur-
rylng forward anything but himself-the re-
suit being that plenty of surgeons got upon
the ground, but almost destitute of necessary
appliances.
venture to say that nearly every barn.
and hospital, and cluster of wounded, over
the wide extent of the late military operations,
embracing circle of nearly thirty miles, were
receiving most essential relief from the Com
mission, while the regular medical stores Law
at Monocacy Bridge. 1 solennly loy fre hun
dred deaths at the door of those ,rho decline
TO furnish facilities to the Medical Bureau
for Independent transportation for the late
ouutes. w men Will our rulers learn wisdom
and humanity? But must draw this hasty
scrawl TO close. As said. Mitchell have
ordered back with Henry and Collins. to open
store at Boonesboro.' We now need hospi-
tai clothing more than anything else. should
say send two thousand shirts and drawers to
Frederick, filteen hundredto Boonesboro', and
four thousand TO Sharpsburg. Send twenty
bed-pans to Frederic. thirty to Boonesboro.'
and fifty to Sharpsburg. Lend ten lanterns to
Boonesboro', and twenty-five to Sharpsburg.
As Tor other supplies, await telegraphic orders.
We have now, think, with the wagons met
last night, enough for several days.
Mr.. Platt remains here for the present. His
services have been most valuable We must
retain him here until the press Is over shall
never cease saying God bless you all for your
efforts in sending forward the relief to the
wounded. Yours ever.
c. r.. AGNEw.