Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-03-03
NIOde Of Distributing stores from the
United States Sanitary Rooms, at Nash
NASHVILLE, February %, 1853.

N-AANf ANAANsaGEa
NASHVILLE, February ., 1903
EDITORS LEADER Your readers VIII
are SO generously contributing to alleviab
the suferings of the Union soldiers il
this Department, may be interested By
brief statement Of .he mode in which tbeil
gifts are distributed, and the precaution.
taken to secure their impartial and faith.
ful distribution.
The supplies are received in large
stOre-rOOm, permanently occupied BY the
Agents Of the Commission, unpaoked.
assorted, and arranged, as they would be-
if kept for sale. The hospitals and camps
in the neighbOrhood are inspected and
their wants ascertained. The Surgeons
are then informed that supplies can be
obtained, and instructed that they are de-
signed solely for the sick and destitute
soldiery, and to be given out on their
lgrittsn acquisitions. These reouisitions
arc informal, it is true, but contain state
ment Of the number Of sick in the hospi-
tai or camp, statement that the articles
asI.sI N,l urv needed for tho siOh, AID a
pledge that the goods furnished shall be
slersdly applied to the useefthe SICK These
are signed by the Surgeons, and receipts
taken On the acquisitions for the articles
furnished, which are fled and preserved,
and the articles charged on the books to
the hospital, regiment or battery, as the
case may be. The largest part Of the
stores are given out in this way. Ladies
visiting the hospitals, or having charge of
the sick, are furnished with supplies on
their own application, if they first procure
from the Surgeon in charge a general or
der stating that they prepare them well,
distribute them judiciously, and with his
appreciation. These are also charged on
the books to the ladies receiving them.
This rule is adopted in order that all stores
may be accounted for, and that if any sus-
picions of misappropriation arise, the
matter may be thoroughly investigated.
belongs. For all these stores, the parties
receiving them are held responsible !, and
the Surgeons know that their reputation
is involved in their faithful appropria.
ton; for their requisitions and re-
ceipts remain a permanent witness Of the
they have answered. In addi- |
ton to this, the agents of the Commission
visit the hospitals and camps unannounced
as ofJen as their other duties will permit, |
dropping in at Deal-time and at other !
times, conversiug with the patients, nurs-
es and cooks, ready to detect and expose |
any malpractices, and cooperating with |
the Surgeons in receiving the best possible
application Of the stores. Some waste IN |
luestionably occurs some goods are occa-
sionally stolen. Men are not any more |
honest in the army than at home; but it |
IS certain that ninety-nine hundredtbs of |
the stores which reach the rooms for gen
eral distribution do reach the sick for /
whom they are designed. It will be no /
.ieed that the Surgeons are to q great ex- |
tent held responsible for the application Of |
the stores. Whether they are faithful or
Rs there ,s Is yIeS no othsE s Way a4H1R9 R9'o ~ def
must be given out under their direction or
not at all. The Surgeon would be mani
testify unfit for his post who would permit
sick men under his charge to be fed by
every kinj-hearted person who sought ac-
cess to the hospital, and who knows not
the condition or wants Of the sick. Inju
dicious kindness, if permitted would in
that way send many poor soldiers need
lessly to the grave But let your readers
look about themselves and call to mind the
Surgeons who have left their immediate
neighborhood for the field, and say, with
the checks adopted, whether they cannot
trust them as fully as any class Of agents
they could select. They doubtless know
many who have proved martyrs to their
devotion to the sick, and many more yet
in the field who are slowly but surely
wearing their lives away in the faithful,
conscientious discharge Of duty. Those
they know will be fair average Of those
they do not know. Can they not trust
them Some Of them are fraili some Of
them incompetent; some Of them, doubt
less, dishonest; but / venture the asser-
ton that in the army in the field, and in
the army Of workers at home no more
faithful competent or conscientious class
Of laborers can be found. ADdif one here
and there does prove unworthy of himself
and his position, the opportunity Of vast
ing these stores is quickly taken away
And the sins Of such surely ought not to
be visited upon the faithful, least Of all
upon the poor soldier he has robbed, which
/ would be the result of Withholding further
supplies. K.