The Portland daily press., 1863-03-28
COMMUNICATIONS.



SANITARY AND MORAL CONDITION OF THE
TROOPS.
To the Editor Of the Press.
The following extracts from the report of
Mrs. 5. Tinkham and Mrs. o. Z. Hosmer, pub
lished in late number of the Chicago Jour-
nal, will prove Interesting at this time, as
showing the high estimation In which the San
itary Commission Is held by them. Imay add
that one Of the ladies is native Of our State,
and her many friends will undoubtedly be
grati6ed by the knowledge that she has re-
turned from her arduous duties in safety The
entire report is very interesting, but too long
for your crowded columns.
II is some time since Mrs. Tinkham and Mrs.
Hoslner volunteered to visit the Board of
Trade regiments and battery of Chicago, and
TO that end were supplied with means by the
Board Of Trade. These ladies, after having
visited hospital and camp, and ministered to
the necessities of the living and the dying,
have returned and made report to the Board
Of Trade, for which the War Fund Committee
Of that body returned them vote of thanks
After description of their journey, which was
not accomplished without great exposure and
fatigue, and after speaking of the reception
they met with at the different camps, and
finally Of their arrival at Murfreesboro and
the warm welcome given to them by the sur
geons, they proceed to say:
The Surgeons granted US free access to the
hospitals at all hours, and left the treatment
OF both sick and wounded, in respect to diet,
entirely TO our judgment. We cannot com
mend too warmly the generous confidence and
gentlemanly bearing towards us of the sur
geons Of each and every hospital. Through
their kind permission and aid, we were enabled
70 soothe the dying hours OF many of our
brave men, and contribute to the restoration
TO health of many who are now living, some of
whom are again In the field, ready and anxious
to risk their lives for the restoration of our
glorious Union. The hospitals are generally
under the management OF humane and COM
petent surgeons. Their time and skill seem
TO be devoted to the discharge OF their labori-
Gus and responsible duties, and withropportu-
mites OF large observation, We must truly say
that our soldiers, as a general remark, are in
the hands of skillful men, and do not suffer In
consequence of their neglect.
We received but three boxes of supplies
from the Committee, and these were of cloth
ing, and none, until just before our departure; !;
but the doors of the Sanitary Commission
were thrown open to us. and cut of their abun-
dant stores We were permitted to take what
ever, In our Judgment, would promote the re-
covery of both sick and wounded. 1t would
be impossible for us to convey to you by words
any Just and adequate impression of the great
and good work being done by this noble char
ity. II is the great reservoir into which flow
the gifts OF the good and generous, and the
means by which they are concentrated, and
from which they are distributed to the suffer-
ing. BY means of this association. nearly all
the gifts of the people designed for the sick
and suffering, reach their destination with GER
tainty, whilst without some such organization
nearly all would be lost or wasted"
Their interesting report thus closes:
Although we are but women, and are not
presumed 10 know ANYTHING In relation TO
public matters, yet permit us to say that we
could not be blind nor deaf to what is passing
around us; and it gives us pleasure to testify
TO the intensity of indignation and hate preva-
lent throughout the army and inspired by the
conduct of the Copperheads of the North
The day of retribution TO them will be fearful,
when our soldiers return to their homes.
@The gratitude ofthe sick and wounded SOL
der, for kindness bestowed upon him, knows
no bounds; and we were amply repaid for any
fatigue endured in administering to his wants
by the exhibition of it. It was with painful
emotions that we LEFT behind many to whom
BY the bonds of sympathy we had become
strongly attached, but as the wounded were
generally conyalescent, and the hospitals thin
ming out, and as our incessant labor was wear
ing away our bodily strength, we reluctantly
bade them adieu and returned again TO our
homes-stronger than ever In the conviction
that this unrighteous rebellion must and will
DC subdued, and firmer than ever In our own
determination to do what feeble women might
and could do In aid of our sick and suffering
brave men.
I'VE hold ourselves in readiness to obey any
can that may hereafter be made upon u.s."