Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-01-08
To the Ladies of Vermont.
" ie11 11OoPI0Uf,
Brattleboro, Vt. Jan. 3. 1863.

". .. OciitTdl I1OSplIdl
Brattleboro, VT, jan 5, 1863.
Within the last few days a very important
change has been made In the affairs of the
sick and wounded soldiers from this State.
This change has been long desired, but the
Governor of the State has not succeeded in
his efforts to bring the sick home to their ma
tive air until very recently. Now an arrange
ment with the War Department exists, by
which the Vermont sick and wounded soldiers
will be transferred from the Southern hospitals
to the U. S. Hospitals at Burlington and Brat
tleboro This most desirable arrangement has
been made only upon condition that the State
authorizes should provide additional accommo-
datons at Brattleboro for whatever number of
patients were thus transferred above 200 (the
number the present hospital can accommo-
date.) To carry out these arrangements ten
large barrack buildings, now standing near
h d to the and te ID be At rSps
manner, forming a large hospital of about 500
beds. 1
Towards this the Government has eontribu-
ted full and perfect outfit for $50 beds. We
have now on hand, received from the ladies of
Vermont and from the State, an equipment for
about so beds, and shall therefore heed to
have supplied us from the State, in some form
an outfit for 300 beds. For the reasons that
the people of the State have shown most UNI
firing disposition to contribute literally to the
relief of the sick and because we are every
day asked, what disposition benevolent socie-
ties and individuals shall make of their contri-
buttons, we are led to make this appeal, and
we make it without fear of any repulse We
make it on the broad ground that the soldiers
who have so uniformly maintained the honor
of the State on so many battle fields, and who
have suffered so much under the mala1ous at
mosphere of the South, and who have so pa
tiently endured all the privations and hard
ships of the camp and march, deserve all the
attention that we can possibly bestow up
on them. n
As to our particular wants, we can briefly
state them. As before stated we need an
| equipment of hospital beds and bedding to-
gether with the articles of clothing worn by
patients in the hospitals,
For each bed and patient it requires
| iron bed stead, army pattern-Tucker's
Patent | mattress, IA feet long by 80 in
wide, sheets l ID yards wide, 2 "a yards
long, l IL pillow cases, tie, 3. cases for two
beds,) 2 blankets or a comforter. | coyerlet, |
hair pillow, 2 towels, shirts, 2 prs. drawers,
l dressing gown, night cap, 2 pr socks, pr.
cloth slippers.
| refer to this particular bedstead as being
u
perfect in all respects for the sick or, indeed,
for those in health, it is IA feet long and so
inches wide. The legs and head fold up, 50
that it only takes space of IL inches in
thickness, and is consequently very portable.
As there has been man. inquiries to what
disposition should be made of money that has
been raised, | would suggest that it be APP
piled to the purchase of these bedsteads as be-
ing likely to contribute in this way more to
the comfort of the sick than any other mode.
The mattresses, if made, had better be filed
with the birch shavings, called Excelsior,
Which "osts about &c cents to the n,attrnss, tho
weight required for each being II lbs.
The material is put up in bales, and can be
obtained in New York and Boston, at any
Upholsters for about two cents per pound by
the bale.
The blankets coverets and sheets sho Guild
be of size to suit the mattress.
Transportation on any article sent for the
Hospital will be paid by the Quartermaster
General of the State.
Twill not of course limit the contributions
OF any one or direct how their contributions
should be applied but would suggest that as
all sections of the State are interested, the
supplies might be proportional to the popula-
ton Of counties. In this way an outfit of
800 beds, would give about one bed for every
one thousand inhabitants viz:
Addison County % beds; Bennington, Is
Caledonia, 81; Chittenden, 26; Essex, 6;
Franklin, 26; Grand Isle, d Lamoie II;
Orange, "a; Orleans, l8; Rutland 35;
Washington, % Windham %; Windsor,
SO.
In reply to the MANY inquiries made. TO
the best disposition that can be made of
contributions, and what kind are wanted, |
may say that it would in my opinion he best
to send every thing here - until we have
equipped this hospital fully for FIVE hundred
beds.
The surplus I will send, as heretofore, to
Mr.. VIM +. Hall, Washington, d. c., who
has, with his whole family, made business of
visiting Vermont soldiers III Washington and
vicinity, and who distributes them individual
ly to them only.
Before closing, | would remark that what
we do we must do quckly-the soldiers are
kept out of the State only for the want of
these supplies.
EDWARD E. PHELPS,
Surg H. "