New-York daily tribune., 1863-07-31
Preliminary Report


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Preliminary Report
OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE SANITARY COM
MISSION WITH THE ARMY OF TIE POToMAC
DURING THE CAMPAIGN OF JUNE AND JULY
1863.
WAsHIrGIos, July %, 1863.
70 "A, Fr,cufire Committee Of the Saaiavv Co1mfsso~i
GrsrLEmrS: Iu accordance with your request,
statement of recent operations in the Department oi
the Potomac 10 herewith presented. No general
repor,, baviug been received from the Inspectors in
tue field, and the Secretary Of the Department being
still absent at Gettysburg, 1t will uecessari 20 III
complete but will suffice to show that the organiza'
ton Of the Commission has accomplished It's des'gu
in the premises, Notwithstanding nis'ortnnes ior
which s was not to be expected that provision should
DO made.
The Army OF the Potomac broke camp on the
Rappahaunock on the 18th Of June, the effective
forces moving nortbward by forced marches, and
the SEX aud wounded being removed by rali 70
Aqua Greek, and thence by steamboats, 10 W ash
inrton A small part OF the Commissions Potomac
Relief Corps Was sent out with the marching col
unns the stores aud furniture Of the relief stations
and dcpots q, Falmouth, Potomac Creek, snd
Brooks Station were hastily but safely removed 70
Aauia Creek, whence as soon as tie Inmates oi 'he
hospitals bad been embarked, they were all shipped
on q steamboat which had been held there for that
purpose.
The number Of hospital patients to DO removed
was nearly 10000. Thoy were taken from A4uis
Creek on such boats tue Quarter II .stsrs Depart
ment was able TO oh ain for tho emergency NJ ash
/ ington. No provision having been made On board
Of Them for such service and being crowded, there
was necessarily much h.risb'p. The patients were
landed immediately the arrival of tie boats at the
Government WHAT At Washington, where, owiog 70
tho necessarily limited number Of vehicles which
could he commanded, they accumulated In large
numbers. The agents Of the Commission, with
siderabs volunteer force engaged for the occs-
.ion. lsbored night and day TO provide for their
wans, and this with much good judg neni s' zeal.
A kitchen having been previously esisbisaed on
tho wharf cauldrons Of hot beef soup and cohee,
with brea ad by the wagon load were kept Constantly
ready aud served TO ali they arrived, and
As often ~ they needed while they remsued. Moro
than 900 were fed in two days, and most Of the
ps,isnts thus received the only nounshment they
blaned from the tino they LEFT tile camps on the
Rappaha annock tii they reached their destination In
The liked hospitals. Those going northward from
Washinston were a second time provided for 10 =
similar manner, Ut tho railway station in Wishing.
ton Many Of the agents OF the Commission l4bored
at this time two aud three days and nights without
rest TIE ordinary special roiiei business Of the
Commission at Washington was at the same time
much increased. Twenty stfsgslers and discharged
men died ut it's lIoms within tie fortnight
I 49,. ..o.. L..
ou ts march frequently replenshed with sup
ples sen, out from the depo, u, Washington, anu
daily rendered valuable asss,snce to the surgeons
having the care Of the wounded in the skirm-
ishe. n the cavalry engagements st the gaps Of the
mountains, aud those falling Ill under the fstigues
and priys,ion. Of the revera forced marches under
taken in tho heat Of midsummer in = dry and desc
lated region.
Immediately upon the retreat Of Gen. Mroy's
forces from Winchester, it was ascertaned tbat the
supply OF hospital stores at Hapcrs Ferry very
limited aud Il relief agent was sent IN charge Of
wagon.losd OF such stores, from the Commissions
depot at Frederick, as woud supply the more i'm
portant deficiencies. This was got safcy through,
but the wagon, is return, with the teamster and
horses, was captured by Stuau's cavalry. The relief
agent, bayiug remained with the wounded al ilar-
pers Ferry, escaped Toe teamster is still missing.
The Comnission's stores u, Frederick were
safely concealed during its occupation by The enemy,
bat us soon rs the army OF the Potomac reached
there the depot was again opene and the stock in-
creased. The wagons moving with the army have
since receiy cd their supplies from this point.
When the enemy knownto have crossed the
Dot i'm .Dr,a md AL
officers Of tho Commission were stationed q,
iiarrisbury Philadelphia. Baltimore and Frederick.
aud systematic daily communication was estab
lshcd between them and the agents moving with the
different columns Of the army aud ths ceutral office
Of the Commission. Supplies were accumulated aud
held ready tor movement ~ difiereut points the
circumference of the scat OF war and care taken
to have ample reserves at the Branch Offices ready
for shipment. With the frs. news Of the battle OF
Getty sbuy Westminster, tho nearest point of rail.
road communication 10 the battlefield, was fixed
upon the point Of approach. aud authority TO run
u car daily with the Government rsius " that
station was obtained.
Two wagon-loads Of battlefield supplies bad been
distributed TO meet deficiencies in tho stores Of the
surgeons. shortly before tho battle commenced
These wagons returned 70 Frederick for loads. and
TWO others, fully loaded, arrived from Frederick at
tho moment Of the assault Of Longs.reet upon the
left wing Of tho loyal army, and were pushed for
ward under fire. to reach tue collections Of wounded
in its rear. As one of them came 20 point where
several hundred sufferers had been taken from the
ambulance and laid upon the ground behind barn
and in an orchard lees than 500 yards in the Of
our line of battle, Oh the left wing, then ercely en-.