The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-03-14
SANITARY CIRCULAR.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, Iowa.
Iowa Cry. March 9 1919

81
Hrs. Annie Witiennayer, State Sanitary Aoent:
DEAR MADAx-Gov. Kirkwood directs ME to
request OF you. while here, to give him state.
ment OF the sanitary condition of the Iowa Reg
iments, which you have visited-what are their
most pressing wants-what supplies can best be
furnished by the liberality of our people, and
through what channels they can send them.
Very Truly Yours,
4 N. q. BRAINERD, Mil Sec.
Iowa CRY, March 1853
". II Brainerd, MI. Sec to Gorer,eor Hirk,cood.
! DEAR SIR-Your note of Yesterday has been
received, and in reply you will inform Governor
I kirkwood that have recently visited the hos
pitfalls, aud Iowa Regiments at Helena and vcks-
burg, and that owing to climatic influences, I'M
favorable surroundings, and the fatigue and ex-
posure OF their recent campaign against Vicks-
burg and Arkansas Post, and the confinement
and exposure OF the recent expedition up White
river, the sanitary condition Of most of Iowa
Regiments is very uIfavorable.
| Besides the diseases incident to camp life and
exposure, small pox and scurvy are prevailing
to considerable extent. Many OF the causes
which have led to the unfavorable condition Of
the health OF our army still exist, and unless
remedied by the generous efforts of the people
OF the loyal States, must result in fearful
1
entire absence of vegetable food in the army,
which has resulted in scurvy, debility and gen.
eral depreciation of the strength of our forces
leads me to urge upon the Governor the great
Importance OF 80 directing and controlling the
sanitary resources Of the State 20 to supply our
suffering soldiers with vegetables stimulants, and
antiscorbutics.
The Hospitals at Helena and vicksbure. a.
though greatly improved in their condition. are
almost entirely destitute of suitable nourishing
food for the sick, and but for the constant and
untiring efforts Of sanitary agents, their cond-
ton would be terrible. The articles most need
ed are potatoes. onions, sour krout, corn meal,
pickles, dried fruit, crauberries, molasses, soda
crackers, toasted rusk, butter, eggs condiments
and stimulants. Cider vinegar would also be
acceptable. Goods will be directed az you die
tate, and sent to the care of Partridge Co., ST.
Louis, Mo.
] The large increase in the number of sick in
the army, imperatively demands additional hos
pital arrangements, which must be met 1t has
been found that light cot comfortables are much
more agreeable for the use OF the sick than stiff
heavy army blankets. The high price Of cotton
materials having almost entirely cut off our sup
ply, have asked and obtained of the U. s. Gov
ernment ten bales of cotton for sanitary purposes,
which am distributing to the principal socie-
ties of the West, to be made into cot comforta.
bles. Two bales have been sent to the societies
at Chicago; enough for four hundred comfort
abes have been sent to each of the cities of
Cleveland, Cincinnati and Louisville, and enough
materials to make one hundred comfortables to
the societies in each of the following towns:-
Dubuque, Davenport, Iowa City, Muscatine Bur.
liDgton, Keokuk, Peoria, Quincy and Springfield,
the balance of the cotton will be made mp in St.
louis.
The limits of this note will not allow me to
enter into detailed account of the condition OF
hospitals and regiments, but as soon as possible
l will prepare and submit a full report.
am very respectfully your obedient servt,
ANNIE WITTENMYER, Iowa San. Agt.
To the People of Io,ca:
The foregoing statement rom Mrs. Witten.
ryer, S. te Sanitary Agent, of the con ition Of
; our regiments on the lower Mississip j, is more
f than corroborated by other various and reliable
: testimony, altogether proving beyond . doubt
that our noble patriots and friends, who have
left their homes and all home comforts to main
, tain the integrity and stability of our Govern
q ment, are suffering most terribly for those very
things we are best prepared to supply Fresh
, as our soldiers are from home, where they have
been accustomed to a varied diet, composed
largely of vegetables, they can not endure the
sudden change to hard bread and bacon, day
after day, which isalone furnished them in theil
a present situation.
This change of diet, coupled with all the ex
: posure incident to camp life SO far South, witt
| long confinement Oh transports in passing from
t point to point, is reducing our army ten folG
: faster than all the assaults of the enemy.
Even those, Gf such there be,) who have nc
= love for the cause in which those men are en-
listed, must feel for so much human suffering ant
be ready, at least to relieve that for humanity
sake.
therefore call, most earnestly, in the nam'
f of humanity and patriotism, upon the whole PEG
. pie of Iowa, 10 come to the rescue o
t our suffering and perishing sons, brothers ant
. friends, who have given themselves to thei
;. country's cause and are now in such pressing
3 want of assistance. Mrs. Wittenmyer emu
|. merates the supplies most needed Let potatoes
o onions, butter and eggs 60 forward in the great
= est possible abundance. / have just received I
letter from one OF our best Surgeons, (Dr. Shaw
i of the 4th Infantry urging the same things
9 and mentioning also horseradisb, prepared il
If vinegar, and common plum butter as very de
= sirabe. We must try not only to relieve tn
a sick, but to prevent sickness, and to do this GU
# soldiers must have a great variety OF food.
If call upon the people OF the whole State
y Let every locality see TO the good worl
y through their own local agencies, and do it a
once The emergency is pressing, and does no
e admit of delay. The season is now such tina
u vegetables may be shipped in safety, and tn
It river is open for their transportation
- All packages, from any part Of the State, pu
on board of any of our lines Of public transports
D. ton, and addressed to Mrs. Annie Wittenmyel
{, care of Partridge & Co., St. Louis, NO." will
ir sure to 20 where most needed, free OF charge
,e or rather the Government will pay the charges.
=. confidently appeal to the patriotism, liberia
=. ity and humanity Of the good people OF lows
"a that this call be promptly and fully met.
rs SAMUEL J KIRKWOOD.
o POLAND AND THE SOUTH The Pniladeiphi
y, Press justly observes
"a Already it has been said that Poland is anot'
" er South, and Russia another North, and TIT
ss the sympathy We bestow upon the Pole, strug
.s Cling against the Gear, should be bestowed upo
~ y, the Soutberner struggling against the Union.
all ~ ..;,op cnuld he more upinst POlaD