The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-08-14
From the Bratlebcr 70 Phoenix.
Care of Sick and Wounded Vermont Soldiers


care of sick and wounded soldiers. So far from
falling below her sister States in this matter,
Vermont tar excels them ALL few brief state
ments will set this suhject in its true light.
In December last, the State authorizes made
arrangements with the aut horities at Washing
ton, for the enlargement of Hospital accomm0-
datlons IN Vermont and the transfer of Vermont
soldiers in U. S General Hospitals south of New
England, 10 the hospitals in Vermont Under
this arrangement, the State was to appoint a
commissioner, or Commissioners, to visit the va
rlous General Hospitals, make lists of the Yer
mont soldiers therein found, present them at
Washington, and procure the transfer to Hospi
tails IN this State of all thus found, excepting
such as could not bear the journey to Vermont
and such as would get we'll in two or III, ee weeks
where they were A &C ndition was made by the
authorities at Washington, that the State Com
mlssloneis should have only to do with such Of
the Vermont soldiers as had been sent in from
the held to General Hospitals, and that no in
reference or meddIng by State Agents with
soldiers IN Camp or Field Hospitals or attached
TO their commands In the field, could be permit
ted.
Two commissioners were appointed, with in
structlons conforming with the terms Of the ar
rangement. The Commissioners have not since
oeen authorized by the State, nor permitted by
the authorities at Washington, to exceed their
original instruction. The Commissioners COM
menced their labors in the latter part Of Decem.
Der last, and during the winter and early spring
visited large number of General Hospitals,
hndlng the Vermont sick and wounded scattered
along, few here and few there, in these Hos
pltals, picking up all that were proper cases for
transfer, and sending them to hospitals within
the State. Having thus hunted up the Yer
monters then In hospital, the effort has since
Deen 10 prevent new cases from becoming scat
tered through many hospitals. 1t was necessary
therefore, tor the Commissioners 10 have their
headquarters at Washington SO as to attend to
onr men as promptly as possible, as fast as they
were sent in from the field te General Hospital
One Commissioner only has been ON service
since April, because having picked up the scat
tered men, was thought that one was gu fEcient
But although headquarters were at Washington
It was necessary Tor the Commissioner to be
large portion of the time on the wing, taking
such fare as chance might provide. So much
ICr "luxuriating at Wizards Hotel" y
Up to about the first of August, current, $40
men had been thus picked up and transferred
to Hospital in Vermont. Since the first of Au-
gust, the Commissioner has sent two deach-
ments Of sick and wounded men to Hospital in
the otate-the first one numbering l0l men, ,
and the second 49, men. A third detachment
may be expected to arrive in the course of a
week
Thus ever one thousand sick and wounded
soldiers have been transferred to the hospitals
a Vermont, to enjoy the benefits of a change
II climate and water, of the best of medical
.reatmont, and being near, and visited by their
friends. Particularly IN cases of chronic diar
rhea, certain stages of cCnva eScence from ty-
phold fever, enfetbled general physical cond.
ton, gun shot wounds which heal badly in
southern Hospitals or near the tide waters.
this change proves highly benefcial-over 60
per cent. of all cases long enough in the State
70 be fully treated, have been cured, and the
men restored to the service. q
This arrangement for benefting the sick and I
is nearly or quite peculiar to Vermont
Ind 1t is well known that several other States F.,
would like at any time similar arrangement. :
We walt to hear of any other State which has /
lone as much, substantially, and striped of all 8
mere demonstrations, for the benefit of its sick a
md wounded, in proportion to its whole num- t
yer, as Vermont has done for hers. i
Vermont was one of the very first States TO {.
her to send Surgeons and nurses 10 the armv 81
g long ago as when 1t moved to the Peninsula h
ndes Gen. Mcclellan and has repeated the '
fer several times since, but has been Informed IL
bat such help could with difficulty be used v
hat the army, in time of GRIM saged war Il
nd in face OF the enemy, must necessarily be o
trlctIy military organization, subject to rig
d rules; and that civilians could not be- mixed n
with the military without producing dsor- '
anization and confusion. :
AT and after great battle like that at Get
ysourg, 1T would be quite remarkable if, among
rooPS SO holly engaging the enemy S fire, as did
ne vermont troops, there should not occur