, 1863-04-06
SANITARY SUF2LiESF FOR TnEARHY,
An Important Order by General Grant,
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SANITARY STORE BOAT
pEkOY2DE1s.

CHICAGO SANITARY CoAx1ss1oS,
CHICAGO, April 8, 1868. !
To The Editors Of the Chicago Tribune:
Having just returned froman expedition on
behalf OF the Chicago Sanitary Commission
to the army before VicksburE, desire, through
ynnr paper, to communicate to the public
without delay an important order Respecting
sanitary supple: ard expeditions, just Issued
By General Grant, The natural desire Of citi-
zcns at home to add to the comfort Of rcla.
tions and friends in the army, Of cities and
counties to provide for regiments raised in
their localities, and Of the benevolent public
to send stores for promiscuous distribution,
Inns resulted in so many evils to the army
operations, hare been as bcret ofore conducted
by persons not officially connected with the
Sanitary Commission, that General
Grant hls felt compelled TO apply q
remedy. The Quartermasters' and
government boats are put to Inconvenience.
lie hospitals are invaded by host Of maie
and female visitors, some of whom arc incom-
petent to observe and report, and others hare
further selfish ends in view. The medical dis
cipline Of the army is Weakened; false re-
ports are circulated US to the condition Of the
army, which discourage the troops and pre-
rent enlistments. sutler's goods are snug
gled in with forged sanitary marks. The wsll
are frequently made i'll and thu i'll made worse
by improper articles Of diet, and certain flv-
orcd regiments are loaded and eyen cncum-
bered with supplies, while others receive lit
til or nothing, who yet deserve c'Iual tryat-
lncnt. The effect is, absnrdiy aud injnriousty
to foster state and local feeling, at home and
III the army, In war for the Union against
rebellion, Wagcl in the name Of State rights,
for the benefit Of local institutions, and un-
der the inspiration Of sectional pride. This
is all wrong. All Union so1Ssicrs should Elre
nike in the camps aud in the hospitals. The
people should contribute to tue relief Of the
Federal army as a whole, without distinction
Of States or sections. To carry out this plan
is the design OF the United States Elnitary
Commission, with its several branches and
numerous agents. Hence Zen. Grant has de-
termined that hereafter no special supplies
shall have FREQ transportation, hut those only
intrusted for pronliscuous use, ard that these
latter shall le forwarded by the SAM airy Com
mission alone On their boats, shall be distrlb-
uted only by their agents. This gives unity
and simplicity to tins class Of operations, and
confines responsibility to well known parties,
simply adding that Gen. Rosecrans has adop.
part1ncnt under his command. enclose .
copy Of the order referred to, and remain
Yours truly, ". n. PATTON.
P. S.-Thc steamer New Dunleith has been
set apart by Government for the purpose
mentioned in Gen. Grants order, aud will be
dispatched from Cairo by the Sanitary Com
mission about once in two weeks, stopping
to land supplies ut Ill points at which there
are troops.
GEN. GRANTS ORDER.
HEADorANTERs DErT. OF THE TENNESSEE.
Especial Order No. SOL
!. The Quartcr1naster's Department will pro-
vide and furnish suitable steamboat, to be called
the "United States Sanitary Store Boat and put
the same in charge Of the o. s. Sanitary Commits
sion, to be used By it exclusively, for the convey
ance Of goods calculated to prevent disease and
supplemental to the Government supply OF stores
for the relief Of the efck and wounded.
2. No pereou will be Permitted to travel On said
boat except sick officers Of the army and navy
land they only on permits from their proper COM
manding oRcers,) discharged soldiers, and en-
ployerB Of said Sanitary Commission. And no
goods whatever, for trading or CONNIE :ial purpo-
ses will By carried on said boat. and no goods will
which will prevent them being delivered to those
most needing them in the army or navy.
8. The contents of ali packages to be shipped on
Eaid Cntted Sanitary store boat will be inspected
before shipment, unless an Invoice Of their coll
tents hae been received, the correctness of which
is assured by the signature Of some person OF
known loyalty and integrity. a statement show
ing what goods have been placed on board at each
trip will be sent to the medical director Of the de-
partment at these headquarters.
I. 4 weekly statement will be made by the said
Sanitary Commission to the department Of the
Medical Director, showing what sanitary supplies
have been issued By said commission, and TO whom
issued.
s. All orders authorizing the free transportation
OF sanitary stores from Cairo, eouth, on boats
other than the one herein provided for, hereby
frseiuded. By order, MAJ. GEN. U. 8. GRASr.
1SO, i. RAT1IS4. Asst. Aift Cen