Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-03-10
The Sanitary Commission.

from the Montpelier Argus 1.-THE central
orr1a of Vermont latter-day 'democra-
cy -th2 spoke of the United States San
itary Commission as one of the most
oyershadowing humbugs this war has
floated to the surface, whichwas raising
funds, by fairs, "for the ostensible pur-
pose of relievir ! the wants and sufierings
Of the soldiers Of our army, but really for
paying fat salaries toa crowd OF lazy de-
pendents." Now this atrocious state
ment of rabid copperheadism, con-
corning one of the noblest enterprises of
the time, an enterprise which will stand
as an imperishable monument to the hu-
manity, patriotism and all embracing
benevolence Of the American people amid
the crash and passionate tumult of
war,-this precious bit of rabid copper
headism, We say could only excite in
dignation in the breast of every man of
decency and self-respect, and according
ly needs no reply. Nevertheless, as such
large sums of money are being raised to
aid the Commission in its great and I'M
precedented work, the people, and espec-
tally those who are nobly laboring day
after day, in greater or humber sphere.
to add their contributions thereto, will
feel interested in knowing what proper
ton of the funds is actually consumed in
the expenses ofreceiying and distributing
supplies and the proportion which is ac-
tually expended in feeding, clothing,
healing and comforting our wounded,
sick or needy soldiers.
We therefore quote the summing up at
the close of statement made by Dr.
Bellows. 1t exhibits smallness of ex
pense, in proportion to the vast work
done, which we believe was never before
equalled, and must encourage all to re-
newed effort in this generous work of
contribution.
l. The board of the United States San
itary Commission, president, vice. pres
ident, treasurer medical committee and
standing committee, give their time gra-
tuitously. They are refunded Gin part
their travelling expenses nothing more.
2. Their agents, two hundred in num-
Der, general and associate secretaries,
medical and sanitary inspectors, relief
agents, clerks, depot and store-house
keepers wagoners, &C., receiving some
more and some less, average just 81 per
day, or less than ordinary mechanics
wages. Total, $l2,000pe month for the
vast human machinery of the commits
sion, stretching from Texas to the Poto
mac, from before Charleston to Kansas.
8. About fifteen-sixteenths of all the
eight millions the commission has re-
ceived goes onto the backs, or into the |
mouths of the soldiers.
4. The cost of collecting and distribu-
ting supplies is less than three per cent.
/. s. About twenty-three hundred men
are now, and for a long time have been
in daily use and enjoyment of the homes
and lodges of the commission.
6. The battlefield service of the com
mission requires large accumulation OF
funds and of supplies. At Murfreesboro,
Antietam, Gettysburg, Chattanooga,
Vicksburg, Port Hudson, sudden and
vast demands were made, and are always
likely to be made. Fifty thousand dol
lars would not cover the cost of our
whole service in the first two weeks az
ter any one Of our great battles at Get
tysburg it was $4,000.
7. We reckon that if we divided all
the aid we have given to the sick in reg
mental, general, and other hospitals, to
men in peril of sickness from scurvy and
exposure, it would amount to $500 a
case; many men having received this
several times, as often as they were sick.
The seriously wounded have been often
las at Gettysburg-the receivers of as
much as $40 aid per man. We mention
this to show not how much but how lit
tie, this sometimes called extravagant
commission costs, considering the bles-
sings it is the almoner Of
As fresh indication ofthc manner in
which the work Of the Commission is
done on the battle field, we copy the fol-
lowing paragraph which occurs in the
account given by the New York Heralds
correspondent of the late engagement in
Florida. He writes:
The agent Of the Sanitary Commission,
Mr.. A. P. Day, and that of the Christian
Commission, Rev.. Mr. Taylor, aided by
Chaplain Haskell, of the Fortieth Massa-
chusetts, were on the ground soon after
the battle began, and entered upon their
mission of mercy. They went upon the
field in the thickest of the fray, and
brought off the wounded and carried
them to the rear, where their supplies,
which had been brought from Jackson
vile with great exertion, We're dispensed.
Mr.. Day was particularly conspicuous
in bringing out the wounded and alleyi-
ating their sufferings as much as lay in
his power. Mr.. Taylor and Mr.. Haskell
were also exceedingly active and efficient
in their good work. s9
The FLORIDA DEFEAT.--The Washing
ton Republican states that a letter re-
garding the Florida reverse, from Major
John Hay, has been received, from
which it appears that our total loss in
killed and wounded was eight hundred
instead of twelve hundred. Gen. Sey-
mour, it is said, acted contrary to Or
ders, or ut least without orders, in
pushing his advance so far, and upon
him the respOnsibility of the disastar