New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-03
The Sanitary Commission.


TESTIMONY or THE HON. ~ 8. TOWNBHnND -
TO TIE SANITARY COMMISSION.
The following letter from the pom Of Lieutenant. Cooss
s. Townbsnd Of the Medical Inspectors Of the Unisd
States Army. among whose duties the detection Of abuses 10
the food and clothing f Me troops holds prominent place.
tih testimony to the jndioous methods Of tho United
States Sanitary Commission In the distribution Of hospital
stores win have weight with those who know the cppo
tunities fos knowledge thess Official Inspecass
possess;
From The Cleveland Herald.
Avon, Feb. a. 1854
EDS HERALD, The accompanying letter IL copy Of
rom husband no. written for publication but to aid me In
abors increase the interest confidence of neigh
bcrhood and town in the Sanitary Commission.
1t occurred TO however that IL published might pro
mote the interest othe Commission outside Of these and
caar Of the Fair and with the wish that may do ali tho
Yours. &C.. $50 MRS. N S. TowNsHEND.
81. LOUIS No., Feb. Q, 1894
MI DEAa WYE: Your letter Of the LIST inst referring to
he United States Sanitary Comlnsou was received today,
and reply Immediately that you may have my testimony 20
use whenever will encourage those whose hearts and banda
SIRE already in the work the objections OF those VIII"
And let me remind you the outset that my opportunities
officer Of equal rank or army sassons eyen b., much bs.s
for a. Medical Inspector have wider than either Of
heath and comfort Of the men, including Of course food
clothing shelter surgical and medical treatment and nursing
hosptas ard have therefore many Opportunity. Of Judging
u TIE doing, Of the Sanitary Commscu and now win sivs
First: think IL is far the best medium through which
send mster comforts to the sick Of the array and greatly
ion anar, and simple embraces the whole 6ed and there
fore overook nothing and duplicates nothing. Where would
s 1eT END Rebel In r. wsn who s.asa
the whole field and don't know what has been san;
be lacks the facilities Of communication and transportation
Sscond The agents Of the Commission not paid out Of
funds which you in Ohio contributed do they consume
the eaabes which A;d Societies have sent The saiared
agents ere paid from California fund devoted that purpose
their .leion. and have invariably had set before only
What The make. sdOrded he agents personal resources
Third lave no evidence that line officers SAM
sry for they put under their charge nor can
ssop or a. aDed or Stbon snons the sot o
hospital PIT under the control of the Surgeon IN charge
stances have been nsapped used, s,Ocn, possible.
Of the stores belonging TO the Governments but that ;s
sny uch n.aggicson have heard charged " any
p-I.oo who had the means ofknOwing
Knoxville. Soon alter arrived the surgeon dinner bell rang
invited to dinner On tie table W" clean table CLOTH
tTsad and nohns Else The bread had not nicent Hour N
TO hoa tosother; is cohesion Appealed TO depend on
fuy We III ate hesItly aud no apologies were offered w
examining seFard the food OF several OF the pasnts found
good bread and crccAecs and On inony iesrn
te.e not then u few days ater Lonzstr-et e enough
-four army bread for all sud therefore he surgeons t
nur s aud toe Pat eits whose diseases would permit usc6
bran bread while ne onr bread was reserved Tor hoS
who bad affections Of The bowels othsr pasn fonnd nsis
y beu very short th@s. reserved ior cases eDnf1
SruIyy sni other specially needing then the s
seons he nurses aud patients who bad nearly recovered,
could iniuge sDch iurnrss DO you think that stem
medical ofe would rob the sck soldier o. few deisaaes
thar m.shi be by his beudsl few days later hsd tho
rfi0n ses;r hundred and fifty packages OF sni-
tsry to addition Government supplies sent from Cnsf
tsnoon 20 the HOSPITALS knoAie have no fesrihss
the doctors ate them up. 49,
But wi Is /. that eluned soldiers do not frequeltiy
,xus tr gratitude for the comforts sent henl Because
Instances sanitary not distributed TO themen
dxey ~ che agent but indirectly through The surgeon W
eli, &C. and bis the only sale rule. Thousands oil nu IN
hospitals wearing socks draw shirts and lying on oeos'
fed with food and have their ounds bound with Damages
sl rom the Samsry Commission without suspicion inc
fact IN. Santogy tells the what be hstno
sur econ tel. GENT what ne wants and 10 pat at hs dis-
po % be given required. 1he Sanitary asentin ma
eauen visits the hospitals that mis- contributions arc
properly used willie the recipient; himself may n9skn q
NAV mol in condon know whether what he ests sna
dk. aud wears from Uncle Sam himself or some dear
.ant pretty cousin. $500 -.
But Il the same time Of Sinking oafers who IRE NOS
s but petend TO lame back weak stomach, n faint
. Els are on.ny 20 sponge something cut
OIL nitsry agents. eud they fail they usually Do r these
sowardly gr1nting ninoeye, easily Recognized hey 80
prepared . tories about the msspPcstion of SAM"
taTy stories. .
IN short ara satisfied that the Sanitary Commisdon is
well well managed institution, and thstn the
best possible agent for the distribution Of what hone hnSen
eau prepare Tor the soldier.
tunk al for the coming Spring campaign snail need
an hsi ,n be- raised aud dOnt boess shall need any
'''"s 4'''' n. s. TowNsHEND.