The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-03-03
The Sanitary Commission.
MUFREEsBozo, TEsgN., Feb 20, 1854
70 Dr. Reed, Inspector Sanitary cmmis-

The Sanitary Commission.
MUTREEsBoEo, TnN., Feb. 20, 1854
Z 70 Dr. Reed, Inspector Sanitary c5mmis
sien,
SIR,-HaEing lately seen various news
paper articles charging the agents o.
the Sanitary Commission with corrup-
ton and fraud in the appropriation, use
ana distribution Of supplies furnished
by the loyal people Of the North for
/ the army, desire to assert, on my own
knowledge that these charges, as far as
they relate to certain specified times or
I places, are either intentionally or wiz
I fully false.
In March last I was ASSIGNED TO duty
upon the staff Of Major General Rose
Grams, as Medical lnspecto--a position
that gave sne srnPle ePPor tClIity Of Wit
Messing the workings of the Sanitary
Commission. Prior to the battle Of
Chiekamauga, my intercourse with the
Commission was slight; but afterwards
saw sufficient to warrant me in de-
claring that not only does a vast ma
jority of its supplies reach those for
whom they are intended but that the
amount of good done by them is be-
yond compensation. know that from
their depot at Stevenson, Ala, after
that battle, immense quantities Of sup
plies were forwarded to Chattanooga for
the use Of the wounded, and that more
would have been sent could transporta-
ton have been obtained, and that the
supplies Save such as were stolen) were
used in and were a perfect God-send to
the hospitals there. Twas present when
the supplies from Stevenson from the
Quartermaster's Commissary's and
Sanitary Commission were sent to Sc
quatchie Valley to establish Soldiers
Home for feeding thewounded in transit
from Chattanooga to the hospitals in the
rear, and know that they were put in |
the hands of good and reliable man,
who had been the Medical Director of I
the Department, and detailed by Gen.
Rosecrans to take charge of the post
This home was afterward transferred TO !
Kelly's Ferry. In my capacity of In
spector, and in obedience to orders, I |
visited that point severaltimes twas /
under the charge of Surgeon Failor, |
18th o. v l., and the Rev Mr. Kennedy, !
and no wounded or sick soldier passed /
that point without receivingall the care !
and attention that circumstances would 4
permit. That many "shOulder-strapped
gentry" were also fed, is true; they
could get food and lodging nowhere
else; and from Major Generals to I'd
Lieutenants were most thankful for the
aid and comfort they received 1 know
that after the battles of Lookout
Mission Ridge, Ringgold, DC,
large quantities of sanitary stores
were issued to the sick and wounded
Mr. Reed, the agent at Chattanooga, re-
ceived every few days instructions from
G. Pierce, Surgeon .. s Army, Medical
Director of the Department, as to what
article to bring forward, and they were
to and used by those need
ing them, and for whom they were de-
signed.
In December last, l took charge of
over 200 wounded and sick, whom it
was necessary to remove from Chatta-
nooga TO the rear When the boat
touched at Kelly's Ferry, the Sanitary
agent there gave me- for
for their use, and they got them, such
articles Of food as could be used, and 3
liberal supply When I arrived at
Bridgeport, Ala, with my charge, l was
delayed after getting my men into the
ears for nearly whole day, and the
Sanitary Commission there furnished
them with coffee, whisky, food and
blankets, shirts, socks, drawers, pants.
&c, to every man who expressed a wish
for or had need of such articles. On
leaving Nashville for Louisville, found
attached to my train a Sanitary Com I
mission car, supplied with hunks, clean
and nice, and an abundance Of first-rate
food and cooking utensils, and every
man on that train was fed with food as
abundant, as good, and as well cooked
rs they could desire, and doubt not
would take great pleasure in branding
rs liars all who traduce the Sanitary
Commission.
make this statement without solicit
tation, and as a mere act of justice TO
parties interested, and conscientiously
believe that the abuse bestowed upon
the Commission owes its origin to igno-
rance Of what is really does do, positive
jealousy, or else is from
those who have sought for, but have
failed to receive from the Commission,
favors to which they had no right, and
have thus sought to vent their spite
Most respectfully,
Your obedient servant.
(Signed) HENRY n. SEYs,
Surgeon 18th Ohio Vols.
NASHVILLE. Feb. 26. 1864.