Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-05-31
Report of the Relief Committee recently
sent to Fredericksburg.
WILMINoToE, 5rm MoNrn 28rn

To Tie Executive Committee Del. did association
GENTLEMhN-As Chairman Of the second Relief
Committee, recently sent by you to Fredericks-
burg, submit the following brief statements Of
our operations there
| Leaving here On the night of Sunday, the 18th
inst, uni obtaining passes of the Surgeon Gene
ial, We arrived per steamer Washington at Belle |
Plain about o'clock on Monday afternoon.
Here We quartered ON tue agents Of the Sani
tary Commlssion who, though greatly fatigued
from their almost continuous labors for several
preceding days aud nights, gave US hearty vel
come our party ia return assisting them in their
efforts to relieve the suffering inmates Of au am-
buance train arriving in the evening.
GA Tuesday morning, Q7th) at o'clock. We
took up our line ot march for Fredericksburg,
reaching there about 2. NJ, and again meeting
IL kiud reception from tue agents of the COmmis-
sion. The remainder Of Tuesday till z. NJ.
was spent in getting assigned to duty, obtaining
QUE town passes mud making the necessary ar
rangemens for food and lodging during our stay
I In ttlecling this we used the hoors Of house
occupied by the first committee for lodgings, and
v had the proprieress, hlr1. Turner, to cook our
. rAtiOns, which were drawn from the COmmlssary
+ Of the U. S. S. Commission
On Wednesday, morning We went fairly to
II work, four Of us having been assigned TO SECOND
a Division, S,coGd Corps (St Georges Church)
II -spita aud the remaining five TO First Diyi-
tt tlout otGulll Aufps kkuull hluu5el lOhpNhh Df
~ Hicks in charge OF Second Division Hospital
,e appointed me hospital steward, which position
though reluctantly accepted, proved afterwards
v think Ot great advantage, as IL enabl, d me /,
r. supply our party, especially those in First Dvi
l. siun Hospital. with materials for work, which
a otherwise there would have been great delay il
ar obtaining
'is The duties of the post required daily requisi
l. tons for aud issue vi blankets, shirts, drawers
h socks, brcOms, buckets, cups spoons, plates
mi buslns, spouges lint, bandAges plAsters, aud al
lal necessary medicines aud medical appliances OBJ
tained through the Corps Dispensary, which
m. was grauied to find so amply supplied also b
H.. frequent requisitiOn to obtain those articles
10. comfort us well necessity to the stricken de
he fenders vi the Union usually supplied by thI
lle most noble institution-the U s. Sanitary Con
an mission.
re, ln the First Division Hospital, our party ,
49, five, Mr. Joseph PiersOn, Captain, found Abol
ant 100 patients many having been for two days {
lv more without attention. The Surgeon 10 chnre
lIv the only medical man iu attendance, from over
work or other cause, was unable to direct or a.
yo- FIST them, and there was not much as O bas
eat or sponge TO work with Fortunately was
oh position tO furnish at once the requisite uttic
nee Tor work, and upon application at Corps Hea(
all quarters AL efficient Surgeon was detailed ther
two when the aspect OF affairs became quite change
The The Second Division Hospital, where ratio
lev. for 42O were drawn daily, was found in bett
au, Trim, Its comparatively prosperous condition r
lre- sultDg IN great part from the udeiAtigable e.
eriiohs Of some Of the members OF your first col
nittee, the best evidence Of whose efficiency W
found in the true regret expressed by the pc
'ted sufferers ut their departure The report Of thu
ier- operations will most likely be aid hefnra ,o,
sell the same time with this.
II oil On Saturday evening some Of US visited /
Cavalry Hospital, Ninth Corps attended in pl
the by two Dehwareans, where We found ea
rlty patient on rough bedstead instead of the ho
ind and being on u smaller scale near the edge
th +; aspect.
The great difficulty the poor sufferers have
ons- contend with is the want Of sufficient good me
he'd, cal aid. The army surgeons detached from fl
oris duties are ouly sufficient to exercise execut
riy fuhc,ious mainly, while surgical operations a
medical attendance, US far as was able to iud
81 10 were ia great part the work Of volunteer 81
reat geons, who, though Jealous aud faithful after
sso- ants, are quite inadequate, in point of numbe
to thorough performance Of the immense Ii
re- before them.
ara At my post was frequently called upon
as patients and nurses TO prescribe for men snfi
Iirs. ing from various diseases incidental to the
the posed life Of the camp. These cases having
Ma dured neglect, already seemed to demand
lion attention Of somebody, aud in all cases acting
led the best of my ability and judgment, hope
ans Efforts to relieve tho sutfennga Of those who
auss risked 80 much in our defence were crowned W
) es- at least partial success.
,.. Que could not but remark in passing amt
,su,' ~. these poor fellows the wonderful degree
u pA'lence exhibited on every hand. OF cours
nTIe would not be human nature to find no grumblG
less most part feeling and s.nsea,,s wv e.
IL oi for every littla attention.
On Monday morning (2sd inst J having n
ana yiously discovered the intended eyacuation of
ma place, consulted with members Of both oo
20 mittees when, considering all the circumstanc
con- il was deemed best 10 embrace what onnos,.
10 a there was for returning home. After ahtsin
nth passes and passage on the last wagon train
race Belle Plain, we regretted not having gone on
transports where we might have heeen servi
ches able, but one Of our party being quite sick,