The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-04-21
letter from General Meade.


HEADQUARTERs ARNY OF THE PoToMAC,
April 9, 1864
/. MONTGOMERY BOND, ESQ-Ds1r Sir:
l have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your communication of the
6th instant, enclosing circulars Of the
Committee on Labor, Incomes, and
Revenues Of the Great Central Fair of
the United States Sanitary Commission
1 feel very much hattered and cOmph-
mented at the honor conferred on me,
by placing my name as one of the hon
orary members of this important com
mittee.
1t is hardly necessary for me to assure
YOU that | am with you heart and soul
in the great work OF benevolence and
charity which you have entered on.
1t has been my duty to make inquiry
as to the practical working and benefit
of the United States Sanitary Commits
sion, and it affords me great pleasure
20 bear testimony, so far as this army is
concerned, TO the inestimable benefits
and blessings conferred By this noble
association on the suffering, sick, and
wounded soldiers.
4 few facts in connection with this
point NAV be Of use to you
At the battle Of Gettysburg the nun
Der OF wounded of our own army alone
amounted by official reports, to TIM
I, en- thousand seven hundred and thir
teen U3,7l3G those Of the enemy left on
field were estimated by our medical
officers as amounting to eightthousand
This would make in all nearly twenty
two thousand suffering beings requiring
immediate care and attention to save
life
Few persons cen realize such large
numbers, but if you tell them that
should they ill and pack your Acade-
/ my Of Music in Philadelphia, (Which
/ holds, ] believe, some thirty-6ve hun
/ dred people } Sir tines, and then imag-
/ Inc every soul in this immense crowd
wounded they viii have Q chance idea
/ OF the great work for humanity on the
/ field of Gettysburg
/ Now, although the Government Is
/ most liberal and generous in all its pro
/ visions for the sick and wounded. yet
/ il is impossible TO keep constantly on
/ hand either the personnel or supplies
/ required in an emergency Of tbs kind.
Ia addition to this difficulty at Get
tysburg, was compelled to pursue the
retreating foe and as expected in a
few days 10 haveanother battle at some
distant point, it absolutely necessa-
~ ] should carry away the greater por-
ton OF my surgeons and medical sup
/ plies, so that the wounded at Gettysburg
were, in measure, dependent upon
such extra assist0noeas the Government
could hastily collect, and upon the
generous aid so cheersully and prompt
~ afforded by the Sanitary and Chris
tian Commissions, and the various State
and soldiers Aid Societies. All the
additional aid from every source was
here most urgently needed. and il gives
me great pleasure 20 cay that, from the
reports OF my medical officers, / am
satisfied the United States Sanitary
Commission, as well as the others above
/ named, We're fully up TO the work before
them
What has occurred in the past may
occur in the future There IS no nobler
or holier work Of Christian love or
charity, and II the voices Of tho brave
soldiers are of any influence, yoa may
rest assured yod have Their hearty
wishes and earnest prayers
GEoR Il G. MEADE
Maj Cen. Com & Army Potomac