The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-06-10
THE VOLUNTEER RELIEF
AGENCIES.

aoLJ4N NJ1EtOs
The action of the US. Christian and
Sanitary Commission has been severe
~ criticised of late in several public
journals The most judicious article
on the subject which has attracted our
attention, is copied from the Boston
advertiser and here presented to our
readers. 1t will amply repay for the
time occupied in its perusal:
eve have three distinct organizations
in the field, for the care of our wounded
soldiers -the medical service of the
government and the two volunteer
associations, the Sanitary and Chris
tian Commissions. 1t is not remarka-
bic that between these three organiza-
tons occupying the same field, some
rivalry, not to say jealousy, should
spring up. We have seen the traces of a
feeling Of this sort as between the two
Commissions, stimulated perhaps by
the feeling that they appeal to the pub
lie simultaneously for money, to an
amount which, but for the bounties of
the past, it would seem might tire the
liberal public.
We believe, that the country cannot
afford to underestimate or dispense
with the services of either of these
three agencies at the moment of bat
tie. Take for instance the battles which
occurred recently while fredericksburg
was depot for our wounded, -15,000
wounded men pouring at the shortest
notice into town which in its best
estate perhaps contained population
of onc-third of this number. No
preparation by human power is ade-
quote to meet such case fully, under
the multiplied uncertainties of militia
ry movements. The government sup
Piled transportation for the wounded,
and yet there was suffering by delay,
of which it is narrowing to read The
medical staff provided the necessary
supplies and attendance, we will be-
lieve, with as much promptness and
completeness as was possible,-and
yet men lay for days INTENDED, wound
ed men were for days without food or
proper shelter, and common sense tells
us that lives were lost in no small
number from absolute neglect, or we
will say,-to avoid apparent censure,-
from want of necessary attendance
With the best that official diligence and
private zeal could do, there was for the
few days of actual crisis more work
than there We're hands to do It; that
with all the efforts and preparations of
the medical staff of the army, supple
mented by the voluntary agencies, the
necessary relief for the great mass of
suffering which followed the desperate
conflicts of May could not be admins
tered without distressing delay
h' hhNihche uii' tAttill Oh Ddtilc !
is not to be foretold by the relief agents,
official, or otherwise, nor in all cases
the proper point for dispatehing relief,
nor is the accumulation of the means
Of relief always possible or safe or wise
The critical moment for exertion pre-
cipitated the work upon the agencies
which were to care for it, in a manner
which necessarily outran all possible
preparation. Every helping hand that
could be obtained was necessary, and
therefore it was both fortunate that
there was Sanitary Commission TO
give its aid TO the medical service of
the army, wise in the Christian Com
mission to turn all its efforts for the
time, towards assisting the other agen-
cies, in q work different from that
usually undertaken by it, Especially, /
we believe, was it fortunate that there I
were these three agencies, to combine
in q work too great for either on any
scale ON which it could possibly be es-
tablished- {"