Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-02-05

The SURGEON AND THE SANITARY CouMIs-
sIoN.-When ! went into the field in 1861
found a large proportion o t the surgeons for
some cause which | have not learned, OF
posed u the Sanitary commission. II of
course took me but little while to become
strongly preiudiced and bitterly opposed
Every agent sent 70 inspect us was made the
subject Of not very fattering remarks. Every
pamphlet which il issued was criticised
One evening a number of surgeons met in
my tent The ommi-sion soon became our
subject something mL-t written against
il, and ] must write it. | was full on IN.
subject, and threw into my article all the
force could command had nearly fin
ished it when the sound Of artillery came
booming over the country and
heavier grew the roar,-a battle was being
fought at Draincsville. The surgeons dis
perscd to collect appliances for the wounded
The sufferers in the battle began to arrive.
We had scarcely anything they needed. The
NOISE Of the battle had reached Washington,
and by the time the wounded were examined
in came thoselSanItary agents with the very
articles Of comfort which government had
failed to supply Ny article, which had
10 finish at o more convenient season.
Time passed on and we found ourselves on
tn peninsula. In the haste Of moving, most
o. ,ne appliances Of comfort had been left
behind After the battle of Lee : Mill L was
almost without medicine, or any articles Of
diet fer the sick, though had been for weeks
striving u procure them. What should
do2 just then were discovered a number of
those Sanitary chaps who are always pokins
their noses into cycrybOdys business.
Somehow OF other they had the very things
we needed. That night, after having finished
nv lal0rs with the wounded, went 70 my
trunk. took out that article .On the Sanitary
and read a few lines. 1t did not read a. well
as thought il would, so ! raised garment
and Put II under, where il would not stare
me in the face every time ! looked in. Tic
battle IT Williamsburg followed and before
the smoke of the battle had blown away,
right alongside of our army lay one ct thpsc
ever-prcsent sanitary steamers, trelghtcd not
only with necesSaries. hut with luxurles for
the sick and wounded. They had only To be-
asked for and they were distributed To US
without limit. Another shirt was thrown
over that article.
! was in charge OF Liberty Hall hospital
at the time Of the battle of Hanover Court
House. Here both the sick and wounded
were crowded on me. Five hundred were
piled in at one time. had not a bed, not
dozen blankets, not a cooking utensll, and
nothing % cook. In vain did appeal 10 the
medical diroct0r,-in vain did he appeal 20
higher authority The necessaries Of lite
were scarcely TO be had. begged. plead
no use. \ few DAYS after the battle. on
the breaking up Of other hospitals, the
wounded who could not be moved 10 a great
er distance were sent 10 me,-s0me OF them
in a most loathsome condition, their wounds
cancrenous and alive with worms. Again
| Iaupealcd tor assistance, and with such I'M
u0rtunitv that | was threatened with dis
nissal from the service. | procured pass
In White House. There | found the United
States Sanitary commission. ] told them the
story of the soldiers suffering Hundreds
Of clean sheets. blankets, bedsacks, and Pill
lows were packed in less time than 1t needs
10 read the story. Boxes Of condensed milk,
farina, army soup, tea, coffee, sugar oranges,
and lemons were sent off with astonishing
celerity. When departed there was not
state represented in my hospital but found
some articles bearing the marks Of home
New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Yer
mont. Massachusetts,, Rhode Island and
Wisconsin, all were there,-both in their
soldiers and in their gifts. As | led one
Door fellow from Pennsylvania to his bed,
and he saw upon the clean white sheet the
name Of his family and bis home, his convul-
slve sobs shook the building The whole
hospital wept and as | took my paper and
I thrust it at the bottom Of my trunk, 1t may
be that few watery drops had fallen
amongst its leaves.
The army arrived at Harrisons Landing.
/ The sick had been sent ahead OF US. In
/ this connection shall state but single
case in illustration. A young man from
| Milwaukee, in whom felt great interest,
was found. after long hunt. in an ambu-
lance. lie had all the symptoms OF an ap-
preaching attack OF typhus fever. Govern
mcnt transports were at the wharf taking on
the wounded. had the ambulance driven
10 the river, and asked place Tor this
Young man Ii was denied. But he Is IN
more danger than hundreds OF wounded.
Our orders are peremptory. We take only
wounded Thirty hours there would be
certain death 10 him. What could do? |
succeeded in reaching transport which the
| Sanitary commission had. ! appealed TO
! them. we have only two hundred and
forty on board we will take him. lie was
sent 10 his home And does the mother OF
that Young man ever enter the Sanitary com
mission rooms without gratitude TO that com
mission. u.-aud without feeling that the means
for furnishing the conveyance which saved
his life were perhaps drawn from other
statcs9 pass over other scenes OF suffering
relieved which witnessed at Centervllle,
South Mountain, Champions Gap Antletam
and Fredericksburg. At Antietam took
the paper from the bottom OF my trunk and
lest might see 1t again, burned
it. And now | declare upon my honor thai
never wrote it, and that never will do $
| arain-A NIsconsln Armn Snrqeon.