The weekly union record., 1864-10-01
What We are Teaching the Old World

The institutions which have grown out of
the war are as great a wonder TO visiting for
eiguers as the vast armies which are fighting
its battles. Eminent military men of all nations
are constantly visiting Washington and other
military depots, not more to see what We are
doing than how we do it. They are generally
very observing and nquisitive and are always
free TO express their admiration Of whatever
combines novelty and utiity-even to the
minutest article pertaining to camp or hospital.
Oar Army Hospitals are objects OF peculiar
wonder to them. y surgeon General Of the
British Army was recently in Washington, and
made thorough tour of observation. Every
facility was given him, and his report is that,
after more than thirty years service. and ac-
qnaiuance with the hospitals of every European
patton, he had seen nothing at all to be CON-
pared with the hospitals OF this couatry, either
in extent convenience and system, or in the
ample provision made for the care and comfort
of their inmates. His praise is unstnted AMI
deserved He had conceived of nothing so
thorough and perfect, aud regretted that, in
spite of every effort at reform, the routine OF
European Army Hospitals remained about as
it was q hundred years ago. The example
which our Government has set in this direction
will be of infni'e service to the soldiers OF
other nations hereafter.
The creative genius Of our people has been
wonderfully developed in this war No people
on earth had less experience in the art of war,
or knew less, practically, OF what it involved
Bat during these three years they have done
more to euergize sytemiza and humanize the
work of war than has been done by all the
other nations combined in q century. Our
hospital system stands first and pre- eminent ;
bH minor organizations are no less indicative
OF oar adaptation TO the necessities of war as
to the arts Of peace. Camp Distribution" if
not Yankee invention, its character aud
management is. 10 all its appendages and
arrangements, il looks more like fashionable
watering place than like q camp for soldiers
1t has its chapel, lis bathing halls, reading
rooms, library, etc, and is more orderly and
tidy than auy village in the land. And yet it
is camp FOR the distribution of convalescents,
weary men, siragglers, deseIters released pris
oners, etc. and although few who arrive here
remain over a week. AID over 10000 have
come and gone within few months, there is
the most perfect order iu every department.
Two weeks ago, when the rebels visited this
neighborhood, three thousand were armed and
sent ont from this camp for duty in and around
the deienses. There are distribution camps in
other countries; but they are ordinarily unruly
aud filthy places, indicating neither cleanliness,
kindness nor discipline. Our example in this,
as in other things will be copied by Europe.
The "Freedmens village" is another marvel
of the war. 1t has population of over 2,200
souls aud Ike Camp Distribution, is pattern
/ of neatness and good order. Any other nation
with such population pressed upon it would
Judging from the past, have permitted them to
haddie together promiscuousy, to sicken and
de But our authorities have made these poor
people useful and happy. They live in plain
but tidy houses. The men and women are kept
constantly at work, the children are sent TO
school, and all are beneftted-physica NOR
ally and relieiously. 1t Is, emphatically, q
Yankee ustitution-thought out aud applied
because something was necessary to be done
and given this shape because Of the facility
with which our people think out the best
thoughts, when called 10 think at all upon
practical subjects. And what we see here
upon a somewhat mammoth scale can be seen
at a hundred other points where conirabaud;
congregate. All this tends TO their elevation
and Will prepare them for higher life of entire
personal freedom. which awaits them.
Our foreign friends also marvel al the vast
ness Of our armies, at the mammoth character
of our battles. az our navy aud the novel fea
lures which we have introduced into nava
architecture. etc. and on the whole, learn
wonder and admire. and 90 home TO press upon
the Old fosies of their respective countries the
proprietv Of acting upon what the new world
has taught tbem.-.iL6cnu a. Y JourIcl.