New-York tribune., 1879-08-29

The reinstatement of Surgeou-General Wllilaih
A, Hammond to the United States Army, from
which he WAS dismissed under sentence OF COURT
martial. approved by President Lincoln. August Io'
1864 reyiyes a case which during the past hiteeh
wears has attracted much attention. not only
among members of the medical profession OF which
he Is SO distinguished a member. but among All
classes. The story of his service in the Army MS
dIsmi. sal after trial by cOurt-martial, his Strug
gle with poverty, his success in his profession ana
his late but full vndcaton, has peculiar interest,"
A SUCCESSFUL STRUGGLE.
At the breaking out OF the repeIhoh III
1861 the old machinery OF the Medical bureau Vi 'o
Army was found to be totally Incapable OF per'o'nt
the work which the emergencies OF those times de-
oarded Tho nractical administration Of the affairs Of
the Bureau was seriously impeded by Its complicated re-
Iatons with the Quartermastar's and Subsistence De
parmepts OF the Army With the opening OF the contest
came the demand for properly constructed hoSpas d"
well as for suitable food for the newly ralsen
Scores OF questions arose respecting the ways and means
10 be adopted for providing these auXisles lhe "OA
OF efectlng a harmonious combination OF THESE TWO DS
nartments WAS therefore OF great impor-
tance but which was attended with many dih-
cnlties TIE United States Sanitary Coh-
mission when 1t entered upon Its work. recoghIeu t'o
evils of the system, and soon became satisfied at noun
ing short of a complete reorganization would meet 'nc
case The subject was promptly brought to the ai'eh-
ton of Congress IN order TO secure the proper
by which the objects sought might be attained and as
result of their efforts bill passed on April lslSoZ'
10 Rcorganze and increase the efficiency OF the Mcu-
ical Department OF the Army"
The next sep taken BY the Commission was 10 secure
n competent man for the post OF Snrseon-Geheral'
Among the oEcers o. the medical staff whose zcaI 'ne
leepce and successful administration OF his duties h'd
tI,, hIv ne tuu
speotors OF the Commission WAS DR.. William - Han
mond. an Assistint-surgeoa m ;le Regular Army. He
was at that time about thi-tyOur years old He Tau
served thirteen years an assstansurseoh out e's
than year prior the breaking out OF the war ne nu
resigned 10 accept the office OF Professor oi FhysoosS
and Anatomy the University OF Maryla1'ahd was u7o
engaged in practice as physician In Baltimore Wheh
tho rehorlion opened however, he immediately sur
rendered the sorshp abandoned his growing prc
ce and reGntered tue Arm at the foot OF the sl Vi
assistapzrgeons He was at once employed 10 organ
ize general hospitals at ChamDersburg' HaSersto"h'
Baltimore and Wheeling; and. in the language Oh ITO
fessor Charles ]. stile OF tine Sanitary lhi7Sloh'
his appreciation of the OF sucn tabhShments
and tine enlarged and liberal spir witt when ne AT
en,ned 10 supply their dencienci so conspicu-
ous tnat they could not fail toattra,O .he attention oi
the nspectors" In their efforts to secur the appoint
ment of proper man TO the post irgeon-Generai,
the Commission also sought the lnAU . oi ueheIai
Mcclellan then in command of the Army OF the fotohc
The latter in running down the list OF Names discussed
the merits OF the several officers and the peculiar quail
neatons of each Toward the end Of the list his eye met
the name OF DR.. Hammond, when he exclaimed " lie
IA our man. He is the only Of the whole corps who
has any lust conception of the duties OF such position
and sufficient energy faithfully TO perform them IL
was finally determined by the Commission TO recon-
mend DR.. Hammond for the position. The claims OF
numerous others we're submitted to the President aud
| war cpugtleTed
much care by Mr.. Lincoln and Mr. Stanton but on the
25th OF April 1862, the commission of surgeonGenerh
of the Army was awarded to Dr. Hammond
EXPELLED FROM The ARMY.
The position in which the young sufgeon-General
found himself was peculiarly embarrassing ana us
duties were extremely arduous. He was raised from
almost the bottom to the head of the list, and personal
among the first fruits or the chan2e
It was natural desire his part that he should be
surrounded by agents in order TO give efficiency
10 his plans Under provision OF the law an Inspector
General and eight Medical Inspectors were to be ap
noinfed who should have power 70 enforce the adop
ton of measures ordered for e remedy of abuses and
buslness II should report TO the head of the
Bureau respecting the condition Oi CAMPS am
A l,s' ~ W s,,EnitteI to Thr srcrctary OF War. but
through means political lhhusnce opers,eu tt
10 ueiea' onI 6"0 many of those VINO were up-
ponted were wholly untruned for their special wok.
or the nine by General Hammond only Tour were
enpoInIed. He thus Ound himself at sic very OutHe'
crIopled by a refusal 10 provide hn Nltn INC means
which he deemed essential fot thc proper cAtcu'9n VI
his plans Tne controversy on TINS ana oihri umcHl
subjects led to want Of harmony between ihe Sre,t
tary of War aud tine surgeon General "hch cllia,eu
in the trial OF Dr. Hammond by courl-indfiiil Sgn
vened IN Washington under specal oI9Cf- o. inc var
Drpartment. dated January 10, 1854 Inc charges pre-
lented we're iii. ~. ...,
order and military discipline" .
"II-gonduct GnDccomugan officer and gentleman.
"II-Condu.; 70 tue prejudice oi good order ana
The iirs charge consisted Of eight specifications al
e0up numerous Irrerular,s such as wrongly ana lie
galy contracting with diers hnd others l9f suppngs
fay0ritism the awarding oI couFuct' ah at eA"i Vi
Iant prices with view 10 realizing pccunlaiy bench,
therefrom. ana tue acceptance 90 aucits With ~ wiz VIZ
rnft for use. He found guilty on seven OF the spec
win intent TO favor private persons resident in Phila
depIIao or which blankets ordered were unit for
or quality" etc He found not guilty on the eighth
OF the second charge he found guilty. of the FIRST
specification OF charge He ne was IOuId guilty. eAcep
as TO The words " and cOIInpty," ana on the second
specification not guilty. 80,
the Hudlugs ana OF the cOurtnarJla ana the
defendant was dismissed rom the service by genera
order dated August 20 1864
WAITING FOR vINpICATIOS.
Dr. Hammoud's experience during these fifteen years
between his dismissal the Army and his reinstate-
ment is best given in his own language IN CONVERSE
ton with a TRIBUNE reporter yesterdays
"Wnen was dismissed the service" said DR.. Ham
mond resolved 10 20 the biggest place III the world
and live It down and so came Immediately 20 New
York madesnO effort TO get relnstdted at the Ume,
and determined to do until could achieve sue
cess I'm my profession and could ask be restored
the list without back. present or future pay
or allowance Of any kind whatsoever When /
arrived here 1 had nothing, and obliged TO
borrow money from whosoeyer would loan 1t to me in
order to support myself There were tunes when
Ireally did not know now was TO get my next meal
supported myself best could. took to writing for
the newspapers. Amongst those that published my artl-
and The Hound Table au1 al
ooutributed 10 other periodicals My struggle times
vas esperate came here In September 1864. BUT did
no peciu 70 have any kind Of practice until January,
1868 then opened Office. hut during the entire
m0nb did not take IN one cent In February re-
ceived gi5: in March, $50; April SlO in Nav S205
in June, 40 in July 1900 ~ August, ceutI
septembei 500 OctOUer $40 q began 10 think