Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1885-09-17
Reviewing the War.
MRS. MARY A. LIvERMoRE LECTURES AT
THE OLD SOUTH.

MRS. MARY A. LIvERMoRE LECTURES AT
THE OLD SOUTH.
THE IMMENSE AND EFFECTIVE WORK OF THE
SANITARY CoMMIssIoN--A DEPARTMENT
THAT HAD TO FIGHT ITS WAY TO RE-
CooNIrIoN- HOW 1T WAS SUPPORTED.
Mrs. Mary A. Livermore delivered the
sixth in the course Of lectures at the
Old South church. recently She chose
for her topic "The Sanitary Com
mission" a subject on which she is especially
fitted TO speak. A very large audience had
assembled. Every seat on the lower floor
was occupied and many persons were obliged
10 81, in the gallery. The speaker briefly re-
viewed the circumstance just preceding the
war down to the time when President Lin
coin called for $4,000 troops. With that
action By the president the entire aspect of
affairs changed and with the rush Of men
to protect the country the women began to
look abou, to see what they might do to as
sist. Meetings were held in Charlestown,
loNeil sHotN'f "'eSa Az
Cleveland, Pittsburg and Chicago. So we'll
was this organization perfected that IN many
instances no change was necessary through
out the entire Years Of the war. FINALLY
national organiz alton was completed IN New
York which received the sanction OF the
presiden, and secretary Of war. This sane
ton was given very unwilingly, but Presl-
dent Lincoln was willing that It should be
tried on the ground that it could not do
much Larm any way. The secretary With
drew his objections. stating that 1t was
simply throwing tub 70 the public
whale.
The speaker graphically described the
grea, difficulties under which the soldiers
laborrd when they were first ordered TO
Washington. They were carried o!ttimes IN
the meanest cars, and when they arrived
they we're nsuifici-ntly fed, and miserably
quartered The hospital accommodations
mere simply barbarous. The sanitary com
mission took the matter in hand. and as
result there was a vast improvement seen
right away. Then the commission estab-
!Ished homes for the use Of soldiers. The
number Of these homes finally reached 10,
and during the war i.joO.0o0 meals
were served, and over 100000 lodgings
given.
The commission did no, work in opposi-
ton 10 the army but rather in conjunction
with il, and nany times il asked privileges
which il had right TO demand There was
another thing which the sanitary commission
did they took care Of the wounded men.
Mrs. Llyermore recalled her first experiences
IN a battle, which was at It Done!son
She gave n pathetic description Of the suffer
.ngs Of the wounded men. Al that time
large mortality WIS ,hr result Of the neglect
Of the wounded soldiers. There vas not a
battle fought in the southwest where there
we're not hospital transports 10 take care Of
the wounded. Mrs. liyermofe then detail
cd a. some length the arrangement Of the
hospital trains which were run with 50 much
success These trains were fitted With every
possible convenience for thc care Of the
wounded men.
The sanitary commission also did good
work in securing pensions. Then they Kept
hospital record which was Of grea, ad-
vantage 10 nquiring friends who could not
20 any farther than the military lines. BY
the carving out Of careful system the
commission had an almost complete record
from the 2O3 general military hospitals. The
special relief agency Ih, agency was un-
der the general direction OF Rev. +, Knapp,
Who i. now a, the head Of a boys school al
Plymouth. \ battlefield service was an-
other special work Of the commission. New
er did All army start out for battle that
superintendent Of the commission was
not there with commission wagons, and
where It was possible. commission
boats CARRYING large quantities OF sanitary
supplies.
As an illustration Of the work Of the COM
mission. the speaker said that in addition TO
the work during the battle, there we're dis
tributrd after the battle Of Antietam, 2s, 763
sheets. towels, etc, 30 barrels OF linen and
lint. 3l6s packages Of farina, PIGS cans Of
condensed milk, 5000 pounds OF beef extract,
5000 bottles Of wine and several tons Of
fruit and other articles. After the battle Of
Shiloh there were distributed / AS shirts,
1865 pairs Of drawers, 1892 pairs Of socks.
271,1 bed socks, j43 pillows, 1915 bottles Of
brandy, etc, 100 bottles Of porter, 9il
lemons, 20 .3l6 cans Of fruit, So 1928 pack ages
of farinaceous foods. During the war the
commission distributed Sl5.o00,0o0 worth
Of these articles. These and the money
needed were received from the $1,000 ladies
aid societies, scattered all over the
country.
When every other resource failed the
women fell back on their tayorite resort
fairs, sanitary fairs. The first was held in
Chicago. That fair raised nearly 10000.
So fairs went all over the country until a
fair in Philadelphia raised over $1,000
600, and in New York very nearly 81 ,00O,-
600
Gen. Grant did habitualiy what he could
for the sanitary commission. When there
was no house in Cairo suitable Tor soldiers
home he gave orders to have one bullt and
/ in all emergencies he helped the commission
in every way Gen. Grant asked only one
thing-he would not have any discrlmina-
ton between soldiers from the several states.
The state feeling had TO be fought down in
the beginning In closing the speaker
| said Somehow it was not quite easy for
/ those engaged in the sanitary commission
10 cut themselves entirely free from
/ misery. | am sometimes asked if IN case OF
another war would it be possible for another
1 such organization as this to arise and do
such work as was done by this during the
last war. would unhesitatingly say