New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-25
WOMAN IN THE WAR.
THE SANITARY COMMISSION.

THE SANITARY COMMISSION.
THE OTHER SIDE OF WAR, WITH THE ARMY W
THE POTOMAC. BY KATHERINE PRESCOTT
woRMELEy. svo PIP. 2lo Boston: Tchnor Co
These letters, written from the headquarters
of the United States Sanitary Commission during
the Pcninsular campaign in 1862, ana now
printed under the auspices of the Massachusetts,
Commandery of the Loyal Legion, are of per-
manent value and interest in that they throw
strong light upon that hospital transport service
which first aroused public attention to the I'M
portance of the work being done by the Sanitary
Commission. They possess distinct literary quail
lty, arc natural and graphic and reflect faithfully
the deep excitement and high resolve which at
once stimulated and sustained the patriotic
women who devoted themselves to a life of
extraordinary toll and hardship in order 10
relieve and minister 10 the defenders of the
Union in the field. 1t WAS the hospital transport
service during the Pennsular campaign that
proved the worth of the Sanitary Commission,
iust as It was California's magnificent hundred
thousand dollar draft that established the Com
mission financially. Miss Wormeleys letters show
what that service was. We the desperate
confusion that existed in the arrangements OF
the Government: the complete breakdown OF
the United States Medical Bureau; the fearful
sufferings to which the sick and wounded were
exposed by the want of almost everything that
should have been provided; the crowding OF I'M
prepared transports with wounded; the virtual
abandonment of numbers on the banks OF the James
River: the famine in medical stores and appl-
auces food, fuel and all else; and then we see
the Sanitary Commission always on suherance
and regarded askance by the Government COM
ing modcstly to the rescue with It's WONDERFUL
organization, its abundant supplies It's swilt pro-
vision. and taking up the burden where the
constituted powers had dropped it.
Let any reader of these picturesque and preg-
rant letters reflect what must have happened
had the Sanitary Commission not been at hand
TO take UP and carry out this great work OF
humanity and patriotism. Beyond all doubt the
army death-rols would have been fearfuily en-
larged, from the beginning TO the END Oh the
war Not less certainly the suffering OF the
wounded would have been enhanced-and 1t
was great enough, even at the best Inc hospl-
tai transport service took charge OF, led ana
unused and provided medical aid for ten thousand
sick and wounded men during the Penlnsular
campaign alone These men could not be
handled by the Government Its organization
was wholly inadequate at the beginning of the
war and though the Medical Bureau was raised
TO a comparatively high degree Of efficiency
curing inc struSSlt, tICiO hSN'h ""' - 49,
it could have done the work with which it was
charged without the help of the Sanitary Com
mission. Take as evidence what happened after
the battle of Antetam. The Government: trans
portation of medical and in fact all other
stores was interrupted. The field depots OF
medical supplies were exhausted. In fact no
trains got in until four days after the battle
What must have been the fate of the wounded
if they had had no other dependence than the
Government at that crisis? Clearly the death
rate among them must have been appalling. But
fortunately for them the Sanitary Commission
was there, and as ever, with both hands fun.
1t had got supplies through when the Govern
mcrt could not, Its wagons were at the rear
with all manner of supplies. The distracted
surgeons turned TO its agents with signs OF re-
lief and calculations OF thankfulness 1t had
saved the situation.
L. was the same at Chattanooga, and at Gettys-
burg and at Fredericksburg and at the battles OF
the Wilderness and Petersburg. 1t was the same
at every great engagement throughout the country
and throughout the war. And not only throughout
the war but after it; for Lee had surrendered
three months when the Sanitary Commission
found itself called upon to furnish. corps OF
$4,000 men in Texas with the antiscorbuucs which
the United States Medical Bureau unable to
FURNISH. All tnc sanitary NobuihioHioh WIN """
moreover carried on under peculiar difficulties.
Dr. Stille in his official record OF the organization
states that there never was time when the Gov
eminent did not exhibit marked GOODNESS and in
difference. sometimes approaching unfriendlinesS
toward the Commission. The explanation Of this
attitude offered by the historian is the obvious
circumstance that the Sanitary Commission was
a standing criticism upon the Government
methods a tacit declaration OF want Of confidence
in the regular bureaus This is certainly true,
and il is not less true that however the efficiency
of the Medical Bureau increased by experience, it
never caught up with the needs Of the army. nor
was it ever capable Of dispensing with the aid Of
the Sanitary Commission. The history Of that
organization is deserving of the most elaborate
treatment and the most careful study, for it en-
bodies the highest results of American admins
trative ability and American intelligence, loyalty,
humanity and thoughtfulness The way in which
the work was done, the arrangement of the Aid
Societies, the great supply depots, the Auxiliary
Relief Department, the Field and Camp and Hos
pital Relief services, proved the activity of mas
terly intelligence. We could have nothing Of
the kind before for the Crimean Sanitary Com
mission, though effective, comparatively
very small scale and was at work a very short
time
All honor to the man who undertook and ac-
complished this noble and indispensable work;
but equal honor to the American women who were
the heart of the enterprise the others were the
hands. 1t arose out of woman's idea, and it
was the women who sustained and supported it
from first TO last The first effort coincident
with the first call for troops. Later the WOmans
Council that met in Washington in November
! s62-just six and twenty years ago this month
agreed with entire unanimity that it was the duty
81 the women Of the country 70 provide assistance
and consolation for the sick and suffering.
" abundantly persisiently and methodieally," and
that such aid should be rs far possible an eX-
preston of pure patriotism and love OF the Union
This the formal exnrcSsinn OF that Great mnris