New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-21
THE ~. S. SAN. CON-"
"A GREAT AGENCY FOR THE RELIEF OF
THE WOUNDED IN THE CIVIL WAR
uow TIE SANITARY COMMISSION WAS OR
GANIZED-ITS DIFFERENT BRANCHES
Or WORK

On the first day Of the battle OF Gettysburg
an Army surgeon, who was standing about five
hundred yards in the rear Of the line Of battle
on Round Top Hill. surrounded by wounded
men whose sufferings he no longer had the
means to relieve suddenly gave joyful cry as
two large wagons bearing the words ~. S.
San. Com" on their sides numbered into view
"Thank God" he exclaimed, here comes the
Sanitary Commission; now we shall be able 10
do something"
AS soon as the agons arrived there began at
once the distribution Of beef broth and brandy
10 the faint and exhausted soldiers. and the
surgeons received a fresh stock of chloroform,
sponges, lint and bandages. with which TO care
for the injuries of the wounded. The stock OF
supplies brought by the wagons was sufficient
not only to relieve the immediate wants of the
soldiers on the field. but also to add materially
to the supplies in the hospitals Of the First.
Second, Third Fifth. Eleventh and Twelfth
Army corps, which were engaged in the battle
THE PREDECESSOR OF THE RED CROSS.
1t was a specimen Of the field relief afforded
to the armies throughout the war by the United
States Sanitary Commission, an organization
which flied at that time the place which the
American Red Cross does at present. In the
spring of 1861, when President Lincoln's call FOR
seventy-fve thousand volunteers proclaimed at
once the necessity for generous aid in the way
Of hospital supplies. there was no society to
perform such duties. II was before the day or
the Red Cross organized at Geneva SwitZer-
land, in 1860, but with the need for it there
arose society which grew marvelously and
was soon drawing its support from thousands OF
generous hearts in every state of the Union.
Il "a
cietles. chiefly composed OF women. began to
be formed all over the country with the purpose
OF relieving the soldiers In the field. These, al
though having most worthy object. were often
ignorant Of the proper means OF accomplishing
It, and owing partly to their inexperence and
partly to the fact that widely scattered and
disunited organizations never work with the
same success as when ranged under we-g
erned system. little real good was done in pro-
poI ton to the efforts made. Several prominent
physicians and clergymen in the North. seeing
Of how much more benefit thorough and ex-
tensive organization could be. set themselves to
work to form one Stating their objects, they
applied to the Government for recognition.
which. after some delay and difficulty they Sc
cured.
THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION.
Thus in June 1861 was established the San
itary Commission. with the Rev. Dr. Henry
w. Bellows as its president. The socetys pur-
pose was to aid the Government Medical Bu-
reau in looking after the wants of the Army.
and nobly did it perform its work. At first
there was a little Of the friction that was TO be
expected between a volunteer service OF the
kind and the regular authorities but this was
overcome with patience and tact, and the two
worked in harmony.
The Commission had an independent hospital
TRANSFORMATION and equipment of its own which
was Of immense value in experimenting the en-
tireIy inadequate service o: the War Depart
ment 1t had supply wagons. ambuances. am
bulance railroad cars litters and stretchers. and
its oJAHt Of materials continually increased as
help came to it from every part Of the North.
It's work was thoroughly systematized and was
divided into five main departments: The pre-
yentlve service sanitary inspection. the gen
eral relief the field relief. the auxiliary relief
and the special relief
THE MEDICAL INSPECTORS.
The first OF these departments employed
corps Of medical inspectors. whose business IL
was to visit the military camps and hospitals
and report their condition to their own officers
and to the Government Owing to the lack OF
experience OF the volunteer troops. the camps
were often in a deplorable state. The inspectors
Looked into such matters as the ventilation and
coalition OF the tents the bedding and clothing
NJ the men: the source OF the camps water sup
ply and it's quality; the character of the rations
and the way in which they were cooked: the
site drainage and general condition of the
tic disripline. the capa bility of its mcdl-