The times., 1898-06-05
WASHINGTON. SUNDAY, JUNE s. 1898.


I'll the intelligence and experience of the !.
medical bureau had acquired the power
OF maintaining its own authority and en-
forcing its own enlightened policy 1t is
not too much to say that coaxing, in
structing, and urging the regimental sur
geons were for a long time more efficient
in promoting the preventive service than
any orders from headquarters. But as il
was the rule for the sanitary commission
TO seek admission into every department
corps. camp. or regiment from the Off
GERS in command. and to do nothing with
ont their consent and approval, it ought
to be added that by Difference, patience,
modesty, and tact its agents gradually
overcame to a large degree the natural
jealousy and distrust of the generals and
officers, both military and medical, and
had in most cases, if not their personal
support and sympathy, their forbearing
sufferance and official furtherance."
Among the preventive measures against
fever and pestilence devised and carried
out by the Sanitary Commission was the
establishment of homes at the chief plac-
es where new regiments were concen-
trating to take care of the sick and sup
ply the defects in the unprotected ar
rangements of the quartermaster' bu-
reau for relieving them Thousands of
men arrived at Washington and Louis
vile hungry, sleepless, half sick who
had 10 wait twelve hours more be-
fore their quarters in camp were ready
or their officers knew how to draw their
rations. Temporary homes, where the
sick could be sheltered and nursed and
whole regiments fed, were extemporiZed
at or near the railroad depots, and later
developed into a complete system of SOL
ders' homes, in which the estrays, the
men passing from hospital to regiment,
the convalescents and men who had lost
their papers, were received and tenderly
cared for 10 an extent which averaged
about 1900 soldiers daily for the whole
four years of the war.
Nothing. in the remedies that medicine
and surgical science In addition to ad-
visory comforts beneficial to sick and
suffering humanity, was ignored In the
methods of the Sanitary Commission, and
| il is shown in the report from which these
| facts are compiled that very early in
1861 the wants of the hospitals had ex-
| hausted $4,000 articles which the sponta-
neous sympathy of the homes Of the
| country had forwarded TO the commission,
| thus proving that the Government could
not provide for the humane treatment OF
4 all it's sick soldiers in a measure likely
| to satisfy the homes of the land.
! Women throughout the country eager
( y enlisted In the cause of the sanitary
commission and thousands co-operated
with II in its humane workings. 1t gave
/ them an opportunity to take some active
! share in the war. TO do something person
! ally for the comfort of the men in the
! field and to feel themselves part and
| parcel Of the national struggle Many
| women labored in the forming and direct
| ing of auxiliary societies. Among these
! were: Miss May and Miss Stevenson, of
| Boston Miss Collins and Miss Schuyler of
I New York Mrs. Grier and Mrs. Moore of
| Philadelphia. Mrs. Rouse and Miss Bray
| ton of Cleveland, Miss Campbell OF De-
troft, and Miss Hodge and Mrs. Liver
more of Chicago. Women's councils We're
! convened at Washington from time 10
time, composed Of representative women
from the various centers of supplies, TO
| agree upon plans for collecting, and to
! explain and make acceptable plans for
distributing supplies. A large body of as
sociate members, selected men of weight
and influence, was added TO the commits
sion from the home fields to give the
| women the aid of their counsel, to collect
money for the purchase of materials for
hospital clothing, etc, and to explain and
| support the policy of the commission.
These associates were afterward not only
the chief instigators of money contribu-
tons, but the inaugurators of the great
fairs which so generously and magnifi-
Gently fed the treasury of the commission.
Before the close of 1861 the work of the
1 SANITARY
an extent that demanded general appre-
citation. The system by which its mani
fold details were handled was in state
of almost perfection, and the good 1t had
already accomplished gave thorough
promise of what would follow. The word
relief" as used by the Sanitary Com
mission. was a technical term and en-
braced several modes. It was general and
special-''battIeield relief was distinct
form. In administering this relief the
commission was stuGious not to weaken
the efficiency of the regular sources OF
relief by any gratuitous superfiuity
First the need must be plain; second
some satisfactory explanation must be
given OF the cause of the need; and, third
a voucher from the surgeon showing thai
he had called for aid.
THE battlefield relief department of the
2 commission was one of its most effective
Indeed, it was one of the main purpose:
and constant efforts of the commission b!
studying the situation of our armies ant
the probabilities of their collision will
the enemy, TO place their own stores. ant
relief corps where in case of change o
strategy or accident they might be read!
| to supply the wants of the wounded o.
supplement the deficient or baff1ed prep
| arations of the medical and the quarter
masters bureau. The medical depart
ment having no independent transporta
tlOn, OIleH suffered from lne lleNltdDl
t | preoccupation of the quartermaster' de
partment with the more urgent duty o
forwarding military stores. The sanitar.
2 | commission, as one of its chief means O
: | usefulness, had wagons and horses of it
l | own-often forty four-horse teams at
! | time-and this enabled it at periods whe
2 transportation of medical stores wa
most embarrassed TO forward medica
: and sanitary supplies 20 the seats of i'm
l | mediate battle far in advance of the med
e ical department.
1 IAN auxiliary relief corps, supplement
Il airy to the field relief corps, always con
tinued, was organized in May, 1864, to loo
d after the wounded left behind in hospital
}. as the Army moved on. 1t was designe
r to secure personal ministrations to TIL
|. wounded by chosen men responsible to
" superintendent; TO meet the wounded, a
[. | they were carried in ambulances, wit
:, | proper food and stimulants and secur
>, them tender carriage; to assist in carry
/ ing them TO the hospitals, and there loo
l. after their comfort; to meet both thei
', | physical and moral wants; to write lei
2; ters home; to provide them with readin
\ | and consolation. This corps, over $50
II number, was composed largely of educat
4, ed men, and sometimes of refined womel
i frequently of ministers of religion, an
l. always of humane and self-consecrate
If persons. This corps established feedin
I, stations to meet the long trains of an
h balances full of famishing wounded me
J. en- route to hospitals. The corps had ii
l. martyrs: William Wilson, Charles /
a. Stanley, Prof Hadley, of the Union The,
T. logical Seminary; Mrs. Barlow, wife
S. Major General Barlow, and Miss Gilso
perhaps the flower of female heroism ar
IN devotion to the whole service 1t may