Year: 1863

ment of these two hospitals to the requi-


site capacity; but this was declined, on


the ground that the government had al


ready incurred the expense Of providing,


nearer the seat Of war, all the hospital


accommodations which the army requi-


red.


1t was then proposed to the secretary


of ar,that. with his permission, and as


the cheapest available means of the State


for increasing its hospital accommoda-


tions, the State authorities would connect


sufficient number of the government


barrack buildings at Brattleboro, with


the United States Hospital already there,


to make the establishment, as a whole,


large enough for the treatment of from


four to five hundred men, and fit the


buildings as suitably for hospital purpo-


ses, at the expense of the State, provided


the authorities at Washington would or


der the transfer Of the sick and wounded


Vermont soldiers to the State, for further


hospital treatment; adding the remark


that the change to our pure mountain air
and water would alone contribute to the
cure of enough more of our men, and
the restoration of all curable cases enough
sooner to the service, than could be ac-
complished in more southern latitudes, to
warrant the government in the expense
Of transporting them to and from the
state. To this proposition the secretary
of war assented, with the stipulations,
however, that the hospitals and men must
be strictly under the control aud man
agement of the government, and subject
to the rules of the army; that only such
soldiers as had already been placed in
general hospitals should be taken; that
commissioners of the State might visit
the United States General Hospitals, to
find our men and report them to the sur
geon general, who would thereupon order
the transfer of all thus reported who
were judged to be proper cases to be
sent to the State for further treatment;
but that men so far attached to their
commands in the field, as not yet to
have been sent to general hospitals,
must not be taken, as the requirements
Of the service would not permit the in
reference of State agents with the army
in the field.


The quartermaster general Of the state
was directed to make these engagements
and improvements, and pay the expense
thereof out of the funds that had accrued
to the state in his department, from the
subsisting of troops while in regimental
rendezvous in the State last year. The
buildings were accordingly removed to
the hospital and fitted up in cheap, but
neat and comfortable style, at an expense
of about seven thousand dollars, the de-
tails Of which may be found in the annu-
al report of the quartermaster general,
to which report reference is respectfully
made.


The ladies of Vermont very promptly
and literally supplied the hospital outfit
for the additional wards thus provided.


Hon. D. L. Lyman and Mr.. F. F.
Holbrook were appointed Commissioners
to visit the various United States Gen.
eral Hospitals in and near Washington,
in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania
and New York to look up Vermont SOL
1iers therein, report them at the Sur
geon Generals office in Washington, and
procure their transfer, with the previous
that the men thus report
ed would be transferred, excepting only
such as, in the opinion Of the Surgeons
charge Of these Hospitals could not bear
The journey to Vermont, and such as
would get well in two or three weeks re-
naming where they were. About one
housand sick and wounded soldiers,
catered through large number of Hos,
)itals have thus been transferred to Yer
mont, TO enjoy the benefits of the change
o our mountain climate and their native
,ir, of the best of medical treatment,
md of being near, and visited by rela-
ives and friends. The expenses Of
are borne By the General
Government. The expenses and servi-
.es of the Commission, up to the present
ime, amount TO about three thousand
loIlars, or about three dollars per man of
he men transferred. No i'll effects have
esulted to the soldiers in their transit to
he State.


1t is becoming a settled opinion among


Ugh medical authorities in the army,
hat it will be advisable to establish
everal Hospitals on elevated upland,
r in mountainous regions, more parties
ilarly for the successful treatment of
hronic diarrhes, that great scourge of
jur armies. The marked success which