Year: 1862




the ground the least with those on straw boughs


AS had been presumed by the Commission it has been
proved that tho best bed for soldiers in camp with
little SKILL be formed from fir cedar spray, whenever
1t can be obtained in sufficient quantity The inspectors
have from the outset been instructed TO advise its
whenever practicable. II should be frequently removed
and burned after thorough cleansing Of the Aoor
the tents being struck for the purpose


spec. a.ention Salea 70 sne suoee. Q, prvles ana
y and the health Of the affected in consequence
OF the camps inspected "ony Ave psr cent were found
forty nvs per cent fairly clean and well poced twenty
six per cent negligent and sloveny and twenty four per
cent decidedly bad, filthy and dangerous"
CLOTHING.


In at least quarter Of the regiments the shirts Of the
found to BE- Of poor quality. Eleven per cent
Of the regiments had no overcoss five per cent had no
blankets, twenty per cent had two to each man, and
twelve cent (wenty four regiments out Of two hun
dred) were very indinereny supplied with pantaloons
CLEANLINESS.


On the subject of cleanliness tho commission do not
mako very favorable report In about hths of the
regiments there s appearance Of systematic ceaul
ness but very few Of these what they ought
Washing the feet is rarely enforced military duty
In keeping their coats and pantaoons clean the volunteer
army s moro unsolderliks than in almost every other
particular.


cles Of dress and equipment which give much occu
patton to regular soldiers and which &re only
portant to be observed for the sake Of their health,
high condition Of discipline and eciency in ali other re-
n. a
inspection scarcely volunteer regiment
Recently the inspectors Of the commission have bsen
required TO return to the question Are officers
and soldiers duty allowed to their partially
butoned or TO follow personal inclination In matters pro-
per to be made uniform and regular ~ In nearly seventy
FIVE per cent officers, when advised with this
point confessed that very little attention paid to
such matters and in most instances could not under
stand the object Of the inquiry thus showing that they
had not proper appreciation Of tho value Of Uniformity
of their duties Of the trouble that would be saved
them in their duties by strict enforcement Of the nten
inn he z


chief advantage Of the uniform of military bodies Is
the facility affords for keeping their equipments in
vceabe order When every man expected TO appear,
in all matters Of dress the counterpart OF every
other man the attention Of the officer is arrested by
the part Of any individual On the principle OF the pro-
verb, s'a stitch In time nne' ii is easier and
cheaper for both ocer and private that no day
without every stitch Of clothing every strap buckle and
button beng put in the best possible condition In Euro
pean mics every man is required to DO provided WITH
and constantly carry about him. not only tcs
ry for the repair Of his clothing, belts &C. but
niences for cleaning both his person and oong for
instance switch cat for whipping the surface
of CLOTH and brush it; OIL emery, whiting,
blacking and brushes for straps shoes and buttons.


The commission very tightly call attention 70 the want
order They refer to this want 'staudng in the way
Of the deveopement Of that esprit du wch is es-
sentia TO military efficiency as 10 health. To the 60
vernment itself the Commission give the following rather
broad hint -


Frontier necessities and costly labor account in
sure for this The indirect influence exertsd upon all
sr,s the country ey PECULIAR local system Of labor
vice and the penalty that paid for it, Structures de-
signed in themselves to be commensurate with and typ
cal Of the moral grandeur of great republic are
offences against good taste like precious stones on
dirty hands, when seen from out Of the un
mitigated shabbiness and filth Of the unsewered,
unpavsd, unpoliced streets OF a colocation OF the
houses Of citizens who cannot remedy the evil. "The
National Hotel sickness was bcnclcen reproof of the
narrow policy which demands it OF them. That which
lost by it could have been cheapiy saved at
pnse ten times as great as would be the necessary cost
pfFn heau f,l and
pirate rural metropolis attraction example, and
lncessing influence for good, in this to the whole
nation. Yet compel most valued public servants
10 reside in this capital and With abundant evidence that
similar causes liable to induce any day q far more
deadly and sweeping pesiilence, do nothing to remove
them.


While the simplest, though most absolute, sanitary
laws are thus disrogared in high places IL need not be
thought strange that the inspectors find 1t peculiarly
ocult, sven after typhus has entered the camps 10
make the volunteer officers realize the actual military
necessity upen which the army regulations, with refe
renee 10 personal cleanliness Of the men, are based


FOOD AND DIET.


The say that the articles Of food furnished
by the government Acknowledged to be Of great
abundance and good quality Dessicated (dried) vsgeta
eles are coming into favor and are recommended


COMPANY FUND.


In sixty per cent OF the regiments prior Novsmber
company fund existed


The company fund IL the soldiers only resource for
many articles indispensable to his health comfort and



lno eondmeni but salt being supplied by sOverHment);
many utensils required for cooking and saving rations
knives forks, spoons brushes, backing, &C. Cavalry
aud artillery men depend on II for many other articles
required for their efficiency and credtable appearance
s formation, therefore, promotes the health Of regi
meut, not only directly, but also by improving the
morale sodierly feeling and self respect OF tho men,
which have no small influence IN their rhys,csl coudl
ton.


II may be added that the existence n company fund
operates as check on frauds on the Commssary and
ouartermntsrs deparmene ana tends 70 diminish the
danger Of disease 70 which suffers shops expose the
men.


raised for this fund BY each company


srTLERs.


The Comm sson have much censurs and little praise for
this well abused class They promote drunkenness vend
bad liquors. the soldier Of his hard earnings which
should go suppor, his family; psmper him with stale
and ndgesbie PIES and tho seeds Of III health and
Generalization 10 frghtfu extent.


The following is extract from the communication Of
surgeon Of volunteer regiment addressed 10 the Com
mission


In our regiment have the best suffers on the Poto-
mitigasd curse some Of the men throw thsir ratons
away, and literally live suffers trash. Others will
eat full ration, and then straight the suffers and
eat three or -four vlanous pies Many Of these have
been fried In condemned lard week before the soldier
them. The result "a camp diarrha dyscnery aud
suffers are a twofod OWL. BY lhsm the soldier ia
tempted 10 spend bis earnings which should be saved for
purpose, and s made sick In the Transaction Nv
observation and experience In camp clearly that 20
keep soldier healthy you must oonaIs Am TO PLAN and
regular ratons.


II Congress- would pass law the tendency Of which
would be compel ths soldiers 10 live the government
rations only would prove blessing Of infinite value 70
the service


DISCIPLINE.


The following resolution passed by tho Commission ia
July are too important 10 DO omitted


Resolved, That the Sanitary Commission IN their en-
deavOrs 10 promote temperance, cleanliness and comfort
among the troops have become convinced that the first
sanitary law in camp snd among soldiers Is military
disc unc and that unless this vigorously asserted
crf,roaa anH tnf.aeuif,. "a