Year: 1863

lure VI CdpIaln DelloWS, ldSt evening", luy
feelings reminded me very much of the
old war-horse, which would rush back to
battle on the sound of the drum and the
roar of artillery. / was reminded of so
much of what | had seen, that felt much
like telling my own experience with the
National Sanitary Commission:


When | went to the field l found
large proportion of the surgeons, from
some cause which have not learned, op-
posed to that Commission. 1t of course
took me but little while to become strong
ly prejudiced and bitterly opposed Eve
ry agent sent to inspect us was made the
subject of not very fattering remarks.
Every pamphlet which they issued was
hypercriticised. Last winter number of
surgeons met in my tent-the Commission
soon became our subjcct-something must
be written against it, and | must write it.
| was full of the subject, and threw into
my article all the force could command.
Just as | was finishing it the sound Of ar
tillcry came booming over the land /;
heavier and heavier grew the roar-couri-
ers arrive-a battle is fought at Drains
vile. The surgeons dispersed to collect
appliances for the wounded. The suffer-
ers in the battle began to arrive. We had
scarcely anything they needed. The noise
of battle had been heard in Washington,
and by the time the wounded were un-
dressed, in came those Sanitary agents
with the very articles the government had
failed to supply. ! laid the article | had
written in my trunk, thinking l would
finish it cat more convenient season. "


Time passed on, and we found ourselves
on the Peninsula. In the haste of NOV
ing most of the appliances of comfort
had been left behind. For weeks we were
almost wholly destitute of medicines, or
any article of diet for the sick. The
battle of Lees Mills commenced on the
tenth q think of April, and continued
through the next day. What should |
do? / was almost without medicine, not
withstanding that from day to day I had
been for weeks striving to procure it, But
Just then was discovered a number of those
sanitary chaps who are prying into ev-
cry body's business" Somehow or other
they had the very things we needed. That
night, after having finished my labors
with the wounded, l went to my trunk,
took out that article on "the sanitary"
and read few lines. 1t did not read as
well as ] thought it would; so | raised a
garment and put it under, where it would
not stare me in the face every time look
ed in.


The battle of Williamsburgh followed,
and before the smoke of the battle had
blown away, right along side of the army
lay one of those ever present sanitary
steamers, freighted not only with neces-
sarics but with luxuries for the sick and
wounded. They had only to be asked for
and they were distributed without limit
Another shirt was thrown over my article
to " Mr.. Editor"


/ was in charge Of Liberty Hall Hos
pital at the time of the battle of Hanover
Court House. Here both the sick and
wounded were crowded on me- Five hun
dred were piled in at one time. l had
not bed, not q dozen blankets, not a
cooking utensil and nothing to cook. In
vain did | appeal to the medical director,
in vain did he appeal to higher authority.
The necessaries of life even we're not to be
had. ] begged, plead-no use In a
few days after the battle, on the breaking
up of other hospitals, the wounded who
could not be sent to q distant hospital
we're sent to me, and some Of them in the
most loathesome condition, their wounds
gangrenous, and alive with worms. Again
appealed for means of comfort and now
with such Importantly that was threat
ened with dismissal from the service. !
procured pass to White House, "a miles
away. There | found the sanitary boats.
] told the Commission the story Of the
soldiers suffering, Hundreds Of clean