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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f8dc9c1 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #52122 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/52122) diff --git a/old/52122-0.txt b/old/52122-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index ea3913a..0000000 --- a/old/52122-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4059 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Hospital Transports, by Frederick Law Olmsted - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Hospital Transports - A memoir of the Embarkation of the Sick and Wounded from - the Peninsula of Virginia in the Summer of 1862 - -Author: Frederick Law Olmsted - -Release Date: May 22, 2016 [EBook #52122] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOSPITAL TRANSPORTS *** - - - - -Produced by Richard Tonsing and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - HOSPITAL TRANSPORTS. - - A MEMOIR - _of the_ - EMBARKATION OF THE SICK AND WOUNDED - FROM THE PENINSULA OF VIRGINIA - IN THE SUMMER OF - 1862. - - _Compiled and Published at the request of the - Sanitary Commission._ - -[Illustration] - - _Boston_: - TICKNOR AND FIELDS. - 1863. - - - - - Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by - - TICKNOR AND FIELDS, - - in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of - Massachusetts. - - - - - UNIVERSITY PRESS: - WELCH, BIGELOW, AND COMPANY, - CAMBRIDGE. - - - - - _DEDICATION._ - - TO THE MEMORIES OF - - - J. M. GRYMES, M. D., - -sometime Surgeon in charge of the Hospital Transport _Daniel Webster_, -and, at the time of his death, Surgeon to the temporary _Home_ for -disabled soldiers, of the Sanitary Commission at Washington;— - - - WILLIAM PLATT, JUNIOR, ESQ., - -late a Relief Agent of the Sanitary Commission, who died from the effect -of prolonged exposure and excessive exertion in pushing succor to the -wounded during and after the battles of South Mountain, Crampton's Gap, -and Antietam;— - - - Lieut.-Col. JOSEPH BRIDGHAM CURTIS, U.S.V., - -formerly of the Engineer Corps of the Central Park of New York, -afterwards of the central staff of the Sanitary Commission, who fell -while leading his regiment to the assault of the rebel works at -Fredericksburg, December, 1862;— - - - RUDD C. HOPKINS, M. D., - -formerly Superintendent of the Lunatic Asylum of Ohio, lately a General -Inspector of the Sanitary Commission, and who died in its service, while -on the river passage from Memphis to Cincinnati;— - - - MRS. FANNY SWAN WARRINER, - -who bore heroically to the end a woman's part in war, having died at -Louisville, Kentucky, on her way home from the Head-quarters Relief -Station of the Sanitary Commission with the Army of the Tennessee,—of -disease there contracted;— - - - DAVID BOSWELL REID, M. D., - -Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh; Fellow of the Royal College of -Physicians of London; Member of the Medico-Chirurgical Society of St. -Petersburg; formerly Director of Ventilation at the Houses of Parliament -of Great Britain; late Professor of Physiology and Hygiene at the -University of Wisconsin; at the time of his death, Special Inspector of -the Ventilation of Hospitals of the Sanitary Commission;—and - - - Surgeon ROBERT WARE, U. S. V., - -for several years physician in charge of the largest Dispensary District -in Boston, afterwards a General Inspector of the Sanitary Commission, -and Surgeon of its Relief Stations at Yorktown, White House, and -Berkeley, lastly Surgeon of Volunteers. He fell at his post in the works -at Washington, North Carolina, during its bombardment by the rebels, -March, 1863. - - - - - INTRODUCTION. - - -The Sanitary Commission, grateful for the generous confidence reposed in -it by the public, would be glad to meet and justify that confidence by a -circumstantial account of its operations in field and hospital, from the -first day of its existence to the present. It might, perhaps, without -undue boasting, show such a picture of what has been accomplished as -would stimulate, to the last degree, the interest and the liberality of -loyal hearts, if this were required. But the immense mass of details -which such an account must involve, would prove nearly as laborious in -the reading as in the performance, overwhelming rather than enlightening -all who have not been personally engaged in the work. The intense -interest which the service inspires in those devoted to it, lightens -what might, under other circumstances, seem wearisome duties; but a -minute description of the ceaseless round of consultations, -examinations, correspondence, journeys, accounts, distributions, -required of the Commission as trustee of the public bounty, could not be -expected to prove interesting to others. - -The most that the Commission can at present be called upon to offer, or -the public be likely to accept, is such brief accounts of single -sections in the various departments of its labor, as may indicate the -general method and spirit extending through the whole. In accordance -with this plan, from time to time, the Commission has published reports -covering a single battle-field, or a term of one round of visits to the -hospitals, or the results of its arrangements for the care of disabled -and discharged soldiers for a stated period. There is one branch of the -service, however, which has as yet had no such public record,—that of -the Hospital Transports. In order to supply this omission in some -measure, the Commission has caused to be placed in the hands of a -manager of the "Woman's Central Army Relief Association of New York," a -quantity of letters and other papers, containing observations made at -the time, and on the spot, by those in its service who assisted in the -embarkation and care of the sick and wounded on the peninsula of -Virginia in 1862. Passages from these have been selected and arranged -with a view to give within moderate compass as many particulars as may -be necessary to show the scope of the enterprise, and the position which -it held as an aid to the government, together with the difficulties and -the success, the disappointments and satisfactions, with which it was -attended. The plan is limited to the Atlantic hospital transports, and -to the period of embarkation of the patients upon them, for the sake of -compactness and completeness in the grouping of incidents. A similar -service in the Western rivers the same year was larger in its scope, and -in some of its arrangements more satisfactory, but it was at the same -time less homogeneous in character. - -For the style of the letters quoted, this only need be said: they were, -for the most part, addressed to intimate friends, with no thought that -they could ever go beyond them, or, as in the case of those addressed by -the Secretary to the President of the Commission, were in the nature of -familiar and confidential reports; nearly all were written hastily, in -some chance interruption to severe labor,—often with a pencil, while -passing in a boat from one vessel to another. Passages may be found -which are not merely descriptive of the Hospital Transport service, but -they contain thoughts springing from the occasion, and which will serve -to fasten pictures of scenes and circumstances with which that service -was associated, and which are now historical.[1] - -Footnote 1: - - The letters were all written by two officers of the Commission and six - ladies serving with them. As the different writers are quoted from in - succession, and the same occurrences are often described from more - than one point of view, a capital letter at the head of a paragraph - will indicate the change from one writer to another. The officers will - be known by the letters A. and B.; the ladies, by the letters M. and - N. - -It should be understood that the account is not intended to be complete -in any respect, and that no attempt has been made to give public credit -to individuals for their services, whatever these may have been. It is -known that to do so in some cases where public gratitude is most -deserved would give pain; to do so in all cases would greatly swell the -bulk of the volume. In general terms only it may be said, that among the -surgeons who freely gave their aid in the enterprise were numbered some -of the leading members of the profession,—among those who served as -administrative officers, matrons, and nurses, the most honored -historical families of New England, New York, New Jersey, and -Pennsylvania were represented. The class termed Ward-masters was mainly -composed of medical students of two years, with some young men of -Philadelphia who had had previous experience in caring for sick soldiers -in the noble local charities of that city. It included, also, some -students of theology. The responsibility for the detail of care of the -patients was chiefly with this class, and the devotedness, pliability, -and practical talent with which they generally met this responsibility -was too remarkable to be passed without at least this simple reference -to it as one of a class of facts of the war. - -It is a secondary object of the recital to make evident, from narrations -of actual experience, what is sometimes required for supplying the -unavoidable deficiencies of government service in emergencies. Not to -have sprung at once into a thorough practical knowledge of what the -dread contingencies of war require, is no just cause of reproach to a -peaceful people like ourselves, who, meaning peace, sought only to -"ensue it"; but not to thoroughly learn our duty under such an -experience as we are passing through, would indeed bring shame upon our -name. - -It is no common nation's task that we have undertaken, and only craven -souls will lose heart in finding that it cannot be light or short in the -sacrifices which it demands of us. True and far-seeing lovers of their -country, as they regard the sufferings of those uncomplaining men who -fought for us in the Peninsula,—men who, though perhaps but green -soldiers in the field, proved, one and all, heroes upon the bed of pain -and in the hour of death, will be led to the reflection, "This is what -it costs a republic to have nursed rebellion tenderly at its breast." We -know that the barbarous spirit with which the chances of war first were -dared in this gambling scheme of reckless ambition, will prolong it, -when resistance to the law can no longer avail for anything but the -gratification of the personal vindictive hate of the disappointed -conspirators. And we know that if we do well the work the pecuniary cost -of which we are throwing so heavily upon our posterity, this will be the -last of such schemes. The more we feel its cost ourselves, the more -resolute shall we be that, when done, this work shall have been done -once for all. The more ready shall we be to meet whatever sacrifice it -may yet require of us; the more ready to truly say, "Our loyalty is -without conditions; success at this point or that, this year or next, we -do not ask; we have elected our leaders, and we accept what they have -the ability to give us. It is enough that in this nation, standing -firmly upon its declaration of equal rights to all, no gleam of peace -can ever be seen to fall upon a rebel in arms." - -The deepest solicitude that all unnecessary suffering should be avoided -in carrying on the war, is not in the least degree inconsistent with -this sentiment, provided only it be guided and constrained by a true -appreciation of the duties and the necessities of war. On the contrary, -patriotism and humanity have one origin, and each strengthens the other -in every heart. Whatever, then, leads the public to truly comprehend -what the rebellion costs, and at the same time inculcates a right spirit -of humane provision against the unnecessary suffering of war, must -foster a sound and healthy public sentiment. - -Such, it is hoped, may be the influence of this little volume, to the -introduction of which only this further explanation will be required by -the reader. - -A sudden transfer of the scene of active war from the high banks of the -Potomac to a low and swampy region, intersected with a net-work of -rivers and creeks, early in the summer of 1862, required appliances for -the proper care of the sick and wounded which did not appear to have -been contemplated in the government arrangements. Seeing this, with the -approval of the Medical Bureau, a proposal was made to the -Quartermaster-General to allow the Sanitary Commission to take in hand -some of the transport steamboats of his department, of which a large -number were at that time lying idle, to fit them up and furnish them in -all respects suitably for the reception and care of sick and wounded -men, providing surgeons and other necessary attendance, without cost to -government. After tedious delays and disappointments of various -kinds,—one fine large boat having been assigned, partially furnished by -the Commission, and then withdrawn,—an order was at length received, -authorizing the Commission to take possession of any of the government -transports, not in actual use, which might be at that time lying at -Alexandria. - -The only vessel then lying at Alexandria stanch enough for the ocean -passage from Virginia to New York or Boston, proved to be the _Daniel -Webster_, an old Pacific Coast steamer of small capacity. She had been -recently used for transporting troops, and had been "stripped of -everything movable but dirt,"—so that the labor of adapting her to the -purpose in view was not a light one. - -This vessel was assigned to the Commission on the 25th of April. -Provisional engagements had previously been made, in New York and -Philadelphia, with the persons afterwards employed as her hospital -company. These were telegraphed for, the moment the order was received, -and the refitting of the ship commenced,—at which point we turn to the -narratives of those engaged in the work. - - - - - HOSPITAL TRANSPORTS. - - - TABLE OF CONTENTS - - - DEDICATION. - INTRODUCTION. - CHAPTER I. - CHAPTER II. - CHAPTER III. - CHAPTER IV. - CHAPTER V. - CHAPTER VI. - APPENDIX A. - APPENDIX B. - APPENDIX C. - APPENDIX D. - TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES - - - - - CHAPTER I. - - - (A.) Hospital Transport _Daniel Webster_, - Cheeseman's Creek, April 30, 1862. - -I received General Meigs's order under which this ship came into our -hands on Friday. She was then at Alexandria, and could not be got over -the shoals to Washington. It was not till near night that I was able to -get a lighter, and this, after one trip, was taken off to carry -reinforcements to McDowell at Fredericksburg. I succeeded before -daylight of Saturday in getting a tug at work, and by the next morning, -Sunday, had her hold full. At eleven o'clock got the hospital company on -board, but the commissaries failed in their engagements, and at last I -had to send off a foraging-party at Alexandria for beef. Finally at four -o'clock, D., who had gone after E., and E., who had gone after beef, -arrived simultaneously from different directions. With E. came the beef, -and we at once got under way. - -We had six medical students, twenty men nurses (volunteers all), four -surgeons, four ladies, a dozen contrabands (field hands), three -carpenters, and half a dozen miscellaneous passengers. There were, -besides, five of us members of the Sanitary Commission and of the -central staff, with one of the Philadelphia associates, eight military -officers, ninety soldiers (convalescents, returning to their regiments), -some quartermaster's mechanics, and a short ship's crew and officers. -The ship has a house aft, with state-rooms for thirty, and an -old-fashioned packet-saloon below, with state-rooms opening out of it; -and all forward of the engine-rooms, a big steerage, or "'tween decks," -which had been fitted with shelves, some of them fifteen feet deep, in -which the soldiers had been carried to the Peninsula, packed in layers. - -I organized all our Commission people at sunset on Sunday, in two -watches, sea-fashion; appointed watch-officers, and have worked since, -night and day, refitting ship. We broke up all the transport -arrangements,—they were in a filthy condition,—thoroughly scraped, -washed, and scrubbed the whole ship from stem to stern, inside and out; -whitewashed the steerage; knocked away the bulkheads of the wings of the -engine-room section, so as to get a thorough draft from stem to stern; -then set to fitting and furnishing new bunks; started a new house on -deck, forward; made and fitted an apothecary's shop; and when we arrived -at Cheeseman's Creek were ready for patients. - - * * * * * - -(M.) It was a bright day, the river peaceful and shining. Just as we -started, the little gunboat _Yankee_ passed up, bringing, all on a -string, five rebel craft which she had just taken in the Rappahannock. -Late in the afternoon we passed the "stone fleet," eight boats, all -ready to sink in the channel, in case the _Merrimack_ should try to run -up the Potomac. The rebels having taken up all the buoys, at dark we had -to come to anchor. - -Sunday, the first day, was gone. As for us, we had spent it, sitting on -deck, sewing upon a hospital flag, fifteen by eight, and singing hymns -to take the edge off of this secular occupation. Just after we had -anchored, a chaplain was discovered among the soldiers; and in half an -hour we got together for service, and an "unprepared" discourse upon -charity, much like unprepared discourses in general. Quite another thing -was the singing of the contrabands, who all came in and stood in a row -so black, at the dark end of the cabin, that I could see neither eyes -nor teeth. But they sung heartily, and everybody followed them. - - * * * * * - -(A.) _Cheeseman's Creek._—I went ashore to report our arrival to the -Medical Director. On our way up the harbor,—a shallow river-mouth, with -low, pine-covered banks, in which there are now about four hundred -steamboats and small transport-craft,—I hailed the steamboat _Daniel -Webster_ No. 2, which carries the —— Regiment New York Volunteers, and -let the Colonel know that his wife was among our nurses. This morning I -received his acknowledgments in the form of a check for $1,000 for the -Commission, accompanied by what was still better, a note of the most -hearty and appreciative recognition of what the Commission had done for -the relief of the soldiers. - -Picking our way among all the craft, and keeping out of the way of the -tugs and tenders which were flying about, we landed on a large meadow -where were a number of wall-tents, one labelled "Office of -Quartermaster's Department"; another, "Telegraph Office"; another, -"Post-Office"; another, "Office of Land Transportation"; another, -"Harbor-Master," &c., &c. One contained a number of prisoners, brought -in the day before, and, of course, well-guarded. Ordnance and forage -barges lay along the shore, with a few big guns, and piles of shot and -shell, just landed. The ground was crowded;—orderlies holding horses; -lounging, dirty soldiers; idlers and fatigue-parties at work in relays; -sentries; Quartermaster's people, white and black; and a hundred army -wagons loading with forage and biscuit-boxes from the barges. I went at -once to Colonel Ingalls, at the Quartermaster's office. He was kind, -prompt, decisive; horses were ordered for us, and we soon rode off -through a swamp-forest, the air full of the roar of falling trees and -the shouts of teamsters and working-parties of soldiers, the former -trying to navigate their wagons, and the latter making corduroy roads -for them. The original country roads had all been used up; it was -difficult even to ford across them, when we had occasion to do so, on -horseback. The army wagons, each drawn by six mules, and with very light -loads, were jerked about frightfully. We passed many wrecks, and some -horses which had sunk and been smothered. Some wagons were loaded with -gun-beds and heavy rope screens for embrasures; and we saw eight or ten -mortars, each on a truck by itself, and drawn by from sixteen to -twenty-four horses. At the first open ground we found cavalry -exercising; then a cavalry camp, then a bit of wood, then rising dry -ground, and our road ran through more camps. Then, coming in the midst -of these camps, to the crest of a low swell, we opened suddenly a grand -view of the valley of York River, a country something like the valley of -the Raritan, at Eagleswood and opposite, but with less wood, more piny -and more diversified, the river much broader, a mile and a half, -perhaps, across. On the slope before us—nearly flat, with an inclination -toward the river—was a space of several hundred acres, clear land, and a -camp for some twenty to forty thousand men; shelter-tents, and all -alive. It was a magnificent scene, the camp and all beyond, as we came -upon it suddenly—right into it, at full gallop. The military "effect" -was heightened now and then by a crashing report of artillery. - -In the midst of the camp we came upon a long rack,—a pole on crotched -sticks,—at which were fastened a score or more of horses. "We must stop -here," said Dr. C. "They don't let you ride in." And that was all to -show that we had reached Head-quarters. - -It was an aristocratic quarter of the town, when you came to look at the -clean tents and turf, but there were no flags or signs to distinguish -it. We walked to the tent of the Medical Director, and just then there -came another of those crashing reports. "They have been keeping that up -all night," said the Doctor. "That isn't the enemy?" "Yes." "Is he so -near?" "O yes! we are quite within range here." - -The medical arrangements seem to be deplorably insufficient. The -Commission is at this time actually distributing daily of hospital -supplies much more than the government.[2] - -Footnote 2: - - See Appendix A. - - * * * * * - -(B.) _May 1st._ No patients on board yet; ship getting a final polish. -Got up early and found the _Elizabeth_ coming along-side for stores. The -Commission has here at present, besides the _Daniel Webster_, one or two -store-ships, and the _Wilson Small_, a boat of light draught, fitted up -as a little hospital, to run up creeks and bring down sick and wounded -to the transports. She is under the care of Dr. C., and has her little -supply of hospital clothing, beds, food, &c., always ready for chance -service. There is also a well-supplied storehouse ashore. - -In sight are the abandoned rebel quarters at Shipping Point, now used as -hospitals by one of our divisions; a number of log-huts finely built, -but on low and filthy ground, surrounded by earthworks, which are rained -on half the time and fiercely shone on the other half, and from which -are exhaling deadly vapors all the time, a death-place for scores of our -men who are piled in there, covered with vermin, dying with their -uniforms on and collars up,—dying of fever.... - -I attended this afternoon to the systematic arrangement of the -commissariat stores down aft, sent a telegram for more supplies to -Baltimore, arranged for stowing the contrabands and putting bunks in the -new deck-ward, and then put two ladies and a nice supply of oranges, -tea, lemons, wine, &c., &c. on a small boat, and started them with —— to -Ship Point Hospital, where four poor fellows died last night. Of course -there is that vitally important medical etiquette to observe, here as -elsewhere, and we must approach carefully, when we would not frustrate -our own plans;—and so it is. "——, suppose you go ashore and ask whether -it will be agreeable to have the ladies come over and visit the -hospital,—just to walk through and talk with the men." So the ladies -have gone "to talk with the men," with spirit-lamps, and farina, and -lemons, and brandy, and clean clothes, and expect to have an improving -conversation. After the party was off, sent orders to Fort Monroe for -special supplies; received Dr. Tripler, who dined with us; furnished -wine, tea, bread, to a surgeon who had been told that the Commission's -flag was flying here, and had come seven miles across the swamps, and -rowed out to us in a small boat to try for these things. - - * * * * * - -(M.) By dark the _Wilson Small_ came along-side with our first patients, -thirty-five in number, who were carefully lifted on board and swung -through the hatches on their stretchers. In half an hour they had all -been tea'd and coffeed and refreshed by the nurses, and shortly after -were all undressed and put to bed clean and comfortable, and in a droll -state of grateful wonder; the bad cases of fever furnished with sponges -and cologne-water for bathing, and wine and water or brandy-toddy for -drinking, and a man to watch them, and ward-masters up and down the -wards, and a young doctor in the apothecary's shop, and to-day (May 3d) -they are all better.... - -Meantime additional supplies arrived from Washington, Baltimore, and -Fortress Monroe, and a surgeon and nurses of our company were busy daily -on shore at the Ship Point Hospital, dispensing stores, and doing what -they could for the poor fellows there, who seemed to us in want of -everything.... One hundred and ninety patients have now come on board; -eighteen miles some of them say they have been brought in the ambulances -(large statement of exhausted fellows jolted over corduroy roads).... We -ladies arrange our days into three watches, and then a promiscuous one -for any of us, as the night work may demand, after eight o'clock. Take -Sunday, for instance. - -It was ——'s and ——'s watch from seven to twelve. So they were up and had -hot breakfast ready in our pantry, which is amidships between the -forward and aft wards; ward-masters on the port and starboard sides for -each ward, to watch the distribution of the food, and no promiscuous -rushing about allowed; the number for coffee and the number for tea -marked in the ward diet-books under the head of Breakfast, and the -number for house-diet, or for beef-tea and toddy, &c., marked also; so -that when the Hospital company learns to count straight,—an achievement -of some difficulty, apparently,—there will be no opportunity for -confusion. After breakfast we all assembled in the forward or sickest -ward, and Dr. G. read the simple prayers for those at sea and for the -sick. Our whole company and all the patients were together. It was good -to have the service then and there. Our poor sick fellows lay all about -us in their beds and listened quietly. As the prayer for the dying was -finished, a soldier close by the Doctor had ended his strife. - -After twelve, our watch came on, and till four we gave out clean -clothes, handkerchiefs, cologne, clothes to the nurses, and served the -dinner, consulting the diet-books again. The house-diet, which was all -distributed from our pantry, was nice thick soup and rice-pudding, and -we made, over our spirit-lamps, the beef-tea and gruels for special -cases. So with little cares came four o'clock, and with it clean hands -and our own dinner; after which the other two ladies came on for the -last watch, which included tea. Then there was beef-tea and punch to be -made for use during the night; and so the day for us ended with our -sitting in the pantry and talking over evils to be remedied, and should -the soiled clothes be sewed up in canvas-bags and trailed behind the -ship, or hung at the stern, or headed up in barrels and steam-washed -when the ship got in? We crawled up into our bunks that night amid a -tremendous firing of big guns, and woke up in the morning to the -announcement that Yorktown was evacuated. - - * * * * * - -(M.) While we were lying anchored off Ship Point, down in the Gulf, New -Orleans had surrendered quietly, and round the corner from us Fort Macon -had been taken. What was it all to us, so long as the beef-tea was ready -at the right moment? - - - - - CHAPTER II. - - -(A.) _May 5th._ On Sunday the _Ocean Queen_, coming up from Old Point, -grounded about five miles off the harbor, and I went down and put a few -beds and men on board to assume a footing. She had been brought to Old -Point with the intention of using her to amuse the _Merrimack_, and had -therefore been stripped of everything not necessary to the subsistence -of the small crew. - - * * * * * - -(M.) On the way back, at eight in the evening, found that a great part -of the army fleet, three hundred or more steamboats full of life, all -before scattered for miles about the harbor, had been collected in close -order and steam up. A number of heavy steamers swept past also, each -with a tow a quarter of a mile long, making on the dark evening a long -line of light and life. It was strange to see these floating cities melt -away; the colored lights from the rigging going out one by one, and the -bands and bugle-calls growing faint and far. - - * * * * * - -(A.) I had sent the _Webster_ to sea, and with Mrs. —— and sister, B., -and some two or three others, started in the _Small_ to go to the -telegraph and mail, and to bury the body of a patient who had died in -the night. It was raining hard. When we reached the shore there was no -post-office, no telegraph,—nothing of the military station left, except -some wagons and transports. Our storehouse was a mile back. I left a -portion of our party to move the goods from it on board the barge, and -started in the _Small_ for Yorktown, to which I presumed Head-quarters -would have been moved. On getting out of the harbor, we saw that the -_Queen_ was under way. It turned out that she had been ordered to -Yorktown by the Harbor-Master. As she was lying-to, to sound the -channel, we came up with her, and I went on board, after which—the -_Small_ going ahead to feel the way—we had a magnificent sail to -Yorktown, the river so full of vessels that it was like getting up the -Thames, only the lead was constantly going, "By the mark, five! A -quarter less six!" and so on. Noble river! and a noble ship! Ahead, -above all the fleet of three hundred transports, there were a dozen -men-of-war. With our hospital flag at the fore, we slowly but boldly -passed through the squadron, and came to anchor, the biggest ship of -all, in the advance,—only one gunboat, as a picket-guard, being above -us. I went ashore with the Captain and the young men, but could find no -telegraph, and no officer of the general staff; and as many men had been -killed and wounded by the torpedo-traps,—infernal machines set by the -rebels,—we were not allowed to enter the fortified lines of Yorktown. -So, picking up a hospital cot and stretcher left by the enemy, I took -boat again to return to the ship, leaving the Captain and others ashore. -As I pulled out through the vessels at the wharf, I saw to my surprise -two small "stern-wheel" steamboats coming along-side the _Queen_, one on -each side. Hastening on board, I found that these boats were loaded with -sick men, whom an officer in charge was about to throw off upon the -_Queen_. They were the sick of regiments which had been ordered suddenly -forward last night, and which were at this very moment engaged in the -battle of Williamsburg; we could hear the roar of artillery. They had -been sent during the night by ambulances to the shore of Wormley's -Creek, where a large number had been left, the officer assured me, lying -on the ground in the rain, without food or attendance. His orders were -to take them upon the "stern-wheelers," as many as both would carry, -find the _Ocean Queen_, and put them upon her. I protested. The _Queen_ -at present was a mere hulk, without beds, bedding, or food even for her -crew, and without a surgeon. It was obvious that the men were, many of -them, very ill. Some were, in fact, in a dying state. - -They were largely typhoid-fever patients; and having been for -twenty-four hours without nourishment, wet from exposure to the storm, -and many of them racked by the motion of the ambulances over those -frightful swamp corduroy roads (which I described the other day) into -delirium, I was sure that many would die if they long failed to receive -most careful medical treatment, with stimulants, nourishment, and -warmth, no one of which could at that time be got for them on the -_Queen_. The officer, however, insisted. I determined to go ashore to -look for a surgeon, or if possible to find Colonel Ingalls, the -transport quartermaster, a gentleman, and a most energetic and sagacious -officer. I put the two ship's officers each at a gangway, with -instructions to let no one come on board till I returned, and to use -force, if necessary. I found a surgeon—a civilian—who was willing to -help us, and pulled back, finding to my disgust, when I reached the -ship, that the miserable first officer had given way, and every man who -could walk of the patients had been taken on board. The glorious women -had hunted out a barrel containing some Indian meal from some dark place -where it had been lost sight of, in the depths of the ship, and were -already ladling out hot gruel, which they had made of it; and the poor, -pale, emaciated, shivering wretches were lying anywhere, on the cabin -floors, crying with sobbing, trembling voices, "God bless you, Miss! God -bless you!" as it was given to them from the ship's deck-buckets. I -never saw such misery or such gratitude. My rebel stretcher came at once -in play, and, after distributing forty dollars among the half-mutinous, -superstitious, beastly Portuguese crew and pantry servants, I got them -at work bringing on the patients who were too feeble to be led on board. -It was a slow and tedious process. By the blessing of God, before it was -over, B., with Dr. Ware,—the two very best men I ever saw for such an -emergency,—came with the _Elizabeth_ from Cheeseman's Creek, and the -Captain with the students from the shore. There were straw, bed-sacks -and blankets, besides stimulants and medicines, on the _Elizabeth_, and -the Captain's authority soon added all the ship's force to the working -party on her, filling beds and hoisting out bales of blankets. B. went -on shore, found a rebel cow at pasture, shot her, and brought off the -beef, with another surgeon. By ten o'clock at night, every sick man was -in a warm bed, and had received medical treatment; and beef-tea and -milk-punch had been served to all who required it. But for three of them -even the women could do nothing but pray, and close their eyes. - -At half past ten, I went aboard the _Small_, intending to run to -Fortress Monroe for additional supplies. It was stormy and thick, and I -could not induce the Captain to go out till daylight. We reached Old -Point about nine, A. M. I got breakfast in the hotel, and then to -Head-quarters. While in the telegraph-room, a message was received, -which was whispered between the operators; a minute afterwards a gun was -fired, and the long roll beat; the infantry fell in on the parade, the -artillery hurried to the ramparts and manned the heavy guns, and -powder-carts were moving up the inclines. I asked, "What's all this?" -"Telegram from Newport's News that the _Merrimack_ is coming out!" She -did not come beyond Sewall's Point, however. - -The boat from Baltimore brought six excellent New York surgeons, -twenty-six nurses, and ten surgical dressers (medical students). I got -them all on the _Small_, and having succeeded in obtaining the more -important supplies in limited quantities, at noon left for Yorktown. On -reaching here we found the "stern-wheelers" again along-side, and over -three hundred patients on board; many very sick indeed, some delirious, -some comatose, some fairly _in articulo_. The assistant surgeons, left -behind at the abandoned camps, are too anxious to be rid of them, so as -to move with their regiments, and have surgery of war. And as their -orders authorize it, they hurry them off to us in this style, after a -day's ride in army wagons, without springs, over such a country without -roads as I described last week. They were horribly filthy, and there was -no time to clean them, often not to undress them, as, sick and fainting, -they were lifted on board. - -About noon the next day I completed a hospital organization of such -forces as I had, dividing the cabins and the upper steerage of the ship -into five wards, for the bad cases, each ward having one surgeon, two -ward-masters, and four nurses,—the two latter classes in watches; -besides these, some assistant nurses and servants, convalescent -soldiers, and contrabands. In these wards only the very sick—chiefly -cases of typhoid fever—were taken. By cutting away bulkheads, and -getting wind-sails rigged, they were fairly well ventilated. I had to -offer $200 for the repair of damages before this could be secured, -however. All the rest of the ship was the sixth ward, in which the -hernias, rheumatisms, bronchitises, lame and worn-out men were placed, -organized in squads of fifty each, with a squad-master to draw their -rations of house-diet. - -To get proper food for all, decently cooked and distributed, has given -me more concern than anything else. The ship servants are brutes, and -our supply of utensils was cruelly short. Fortunately the Captain is a -good-hearted and resolute man, and the ladies—God knows what we should -have done without them!—have contrived to make some chafing-dishes with -which the kitchen is pieced out wonderfully. Just think of it for a -moment. Here were one hundred miserably sick and dying men, forced upon -us before we had been an hour on board; and tug after tug swarming round -the great ship, before we had a nail out of a box, and when there were -but ten pounds of Indian meal and two spoons to feed them with. No -account could do justice to the faithful industry of the medical -students and young men: how we all got through with it, I hardly know; -but one idea is distinct,—that every man had a good place to sleep in, -and something hot to eat daily, and that the sickest had every essential -that could have been given them in their own homes.... - -B. was all this time driving everything to obtain supplies, while the -sick kept coming faster than we could get anything ready for them. The -last thing essential was more beef. B. at length got hold of a couple of -draught cattle of Franklin's division, left behind in their advance by -steamboats, and while these were being killed and dressed, we filled up -to nine hundred patients. - -To avoid having more pushed on board, I had the Captain heave short; so -the moment that B.'s boat came, and the beef could be hoisted up, the -steamer was under way, and before night, no doubt, was well out to sea. - -I then went on board the _Small_ to drop down, quite ill for the time -from want of sleep and from fatigue. A few hours' rest and a quiet -dinner brought me all right, however, and at sunset I set out with B. to -look after the sick ashore. - - * * * * * - -One of the strange effects, upon all concerned as workers on these -hospital ships, in the heart of all misery and pain, and part of it, -seems to have been the quieting of all excitement of feeling and of -expression,—a sort of apparent stoicism granted for the occasion. A -slight illustration of this quietness, which was characteristic of most -of the hospital party, is given in the following passage from a letter -of one of the ladies on the _Ocean Queen_:— - -"It seems a strange thing that the sight of such misery, such death in -life, should have been accepted by us all so quietly as it was. We were -simply eyes and hands for those three days. Great, strong men were dying -about us; in nearly every ward some one was going. Yesterday one of the -students called me to go with him and say whether I had taken the name -of a dead man in the forward cabin the day he came in. He was a strong, -handsome fellow, raving mad when brought in, and lying now, the day -after, with pink cheeks and peaceful look. I had tried to get his name, -and once he seemed to understand, and screeched out at the top of his -voice, 'John H. Miller,' but whether it was his own name or that of some -friend he wanted, I don't know; we could not find out. All the record I -had of him was from my diet-list: 'Miller,—forward cabin, port side, -number 119. Beef-tea and punch.' - -"Last night Dr. Ware came to me to know how much floor-room we had. The -immense saloon of the aft cabin was filled with mattresses so thickly -placed that there was hardly stepping-room between them, and as I swung -my lantern along the rows of pale faces, it showed me another strong man -dead. N. had been working hard over him, but it was useless. He opened -his eyes when she called 'Henry' clearly in his ear, and gave her a -chance to pour brandy down his throat; but all did no good; he died -quietly while she was helping some one else, and my lantern showed him -gone. We are changed by all this contact with terror, else how could I -deliberately turn my lantern on his face, and say to the doctor behind -me, 'Is that man dead?' and then stand coolly while he examined him, -listened, and pronounced him 'dead.' I could not have quietly said a -year ago, 'That will make one more bed, then, Doctor.' Sick men were -waiting on deck in the cold, though, and every few feet of cabin floor -were precious. So they took the dead man out, and put him to sleep in -his coffin on deck. We had to climb over another soldier lying up there -quiet as he, to get at the blankets to keep the living warm." - -The business of feeding men by hundreds at short notice, in confined -spaces, and with the aid of very limited cooking facilities, is one -which can hardly be appreciated by those who have only heard, not seen, -how it is accomplished. It takes good heads as well as good hearts, -strong will as well as strong limbs, to avoid ruinous confusion. After a -battle, when men are brought in so rapidly that they have to be piled in -almost without reference to their being human beings, and every one -raving for drink first and then for nourishment, it requires strong -nerves to be able to attend to them properly. Habit and system are the -two great aids,—or rather system first of all, if possible; though -system in such cases grows out of experience. Happily system has ruled -in the work of the Sanitary Commission, and such success as has attended -its operations is chiefly due to this, as every one must have observed -who had an opportunity to witness the difference between its doings and -those having the same end in view, but carried on without well-studied -or sufficiently comprehensive plans. - -But in these Atlantic Floating Hospitals the difficulties were very -great. The desideratum is a practicable diet, simple yet nourishing, -abundant and not injurious; always ready, yet varied enough to avoid the -danger of satiety, which is ever threatening the sick man, whose chance -of recovery may hang on his ability to eat his food with relish. In this -arduous part of the Hospital Transport duty, the ladies were able to be -especially useful; their sympathy and good judgment coming constantly in -play, and the supply of fruits, jellies, and a variety of delicacies -being generally so liberal as to afford full scope to their powers. But -in dealing with hundreds and thousands of men, many of whom are not -particularly in danger, but yet obliged to lie in beds for wounds to -heal, it is necessary to provide on a scale so large as puts mere -delicacies, or the ordinary resources of the sick-room, quite out of the -question. It is utterly futile to attempt treating each one of four or -five hundred patients as if we had him alone in a private family; and -patients, as well as nurses and friends, must learn this after very -little experience. But it is practicable here, as elsewhere, to -accomplish much that is beneficial and comfortable by judicious system -firmly carried out. To avoid collisions, and vain attempts to perform -impossibilities, after a short experience, but careful study of what was -really needed, rules were established which proved in practice nearly -perfect in the matter of preventing delay and disappointment, while the -result satisfied the patients in general quite as well as we can hope to -satisfy sick men who have fitful appetites. As the suggestion may prove -applicable to other cases, the established routine is given in full in -the Appendix (B.) - - - - - CHAPTER III. - - -Just before the _Ocean Queen_ left, a reinforcement of ladies and -servants arrived from New York. A part of these were put on the _Queen_; -temporary quarters were found for the remainder on the _Wilson Small_. -Sick men were at this time being carted into Yorktown from the various -abandoned camps in the vicinity, and the Sanitary party going on shore -after the departure of the _Queen_, these were found lying in tiers in -the muddy streets, while tents were being pitched and houses cleared for -their accommodation. Several wagon-loads of hospital supplies were sent -to them from the store-boats of the Commission; twenty-five dollars were -given to the surgeon in charge, to be used to stimulate the exertions of -his limited force of attendants, and for the purchase of odds and ends, -and he was informed that, if more should be required, it would be -provided by the Commission, and then the company started on their little -boat for West Point, where a battle was reported in progress. - - * * * * * - -(M.) _West Point, May 9th._—We arrived here early this morning. The -whole field of battle is open like a map before us. A white flag flies -from a small house just below us. We are along-side a transport on which -an officer was yesterday wounded by a shell thrown from a battery which -had been concealed behind this house, upon which the same flag was then -flying. Another transport near us has a shot-hole through her -smoke-stack. There are three or four thousand men along the shore, and -more constantly arriving and disembarking by the pontoons, with -artillery and horses. As I write, a blue column is moving off, the -bayonets glistening far into the woods. We are sending off small stores, -called for by the Commission's Inspectors ashore, who are visiting the -extemporized hospitals, and are also supplying some of the gunboats' -sick-bays with fruits and ice. - -Just here a steamboat, loaded with sick and wounded, came along-side of -us; a transport, made use of as a hospital on the occasion, but needing -almost everything. - -The more dangerously wounded upon this transport were transferred to the -_Small_, and three ladies, with surgical dressers and servants, -beef-tea, lemonade, ice, and stimulants, went to the assistance of the -others, remaining with them till, after a transshipment at Yorktown, -they were lodged in shore hospitals at Fortress Monroe. - - * * * * * - -(A.) The _Small_ received the dangerous cases, several of amputation -among them; the operations had been performed on the field. One died at -midnight. I had great difficulty, at first, in our now very crowded -little boat, in restraining individual zeal within the requirements of -order and tranquillity; but I believe I succeeded, and as soon as the -women began to experience the value of the discipline, they fell into it -finely, and all behaved in the best manner possible. I put those on our -boat in watches, rigidly excluding from that part of the boat where the -wounded men were placed all who were not absolutely required on duty. -The poor fellows were nearly all soon coaxed asleep, and the man who -died passed away, and his body was removed without its being known to -his nearest neighbor. We had on board Dr. Ware and two of the students, -noble young fellows, zealous, orderly, and discreet. - -I think all the men who have any chance for recovery look better this -morning. One man (amputation of thigh) who seemed nearly gone when he -came on board, staring wildly, and muttering unintelligibly, lifted his -hand toward me as I came into the cabin this morning; and smiled when I -bent over him. The nurse told me that he said to her on waking from a -sound sleep, just at sunrise, "You have saved my life for my wife, good -woman." There are several officers among them; one a hero, who led his -company against a regiment, pushing it back, but losing one fifth of his -men, and getting a shot through the lungs. There is Corporal C——, too, -who has lost his leg, and who says he bears no malice against the man -who shot him, but he hopes some day to meet and punish the wretch who -kicked him on his wounded leg, after he was laid helpless. - - * * * * * - -(M.) _May 11th._—Three of our wounded men died during the night. -Everything was done for them; they could not have had more care in their -own homes. Our little boat is so crowded that the well sleep on the -upper deck, all under cover being occupied by the wounded; and, the -small outfit of china, etc. being needed for the sick, we take our meat -and potatoes on slices of bread for plates, and make the top of a stove -our domestic board. - - * * * * * - -As intelligence had come through telegraph from Washington that the -_Ocean Queen_ had been taken on her arrival at New York, against all -remonstrance, for other purposes, the _S. R. Spaulding_, a large, -seaworthy vessel, though lamentably inferior for a hospital to the -magnificent _Ocean Queen_, was obtained in her place. She was fitted for -carrying cavalry, with stalls for horses, and at this time filled with -stable odor, and needed coal and water as well as complete interior -reconstruction. - -The _Daniel Webster_, arriving at Yorktown on her return from New York, -could not get into the wharf-berth which had been secured for her near -the hospital; a tug was consequently procured, which being run -alternately with the _Small_, between sunset and twelve o'clock at -night, two hundred and forty sick and wounded were taken off and put -comfortably to bed. After this her hospital service was reorganized so -as to transfer from her all the force that could possibly be spared, and -to put on her any of the company whom it was necessary to part with. An -estimate was made of the stores requisite for her home trip, and at -daylight what she could spare was put on board the _Small_, and she -steamed off on her second trip to New York, eighteen hours after she -arrived. Everything is noted as going on admirably in the loading of the -_Webster_, each man knowing his place, and not trying to do the duty of -others. The discipline maintained by Dr. Grymes was most satisfactory, -and the corps of ladies and nurses work as if they had been doing this -thing wisely and well all their lives.[3] - -Footnote 3: - - Since the above was written, we have heard with deep regret of the - death of Dr. Grymes. Wherever he served, his labors were singularly - wise and efficient; with exceeding gentleness and quietness of manner - he combined much energy of will, and to thorough skill was added a - loving heart, and a rare devotedness of purpose. - -At 9 A. M., the _Webster_ started on her second trip, and there was time -to look after the other vessels which were being fitted for the service. -One company had been put at work on the _Elm City_, and another on the -_Knickerbocker_, both these river boats having been handed over by the -Quartermaster's Department to the Commission, to be fitted for hospital -service. Stores had also been ordered to the _State of Maine_, a -government hospital in need. All was found proceeding well with the -limited force on the _Elm City_; but the _Knickerbocker_, where was she? - - * * * * * - -(M.) _Steamboat Knickerbocker, May 13th._—If my letter smells of Yellow -B, it has a right to, as my paper is the cover of the sugar-box. Since I -last wrote, we have been jerking about from boat to boat, fitting up -one, and starting her off, then doing the same by another. We came on -board this boat Saturday night. She had then about two hundred wounded -men on board, taken from the Williamsburg fight, and bound for Fort -Monroe, two of the ladies and assistants to look after the sick during -the few hours' run, and others to get things on hand, and fit up the -wards. We had fifty-six Commission beds made on the upper ward floor -that night, and were ready to go on shore at Fort Monroe after the three -and a half hours from Yorktown. Dr. C. came on board and had all the men -carefully removed to the Hygeia Hospital, and we improved the -opportunity to get some roses from the garden for our wounded men left -on the _Small_, and to see Mr. Lincoln driving past to take possession -of Norfolk. We lay at the fort all night, and were blown awake the next -morning by the explosion of the _Merrimack_, when I found to my -amazement that along-side of us lay the _Daniel Webster_, No. 2, -Government hospital, with four or five of our Commission company on -board, whom we had left at Yorktown. She ran, in passing, along-side our -supply ships, (all our boats of the Sanitary Commission are known by -their flags,) just after we came away, and begged for help. Mr. A. -tossed on board everything necessary, including two ladies, two -surgeons, and blankets, and started them off after us to the Fortress, -with two hundred badly wounded men. They had been wholly uncared for -till our people got on board. They did all they could for them in so -short a time, washed them, gave them good suppers and breakfasts, and -Drs. W. and W. dressed the worst wounds, watching them all night as -tenderly as women could. This boat was all the next day unloading her -sick; they were miserably wounded, and had to be lifted with great care. -We on the _Knickerbocker_ started up the river again, and anchored off -Yorktown.... We wanted a stove for our hospital kitchen on board, which -has to be kept distinct from the kitchen of the ship's crew; so we went -ashore with —— to seize upon anything we could find; poked about in all -the rebel barracks, asked all the soldiers we met about it, and finally -came upon the sutler's hut,—sutler of the _Enfans Perdus_, who was -cooking something nice for the officers' mess over a stove with _four_ -places for pots! This was too much to stand, so under a written -authority given to "Dr. Olmsted" by the Quartermaster of this -department, we proceeded to rake out the sutler's fire and lift his pots -off;—and he offered us his cart and mule to drag the stove to the boat, -and would take no pay! So, through the wretched town, filled with the -_débris_ of huts and camp furniture, old blankets, dirty cast-off -clothing, smashed gun-carriages, exploded guns, vermin and filth -everywhere,—and along the sandy shore covered with cannon-balls, tossed -into the river, and rolled back,—we followed the mule, a triumphant -procession, waving our broken bits of stove-pipe and iron pot-covers. I -left a polite message for the "Colonel perdu,"—which had to stand him in -place of his lost dinner,—and I shall never understand what was the -matter with that sutler, whose self-sacrifice secured our three hundred -men their meals promptly. - -The next morning the _Knickerbocker_, to the surprise of the Commission, -was not to be found. They searched the fleet twice through for us, but -in vain, and finally heard at the Quartermaster's office, that a -requisition had been received at midnight for a boat to go at once to -the advance of the army, on the Pamunkey River, and the _Knickerbocker_ -had been taken for it, the fact of her having been assigned to the -Commission being entirely forgotten. The only mitigation of the -anxieties of those who remained, for the ladies on board, was the -assurance that the boat would soon return. Meantime, we, on board, -sailed up the Pamunkey, getting a fine chance to perfect the hospital -arrangements. We unpacked tins and clothing, filled a linen closet in -each ward, had beds put in order for three hundred, got up our stove, -set kitchen in order, filled store closets, and arranged a black-hole -with a lock to it, where oranges grow, and brandy and wine are stored -box upon box; and on reaching Franklin's head-quarters, the messenger -transacted his business, we landed a file of soldiers and a surgeon of -the division, who had shown us great kindness on the voyage, and were -allowed to push off again unmolested. The army lay all along the shore, -and General Franklin's head-quarters were in a large storehouse back -from the river. We found on our return to Yorktown every one at work -fitting up the _Spaulding_. - - * * * * * - -An order had been obtained from the Quartermaster for the planks and -boards of some rebel platforms, with which to put up bunks, etc., and a -gang of contrabands were set at the business. While this was going on, a -visit was made to the surgeon in charge of the shore hospitals, with -whom, after debate, it was agreed that the _Elm City_ should be made -ready by two o'clock to take on the sick who were waiting transport near -the shore. The _State of Maine_ was at the same time to be supplied and -made ready to follow without delay. Going on board the _Small_ again to -carry out these arrangements, A. was met by a note from the -Quartermaster enclosing a telegram from the Medical Director of the army -at Williamsburg, demanding a boat provided with "_straw and water to be -ready to take on two hundred sick and wounded within two hours at -Queen's Creek_." The despatch concluded, "This is of the utmost urgency. -See the Sanitary Commission." The only boat in the fleet that had a fair -supply of water on board was the _Elm City_, already assigned for other -duty, and she had no stores of food. There was about one day's supply of -provisions for two hundred men on the _Small_, and A. wrote at once to -the surgeon in charge of the shore hospitals, that, to meet an order of -the Medical Director, it had become necessary to change the arrangements -just before made with him. He would have to withdraw the _Elm City_, but -as supplies could be sent immediately to the State of _Maine_, she could -be got ready before night to take her place. The _Small_ was then put in -motion, and first the _Elm City_ was hailed in passing, with orders to -"fire up and heave short, and be all ready to move in half an hour," -thence to the _Alida_, which was sent with the supplies to the _State of -Maine_, and then back past the _Elm City_, ordering her to follow, and -so in good time up to the mouth of Queen's Creek, by the side of the -_Kennebec_, loading with wounded Secession prisoners, brought out of the -creek by light-draft stern-wheelers. The process of embarkation, -witnessed at a point some distance up the creek, was rude, careless, and -quite unnecessarily painful; the miserable wretches of rebels being made -to climb a plank, set up at an angle of forty-five degrees, which they -could only do by the aid of a rope thrown to them from the deck. Strange -to say, they themselves made no complaint, but appeared to think that -they were well treated. So much for habit. The only assistance the -Commission could render was to make the pathway less slippery by nailing -cleats closely together across the steep planks. To do this, nails were -bought of an old man near by, who at first asserted decidedly that not a -nail could be found on his premises, until he was offered one dollar for -twenty-five, when an abundant supply was discovered. - -Notwithstanding the Medical Director's telegram, that the case was one -of the "utmost urgency," no sick men were found at the place of -embarkation on the creek, nor could any be heard of nearer than at -Williamsburg. Proceeding thither, with great difficulty,—passing on the -way directly through the field of the late battle,—A. inquired of the -first man he met after entering the town, "Where is the hospital?" "The -hospital, sir? Every house in the town is a hospital; you cannot go -amiss for one." And this seemed to be literally true. Finding the -Medical Director, he learned that he thought it important to relieve the -hospitals by transportation as fast as he, in any way, could; but not -supposing it possible that the telegraphic order could be literally -complied with, he had taken no measures as yet to send the two hundred -patients in question to the place appointed for embarkation. It was -agreed, however, that a convoy of ambulances should be started at -daylight, and A. returned to the mouth of Queen's Creek, and despatched -B. with the _Small_ to Yorktown to bring up additional stores from the -_Elm City_, upon which the half-completed work of filling bed-sacks and -other preparations also continued through the night. With the first -boat-load of the wounded brought off in the morning, arose one of those -conflicts of authority which so often embarrassed the Commission at this -time in its work. - - * * * * * - -(A.) At the first step I was met by a Brigade Surgeon coming on board -from the _Kennebec_, who went about giving orders over my head, changing -my arrangements. As he persisted, and refused to compromise after I -showed my written authority from the Medical Director, I told him that I -should allow no sick to come on board until I was satisfied with the -arrangements. He then declared that he should go to the Medical -Director. "The very thing I want, and I will go with you. Meantime the -sick, if any arrive, shall come on board, and Dr. Ware, here, will see -to their disposition, if you please." He assented, and we then went to -the landing and saw the lighter again loaded with sick, in the same -manner as yesterday. When she was full, the surgeon said he should -return upon her to the _Elm City_, "But I thought we were to go together -to the Medical Director, sir!" "I have concluded not to do so, but have -written to inform him that my authority is questioned." I deemed it -best, after this, to go again to the Medical Director myself, and, after -a tedious delay, got passage on a forage-wagon loaded with oats. What -with the continuous atmosphere of thick yellow dust, and the jar of the -heavy wagon over execrable roads, this was a hard ride. - -I found the Medical Director, got a copy of an order which the Brigade -Surgeon should have received yesterday, but which had failed of -transmission to him, which failure justified officially his assertion of -authority over _any_ transport coming at that time to that anchorage. - -Returned to the landing, and, the lighters having grounded, waited -there, on the bank of the creek, with a hundred sick men, being devoured -by mosquitoes and sand-flies. On reaching the _Elm City_, found that, -owing to the conflict of authority, and consequent imperfect system, as -well as to the insufficient number of attendants, the sick were but -slowly and with difficulty taken care of. Including the hundred coming -off with me, the number on board was already over four hundred, or twice -as many as the Medical Director had estimated, or I had had reason to -calculate on in the supply of water, medicine, and stores. - -After sunset I went again up the creek, and found eight men on the -beach, left there sick, without a single attendant or friend within four -miles, while, only the night before, two of our teamsters had been -waylaid and murdered, as was supposed, by the farmers of the vicinity, -(guerilla fighting as they call it,) in the edge of the neighboring -woods. After taking them on board the small boat, I asked who had charge -of the party, wishing to make sure that no stragglers were left. A man -was pointed out, who, because he was stronger or more helpful than the -rest, seemed to have been regarded by them as their leader, though he -had no appointment. He was able to answer my inquiries satisfactorily, -and then as he sat by my side, while I steered the boat, he told me -about himself. His name was Corcoran. After the battle of Williamsburg -he felt sick. There was an order to march, but his Captain said, "Good -God! Corcoran, you are not fit to march. Go into the town and get into a -hospital." He walked three miles carrying his knapsack, and when he came -to a hospital the surgeon told him he must bring a note from his -Captain, and refused to receive him. He went out, and, as he was now -very ill, he crawled into something like a milk-wagon and fell asleep. -He was awakened by a man who pulled him out by his feet, so that he fell -heavily on the ground and was hurt. He begged the man—a Secessionist, he -supposed—for some water, and he gave him some; and when he saw how sick -he was, he said he would not have pulled him out only that he wanted to -use his wagon. Corcoran then tried to walk away, but had not gone far -when he fell, and probably fainted. By and by a negro man woke him up, -and asked if he should not help him to a hospital. The negro man was -very kind, but when they came to a hospital the doctor said he could not -take him in, because he "hadn't a bit of a note." Corcoran said, "For -God's sake, Doctor, do give me room to lie down here somewhere; it's not -much room I'll take anyhow, and I can't go about any longer!" It was -then three days since he had tasted food. The doctor told him he could -lie down, and he had not been up since till to-day. - -I have repeated the whole of this story as I heard it, while we were -floating slowly down the river, because the poor man who told it me died -soon after we got on board, kindly attended in his last moments by our -Sisters of Mercy. A letter to his mother was found in his pocket, and -one of the ladies is writing to her. - -This morning we returned to Yorktown, and took on the _Elm City_ thirty -more sick from a steamboat which had brought them from Cumberland on the -Pamunkey. - -At ten o'clock the _Elm City_ left for Washington with 440 patients.... -After noon I went ashore, called on the surgeon in charge of the -hospitals and the Military Governor, made our arrangements for a trip up -the river to collect scattered sick, and to tow our _Wilson Small_ up to -West Point for repairs. She has been knocked into and run against by all -the big boats till she is completely disabled. Returning on board for -this purpose, was met by an officer with a telegram, begging that a boat -might be immediately despatched to Bigelow's Landing, where an -ambulance-train master had reported that "a hundred sick had been left -on the ground in the rain, without attendance or food, to die." -Bigelow's Landing being up a narrow, shoal, crooked creek, we ran about -the harbor looking in vain for a boat of sufficiently light draught to -send there. At length we determined to take our whole Sanitary fleet to -the mouth of the creek, and, leaving the _Alida_ and _Knickerbocker_ -outside, try to get up with the _Elizabeth_, for we had no single -vessel, large or small, in itself, suitably provided. - -We ran to the _Knickerbocker_, but before we could get her under way a -steamboat, in charge of a military surgeon, came along-side, and a -letter was handed me, begging that I would take care of one hundred and -fifty sick men who had been taken on at West Point early in the morning, -and who had had no nourishment during the day. It was sunset, stormy and -cold. I at first hesitated, on account of the greater need of those at -Bigelow's Landing, but the surgeon in charge having induced me to take a -look into the cabin, I changed my mind. The little room was as full as -it could be crammed of sick soldiers, sitting on the floor; there was -not room to lie down. Only two or three were at full length; one of -these was dying,—was dead the next time I looked in. It was frightfully -dirty, and the air suffocating. - -We immediately began taking them on board the _Knickerbocker_.... It is -now midnight. B. and Dr. Ware started with a part of our company and the -two supply-boats, five hours ago, for Queen's Creek, with the intention -of getting them to the sick at Bigelow's Landing, if possible; if not, -to go up in the yawl and canoe with supplies and firewood, and do -whatever should be found possible for their relief. Two of the ladies -went with them. The rest are giving beef-tea and brandy and water to the -sick on the _Knickerbocker_, now numbering three hundred. - -(M.) The floors of lower and upper decks are covered with beds. The men -all have tremendous appetites, lazily sleeping and eating,—never miss a -meal three times a day. If it were possible to have great eating-houses -and wayside places, where volunteers could break down and sleep and doze -for ten days or so, the men forced upon us by the medical authorities -here and sent North would be doing good work in their regiments,—a good -bath, seven days' rest, and twenty-one good meals are all they need. —— -is housekeeper on this boat, and great pails of tea and trays of bread -and butter, and rice and sugar, go all around the decks for breakfast. -Good thick soup and bread for dinner, and breakfast repeated, at -tea-time. "Peter," with six long-shore Maryland oyster-men (darkeys) -runs the hospital kitchen, and has a daily struggle for the daily bread -with the incorrigible fellows who shirk work, and for each meal protest -against everything, and have three times a day to be brought round by -highly colored blandishments. The sickest men, especially the one -hundred and fifty last taken on, have plenty of beef-tea and cool -drinks, made in the ladies' pantry, and all of them are now undressed -and in clean, comfortable beds. - -(A.) I am quite at a loss to know what I shall do to-morrow. Unless -additional force arrives we certainly cannot meet another emergency. It -will not be surprising if this letter is found somewhat incoherent, for -I have fallen asleep several times while writing it, hoping all the time -that B. might arrive. We have a cold northeast storm and thick weather, -and I conclude that his expedition is unable to get down, and I may go -to sleep for the night. I have just been through the vessel, and find -nearly all the patients sleeping quietly, and with every indication of -comfort. - -_May 16th._ I fell so soundly asleep, that, fifteen minutes after I -finished writing the above last night, it had to be several times -repeated to me before I could understand where I was and what it all -meant when the officer of the watch came to tell me that the supply -boats were making fast to us, with over a hundred more sick. Anchoring -the _Alida_ at the mouth, B. had attempted to get up the creek with the -_Elizabeth_, but, as I had feared, she went aground. Going on with the -yawl, he found one of the steam-lighters at anchor with over a hundred -sick and wounded men lying on the deck, who were soaked, not merely with -rain, but from having been obliged to wade out to her in water -knee-deep. He learned that, further up the creek, a few men, too badly -wounded to stand, or too weak to wade off to the boat, had been left -behind. No persuasion could induce the captain to return for them, but a -threat to report him at head-quarters, at length made him fire up and go -back. Eight were found just where I found eight on my night trip up the -same creek a few nights before, some in a nearly dying condition. Having -brought them off to the lighter, and served stimulants to them, she was -run down the creek to the supply-boats, the freight-rooms of which had, -in the mean time, been as well as possible arranged to accommodate the -patients. - - * * * * * - -One of the ladies engaged in this night expedition of the _Elizabeth_ -gives the following account of it in a letter to a friend. - - * * * * * - -(N.) Not a moment is lost,—Mr. B. would not even let me go for a -shawl,—and the tug is off. The _Elizabeth_ is our store-tender or -supply-boat; her main deck is piled from deck to deck with boxes. The -first thing done is to pick out six cases of pillows, six of quilts, one -of brandy, and one cask of bread. Then all the rest is lowered into the -hold. Meantime I make for the kitchen, where I find a remarkable old -aunty and a fire. I dive into her pots and pans, I wheedle her out of -her green tea (the black having given out), and soon I have eight -buckets full of tea, and pyramids of bread and butter. The cleared -main-deck is spread with two layers of quilts, and rows of pillows a -man's length apart.... The poor fellows are led or carried on board, and -stowed side by side as close as can be. We feed them with spoonfuls of -brandy and water; they are utterly broken down, wet through, some of -them raving with fever. All are without food for one day, some for two -days. After all are laid down, Miss G. and I give them their supper, and -they sink down again. Any one who looks over such a deck as that, and -sees the suffering, despondent attitudes of the men, and their worn -frames and faces, knows what war is better than the sight of wounds can -teach it. We could only take ninety; more had to go in a small tug-boat -which accompanied us. Mr. B. and the doctor went on board of her, to -give sustenance to the men, and in the mean time the _Elizabeth_ started -on the homeward trip. So the care of her men came to me. Fortunately -only a dozen or two were very ill, and none died. Still I felt anxious; -six of them were out of their mind, one had tried to destroy himself -three times that day, and was drenched through, having been dragged out -of the water, into which he had thrown himself just before we reached -him. When we reached the _Knickerbocker_, Dr. Ware came on board, and -gave me some general directions, after which I got along very well; my -only disaster had been that I gave morphine to a man who actually -screamed with rheumatism and cramp. I supposed morphine would not hurt -him, and it was a mercy to others to stop the noise, instead of which I -made him perfectly crazy, and had the greatest trouble in soothing him. -We did not move them that night, and the next morning, after getting -them all washed, I went off guard, and Mrs. M. and Mrs. N. came on board -with their breakfast from the _Knickerbocker_, where the one hundred and -eighty men were stowed and cared for. Soon afterwards my men were -transferred to her. She still lies along-side, and we take care of her. -She is beautifully in order; everything right and orderly. It is a real -pleasure to give the men their meals. The ward-masters are all -appointed, and the orderlies know their duty. She will probably leave -to-morrow.... As for the ladies, they are just what they should be, -efficient, wise, active as cats, merry, lighthearted, thoroughbred, and -without the fearful tone of self-devotedness about them that sad -experience makes one expect in benevolent women. We all know in our -hearts that it is thorough enjoyment to be down here; _it is life_, in -short, and we wouldn't be anywhere else (in view of our enjoyment) for -anything in the world. I hope people will continue to sustain this great -work. Hundreds of lives are being saved by it. I have seen with my own -eyes, in one week, fifty men who must have died anywhere but here, and -many more who probably would have done so. I speak of lives saved only; -the amount of suffering saved is incalculable. The Commission keep up -the work at great expense. It has six large vessels now running from -here. Government furnishes these, and the bare rations of the men, (or -is supposed to do so,) but the real expenses of supply fall on the -Commission; in fact, _everything_ that makes the power and excellence of -the work is supplied by the Commission. If people ask what they shall -send, say, "Money, _money_, stimulants, and articles of sick-food." - - * * * * * - -(A.) I went through the _Elizabeth_ soon after she came along-side, and -all who were awake were very ready to say they wanted for nothing. We -concluded to let them remain where they were for the rest of the night. -They had been on the creek shore from ten to fourteen hours, without a -physician or a single attendant, a particle of food or a drop of drink, -and this on a cold, foggy day, with rain and mist after nightfall. With -half a dozen exceptions, they are marvellously well this morning, and -profoundly grateful for the kindness which, I need not say, the ladies -are extending to them. I am as yet unable to make up my mind what to do -with them. The cold northeasterly storm continues. - -_May 17th._ Our poor little _Wilson Small_ since her first patching has -been run into again and again, and for some days has been so broken up, -that the poor little thing can't raise steam even. We have been towed -about by our supply-boats, and to-day shall quit her while she goes to -Baltimore for repairs. We can't leave her without real regret, even to -go temporarily on board the _Spaulding_, one of the finest vessels of -her size that I ever saw. We go on slowly with our fittings, having but -poor lumber and only four carpenters. We have had, however, a detail, -ordered by the military governor, of the "Infant Purdys," as the boys -call the _Enfans Perdus_, to fetch and carry, and shall have the -_Spaulding_ after next filling the _Daniel Webster_ and the _Elm City_, -both which should be here before to-morrow night. We sent off the -_Knickerbocker_ this morning at daylight to Washington, with two hundred -and seventy sick and wounded. There are two ladies for each watch, and -the value of their service in the minor superintendence is incalculable. - -The twenty ladies who came from New York were really a great godsend, -although at first, with no boat to assign them to, we did not know what -to do with them. They have all worked like heroes night and day, and -though the duty required of them is frequently of the most disagreeable -and trying character, I have never seen one of them flinch for a moment. -Yesterday, I chanced to observe, _apropos_ to an excessively hard -night's work, that all our hardships would be very satisfactory to -recall by and by, when Miss M. said earnestly, "Recall! why, I never had -half the present satisfaction in any week of my life before!" and there -was a general murmur of concurrence. If you could see the difference -between the men on our transports, and those on the vessels managed -directly by government,—rude as the means at our command are, and -although we do all we can to aid the latter,—you would better understand -the incentive and the reward of exertion.... The conduct of the patients -is always fine;—patient, brave, patriotic. I am surprised and delighted -by it. We have sent details of the ladies with every vessel, and have -now remaining with us only four, besides the hired Crimean nurse, Mrs. -——. - -Captain ——, whom I spoke of as mortally wounded, and whom we had kept in -the cabin of the _Wilson Small_ since our visit to West Point, we sent -off this morning on the _Knickerbocker_ feeling quite jolly and with a -fair prospect of speedy recovery. I don't doubt he would have died but -for good nursing and surgery, as he had exhausting internal hemorrhages. - -We had two deaths on board last night,—one a fine fellow of sixteen, of -pneumonia, in the lower deck ward, and a convalescent in the upper after -ward. The latter came out of his room, saying he was faint, and wanted -water, and, while the attendant turned for it, sprang over the guards -into the water below. A boat was lowered, and efforts made to find him, -but he must have struck his head, and, being stunned, did not rise. - - - - - CHAPTER IV. - - -(A.) We are lying in the _Spaulding_ just below a burnt railroad-bridge, -on the Pamunkey River, and, as usual, in the middle of the fleet of -forage boats. The shores are at once wooded and wonderful to the water's -edge, the fulness of midsummer with the vivid and tender green of -Southern spring. Up the banks, where the trees will let us look between -them, lie great fields of wheat, tall and fresh, and taking the sunshine -for miles. The river winds constantly,—returning upon itself every -half-mile or so, and we seem sometimes lying in a little wooded lake -without inlet or outlet. It is startling to find, so far from the sea, a -river whose name we hardly knew two weeks ago, where our anchor drops in -three fathoms of water and our great ship turns freely either way with -the tide. Our smoke-stacks are almost swept by the hanging branches as -we move, and great schooners are drawn up under the banks, tied to the -trees; the _Spaulding_ herself lies in the shade of an elm-tree which is -a landmark for miles up and down. The army is in camp close at hand, -resting, this Sunday, and eating its six pies to a man, and so getting -ready for a move, which is planning in ——'s tent. Half a mile above us -is the White House, naming the place,—a modern cottage, if ever white, -now drabbed over, standing where the early home of Mrs. Washington -stood. We went ashore this morning with General ——, and strolled about -the grounds,—an unpretending, sweet little place, with old trees shading -the cottage, a green lawn sloping to the river, and an old-time garden -full of roses. The house has been emptied, but there are some pieces of -quaint furniture, brass fire-dogs, &c., and just inside the door this -notice is posted: "Northern soldiers who profess to reverence the name -of Washington, forbear to desecrate the home of his early married life, -the property of his wife, and now the home of his descendants"; signed, -"A Granddaughter of Mrs. Washington"; confronted by Gen. McClellan's -order of protection. - - * * * * * - -(M.) We were going up to head-quarters, but refrained, on consideration, -and came back to the _Spaulding_, through army-wagons and pie-pedlers, -and rewarded the three Generals who had come over to meet us with -much-needed towels, handkerchiefs, and cologne. The river above us to -the burnt railroad-bridge is crowded with steamboats and schooners. Four -gunboats are our next-door neighbors. Beyond the bridge, round the -corner, and out of sight, winds the Pamunkey, trees crowding down to the -brink and dipping their feet in the water. The Harbor-Master wanting the -room in the evening, we dropped down the stream and anchored by a -feathery elm-tree. - - * * * * * - -(A.) The next morning I saw the Medical Director at head-quarters. He -seems to be in a worse boggle than ever as to the disposition of his -sick. There are a great many still at Yorktown to be removed, but the -work is now fairly systematized there, and the sick begin to collect -_here_ by hundreds, with a prospect of thousands, and no thought of -system in disposing of them, as far as I can see. The Director has -ordered us to take on men at once, but our bunks are not up, and I have -promised him the _Daniel Webster_ and _Elm City_, which should be here -to-morrow, and can take six hundred. B. has gone down to bring up our -boats from Yorktown, with all the stores that can be spared from our -supply-ship. I shall try my best here to carry out the plan I have -always wished to have pursued,—namely, the establishment of a large -receiving hospital, from which those who really need to be sent away may -be deliberately selected and transferred to proper vessels, properly -equipped. During my visit this morning to the Medical Director's tent, -four persons reported their arrival with sick, and were informed that -there were no accommodations for them. Tents had been received, but -there was no detail on hand to pitch them, and if they were pitched, -there were no beds to put in them. Sickness was increasing rapidly, -every case showing the influence of malaria. The Medical Director said, -apparently with justice, that he had anticipated all this waste and -confusion, and had made ample provision against it, but that almost none -of his ordered supplies had reached him. - -By night the _Daniel Webster_ and _Elm City_ had come up from Yorktown, -and I went up with the first, securing with some difficulty a berth for -her, and began taking on the sick at once, the Medical Director being -present and superintending the embarkation. He seemed to have entirely -lost sight of the plan about determined upon the day before, to -establish the shore receiving hospital, and was only anxious to get the -sick off his hands as rapidly as possible, being appalled by their -accumulation and the entire absence of provision for them. Just at this -time B. got back from Yorktown, bringing a cheering account of the -hospitals there, and at the same time the arrival of large medical -supplies and hospital furniture was reported, so that I had little -difficulty in bringing about a return to the plan of yesterday. - -The substance of the plan was this. The _Elm City_, able to accommodate -four hundred patients, was to remain at White House as a receiving -hospital; the _Spaulding_ as a reserve transport in case of a battle; on -the occurrence of a battle, the serious cases of sickness to be -transferred to the _Spaulding_, and the _Elm City_ used as receiving -hospital for surgical cases; the _Knickerbocker_ to remain as a surgical -transport. If an engagement should occur at the close of the week, the -_Spaulding_ would take to sea three or four hundred sick, freeing the -shore hospitals to that extent, making about six hundred with what the -_Webster_ would take; the _Webster_ to return and take two hundred more -the next week; the _Knickerbocker_ to take two hundred and fifty every -twenty-four hours to Fortress Monroe; thus relieving the shore hospitals -to the extent of two thousand by the end of the next week, which would -probably be all that was necessary. The _Webster_ and _Spaulding_, being -low between decks, crowded with berths, and deficient in ventilation, -were not suited to the reception of sick and wounded for any other -purpose than that of immediate transportation. - - * * * * * - -(A.) To relieve myself of further responsibility in case of another -change of plan, I wrote a memorandum of what we expected to be able to -do, and got the Director to sign his approval of it. He told me -yesterday that he meant to have those who were to take ship carefully -selected, and that he did not believe there were half a dozen who ought -to go from here. I however saw being put on board the usual proportion -of sick-in-quarters men, and told him. He attributed it to disregard of -his orders by volunteer surgeons, a difficulty for which he declared -that there was no remedy short of an act of Congress. I found Dr. ——, -his chief executive officer, and got him to go to the sick camp, from -which the men were being brought, when he discovered, as he afterwards -told me, that the surgeon in charge had heard a report that the Sanitary -Commission intended to have a receiving-ship here, and on his own -responsibility (assuming that the _Webster_ was to be used for this -purpose) was sending men on board at random, and without reference to -the gravity of their cases, his object being merely to get room. He also -found that ambulances coming in from the advance had entered the train -after it left the hospital, and the men thus brought to the shore were -allowed to go on board with those brought from the hospital, as if -assigned for sea transportation by the surgeon in charge. I begged him -to go on board and send off such as he found of these interlopers, but -he thought it impracticable; and finally, instead of the half-dozen -proposed by the Medical Director yesterday, I found that he had passed -two hundred and fifty on board. Meantime the tents before spoken of had -been finally pitched on a large field near the White House. They were -bare of everything but shelter for the sick flocking in from the -different regiments. A thousand men will probably be in them before -to-morrow night. All day long to-day the surgeons and young men of the -Commission have been working over there, and we have sent over -bed-sacks, straw, blankets, and supplies for several hundred. After much -sanitary poking, pushing, and oiling, the tents are some of them -floored, and five great pig-kettles are started boiling, and kept always -full of food for the sick. The patients will, however, greatly -overbalance the provision made for them. It is hard work to galvanize -the proper authorities into action. The post hospital record certifies -now to sixteen hundred. There are five surgeons and assistants, one -steward, no apothecary, and no nurses, except those selected from among -the patients. Two wells have been dug, but the water of neither has as -yet been fit for using. Water is brought from the White House well, -nearly a quarter of a mile distant, and until yesterday the whole supply -was brought by hand. It is now wagoned in casks. We sent up three casks -of ice from the _Webster's_ stock, which was found of great value. The -greater part of the men are not very ill, and, with nice nourishment, -comfortable rest, and good nursing, would be got ready to join their -regiments in a week or two; but this is just what they are not likely to -have. - -The weather is growing excessively hot, and the army is pushing forward -in a malarious country in the face of the enemy. We have received a few -wounded men from the skirmishes of yesterday. There is obviously great -danger that we shall be altogether overwhelmed with sick and wounded in -a few days. If the recommendation of my telegram of Sunday is adopted by -the Surgeon-General, and a complete hospital for six thousand sent here -from Washington, there will be reasonable provision for what is to be -expected; otherwise it is dreadful to think of it. There is no doubt -that we might take care of a few hundred on our boats,—probably save the -lives of some of them; but considering what a week, or, for that matter, -a day, may bring forth, I think it right to throw the authorities still -on their resources as much as we can, and, if possible, force them to -enlarge their shore accommodations.... Nor, when ready, shall I be -inclined to hasten the removal of the sick. I shall do my best to avoid -taking any but serious cases. It is plain that the facilities so far -offered in this respect have been abused, and that serious evils have -come of it. Those responsible for the care of the sick here—I mean the -military administrative as well as medical officers—have made the -presence of the transports near them an excuse for neglecting all proper -local provision, and evidently have the idea that, in hurrying patients -on board vessels, they relieve themselves of responsibility.[4] I saw -this danger from the first, and have (I wish the Surgeon-General and our -friends to be sure of this) constantly done all that I could to -counteract it, not only by verbal protest, but by a habit of action -which I know that B. and other friends here, who have not had the duty -of looking at the matter as comprehensively as I have, have not been -able always to regard as justifiable.... - -Footnote 4: - - The reader must constantly remember that the Commission did not supply - _vessels_, but merely furnished a few vessels already held by - government with proper hospital arrangements, and that these were at - the command of the medical authorities of the army, the Commission - being responsible only for their internal administration. - -But this is not all. Of this hundred thousand men, I suppose not ten -thousand were ever entirely without a mother's, a sister's, or a wife's -domestic care before. They are wonderfully like school-boys. Then this -is really the first experience of nearly all our officers (who are their -schoolmasters and housekeepers) in active campaigning. They are learning -to take care of their men as a matter of self-interest. The men need to -learn to make themselves content—of contented habit—away from home, to -understand that this is in the bargain. It is obvious from the remarks -we hear, that the rumor that sick men are to be sent home has a -disturbing influence upon the education of the army in both these -respects.... - -The _Knickerbocker_ has arrived while I have been writing; thus I have -all the elements of my plan approved by the Medical Director on Monday. -But the question still troubles me greatly, If they should have several -hundred more patients on shore than they have tents or beds for, and -among them all several hundreds seriously ill, such as would properly be -sent North, shall I break up my reserve, and have no provision for the -avalanche of suffering which a great battle before Richmond would send -down upon us? I am afraid that I stand alone in my resistance to the -demands of the present.[5] - -Footnote 5: - - The wisdom of this resistance was satisfactorily established a few - days later, as will be seen. - - * * * * * - -As it has been publicly reported that the Commission removed forty -thousand men from the Peninsula, it should be here stated that the total -number of soldiers, sick and wounded, conveyed on the vessels in charge -of the Commission, during the summer, was eight thousand. Except under -positive orders, which it was not at liberty to disregard, the -Commission took no patient on board its vessels until the opinion of a -medical officer was had that his wound or illness was of such a -character that he could not be fit for duty within thirty days. This was -a standing order of the service, and was strictly enforced. - -It is impossible to give in small compass an adequate idea of the -difficulties of the duty which the Commission had taken upon itself; -difficulties which, though seeming small in themselves, were terrible, -because the lives of men frequently hung on their being overcome, and -that instantly. To present a full picture, in true and living colors, we -must be qualified to throw over the whole the atmosphere of sympathy and -enthusiasm which animated every heart in presence of our suffering -soldiers. On a fixed and recognized basis we can do almost anything; -grooves are soon formed, in which affairs run smoothly. But to build -with infinite toil on shifting sands; to be called upon to fill leaky -cisterns and keep them full; to give our best strength to labors, the -results of which often fade while we work,—these things require a great -and good cause, and a certainty of being sustained. - - * * * * * - -(A.) All our vessels are, from the nature of engagement and intentions -of those on board, in a constant state of pre-organization and -disorganization. Our relations to the crews (seamen, firemen, &c.), upon -whom we are dependent, differ in every vessel. Scarcely a day passes in -which there is not a real mutiny among them, in which we have no right -to interfere, but which it is necessary we should manage to control. We -have scarcely any established rights, and are carrying on a very large -business by the favor of a multitude of agents, whose favor in each case -hangs upon a separate string. Every hour brings its own difficulty, -which must be met by itself.... Except in the results accomplished, I -need not say that the whole duty is exceedingly unpleasant, from the -amount of dependence without rights, and of command without authority. - -No two individuals have the same understanding of our duty or of our -rights; no two expect the same thing of us; no two look in the same -direction for the remedy of any abuse, or the supply of any organic -deficiency to which attention is called. I must caution you again not to -form theories of what we are to do, and expect us to do it. We are -liable to occurrences every day which make a new disposition of all the -forces necessary. In fact, new and previously unexpected arrangements -are made daily, and these involve a continual modification of all plans. -All that can be done is to be as fully prepared as possible for whatever -can occur.... I must act a little blindly, sometimes,—at all events, -cannot always give you my reasons readily for what I determine upon. -Twice I have come up the river from hardly anything more than a crude -notion that it would be prudent to be feeling that way, and would cost -but little; and in each case it proved to be what —— calls "a _grand_ -good providence," leading to a complete change in our tactics, and to -the saving of many lives.... The ladies are all, in every way, far -beyond anything I could have been induced to expect of them. The -dressers (two-years medical students) are generally ready for whatever -may be required, and work heroically. The male nurses are of all sorts. -The convalescent soldiers have been the most satisfactory, because there -was not among them the slightest taint of the prevailing sentiment of -the volunteer nurses, that they were going upon an indiscriminate -holiday scramble of Good-Samaritanism. There cannot be too much care in -future that whoever comes here on any business comes, not to do such -work as he thinks himself fit for, but such as he will be assigned to, -and under such authority as will be assigned him. He or she must come as -distinctly under an obligation of duty in this respect as if under pay, -and must expect to submit to the same discipline.... But, in truth, I -have had comparatively little trouble of this sort as yet, and in all -respects am surprised at the good sense and working qualities of -companies made up as ours have been. - -As an illustration of the sudden changes of arrangement often found -necessary at a moment's notice, a report is found, in which it is stated -that on one occasion, after overcoming great difficulties in preparing -the _Spaulding_ for the conveyance of the sick,—having procured a party -of thirty persons, including four surgeons and four ladies from New -York, to go on board of her—on the 26th of May, while taking sick on -board, an order was received immediately to remove all the Sanitary -Commission's people and effects, and send her to Fortress Monroe to -convey troops. The process of embarkation was at once arrested; but by -permission of Colonel Ingalls, the post commander, the removal of those -on board was delayed until an answer could be received to the following -telegram, which was immediately despatched to the Assistant Secretary of -War, Mr. Tucker, then at Fortress Monroe. - -(Telegram.) "The _Spaulding_ was assigned to the Sanitary Commission -after the _Ocean Queen_ had been taken from them. The _Spaulding_ was -not well adapted to the duty, but was the only vessel then on York River -which I would accept. There was no other, and there is none now here in -which I would consent that a sick man should be sent outside. The -hospitals at Washington and Alexandria are over-full, and I suppose the -sick must go outside if they are to be taken away. There is here no -hospital but a few tents pitched by the sick themselves, in which robust -men could not spend a night, crowded as they are, with impunity. There -is not the first step taken to provide for the wounded in case a battle -should occur. We have been two weeks trying, under great difficulties, -to get the _Spaulding_ tolerably fitted for the business; have a -hospital corps of thirty, sent for her from New York; one hundred very -sick men on board, one hundred more along-side; shall we go on, or -quit?" - -After waiting an hour, the Harbor-master's boat came past, hailing with -"Mr. Tucker says, 'Go ahead,' sir!"—and the transshipment of the sick to -the _Spaulding_ from the _Elm City_ was recommenced. The same night, as -it appears from letters, just after dusk, the Harbor-master's boat -appeared again, and Captain Sawtelle, the Master of Transportation, -hailed with— - -"I am ordered to have the _Elm City_ and every other available vessel -ready to leave here, with water and coal enough for eighteen hours' -steaming, by break of day. You will oblige me very much if you will get -the _Elm City_ ready for me. How much coal has she on board?" - -"Not half enough for eighteen hours' steaming!" - -"That is bad. I have to coal half a dozen others to-night; there'll not -be time for all." - -"Very well, sir; then we'll manage it, by clubbing that which is on the -_Knickerbocker_ and the _Elizabeth_." - -"If you can do that I shall be very glad, for the order is urgent." - - * * * * * - -(B.) We had just got through with a very long and hard day's work -loading the _Spaulding_, and were sitting at supper when this order -came; but there was no help for it, so "All hands!" it was again for a -hard night's work. - -All the hospital fittings and furnishings of the _Elm City_, including -the bedding, commissary and small stores, medical stores, and what not, -required for the hospital treatment of four hundred and fifty sick men -and the maintenance of their attendants, had to be unshipped, packed, -and conveyed to the store-boats, and ninety sick men, some of them very -sick indeed,—two died during the night,—to be transferred and put to bed -again on the _Spaulding_ and _Knickerbocker_. It was a very dark night, -and most of those who were engaged in this work were men of sedentary -occupations,—students and clerks,—and women accustomed to a quiet and -refined domestic life, and, as I said, all had just gone through with an -extraordinarily fatiguing day's work. Some few broke down before -morning. At the same time twenty tons of coal were to be got on board -the _Elm City_ from the _Elizabeth_ and the _Knickerbocker_, and wheeled -to her deck-bunkers. Then quarters had to be found for her whole -hospital company, as well as provisions, on the other boats of the -fleet, and to accommodate this necessity a general reorganization was -found to be necessary. This was our Sunday's night-work after our -Sunday's day-work. It was all done, everybody in place, and, except -those required to watch the sick, asleep by four o'clock, and the -_Spaulding_ (with 350 sick in bed) and the _Elm City_ (stripped for -battle) both reported ready to sail with the morning tide. - - * * * * * - -One day later, B. writes:— - -"Here we are at work again upon the _Elm City_. Sunday, we spent all -night in stripping her, and now we have a day and night's work at least -before us in handling over again the very same articles, refitting her -for hospital service. It is an exercise of patience, but it must be done -without delay. After we had got her all ready for transporting troops, a -change in the plans of government occurred, and on application she was -again assigned to the Commission." - - * * * * * - -(M.) The _Spaulding_ is bunked in every hole and corner, and is a most -inconvenient ship for carrying sick men, everything above decks running -to first-classing, and everything below to steerage. The last hundred -patients were put on board, to relieve the over-crowded shore hospital, -late last night. Though these night scenes on the hospital ships are -part of our daily living, a fresh eye would find them dramatic. We are -awakened in the dead of night by a sharp steam-whistle, and soon after -feel ourselves clawed by the little tugs on either side our big -ship,—and at once the process of taking on hundreds of men, many of them -crazed with fever, begins. There's the bringing of the stretchers up the -side ladder between the two boats, the stopping at the head of it, where -the names and home addresses of all who can speak are written down, and -their knapsacks and little treasures numbered and stacked;—then the -placing of the stretchers on the platform, the row of anxious faces -above and below decks, the lantern held over the hold, the word given to -"Lower!" the slow-moving ropes and pulleys, the arrival at the bottom, -the turning down of the anxious faces, the lifting out of the sick man, -and the lifting him into his bed;—and then the sudden change from cold, -hunger, and friendlessness, to positive comfort and satisfaction, -winding up with his invariable verdict,—if he can speak,—"This is just -like home!" - -"Jimmy," eleven years old, one of the strange little city boys who are -always drifting about, ran away from home last summer, after a drum, -finally turning up on our stern-wheeler as char-boy, where he recognized -a friend among the sick men, and devoted himself to him in the prettiest -way. His runaway fever over, he longed for his mother; so we tucked him -into the _Spaulding_ and sent him home. The astonishing lack of common -sense among men strikes us very forcibly.... Those who came down here -have hearts, plenty of them, but not more than a head to four, and so -they run round the wards, wondering where the best tea is, and the -ice-water, which they are probably looking at, at the time, and ask -questions about everything under the sun. - - * * * * * - -(B.) The _Spaulding_, being all in order, with her sick men, corps of -nine surgeons, ladies, and nurses, was started off, and the reserve -force went on board the _Knickerbocker_. - - * * * * * - -(A.) I have just bought what is left of a small cargo of ice, probably -sixty tons, at twelve dollars, sent here on speculation for sale to -sutlers. We are now fairly well supplied at all points, I think. - - * * * * * - -(A.) We began taking sick on the _Elm City_ this afternoon. I -telegraphed you about the crowded state of the post hospital. We had fed -this morning sixty men who had been turned away from it on the ground -that there was no room. I wrote to the surgeon in charge about this, and -B. called on him with my note. He merely said that he thought there -could not have been _as many_ as sixty turned away! These sixty men we -heard of as lying upon the railroad, without food, and with no one to -look after them. So some of the ladies got at once into the -stern-wheeler _Wissahickon_, which is the Commission's carriage, and -with provisions, basins, towels, soap, blankets, etc., went up to the -railroad-bridge, cooking tea and spreading bread as they went. After -twenty minutes' steaming, the men were found, put on freight-cars, and -pushed down to the landing, fed, washed, and taken on the tug to the -_Elm City_. Dr. Ware, in his hard-working on shore, had found fifteen -other sick men, without food, and miserable; there being "no room" for -them in the tent hospital. He had studied the neighborhood extensively -for shanties, found one, and put his men into it. The floor of the one -room up-stairs was six inches deep in beans, and made a good bed for -them, and in the morning the same party ran up on the tug, cooking -breakfast for them as they ran, scrambling eggs in a wash-basin over a -spirit-lamp. - - * * * * * - -(A.) The army struck its tents one night last week, and silently stole -away up the river. Bottom Bridge is ours, and no enemy met; the railroad -is repaired at White House, and trains will be running to-morrow; -barges, loaded with rolling stock and cannon, have been passing us on -the river all day. - -The sick brought on board the _Elm City_ this afternoon had been lying -in a puddle, which nearly covered them. The water stood several inches -deep in some of the tents. These men were selected by Dr. Ware, as the -worst cases out of sixteen hundred in the shore hospital. (Several died -before they reached the mouth of the river.) Dr. Ware himself laid hold -to put up tents to protect men before the storm, and said that he saw -half a dozen tents yet remaining, not put up at nightfall, though men -were constantly arriving, and were left out in the ambulances. - -If an engagement occurs this side of Richmond, my opinion is that we -shall have all the horrors of Pittsburg Landing in an aggravated form. I -have tried in vain to awaken some of the Head-quarters officers to a -sense of the danger; but while they admit all I say, they regard it as a -part of war, and say, "After all, there never was a war in which the -sick were as well taken care of. England does no better by her wounded; -true, they will suffer a good deal for a time, but that is inevitable in -war," &c. - -What ought to be done? The Surgeon-General cannot at once do our -sea-transport business as well as we. By recruiting deficiencies at each -trip, we can for the present continue to employ the _Webster_ and the -_Spaulding_ for this purpose advantageously. We can maintain the -distribution of supplies. We want also a depot at this end for our -sea-transports. For the rest, the Surgeon-General can at once have it -done a great deal better than we, if he can place two steamboats under -the Medical Director's orders, in addition to the _Commodore_ and -_Vanderbilt_, equip them, or take them equipped from us; put one good -authoritative surgeon on board each, with two to four assistant -surgeons, and six to ten dressers and stewards, and twenty to thirty -privates for nurses, and require certain rules, to secure decent -provision for the sick, to be maintained on them. - -It is ludicrous to see the enthusiasm of some of the surgeons at the -outset about details; the cleansing of patients, numbering, records of -disease, _pure_ water, &c., and their entire forgetfulness and inaptness -to provide for more essential matters,—food, buckets, cups, vessels of -any sort, and water of any sort. Doctors, nurses, and philosophers are -much easier to be had, it seems, than men who would be able to keep an -oyster-cellar or a barber-shop with credit. - -Dr. T. says that he is pestered by volunteer surgeons, who leave their -business at home to have a short holiday professional excursion, and who -always expect to be put in the "imminent deadly breach" at once. He has -not tents, horses, forage, nor table-room for them. Don't let any more -surgeons come here, if you can help it. We try to treat them civilly, -but all, ashore and afloat, feel anything but civilly to a man when he -graciously proposes to be entertained and sent to the front as an -honored guest, because, you understand, he is not one of your -"physicians," but a "surgeon," and not at all unwilling to take an -interesting gunshot case in hand, though everybody else declines it! If -there is anything the regimental surgeons hate, it is to let these -magnanimous surgical pretenders (it is of the pretenders I speak) get -hold of their pet cases. For this reason I hope ——, who has a name, will -assume the responsibility of our surgical hospital. - - - - - CHAPTER V. - - -(A.) _May 31st._—Sick men arriving Friday night by the railroad could -not be provided for in the crowded field-hospital ashore, which still -remained of but one fifth the capacity in tent-room which I urged it -should be made three weeks ago. To make more room, on Saturday morning, -31st, we were ordered to take off four hundred upon the _Elm City_. They -were sent to her by smaller steamboats, and the last load, which brought -the number up to four hundred and fifty, arrived so late Saturday night -that she could not leave till daylight Sunday morning. The orders were -to deliver the men at Yorktown and return immediately. I urged Dr. ——, -who was the surgeon in charge, and the captain and engineer to do their -best, and telegraphed to have every preparation made at Yorktown. - -_June 1st._—We had sent out two parties to look for straggling sick, and -visit the hospitals in the rear of the left wing. One of these returned -at noon, having been by Cumberland to New Kent Court-House. From Dr. ——, -who was in charge of the other, I received a despatch about sunset, -stating that his party were assisting the surgeons in a field-hospital, -to which wounded were crowding from a battle then in progress. Soon -after midnight this party arrived on board, having come from the front -with a train of wounded, and we then had our first authentic information -of the fierce battle in which our whole left wing had been engaged. - - * * * * * - -On that Sabbath day, after the departure of the _Elm City_, the wounded -of the battle of Fair Oaks began to arrive in large numbers by railroad. -After energetic remonstrances, with the responsible medical officer, on -the part of the Commission, and a vain struggle to secure an adherence -to some plan by which care and method in their shipment could be -expected, a frightful scene of confusion and misery ensued at the -landing, in the midst of which three government boats and two of those -assigned to the Commission were loaded with wounded. We omit the painful -particulars, because they could not be given without casting the gravest -censure where censure would now be useless.[6] To understand the -extracts which follow, it is only necessary to know, that so well were -things managed on the _Elm City_ (which, it will be remembered, left, -loaded with sick, in the morning), that she had proceeded to Yorktown, -discharged her sick, and returned with beds made, reporting ready to -receive wounded at White House before sunset the same day. - -Footnote 6: - - Some idea of the causes of the confusion at White House at this time - may be formed from a communication addressed by the representative of - the Commission to the Medical Director, of which a copy is given in - the Appendix (C), together with a memorandum of arrangements suggested - subsequently, to provide against its recurrence. The officer who seems - to have been most palpably at fault at White House has since been - publicly disgraced for a similar offence. - - * * * * * - -(M.) The Commission boats were all here, and ready to remove the wounded -of the battle of the 1st and 2d of June. They filled and left with their -accustomed order and promptitude. After that, other boats, detailed by -government for hospital service, were brought up. These boats were not -in the control of the Commission. There was no one specially appointed -to take charge of them, no one to receive the wounded at the station, no -one to ship them properly, no one to see that the boats were supplied -with proper stores. Of course the Commission came forward to do all it -could at a moment's notice, but it had no power; only the right of -charity. It could neither control nor check the fearful confusion that -ensued, as train after train came in, and the wounded were brought and -thrust upon the various boats. But it did nobly what it could. Night and -day its members worked, not, you must remember, in its own -well-organized service, but in the hard duty of making the best of a bad -case. Not the smallest preparation was found, in at least three of the -boats, for the common food of the men. As for sick-food, stimulants, -drinks, &c., such things scarcely exist in the medical mind of the army, -and there was not even a pail or a cup to distribute food, had there -been any. - - * * * * * - -(N.) _June 5th...._ We had been helping the ladies on the _Elm City_ all -night, had returned to our quarters, and just washed and dressed, when -Captain —— came on board, to say that several hundred wounded men were -lying at the landing,—that the _Daniel Webster_ No. 2 had been filled, -and the surplus was being sent on board the _Vanderbilt_,—that the -confusion was terrible; there were no stores on board either vessel. Of -course the best in our power had to be done. Our supply-boat _Elizabeth_ -came up. We begged Mr. —— not to refrain from sending us because we had -been up all night; he said that he wouldn't send us, but if, in view of -so much misery, we chose to offer our services to the United States -surgeon in charge, he thought it would be merciful. We went on board, -and such a scene as we entered and lived in for two days I trust never -to see again. Men in every condition of horror, shattered and shrieking, -were being brought in on stretchers, borne by contrabands, who dumped -them anywhere, banged the stretchers against pillars and posts, and -walked over the men without compassion. There was no one to direct what -ward or what beds they were to go into. The men had mostly been without -food since Saturday, but there was nothing on board for them, and the -cook was only engaged to cook for the ship, and not for the hospital. - -The first thing _wounded_ men want is lemonade and ice (with the sick, -stimulants are the first thing); after that, we give them tea and bread. -Imagine a boat like the _Bay State_, filled on every deck, every -berth,—and every square inch of room covered with wounded men,—even the -stairs and gangways and guards filled with those who are less badly -wounded,—and then imagine fifty well men, on every kind of errand, -hurried and impatient, rushing to and fro over them, every touch -bringing agony to the poor fellows,—while stretcher after stretcher -still comes along, hoping to find an empty place; and then imagine what -it was to keep calm ourselves, and make sure that each man on our own -boat, the _Elm City_, and then on this, was properly refreshed and fed. -We _got through_ about one o'clock at night, Mrs. —— and Miss —— having -come off other duty, and reinforced us. We were sitting for a few -moments resting and talking it over, and bitterly asking why a -government, so lavish and so perfect in its other departments, should -leave its wounded almost literally to take care of themselves, when a -message came that one hundred and fifty men were just arriving by the -cars. It was raining in torrents, and both boats were full. We went on -shore again; the same scene repeated. The _Kennebec_ was brought up, and -the one hundred and fifty men carried across the _Daniel Webster_ No. 2 -to her, with the exception of some fearfully wounded ones who could not -be touched in the darkness and rain, and were, therefore, left in the -cars. We gave refreshments to all; a detail of young men from the -_Spaulding_ coming up in time to assist, and the officers of the -_Sebago_ (gunboat), who had seen how hard pressed we were in the -afternoon, volunteering for the night-watch. Add to this sundry members -of Congress, who, if they talked much, at least worked well. We went to -bed at daylight with _breakfast_ on our minds. At half past six we were -all on board the _Webster_ No. 2, and the breakfast of six hundred men -was got through with before our own. - - * * * * * - -(A lady on the _Knickerbocker_.) _Sunday._—"Three hundred wounded to -come on board!" I wish you could see the three hundred white beds, with -a clean shirt and drawers laid ready for each man.... They began to -bring them in about noon. Many of them were shockingly hurt; but the men -were proud of their wounds, and one of them, an artist, private of a New -York regiment, was thankful that he had only lost a leg,—"so glad it -wasn't his arm!" We went directly at work washing them, doing what we -could, too, at dressing wounds which had been hastily bandaged on the -battle-field thirty-six hours before. Men very patient and grateful -always. - - * * * * * - -(A.) _Sunday Night._—The _Knickerbocker_ had, by estimate, three hundred -and fifty on board. The night being fine, many were disposed of on the -outer decks, and before I left, at eleven o'clock, nearly all had been -washed, dressed, and put to bed decently, and were as comfortable as -circumstances would admit of our making them. All had received needed -nourishment, and such surgical and medical attention as was immediately -demanded. Leaving the _Knickerbocker_ in this satisfactory condition, I -came back in a small boat, at midnight, to the landing, where I found -that the _Elm City_ already had five hundred wounded on board. I ordered -her to run down and anchor near the _Knickerbocker_. There had been a -special order in her case from the Medical Director to go to Washington. -(I judge that this was given under the misapprehension that she had -failed to go to Yorktown, and had her sick still on board.) She was -unable to go at once for want of coal, which could not be furnished her -till the evening of the next day (Monday). This finished the -Commission's boats for the present. The _State of Maine_ had been -ordered to the landing by the Harbor-master, and the wounded remaining -on shore, excluded from the _Elm City_, were flocking on board of her. -Our ladies on the _Elm City_ sent them some food, and we put on board -from our supply-boat bedding and various stores, of which there was -evident need, without waiting to be asked, and without finding any one -to receive them, the surgeons being fully engrossed in performing -operations of pressing necessity. - -The battle had been renewed in the morning of this day (Sunday), and we -had sent a relief party, composed of medical students and male nurses, -with supplies of stimulants, lint, etc., to the battle-field hospitals. -A portion of this party returned about midnight, with another large -train of wounded. All our force that could possibly be withdrawn from -duty on the boats was immediately employed in distributing drink, and in -carrying the wounded from the railroad to the boat. Some men died on the -cars. I made another visit to the _Knickerbocker_ in the morning, and on -my return (Monday), found that a train had just arrived, and the wounded -men were walking in a throng across the scow to the _Webster_ No. 2, -Government Hospital, the only boat remaining at the landing. I knew that -she was not prepared for them, and sent for Dr. S., the representative -of the Medical Director. Dr. S. could not be found. I asked for the -medical officer in charge of the _Webster_ No. 2. The Captain said there -was none, and that he had no orders except to bring his boat to the -landing. I inquired for the surgeon in charge of the railroad train, but -could find none. There was no one in charge of the wounded. Meantime -they were taken out of the cars, and assisted towards the landing by -volunteer bystanders, until the gang-planks of the boat, the -landing-scow, and the adjoining river-banks were crowded. I finally -concluded that Dr. S. must have intended them to go on board the -_Webster_ No. 2. I could find no one in the crowd who professed to have -received his orders, but, as many were nearly fainting in the sun, I -advised the Captain to let them come on board. He did so, and they -hobbled on, till the boat was crowded in all parts. The _Small_ was -outside the _Webster_ No. 2, and our ladies administered as far as -possible to their relief. Going on shore, I found still a great number, -including the worst cases, lying on litters, gasping in the fervid sun. -I do not describe such a scene. The worst cases I had brought upon the -_Small_. Two died on the forward deck, under the shade of the awning, -within half an hour. One was senseless when brought on; the other -revived for a moment, while Mrs. G. bathed his head with ice-water, just -long enough to whisper the address of his father, and to smile -gratefully, then passed away, holding her hand. - -... At the time of which I am now writing (Monday afternoon), wounded -men were arriving by every train, entirely unattended, or with at most a -detail of two soldiers, two hundred or more of them in a train. They -were packed as closely as they could be stowed in the common -freight-cars, without beds, without straw, at most with a wisp of hay -under their heads. Many of the lighter cases came on the roof of the -cars. They arrived, dead and living together, in the same close box, -many with awful wounds festering and swarming with maggots. Recollect it -was midsummer in Virginia, clear and calm. The stench was such as to -produce vomiting with some of our strong men, habituated to the duty of -attending the sick. How close they were packed, you may infer from a -fact reported by my messenger to Dr. Tripler, who, on his return from -Head-quarters, was present at the loading of a car. A surgeon was told -that it was not possible to get another man upon the floor of the car. -"Then," said he, "these three men must be laid in _across the others_, -for they have got to be cleared out from here by this train!" This -outrage was avoided, however. - -Need I tell you that the women were always ready to press into these -places of horror, going to them in torrents of rain, groping their way -by dim lantern-light, at all hours of night, carrying spirits and -ice-water; calling back to life those in despair from utter exhaustion, -or again and again catching for mother or wife the last faint whispers -of the dying? - -One Dr. —— was at this time the only man on the ground who claimed to -act as a medical officer of the United States. He was without -instructions and without authority, and, though miraculously active, -could do nothing toward bringing about the one thing wanted, orderly -responsibility, and while he was there, ——, who might otherwise have -done something, would not interfere. Dr. Ware, of our party, was at one -time the only other medical man on the ground. The _Spaulding_, Dr. —— -in charge, arrived Monday night, but not in a condition to be made -directly useful, being laden with government stores, which could not at -once be removed by the quartermaster. Her physicians and students, -however, could never have been more welcome. I put one half her eager -company at once at work on the _Webster_ No. 2. Captain Sawtelle, at my -request, pitched a hospital tent for the ladies at the river-bank by the -railroad, behind which a common camp-kitchen was established. To this -tent quantities of stores have now been conveyed, and soup and tea in -camp-kettles are kept constantly hot there. Before this arrangement was -complete, and until other stores arrived, we were for a time very hard -put to it to find food of any kind to meet the extraordinary demand upon -us. Just as everything was about giving out, B. found a sutler, who told -him that he had five hundred loaves of bread on board of a boat which -had just arrived at Cumberland, but he had no way of getting it -immediately up. A conditional bargain was immediately struck, and the -_Elizabeth_ hastened off to Cumberland to bring up the bread. When it -arrived, to our horror, it proved to be so mouldy it could not be used. -B., almost crying with disappointment, started again to make a search -through the exhausted sutlers' stores of the post. While doing so, he -came upon a heap of boxes and barrels unopened and "unaccounted for." -"What's all this?" "Sutlers' goods." "Who owns them?" "I do. I am the -sutler of the —— New York, up to the front. I want to get them up there, -but I can't get transportation." "What's in here?" said B. in great -excitement. "Mack'rel in them barrels." "What's in the boxes!" "That's -wine biscuit. There's two barrels of molasses and a barrel of vinegar. -I've got forty barrels of soft tack, too." "Where's that?" "That's one -of 'em"; and B., hardly waiting for leave, seized a musket, and jammed a -head off. It was aerated bread, and not a speck of mould upon it! He -bought the sutler's whole stock on the spot, and in half an hour the -ladies were dealing out bread spread with molasses, and iced vinegar and -water.... - -The trains with wounded and sick arrive at all hours of the night; the -last one before daylight, generally getting in between twelve and one. -As soon as the whistle is heard, Dr. Ware is on hand, (he has all the -hard work of this kind to do,) and the ladies are ready in their tent; -blazing trench-fires, and kettles all of a row, bright lights and savory -supplies, piles of fresh bread and pots of coffee,—the tent door opened -wide,—the road leading to it from the cars dotted all along the side -with little fires or lighted candles. Then, the first procession of -slightly wounded, who stop at the tent-door on their way to the boat, -and get cups of hot coffee with as much milk (condensed) as they want, -followed by the slow-moving line of bearers and stretchers, halted by -our Zouave, while the poor fellows on them have brandy, or wine, or iced -lemonade given them. It makes but a minute's delay to pour something -down their throats, and put oranges in their hands, and saves them from -exhaustion and thirst before, in the confusion which reigns on most of -the crowded government transports, food can be served them. When the -worst cases have been sent on board, those which are to go to the shore -hospital the next day are put into the twenty Sibley tents, pitched for -the Commission, along the railroad, and our detail of five men start, -each with his own pail of hot coffee or hot milk, and crackers and soft -bread, with lemonade and ice-water, and feed them from tent to tent, a -hundred men every night; sometimes one hundred and fifty are thus taken -care of, for whom no provision has been made by government. Dr. Ware -sees them all, and knows that they have blankets, attendants, -stimulants, &c. for the night. When the morning comes, ambulances are -generally sent for them from the shore hospital, but occasionally they -are left on the Commission's hands for three days at a time. They would -fare badly but for the sleepless devotion of Dr. Ware, who, night after -night, works among them, often not leaving them till two or three -o'clock in the morning. The ladies from the _Webster_, and other -Commission boats, visit the shore hospital between their voyages, and -carry to the sick properly prepared soups and gruels. - -_June 3d._ I cannot disentangle now the events of the last few days, nor -have I a very exact idea of the numbers we have taken care of. We put -two hundred and fifty on _Webster_ No. 1 on Monday, among them General -Devens and Colonel Briggs of Massachusetts, and, fearing that all -intermediate hospitals would be full, and the weather continuing very -hot, sent her, in the absence of orders, to Boston. The same day the -_Vanderbilt_ and _Knickerbocker_ were filled, and to-day the -_Spaulding_. Between two and three thousand wounded have been sent here -this week, and at least nine tenths of them have been fed and cared for, -as long as they remained, exclusively by the Commission. - - * * * * * - -(M.) Generally the government hospital boats are ready and glad to -accept our assistance, but now and then one will stand off in the stream -"all ready," needing no help, till finally, and when the sick are coming -on board, at the last moment, not a pound of bread or ounce of meat will -be found ready for them. The men are expected to bring rations for a day -or so, in their haversacks, haversacks meanwhile being lost at the -front, and men being too badly hurt to think of any such provision.... -This is where the Commission comes in, and kettles of soup and tea, with -fresh soft bread, gruel, and stimulants, are sent to all these boats -from the tent kitchen, and with them go cups and spoons, and attendants -to distribute the food. Many hundreds of men have been helped in this -way, who, without such a provision, would, to say the least, have -greatly suffered. Two days ago there was a hospital transport near us, -"all ready," according to their own account, and after the wounded men -came on board, before the first surgical case could be attended to, they -had to rush over to our boat for lint, bandages, rags, pins, towels, and -stimulants. One man had been without the slightest nourishment all day -until an hour before his shoulder was taken off; then, when it was too -late, the surgeon hurried over to ask us to take him beef-tea and -egg-nog, and we crossed the coal-barges and administered it; all this -after the Doctor had himself told me that morning that they needed no -help. It is just the same with lint and bandages, sponges and splints, -all which the Commission supplies freely. There was another boat near us -with a good staff and plenty of assistants, and everything looking so -fair that we supposed it all right, particularly as we were assured that -she had been "preparing" for some weeks, and had "all that was -necessary." All day last Sunday they were putting men on board, -selecting four hundred from the five hundred sick and wounded who came -down on Friday to the post hospital, and who were all received on -arrival and taken care of by Dr. Ware and his assistants. When they had -been put on board, and wanted food at the moment, it was not -ready,—plenty of it in the rough, but nothing cooked in anticipation; -and at six o'clock in the evening, as we were crossing the boat from the -_Small_, which lay outside, we found the boat full of very sick men, -feverish and thirsty, and calling for water, and no help at hand. We -asked for basins; there were none on board; and to add to the rest, the -forty "Sisters," who had come down unexpectedly, by some one's order, -had all struck for keys to their state-rooms, and sat about on their -large trunks, forbidden to stir by the Padre, who was in a high state of -ecclesiastical disgust on the deck of the _Knickerbocker_, at not -finding provision made for them, including a chapel. —— labored with the -indignant old gentleman upon the unreasonableness of expecting to find -confessionals, &c. erected on the battle-field, but to no purpose. There -sat the forty "Sisters," clean and peaceful, with their forty umbrellas -and their forty baskets, fastened to their places by the Padre's eye, -and not one of them was allowed to come over and help us. So our boat's -company went to work, Dr. Ware getting for us all we needed from the -Commission's supplies, and before the boat left, the sickest men were -washed and fed; large pails of beef-tea, milk-punch, and arrow-root were -made, enough to last for the worst cases until they reached Fortress -Monroe, and at half past seven we climbed over the guards to the deck of -the _Small_, and the boat cast off. We wrote all the names and -home-addresses of the sickest men, who might be speechless on their -arrival, and fastened the papers into their pockets. It was hard to have -the "Sisters," who would have been so faithful, and who were so much -needed, shut away from the sick men by the etiquette of their confessor. -It is unpleasant to abuse people for inefficiency. Possibly they _have_ -all that is necessary on these government boats, stowed away in boxes -somewhere, but at the precise moment when it is needed no one knows -anything about it. Such boats either have no one at their head, or where -there is one there are many, which is worse than none. - -We have, up to this time, sent away on the Commission's boats, since -Sunday, 1,770 patients. These, after having once been got upon beds, -have been all methodically and tenderly cared for. The difficulties to -be overcome in accomplishing it were enormous, and the greatest of them -of a nature which it would now be ungrateful to describe. We have also -distributed to government boats and hospitals an immense quantity of -clothing and hospital stores. - - * * * * * - -(A.) Rustic Sidneys are so common we have ceased to think of it. "I -guess that next fellow wants it more'n I do,"—"Won't you jus' go to that -man over there first, if you please, marm; I hearn him kind o' groan -jus' now; must be pretty bad hurt, I guess: I ha'n't got anythin' only a -flesh-wound!" You may always hear such phrases as these repeated by one -after another, as the ladies are moving on their first rounds. - -There is not the slightest appearance of a conscious purpose to play the -hero or the Spartan. Groans, and even yells and shrieks, are not always -restrained, but complaint is never uttered, though the Irish, especially -when not very severely wounded, are sometimes pathetically despondent -and lachrymose, and the Frenchmen look unutterable things. But gratitude -and a spirit of patience never fails, a cheerful disposition seldom.... -In this republic of suffering, individuals do not often become very -strongly marked in one's mind, but now and then one does so -unaccountably. I am haunted by the laughing eye of a brave New Hampshire -man,—laughing I am sure in agony,—whom I saw on the ——. [This was one of -the worst of the government transports, badly managed, hastily loaded, -and densely crowded.] He was lying closely packed among some badly -wounded rebels, and in giving them some little attention I had passed -him by, because he looked as if he wanted nothing,—so differently from -the others. Afterwards returning that way, they seemed to have all -fallen asleep; but this man's strange, cheerful eye met mine as I was -carefully stepping over his feet. "Do you want anything, my man?" "Well, -now you are there, I don't care if you h'ist that blanket off my leg a -piece; the heft on't kind o' irks my wound." "Certainly," I said; -drawing it down, and knowing at once that he must be painfully wounded; -"is there nothing else I can do for you? wouldn't you like a cup of -water?" "If you've got some cool water handy, I should be obliged to -you. I've got some in my canteen they give me this morning, but it's got -warm." I brought him some, as soon as I could. "That tastes good," says -he. "Do you know where this boat's goin'?" "She goes first to Fortress -Monroe; whether they will send her on from there to New York, or take -you ashore there, I don't know. It will be decided when you get there." -"They mustn't keep me there. I must go home." "Where is your home?" -"It's a place called Keene, up in New Hampshire." "What's the matter -with you?" "Got a ball through my thigh." "Did it touch the bone?" "Yes, -broke it snap off." "Rather high up the thigh, isn't it?" "Just about as -high as it can be; the doctors, they tell me,—well, first they told me -that 'twould kill me if they didn't take it off, and then they told me -'twould kill me if they did take it off, it's so high up, they say they -can't do it. So, accordin' to their account, I've got to go anyhow. -That's what the doctors make out; but I'll tell you what I think: I -think God Almighty's got something to say about that. If he says so, -well and good, I ha'n't got nothin' to say. But I'd like to get back to -Keene. They must send me. I know I'll die if they don't. They must." -"I'm afraid it would hardly do to send you out to sea,—the motion of the -vessel—" "O, I a'n't a bit afraid of that, I don't mind the hurt on't. -The old doctor, he wasn't a goin' to send me; he said 'twan't no use, -and there wasn't no room. But after they'd got about loaded up, the -young doctor came along, and I got hold o' him, and I told him they must -send me, and finally he told 'em they must get me in somehow. That did -hurt, that 'are. Fact is, I fainted away when they put me in, it hurt -so. I never felt anything like that. But I tell you, when I come to, and -found I was rattlin' along down here, I didn't mind how much it hurt." -"Is it painful now?" "Well, when they step round here, and when the -engine goes, it's kinder like a jumping toothache, down there. Well, -yes, it does hurt pretty bad, but I don't mind, if they'll only let me -go home. I guess if they'll let me go home, I can pull through it -somehow; and if I don't,—that's God Almighty's business, too; I a'n't -consarned about that." And he smiled again, that brave, man to man, -knowing New England smile. I found that his wound had not been dressed -in three days; fortunately there was time for me to get Ware to dress it -before the boat left. - - * * * * * - -(N.) ... We lie here just outside some other vessels at the railroad -wharf. The one nearest the wharf is the _Knickerbocker_ (one of our own -boats, a refreshing sight to sick and well). On it we are placing the -wounded as they now come in, somewhat slowly.[7] Since last night at ten -o'clock there have been one hundred and sixty-five brought on board. -This nearly completes the list of the wounded by the Saturday and Sunday -engagements, excepting some two or three hundred who are in a hospital -on the extreme right, some ten miles from the railroad. There have now -been brought in to the hospital boats about three thousand seven hundred -men, of whom six or eight hundred were rebels. It has been touching to -hear the expressions of surprise and gratitude from some of these young, -fresh-looking Southerners, as they received tender care from the hands -of those who were ministering to them in their sad suffering. Of course -our own wounded were carried off the field first, and this left the -others with wounds for some time not dressed. - -Footnote 7: - - This refers to the second loading of the _Knickerbocker_ after the - battle. - - * * * * * - -(M.) Among the sick and wounded who came on board last night were -several Secessionists. One whom I was attending took my hand, with tears -in his eyes: "God bless you, Miss." Another, who was near death,—he had -the most terrible wound I ever saw,—said, gently: "God forgive me, -honey, if it was wrong. I thought it was right, but I don't like it, -that's the truth. I would rather have died for the old flag, but—I -thought it was right. There, let them bury that with me" (showing me a -bracelet of hair on his arm). "It's my wife's, honey; it is. My watch -you may keep, and if ever the time should come when you can send it to -her, please do so." - - * * * * * - -(A.) Naturally enough, the prisoners do not "bear up" as well as our own -men. There is not only more whimpering, but more fretfulness and -bitterness of spirit, evinced chiefly in want of regard one for another. - - * * * * * - -(N.) On board the _Commission's boats_ we see the _unavoidable_ miseries -of war, and none other. So soon as the men come on board, all suffering -except that of illness ceases, and we know and see that every comfort -and every chance for recovery is freely supplied. I have a long history -to tell, one of these days, of the gratefulness of the men.... I often -wish,—as I give a comfort to some poor fellow, and see the sense of rest -it gives him, and hear the favorite speech, "O, that's good! it's just -as if mother was here,"—that the man or woman who supplied the means for -the comfort were present to see how blessed it is. Believe me, you may -all give and work in the earnest hope that you alleviate suffering, but -none of you realize what you do,—perhaps you can't even conceive of it -unless you could see your gifts _in use_. I often think of the money and -supplies which, by the goodness of others, passed through my hands -before I left home. How little I then knew their value! How little I -then imagined that each article was to be a life-giving comfort to some -one sufferer! - -The object of the Commission is not clearly understood. Those who admire -its noble, wise work naturally feel the wish that larger power _should_ -be given to it. But the object of the Commission itself is not this. It -seeks to bring the government to do what the government should do for -its sick and wounded. Until that object is accomplished, the Commission -stands ready to throw itself into the breach, as it did during that -dreadful battle-week, and as it does, more or less, all the time. The -thing it asks for is not the gift of power, but that the government -should come forward and take the work away from it.... There are rumors -that this much-desired change will be effected. I am not afraid to say -that no enterprise ever deserved better of the country than this -undertaken by the Sanitary Commission. Alive to the true state of -things, ever aiming at the _best_ thing to be done, and striving to -bring everything to bear upon that, it has already fulfilled a great -work,—let those who have reaped its benefits say how great and how -indispensable. - -Since yesterday morning we have been leading a life which Mr. —— feels -to be one of such utter discomfort that we all try to make the best of -it for his sake, though I will admit to _you_ that it _is_ very wearing -to have no proper place to eat, sit, or sleep. No matter! our _Wilson -Small_ will be back soon, and we shall resume our happy _home_ life on -the top of the old stove. We had luxury which did not please us on board -the ——, and piggishness which pleased us still less on board the ——, and -yet we are the most cheerful set of people to be found anywhere. This -morning, just as Mr. —— was sitting with his head on his hand, sighing -over the horrid breakfast to which we ladies had been subjected, some -one looked up and spied the _Daniel Webster_ coming up. Such vitality as -seized us! The good _Webster_! always perfect, prompt, and true. In a -moment, Dr. Grymes and Captain Bletham were on board, and didn't we -shake hands all round! I suppose you know the _Webster_ had to put into -New York in consequence of a storm, which would have perilled the lives -of many of the sick if they had pursued the voyage to Boston. - -I often feel the pleasantness of our (the ladies') footing amongst all -these people, official, military, naval, and medical. They clearly -respect our work, and rightly appreciate it; they strengthen our hands -when they can, they make no foolish speeches, but are direct and -sensible in their acts and words, and when work is over, they do not -feel toward us as "women with a mission," but as ladies, to be with whom -is a grateful relaxation. I must say our position here is particularly -proper and pleasant.... I suppose from eight to ten thousand troops have -arrived here within a week. At first, I scarcely noticed their coming. I -heard their gay bands, and the loud cheering of the men as the -transports rounded the last bend in the river, and came in sight of the -landing, but such sounds of the dreadful _other_ side of war filled my -ears, that, if I heard, I heeded not. For the last night or two, the -arrivals by moonlight, with the cheers and the gay music, have been -really enlivening. _We_ see the dark side of all. You must not, however, -gather only gloomy ideas from me. I see the worst—short of the actual -battle-field—that can be seen. You must not allow yourself to think -there is no brightness because I do not speak of it. - - * * * * * - -(M.) We have on two of our boats nine contraband women, from the Lee -estate,—real Virginia "darkies," and excellent workers,—who all "wish on -their souls and bodies" that the Rebels could be "put in a house -together and burned up." "Mary Susan," the blackest of them, yielded at -once to the allurements of freedom and fashion, and begged Mr. K. to -take a little commission for her the next time he went to Washington. "I -wants you for to get me, sar, if you please, a lawn dress and -hoop-skirt, sar." The women not working on our boats do the hospital -washing for us in their cabins on the Lee estate, and I have been up -to-day to hurry them with the _Knickerbocker's_ eleven hundred pieces. -The negro quarters are decent and comfortable little houses, with a wide -road between them and the bank which slopes to the river. Any number of -little darkey babies are rushing about, and tipping into the wash-tubs, -and in one cottage we found two absurdly small babies taken care of by -an antique bronze, calling itself grandmother. Babies had the measles, -which wouldn't "come out" on one of them. So she had laid him tenderly -in the open clay oven, and, with hot sage-tea and an unusually large -brick put to his morsels of feet, was proceeding to develop the disease. -Two of the colored women and their husbands work for us at the tent -kitchen, close by the shore, and entertain us by their singing. The -other night Molly and Nellie collected all their friends behind their -tent and commenced, in a sort of monotonous recitativo, a condensed -narrative of the creation of the world; one giving out a line and all -the others joining in. They went straight through from Genesis to -Revelation, following with a confession of sin and exhortation to do -better,—till suddenly their deep humility seemed to strike them as -uncalled for, and they rose at once into the "assurance of the saints," -and each one instructed her neighbor at the top of her voice to - - "Go tell all the holy angels, - I done, done all I ever can." - -Just as they came to a pause the train arrived; midnight, as usual, and -the work of feeding and caring for the sick began again. Dr. Ware was -busy with his nightly work of seeing that the men were properly lifted -from the platform cars and put into the Sibley tents; H. was -"processing" his detail with additional blankets and quilts; and Wagner, -our Zouave, and his five men, were going the rounds with hot tea and -fresh bread, while we were getting ready beef-tea and punch for the use -of the sickest through the night. By two o'clock we could cross the -gang-plank to the _Small_ again, feeling that all the men were quiet and -comfortable. - -We women constantly receive noble and patriotic letters from the parents -and friends of the soldiers who have died here among us, one of our -duties being to write to the families of those we have had care of. Mrs. -—— had sent her the other day, from one of the —— Regiment, a little -poem in such delicate acknowledgment of kindness received that I must -copy it:— - - "From old St. Paul till now, - Of honorable women not a few - Have left their golden ease in love to do - The saintly work that Christlike hearts pursue. - - "And such an one art thou,—God's fair apostle, - Bearing his love in war's horrific train; - Thy blessed feet follow its ghastly pain, - And misery, and death, without disdain. - - "To one borne from the sullen battle's roar, - Dearer the greeting of thy gentle eyes, - When he aweary, torn, and bleeding lies, - Than all the glory that the victors prize. - - "When peace shall come, and homes shall smile again, - A thousand soldier-hearts in Northern climes - Shall tell their little children, with their rhymes, - Of the sweet saint who blessed the old war-times." - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - - -(A.) We were "stampeded" last night. A train arrived, and the ladies -were at the kitchen ashore getting tea ready. Dr. Ware went to the cars, -as usual, and two or three wounded men were brought down on litters, to -be put on the _Elm City_. The doctor coming along with them said, "These -men were shot on the train, just before arriving here." After they had -been taken on board, M. said to me, "Do you know they are getting ready -to take in the gang-plank, and are firing up on the _Elm City_?" I went -on board; could not see the captain; the engineer was having the fires -pushed, and said the orders had come from Colonel Ingalls, commander of -the post, to fire up and get away as quickly as possible. All our boats -had received the same. I went out, and with difficulty got the ladies to -go on board. M., who had gone up to head-quarters to see if there was no -mistake, came back with the message, "Drop down below the gunboats, at -once, and look out to keep clear of vessels floating down on fire." We -of course obeyed orders, knowing nothing of the reasons for them, and in -half an hour all our boats were anchored a mile below, with steam up. As -soon as this was accomplished, I took a yawl, and pulled back to the -railroad landing, where I found everything quiet, Ware and H. taking -care of the sick who had been left in the tents. Walking on to the post -head-quarters, I found all the camp-followers, teamsters, sutlers, -railroad and barge men, organizing in companies, and arms and ammunition -serving to them. M., who had volunteered for this duty, had a company. I -found the Provost-Marshal, who told me that the enemy had suddenly -appeared, apparently in considerable force, about three miles from here, -simultaneously on the river and the railroad. A wagon train had been -captured, two or three schooners burned, the telegraph cut. It was -presumed that it was an expedition designed to play havoc with this -post, where there is an immense amount of army supplies of all kinds, -with a force absurdly inadequate to its protection,—in fact, but a weak -regiment of infantry, and a weaker one of horse; but some artillery was -landing, and before daylight they would have two capital batteries of -Napoleons ready, and were gathering supports. I got permission to send -for the _Small_, which is short enough to be quickly handled at the -landing, and to put on her the sickest of the men who had been brought -down during the day to be sent to the post hospital, and who were still -in tents near the landing, as it seemed to me they would suffer less -disturbance afloat than ashore in case the attack was made. It was -daybreak before I got them at anchor below again. At sunrise I was -allowed to bring all the boats up; but as there was a standing order -against the shipment of sick at this time, (in order to reserve the -transports for the wounded,) we kept our patients on the _Small_ for -some days, the post surgeon not being able to receive them. The women -were greatly annoyed and indignant at being sent, with the boats, out of -harm's way. - - * * * * * - -(N.) We sat on deck ... watching the fleet of transports, -hospital-ships, and supply-boats hurrying after and past us, and the -signaling from gunboat to gunboat, which seemed done by a lantern at the -end of a long pole, dashed up and down through the darkness. It was -midnight when a messenger came in the yawl, with orders to bring the -_Small_ back to the railroad. All the way up we worked, getting ready -for as many sick as could be taken on her. Forty-five beds filled every -corner of the boat, and beef-tea, punch, and gruel were ready by the -time we reached the railroad-bridge. Dr. Ware and H., who had not run -away, had selected the sickest of the men in the tents, and had them all -ready to put on board, and with the help of the _Spaulding's_ nurses, -whom we called for on the way up, we took them on board that night, and -the next day and the next we had them in our little boat,—some of the -sickest men I ever saw,—crazy and noisy, soaked, body and mind, with -swamp-poison, and in a sort of delirious remembrance of the days before -the fever came,—days of mortal chill and hunger,—screaming for food, for -something "hot," for "lucifer matches" even. Two of these men died on -board, not able to give their names. - -The fright about the raid having somewhat subsided, we settled down -again, as we supposed, into our daily routine of fitting up transports, -and of receiving and feeding the sick who arrive on the trains. All -sorts of messages and people are constantly coming to our tent;—surgeons -from the front, to have requisitions filled for lemons and onions,[8] -beef-stock, and brandy; orderlies, for officers sick, and just arrived -to take the mail-boat, needing refreshment; and miscellaneous crowds, -who have constantly to be instructed that we are not free sutlers. -Captain —— had kindly provided a wall tent for our use, and Dr. Ware, in -thought for our comfort, has it pitched close by our kitchen, and the -sickest men arriving by train are put into it, and we are able to care -for them without hurrying across the railroad track with our hot gruel. -Here I found myself the other day, spoon-feeding, with a napkin under -his chin, the pleasant chaplain who came down on the _Daniel Webster_ to -join his regiment on the first day we started as a hospital company. His -turn had arrived, poor fellow, and he came back to us with a blister on -each temple, and symptoms of typhoid. We had in the tent at the same -time five or six officers, all sick. Our little comforts, fans, -slippers, mosquito-netting, napkins, cologne, are great comforts to the -sick men, though to be sure one man did say to me to-day, when I put a -few drops from my bottle, "_Gegenüber dem Julichs Platz_," on his -handkerchief, "O my! how bad that smells! I don't mind it much, but -perhaps you have spilt some of that medicine you have in your bottle!" -My cologne of cologne! - -Footnote 8: - - As scorbutic symptoms had been reported in certain regiments, the - Commission was sending small quantities of fruit and vegetables by - every returning hospital transport. It afterwards sent whole cargoes, - as will be seen by reference to Appendix D. - - * * * * * - -The _St. Mark_ arrived about this time, a splendid clipper -East-Indiaman, and, after her, the _Euterpe_, both first-class new -sailing vessels, entirely reconstructed interiorly by the Commission, as -model hospital-ships, and having their own corps of surgeons, dressers, -&c. Drawing too much water to come up the Pamunkey, they anchored at -Yorktown, and the sick were taken down on steamboats to them, and they -made the voyage round to New York in tow of steamers. - - * * * * * - -(A.) _June 27th, 1862._ I was intending to go down to the _St. Mark_ -last night. We had had some rumors the day before that Stonewall Jackson -was making a dash to get in our rear, and take this post. I did not mind -them, but about three o'clock, P. M., yesterday, Captain S., the active -executive here, came to me, and said, privately: "Get away from this as -soon as you can; the enemy is here again; our pickets are driven in, and -I think we shall be obliged, within three hours, to burn everything that -can't be run down the river. Give what help you conveniently can to the -vessels on the river as you go down, but don't stop this side of -Cumberland." I called in our men and women, found that our machinery, -which had been repairing for two days, was in such disorder that it -could only be used at all by the exertions of three men supplying the -place of certain fractured iron, with their arms; and then but very -slowly, and with great care, of course. We were in no condition to help -anybody else. I pushed off, however, in quarter of an hour, taking the -_Wissahickon_ and _Elizabeth_ in company. One or two boats started -before us, and several immediately after. As we passed down, we found -the gunboats with their boarding-nettings up, and all ready for action, -and the skirt of wood along the shore of the White House grounds cut -away to allow a sweep to their guns. We left our consorts at Cumberland -to take forage vessels in tow down, and went on slowly to West Point, -where we anchored. Soon after noon to-day the Captain reported his -machinery repaired, and we started to return to White House. The river -was full of vessels coming down. We could learn nothing from them except -that everything had been ordered to "clear out." We got here about -sunset, and found almost everything gone,—a remarkably orderly and -successful removal of a vast amount of stores. Among what remained, -whiskey and hay were distributed, and everything was ready for firing. - -Stonewall Jackson had not come down upon us as we had supposed, but our -right wing had been turned, and the enemy was hourly expected to be -pushing into White House. The authorities at "Head-quarters" were by no -means as much surprised as we were at it all. Every preparation had been -quietly making for several days for the arrival of the enemy, and the -evacuation and repossession were effected in as neat and complete a -manner as if the affair had been arranged between the parties by the -penny-post. - -The _Knickerbocker_, and other of our boats, just as they were, were -used as retreats for railroad-men and straggling Northerners, exclusive -of sutlers. The government boats, with the _Commodore_, _Daniel -Webster_, &c., were ordered up, and the fifteen hundred sick men from -the shore hospital put on board. The Sisters of Charity, who had been -for a few days occupying the White House, were distributed through the -different government craft, glad now to do what they could; and so, all -in good order, the hospital ships, one after another, departed, the -_Wilson Small_ lingering as long as possible, till the telegraph wires -had been cut, and the enemy announced by mounted messenger to be at -"Tunstall's," worried constantly in his advance by Stoneman with his -cavalry, till all should have got safely off, when he would fall back -towards Williamsburg, and the rebels would walk into our deserted -places. - -So we came away,—watching the moving off of the last transports and -barges, and of the _Canonicus_, head-quarters' boat, with Colonel -Ingalls and Captain Sawtelle and General Casey and staff.... But by far -the most interesting incident was the spontaneous movement of the -slaves, who, when it was known that the Yankees were running away, came -flocking from all the country about, bringing their little movables, -frying-pans and old hats and bundles, to the river-side. There was no -more appearance of anxiety or excitement among them than among the -soldiers themselves. Fortunately there was plenty of deck-room for them -on the forage boats, one of which, as we passed it, seemed filled with -women only, in their gayest dresses and brightest turbans, like a whole -load of tulips for a horticultural show. The black smoke began to rise -from the burning stores left on shore, and now and then the roar of the -battle came to us, but they were quietly nursing their children and -singing hymns. The day of their deliverance had come, and they accepted -this most wonderful change in absolute placidity. - - * * * * * - -All night we sat on the deck of the _Small_, slowly moving away, -watching the constantly increasing cloud, and the fire-flashes over the -trees toward White House; watching the fading out of what had been to -us, through these strange weeks, a sort of home where we had all worked -together and been happy,—a place which is sacred to some of us now, from -its intense, living remembrances, and for the hallowing of them all by -the memory of one who through months of death and darkness lived and -worked in self-abnegation,—lived in, and for, the sufferings of others, -and finally gave himself a sacrifice for them. - - - - - Appendix. - - - - - APPENDIX A. - - - See page 23. - -"_The Commission is at this time actually distributing daily, of -hospital supplies, much more than the government._" - -This refers to a temporary emergency alone, for, notwithstanding the -recognized necessity for volunteer aid, it is believed that the -aggregate of all hospital supplies voluntarily furnished by the people -through the Sanitary Commission and otherwise, great and unparalleled as -this gratuitous supply is, is but about one tenth as much as is -furnished by government. This fact ought to be kept in mind, as there is -a natural tendency on the part of those who are rendering volunteer aid -to exaggerate the relative magnitude of their own labors, while the -permanent and vastly larger provisions of government are underrated, and -a habit of unjust censure indulged in, in speaking of deficiencies which -have to be supplied. The character of this censure generally indicates -complete ignorance of the failures of other governments when engaged in -war, and a careless estimate of the immense labors involved, and -difficulties which invariably have to be overcome, in providing for the -constant necessities and exigencies of a great army. It is the opinion -of those whose sympathies with the suffering of the soldiers on the one -hand, and whose careful study of facts on the other, ought to give -weight to their judgments, that never before, in the world's history, -was an army so well cared for in all its departments, Quartermaster's, -Commissary, and Medical, and that never before, when deficiencies were -discovered, were they, on an average, as speedily remedied. In every -great trial, by war, of a nation, it has been found necessary to employ -a very large number of men in positions of the gravest responsibility, -for which they were not adapted by nature or by training. This involves, -of course, not only incompetency for duties assumed, but necessarily -opens a door to continued neglect of trusts, frauds, and peculations, -which, under ordinary circumstances, would seem to be of stupendous -magnitude. This is always a part of the cost of war, and, so far from -being the peculiarity of a republican form of government, or of the -present occasion, in no modern war have frauds and inefficiency of -administrative service been anything like as slightly manifested in the -condition and efficiency, under all circumstances, of the troops in the -field; and this, whether we have regard to their food, clothing, -equipments, transportation, or, finally, to the provision which has -existed for the sick and wounded. The sustained average health, vigor, -and good spirits of our several grand armies, in the great variety of -circumstances in which they have been placed, tells of a virtue and a -vital force in our people and in our institutions, which, rightly -understood, should put to shame much customary cavilling of flippant -critics. - -The writer of this note has recently travelled through a region larger -than the whole of England, which a year before his visit was held by one -hundred and fifty thousand rebels in arms, and with advantages for -defensive warfare such as no country of equal extent in Europe -possesses. In every mile of this road he saw traces of the desperate -fanaticism of personal ambition and pride, reckless of the life and -property of others, with which its defence had been conducted. And -beyond it he found those who were re-establishing the supremacy of -republican law in this land. He spent more than a week with them, and in -that time he heard no complaint so frequent or so bitter as that against -the whimperers and mischief-makers they had left behind. The health and -patience of the men was a matter of profound astonishment to him. That -the officers were many of them exceedingly unfit for their -responsibility cannot be denied. In what army are not many of the -officers found to be so? But even this was chiefly to be attributed to -the very influence which, in its worst form, was made the cloak of the -conspiracy which brought about the rebellion, and was commonly felt and -said to be so. And thus the army, fighting the open, fights also with -the insidious enemies of the country, and when it returns both will have -been conquered. But if incompetency is common among State-appointed -officers, what evidence does the condition of the army give of the -action of great talent, integrity, industry, and patriotic zeal, in the -manner in which it is provided for! Nowhere did the writer fail to find -the men clothed and fed as never were soldiers clothed and fed in the -pettiest frontier war before. He reached a division in the extreme -advance; bivouacked in a swamp, its wounded picket-guardsmen were being -brought in and cared for, methodically, and well; not with the -refinement of a civilized home, but as wounded soldiers seldom have been -in the history of wars, under the most favorable circumstances, before -in the world. There was nothing which, thus situated, the surgeon could -wish to have with him, which he had not. This division, since it came to -the war, had marched over four thousand miles, and fought six great -battles, and now here in the swamp, wading from hammock to hammock, the -enemy in force in the next really dry land, the men looked as well in -health, and as cheerful in spirits, as a company of harvesters at their -nooning. They were carefully examined. Were they in want of clothing? -No. Were they well shod? Yes. Were they well fed? They had full rations, -and could ask for nothing better. What did they want? "To finish up the -business they came here for, and go home." Nothing else. It was actually -so there at the advanced post in the swamp, and it was so—it is so at -this moment—wherever, on sea or ashore, the seven hundred thousand men -now employed by our government are scattered at their work. By what -despotic power was a machine ever made that could have accomplished -this, in two years? - - F. L. O. - - - - - APPENDIX B. - - - See page 42. - - REGULATIONS FOR - - FLOATING HOSPITAL SERVICE - - OF THE SANITARY COMMISSION, - - FOR THE CAMPAIGN IN VIRGINIA. - - - TERMS OF SERVICE. - -The Sanitary Commission, being itself under military authority, in order -to meet its responsibilities, must require of all persons who engage in -the hospital service of the army under its direction, that they place -themselves, for the time being, entirely at its disposal. - -Those who volunteer their services gratuitously being supposed to do so -fully and in good faith, no distinction can be known between them and -those who may be paid for their services, it being understood that these -services, in both cases, once engaged or accepted, are to be claimed -equally of right by the Commission. - - - ADMINISTRATION. - -An agent of administration for the Commission will be appointed for each -hospital vessel, who will be regarded by those on board as responsible -for her fittings and supplies. - - - WARDS. - -Each vessel will be divided into hospital wards, designed each for the -accommodation of from fifty to one hundred and fifty patients. In case -of convalescents, a larger number will be properly included in a ward. - - - SURGEONS. - -A surgeon in charge will be appointed to each vessel, who will be -responsible for the reception, classification, and distribution of -patients in the wards. He will sign any necessary official medical -reports of the vessel. Each ward will be placed under the especial -charge of one surgeon, and, if practicable, there will be a surgeon for -each ward. - - - ASSISTANTS TO SURGEONS. - -An assistant to the surgeon (with the title of Ward-master) is to be -constantly on duty in each ward. Under instructions from the surgeon of -the ward, he will superintend and be responsible for the entire -treatment of the patients of the ward, during the hours in which he is -appointed to be on duty. - - - NURSES. - -Two or more nurses are to be constantly on duty in each ward. They will -perform any and all duties necessary in the care of the patients, under -instructions from the surgeons received through the ward-masters. - - - DISPENSARY. - -A dispensary will be established on each vessel, and one or more -apothecaries will be placed in charge of it. They will be responsible -for the medical stores, and for their proper compounding and issue upon -requisitions of the surgeons through the ward-masters. - - - HOSPITAL PANTRY AND LINEN CLOSET. - -These will be in charge of ladies, who will issue to ward-masters or -nurses, or themselves administer and dispense, under proper control of -the surgeons, special diet and drink, and articles of bed and personal -clothing for the patients. - - - WATCHES. - -Ward-masters and nurses, and all who have part in duty of a constant -character, will be divided into two watches, which will be on duty -alternately, as follows:— - - 1. From 7 A. M. to 1 P. M. A - 2. " 1 P. M. to 4 P. M. B (dog watch.) - 3. " 4 P. M. to 7 P. M. A " " - 4. " 7 P. M. to 1 A. M. B - 5. " 1 A. M. to 7 A. M. A - 6. " 7 A. M. to 1 P. M. B (second day.) - - - TIME OF MEALS. - - BREAKFAST. - - One watch at 6.40 A. M. (being then off duty.) - The other at 7 A. M. " " - - DINNER. - - One watch at 12.30 P. M. " " - The other at 1.15 P. M. " " - - TEA. - - One watch at 6.40 P. M. " " - The other at 7 P. M. " " - - - HOUSE DIET. - - BREAKFAST. - - _To be ready at 7 A. M._ - - Bread (or Toast) with Butter. - Coffee or Tea. - - - DINNER. - - _To be ready at 1.15 P. M._ - - Beef Soup and Boiled Beef or Beef Stew. - Boiled Rice or Hominy. - Bread or Crackers. - - TEA. - - _To be ready at 7 P. M._ - - Bread or Toast or Crackers, with Butter. - Coffee or Tea. - -When practicable, the house diet will be served at tables to such -patients as are able to come to them. When not practicable to arrange -tables, such patients as may be designated by the surgeons will be -divided into squads of forty, and a squad-master appointed to each, who -will receive and distribute to the rest the prepared diet, as may be -found most convenient. Patients not able to leave their beds will not be -included in these squads, but house diet will be served to them by the -nurses of their wards, if ordered by the surgeon. - - - SPECIAL DIET. - -The surgeons will ascertain from the administrative agent, or from the -ladies, what articles of diet are available on the vessel, and in their -morning rounds direct what choice shall be made from these for the diet -of each patient, for whom the house diet would not be suitable, during -the succeeding twenty-four hours. The ward-master on duty at the hour -for surgeons' morning rounds will, in regular order, be on duty at each -meal-time during the following twenty-four hours, and will consequently -be able to direct the entire diet of each patient from verbal -instructions. He should, as soon as possible, notify the proper person -(no rule in this respect being practicable for all vessels) of the -quantity of each article of special diet which will be required at each -meal in his ward, and at the proper time should (if necessary) send the -nurses for it, and see it properly distributed. - - - SURGEONS' ROUNDS. - -Surgeons' rounds should commence at 9 A. M., and at 6 P. M. The -ward-master on duty will closely attend the surgeon, and receive his -instructions as he passes through his ward. The ward-master off duty may -also attend the surgeon at this time, for the benefit of receiving -instructions directly. The surgeon may make this a duty, otherwise it -will be optional. - - - ALL HANDS. - -In receiving and discharging patients, or in any emergency which makes -it necessary, ward-masters and nurses may be required to do duty in -their watches off. In cleaning, fitting, or repairing the vessel for -hospital purposes, they will act under orders of the administrative -agent. - - - RECEIVING AND DISTRIBUTING PATIENTS. - -Before patients are taken on board, the vessel should be properly moored -or placed, gangways or other means of entrance arranged, and, if -possible, all duties completed, for the time being, in the performance -of which the crew of the vessel are required. The surgeon, who should -have previously informed himself of the character of the accommodations -for patients in all parts of each ward, should detail a sufficient -number of guides and bearers to convey the patients, and of all -necessary attendants at the gangway, and within the wards. These should -remove their boots, and each squad of bearers should be instructed that -all orders will be given them by their guide alone, and that no one else -is to speak aloud while carrying a patient, or passing through the -wards. All persons not having a specified duty to perform in receiving -patients, should be put where they will not be in the way or disturb the -patients, but where they can be readily called on if the force engaged -is found insufficient. - -As each patient is brought on board, he will be examined by the surgeon -in charge, who will direct where he shall be taken; at the same time -notes will be taken, as follows:— - - _Number_, _Name_, _Company_, _Regiment_, _Residence_, _Remarks_. - -The administrative agent will, at the same time, cause a corresponding -number to be placed on the effects of the patient, which he will take -care of, to be returned to the patient on his leaving the vessel. If -practicable, the patients may, before being taken to their berths or -cots, be washed and supplied with clean clothing. - -It will not usually be in the power of the surgeon in charge to select -patients for his vessel. It may, however, be proper for him to protest -against taking patients whose illness is not of a sufficiently serious -character to warrant their withdrawal from the seat of war, or those for -whose cases there is less suitable provision on the vessel than in the -hospitals they are leaving, or those already in a dying condition, whose -end will have been accelerated or whose suffering aggravated by their -removal; also, when going to sea, against taking cases of compound -fracture of the lower extremities. - - FRED. LAW OLMSTED, _Gen'l Sec'y_. - - White House, Virginia, May 20, 1862. - - - SANITARY COMMISSION. - - _Atlantic Hospital Transport Service._ - - THE REGULATION OF DIET FOR PATIENTS. - -The simplest possible arrangements should be made for the diet of -patients which will be consistent with their proper treatment. - -At the outset, the cook may be ordered to prepare daily for breakfast, -to be ready at 7 A. M., ten gallons of tea and fifteen loaves of bread -in slices, with butter, for every hundred patients on board; for dinner, -ten gallons of beef-stew made with vegetables, and fifteen loaves of -bread, for every hundred patients on board; for tea, the same as for -breakfast. - -Orders for special diet should, as far as possible, be confined to -beef-tea, arrow-root or farina gruel, milk-porridge, and milk-punch. - -Quantities of each of these articles, except the punch, may be prepared -by the cook once a day, and delivered to the matron, under whose care -they should be warmed in portions over spirit-lamps, as required at any -time during the day or night. - -As a general rule, for each hundred patients on board, there should be -prepared, for twenty-four hours,— - - 2½ gallons of beef-tea, - 4 gallons of gruel, - ½ gallon of milk-porridge. - -Where the patients are chiefly suffering from illness, especially if -from fevers, the above quantities will be found larger than is -necessary. Where a large proportion of them are severely wounded, they -may need to be slightly increased. - -By estimating the quantity of each article which will be required for -the twenty-four hours, as thus instructed, the surgeon in charge will -find it best to give his orders to the cook for everything at once, one -day in advance. - -If the quantities ordered prove too small, the deficiency can be made -good by the matron with crackers, tea, canned meats, or meat essence, -&c., in the pantry; it being best, if possible, to avoid any call upon -the cook or the ship's kitchen for this purpose. - -If the quantities prove too large for one day, the saving can be used -the next. Whether too large or too small, a proper modification can be -readily made in the order to the cook for the remainder of the trip. The -surgeon in charge will in this way be relieved of the necessity of -giving further consideration to this department of administration, -which, if not thus simplified, will be found to be a source of much -trouble and anxiety, greatly withdrawing his attention from surgical and -medical duties proper. Associated surgeons should be careful to make no -demands for diet, inconsistent with this arrangement. - -Milk-punch is best made with cold water in the pantry. This and all -other cold drinks can be made under the superintendence of the matron, -without any call upon the cook. The cook should, however, be required to -keep a supply, as large as convenient, of hot water, constantly ready to -meet any demand from a surgeon or the matron. - - - - - APPENDIX C. - - - See page 97. - - - _Copy of Letter to the Medical Director of the Army of the Potomac._ - - White House, Va., June 3, 1862. - -MY DEAR SIR:—There must be some frightful misunderstanding at the bottom -of what is occurring here, in your department. It is obvious from the -tenor of your telegraphic communications to me, that you are altogether -wrongly informed about it. The Sanitary Commission, let me say at once, -has not only obeyed every order, no matter how irregular or -disrespectful the mode of its transmission, but has in good faith -endeavored to carry out, at every point it could reach, what was judged -to be _your intention_, supplying the absence or neglect of other agents -on whom you appeared to depend, as it best could. Till night before last -it made itself subordinate to the Surgeon-General of Pennsylvania, who -assumed to act as your aid, and, under positive orders given by him in -your name, it refrained from pursuing a plan previously approved by you, -and by following which it is now obvious that a much greater and safer -transport of the wounded would have occurred. From Sunday night to the -present time, the Surgeon-General of Pennsylvania has not been seen -here; a thousand wounded men have, in the mean time, arrived, and, as -far as I am informed, not the slightest provision of any kind has been -made for them under order from you, or by any one whom you have regarded -as under your orders, except the Sanitary Commission. After waiting some -hours yesterday morning for the Surgeon-General of Pennsylvania (who -till then had been in charge of the railroad wharf) to act, finding men -fainting in the sun ashore, I assumed the responsibility of taking -eighty of them upon our little boat, and of having the remainder brought -on the _Daniel Webster_ No. 2. After doing so, I found one Dr. ——, very -hard at work dressing wounded, &c. By advice of Captain Sawtelle and -myself, he took provisional medical charge, and I then telegraphed you, -advising that Dr. —— or Dr. —— should be placed in general charge, with -discretionary powers. - -We were doing what we could with men and women who could be spared from -our boats, which were all full of wounded, to provide for those on the -_Webster_ and ashore. Before night, the _Spaulding_ having arrived, I -brought up fourteen fresh men and the ladies, with two physicians, and -they have been steadily at work, and up to this time (noon of Tuesday) -operating, dressing, feeding, and, with the assistance of other -volunteers, bringing the wounded from the cars to the boat. - -The _Vanderbilt_ came more than a week ago, empty, and assigned to -hospital service. She came to the wharf that had been built, at my -request, for the use of the Sanitary Commission, refused to leave at my -request, and has occupied it to our exclusion ever since. She has had -surgeons and a large detail of soldiers on board, and I had been -informed that she was reserved for the transportation of wounded, by -your orders. Neither those on board of her nor those at the camp -hospital appeared at the railroad, or lent any assistance, to my -knowledge, to the care of the wounded, until, under advice from Captain -Sawtelle and myself, Dr. ——, who had received your telegram -disacknowledging him as having any official position, requested the -surgeon in charge to bring the _Vanderbilt_ to the railroad wharf. -Having our boats and the removal of the wounded in ambulance trains to -attend to, I did not think it necessary to inquire if she were prepared -for hospital duty, knowing that she had been a week idle, and previously -in hospital service; but late this morning I was informed that she had -not any commissary, or even necessary medical stores on board, and -nothing whatever was being prepared for the sustenance of the patients. - -We have provided bread and molasses, for the want of anything else -ready. We have been also called upon for, and are providing, lint and -bandages, &c., &c. - -The _Elm City_ and _Knickerbocker_ are both off, the _Spaulding_ is yet -to discharge the commissary stores with which she came loaded, and there -is not a boat here now which can carry wounded, nor is there a tent -pitched for them. - -I have no time to be more full and exact. I have called on Colonel -Ingalls to establish a cooking arrangement on shore, and shall try to -get beef for soup. - -I hear that more wounded are arriving. God knows what will be done with -them. - -As the telegraph refuses to send any messages to you to-day, being fully -occupied with the General's business, I shall, if possible, send this to -you this evening by a special messenger. - - I am very faithfully, &c. - - - _Copy of a Letter to the Surgeon-General._ - - Steamboat _Wilson Small_, - Off White House, Va., June 17, 1862. - -(A.) MY DEAR GENERAL:—Your prompt action, of which I am notified by your -telegram of this date, in securing the shipment of large supplies of -anti-scorbutics to the Army of the Potomac, without waiting for the -Medical Director to assume the responsibility of ordering them, leads me -to hope that you may think it right in like manner to interpose for the -protection of the army from other evils, for which the remedies are -equally obvious, and more readily attainable. - -I therefore urge that tarpaulings, old sails, felt, or canvas in bolts, -with means of putting it together, be sent here immediately, in -quantities sufficient to form a shelter for ten thousand wounded men. -The materials for extending and supporting it in the form of sheds can -be found in the woods immediately in the rear of the line of operations, -where the shelters should be placed. I should propose that at least one -depot for wounded should in this way be prepared for each army corps. -Water should be secured in its vicinity, and means for providing large -quantities of beef-tea or soup. - -I know that such an arrangement would have saved many hundred lives -after the battle of Fair Oaks. Nearly all of those with whom I -conversed, of the first three thousand wounded men who received aid at -this point from the Sanitary Commission, assured me that they had been -without shelter from sun or rain, and without nourishment, from the time -they fell until they came into our hands. This would be a period of from -one to four days. The men seemed sincere, and their appearance was such -as to lead me to the conclusion that, in many cases, at least, they -asserted no more than the truth. - -If, without waiting for a demand from the Medical Director, or the -convenience of the Quartermaster's staff of this army, it would be in -your power to order it, it seems to me that a provision of the kind I -have indicated should be made within a single week. Everything necessary -should be sent here; canvas, nails, tools, laborers, kettles, beef, -pans, spoons, cooks. The smallest service for hospital purposes cannot -be procured here now by the most energetic and persistent surgeons in -less than a fortnight from the time they undertake to secure it. I have -called three times a day, for ten days, for a detail of ten men to -police the landing-place of the hospital boats; and though constantly -promised me, and though the need for the work is acknowledged to be very -great, I do not yet succeed in getting them. - - - _Memorandum of Arrangements proposed by the Secretary - of the Commission, to prevent a recurrence of the confusion - in the Transport Service which occurred after the - Battle of Fair Oaks._ - -The following is a list of Transports understood to be at present -available for hospital service for the Army of the Potomac:— - - - _Sea Steamers, fitted for long passages outside._ - - S. R. Spaulding, - Daniel Webster No. 1. - - - _Coast-Steamers, which must make a harbor on the approach - of bad weather, and which should not be sent beyond - Philadelphia, unless the necessity is urgent._ - - Elm City, - State of Maine, - John Brooks, - Commodore, - Kennebec, - Daniel Webster No. 2. - - - _Coast-Steamers which should not be run outside._ - - Vanderbilt, - Whilldin, - Louisiana, - Knickerbocker. - - - _Sailing vessels adapted to be used as Stationary Hospitals, - or to be towed outside._ - - St. Mark, - Euterpe. - -The aggregate capacity of these vessels is equal to the accommodation of -four thousand (4,000) patients, and may be increased to five thousand -(5,000) if the necessity is urgent. - -From the time a boat leaves, until she can be prepared to leave again,— - - will be, if she runs to New York, 7 days, - " " " to Philadelphia, 6 days, - " " " to Washington, 4 days, - " " " to Annapolis, 4 days, - " " " to Baltimore, 4 days, - " " " to Old Point, 2 days. - -If, in the event of a general engagement, all the wounded sent from -White House are taken to the nearest hospitals, until these are full, -there will be occupation for but few of the boats; four of them, for -instance, would take seven hundred (700) a day to Fortress Monroe -continuously. Having filled the nearer hospitals, however, all the -vessels would be insufficient to sustain a continuous movement to those -more distant. Moreover, most of the transports are unfit to convey -patients to the most distant hospitals. It is, therefore, necessary that -the business should be so arranged that transports may, from the -beginning, run both to the nearer and the more distant hospitals, and -that the limited number of sea-going vessels should be run only to the -distant seaports. - -To accomplish this, I suggest that the different transports be formed -into _lines_, as follows:— - -1. For _Virginia_ hospitals. - -(Fortress Monroe, Newport's News, Portsmouth, and Point Lookout.) - -2. For _Maryland_ hospitals. - -(Washington, Alexandria, Annapolis, and Baltimore.) - -3. For _Pennsylvania_ hospitals. - -4. For _New York_ hospitals. - -As two of the sea-going vessels cannot come up to White House, and -these, to be used effectively, must be towed by the other two, the New -York line would be best employed in preventing too great an accumulation -at Fortress Monroe,—running only from Fortress Monroe to New York. - -If it be assumed that seven hundred (700) will arrive daily at White -House, they may be disposed of according to the accompanying schedule -with regularity, and with no necessity for crowding. - - - _Plan for the Disposition of Patients to be sent in Hospital - Transports from White House._ - - ┌───────┬──────────┬──────┬─────┬─────┬───────┬───────┬───────────────┐ - │_Days._│_Hospital_│_Men._│_Md._│_Va._│_Penn._│_N. Y._│ │ - ├───────┼──────────┼──────┼─────┼─────┼───────┼───────┼───────────────┤ - │1st day│Va. │ 300│ │ 300│ │ │ │ - │ " " │Md. │ 400│ 400│ │ │ │1st day, 700│ - │2d " │Penn. │ 400│ │ │ │ │ │ - │ " " │Va. │ 300│ │ 600│ │ 600│ 2d " 1,400│ - │3d " │Md. │ 400│ 800│ │ │ │ │ - │ " " │Va. │ 300│ │ 300│ │ │ 3d " 2,100│ - │4th " │Md. │ 400│1,200│ │ │ │ │ - │ " " │Va. │ 300│ │ 135│ │ │ 4th " 2,800│ - │5th " │Md. │ 400│1,600│ │ │ │ │ - │ " " │Va. │ 300│ │ 435│ │ │ 5th " 3,500│ - │6th " │Md. │ 400│2,000│ │ │ │ │ - │ " " │Va. │ 300│ │ 735│ │ 1,665│ 6th " 4,200│ - │7th " │Va. │ 300│ │1,035│ │ │ │ - │ " " │Penn. │ 400│ │ │ │ │ 7th " 4,900│ - │8th " │Va. │ 300│ │ 735│ │ │ │ - │ " " │Md. │ 400│2,400│ │ 800│ │ 8th " 5,600│ - │9th " │Va. │ 300│ │1,035│ │ │ │ - │ " " │Md. │ 400│2,800│ │ │ │ 9th " 6,300│ - │10th " │Va. │ 300│ │1,335│ │ │ │ - │ " " │Md. │ 400│3,200│ │ │ │ 10th " 7,000│ - │11th " │Va. │ 300│ │1,170│ │ 2,130│ │ - │ " " │Md. │ 400│3,600│ │ │ │ 11th " 7,700│ - │12th " │Va. │ 300│ │1,470│ │ │ │ - │ " " │Md. │ 400│4,000│ │ │ │ 12th " 8,400│ - │13th " │Va. │ 300│ │1,770│ │ │ │ - │ " " │Md. │ 400│4,400│ │ │ │ 13th " 9,100│ - │14th " │Penn. │ 400│ │ │ 1,200│ │ │ - │ " " │Va. │ 300│ │2,070│ │ │ 14th " 9,800│ - │15th " │Md. │ 400│4,800│ │ │ │ │ - │ " " │Va. │ 300│ │2,370│ │ │ 15th " 10,500│ - │16th " │Md. │ 400│5,200│ │ │ 2,730│ │ - │ " " │Va. │ 300│ │2,070│ │ │ 16th " 11,200│ - ├───────┴──────────┼──────┼─────┼─────┼───────┼───────┼───────────────┤ - │ Total, │11,200│5,200│2,070│ 1,200│ 2,730│ 11,200│ - └──────────────────┴──────┴─────┴─────┴───────┴───────┴───────────────┘ - -To carry out the foregoing plan, the _Kennebec_ and _Daniel Webster_ No. -2 should be run exclusively to the Virginia hospitals,—one daily, each -carrying three hundred (300) patients at a trip. - -The _Commodore_, _Vanderbilt_, _State of Maine_, and _Louisiana_ should -be run exclusively to the Maryland hospitals, each carrying four hundred -(400) patients at a trip, one daily, the round trip being four days. - -The _Elm City_, being the best of the coast boats for outside work, -would run to the nearest outside post, Philadelphia, once every six -days, conveying four hundred (400) at each trip. - -The _John Brooks_, the _Whilldin_, and the _Knickerbocker_ would be -surgical receiving hospitals, or reserve boats, to take the place of any -detained by grounding or other accident. - -The vessels of the New York line can be diverted to Philadelphia as -often as it is thought desirable. - -After the wounded have ceased coming to White House, the vessels of the -New York line can be run to other more Northern and Eastern ports, until -the nearer hospitals are emptied. - -The above presumes that cases of light wounds and of extremely severe -wounds will not be allowed to come to White House at all. - - Respectfully, - (Signed,) FRED. LAW OLMSTED, - _Gen'l Sec'y San. Com._ - - - - - APPENDIX D. - - - See page 130. - -Shortly after the battle of Fair Oaks, the new and vastly more -provident, liberal, and wisely economical policy introduced into the -medical service, with the appointment of Dr. Hammond as Surgeon-General, -and of the new corps of Medical Inspectors, began to be felt in the army -of the Potomac,—and although many of the agents necessary to the perfect -success of that policy were unable at once to accommodate their habits -to the required change, the Commission, scrupulously adhering to its -purpose to do nothing which the properly responsible officials in any -department evinced any readiness to do without its assistance, had the -satisfaction of seeing the necessity for its special service, in -connection with the hospital transports, grow gradually smaller and -smaller. Under the dry, taciturn, and impenetrable manner, promising -nothing, of the new Medical Director of the Army of the Potomac, who, -just after the battle of the Seven Days, relieved a predecessor of -precisely the opposite qualities, was found to be concealed some -influence by means of which whatever had before been impossible began to -be thought possible, and to be tried for, after a few judicious -dismissals had been made; and, after a few visits of influential friends -to Governors and Senators in behalf of the dismissed had resulted in -nothing but an incomprehensible failure of their purpose, the -Commission's occupation was more than half gone with that army. But -where so many agents are to be depended on, and such sudden new -dispositions and reorganizations must be made, as after those terrible -seven days, it is impossible that any demand of a large army should -always be promptly and fully met. Anxiety for the well, that they might -be saved from disease, soon outweighed anxiety lest the sick should not -be tenderly cared for, and in more than one direction an opportunity was -found to supply temporary deficiencies, which otherwise would have told -severely upon the health of many thousand men. During the month after -the army reached and intrenched itself on the James River, the vessels -managed by the Commission probably did a better service in what they -brought to the army, than in the comfort they secured to the sick who -were sent away upon them. The following extracts will serve to give the -reader a more complete understanding of its ruling spirit and purpose, -and show its continued action to the time of the withdrawal of the army -of the Potomac from the Peninsula. - - * * * * * - -(A.) _Norfolk, June 30, 1862._—We were driven from White House Friday P. -M.; arrived at Old Point yesterday. Being unable to get coal there, came -here this evening. Shall coal to-night and leave at daybreak for -Harrison's Bar, on James River, where the gunboats are said to be. We -hope to get further up, but are advised by General Dix that we cannot -safely attempt it at present. - - * * * * * - -(A.) _Off Berkeley, James River, July 1, 1862._—We felt our way up the -river slowly, and with some difficulty, having no pilot, and seeing no -vessel under way after passing out of sight of Newport's News until we -reached this point. Here there was a gunboat and three small -steam-transports, each of which afterwards left, so that for a short -time we were alone. Transports soon began to come up, however, and -to-night there are a dozen or more about us. - -We have Colonel ——, Colonel ——, and a few other wounded officers on -board. They were sent to us by General McClellan's own ambulance, half -an hour after we arrived. The General had been here, and left only as we -were coming to the wharf. The officers he saw here converse with us -freely, and we have had officers on board from most of the army corps, -who have also talked, apparently without reserve, with us. Yet reports -and opinions are so contradictory, that we are in singular uncertainty -as to what has happened and as to what we have to expect - -The officers and soldiers all show the influence of intense excitement; -they acknowledge the gravest anxiety; they are terribly fatigued, yet -generally seem in good spirits. They speak much of the bravery of the -men. - - * * * * * - -(A.) _Chesapeake Bay, July 4, 1862._—I left our anchorage off -Head-quarters of the Army of the Potomac, where I wrote you last, about -four o'clock yesterday afternoon, and am running to Washington, by -request of the Medical Director, to advise the Surgeon-General of the -sanitary condition of the army, and to secure the immediate supply, as -far as possible, of its most urgent surgical and medical wants. As the -rebels have put out the lights, and we could get no pilot, we were all -night feeling our way down the river, and shall not be able, with all we -can do, to get to Washington till late to-night. I hope to get what is -most necessary, and leave on our return before night to-morrow. I -telegraphed from Old Point to have everything advanced. - -I have seen and conversed freely with many staff officers, and been -among the men, wounded and well—if any can be called well, where all are -feverish with seven days and nights of fatigue and exhaustion and -starvation and excitement. One, a Major-General, said, "I have not been -asleep, nor have I tasted food, in five days. I have only sustained -myself with coffee and cigars." As to the men, the following is a fair -sample of statements commonly made: "My regiment has had, for the last -five days before arriving here, two days' rations; what has been eaten -of this has been uncooked; during that time it has made five hard -marches, and fought five battles; one third of it has fallen in killed -or wounded, and not one man has been shot in the back. One third of what -remains is now on picket duty in the woods, which the enemy is shelling; -the other lies yonder, in the mud, sleeping on its arms." This was -during the rain, which fell in such torrents day before yesterday. -Yesterday the enemy was attacking again, and the whole army in the line -of battle up to the time we left. - -The exultant confidence of the army in itself is beyond all verbal -expression. It has grown out of the experience of its ability to resist -and foil and terribly punish desperate assaults made upon it, as is -supposed with forces greatly superior in number. It says, proudly, "All -that men can do, we can do." But there is also the consciousness of a -terrible strain upon its energies, of an unnatural strength, and the -reflection is frequent that there must be a limit to every man's -endurance. - -Rest and recuperation,—how are they to be had? The first only by the -relief of reinforcements; the second only by good diet and favorable -hygienic circumstances. Eastern Virginia is all malarious,—the banks of -James River notoriously so; the army is chiefly upon a moderately -elevated, slightly undulating table-land; the river on the south side; -swampy ground at no great distance on the other sides. It is open, airy, -dry,—a healthful point, upon the whole, as any that could be selected -east of Richmond. But the sun will lie exceedingly fierce upon it, and -it is supposed the army has lost two thirds of its tents. Probably a -majority of the men have lost also their knapsacks and blankets. Many -were without caps or shoes. The area held is small, and will be crowded. -If the enemy is active, as it would appear his policy to be, the -officers will be too much occupied with the immediate military -necessities of the position to give much attention to police duties. -Even if they should be well disposed, the excessively fatigued and -exhausted condition of the men, and the necessity of reserving their -strength from day to day for the struggle with the enemy, will forbid -the constant labor which would be necessary to prevent a terrible -accumulation of nuisances, until at least reinforcements shall arrive so -large that no more than the ordinary quotas will be required for guard -and picket duty. After such tension and trial, a rapid reduction of -force must also occur from sickness, and those not on the sick-list will -suffer from the lassitude of reaction from excitement. Under these -circumstances, all our experience shows that it will be hardly possible -to enforce requirements, the observance of which must be essential to a -healthy camp. - -Unless large reinforcements speedily arrive, then, not only must the -army feel that its heroism is unappreciated, and the object for which it -struggled is to be lost by the neglect of others, and thus become -dejected, dispirited, and morally resistless to the dangers of disease; -but it will be physically impossible to establish such guards against -these dangers as are most obviously and directly called for. - -There is, in general, a large degree of confidence that, with the aid of -the gunboats, which are throwing shell on the flanks at frequent -intervals, we can hold the position till sufficient reinforcements come -to place it beyond question; but no one speaks with entire confidence, -and the nearer to the head the graver seems the apprehension,—though -with all there is that strange exultation—ready to break out in -laughter, like a crazy man's. There are some few who are utterly -despondent and fault-finding. But there is less of this than ever -before, and fewer stragglers and obvious cowards,—nothing like what was -seen after Pittsburg Landing. Of what we saw after Bull Run there is not -the slightest symptom. In short, we have then a real grand army, tried, -enduring, heroic,—worth all we can give to save it. - - * * * * * - -(C.) On Saturday we commenced the distribution of the cargo, and it has -been going steadily on since in a very gratifying manner, every one -concerned throwing off his coat, and working with a will, these -intensely hot days,—surgeons, quartermasters, and other officers, always -giving us every possible assistance in their eagerness to get this -agreeable addition to their fare into the camp-kettles as soon as -possible. The salted fish was a grand hit. It seems to have a peculiar -attraction for languid appetites this hot weather. We have met, thus -far, with but one man inclined to throw any obstruction in the way of -the distribution,—a brigade commissary, who seemed to think any unusual -indulgence of a soldier's whims of appetite must be demoralizing. Word -of our intention had gone through the brigade, however, before he -interfered, and the eagerness of the surgeons and of the soldiers took -him very quickly out of the way without any efforts on our part. -Regimental transportation was quickly at the wharf, with the thanks and -compliments of the colonels, and each received its quota. - -... The promptness with which the cargo—nearly a thousand barrels—would -have been discharged, will be somewhat affected by the inability of some -of the regiments of Heintzelman's corps to send transportation, on -account of a movement for which they are ordered to stand in readiness -to-day.... The sudden orders given yesterday for the immediate -transportation of several thousand sick, have caused an influx of sick -to the landing, overrunning all that the exertions of the Medical -Director could do to provide for them.... This morning we found five -hundred and sixty convalescents on board the transport _Cahawba_, with, -to use the language of the ——, "not a bit of a thing aboard for 'em to -chaw upon." As the poor fellows, many of them just getting up from -fever, had been, in most cases, finding their way from the camps to the -landing on foot, during the night, their want was urgent. Fortunately, -we had a good supply of the concentrated beef of Martinez's preparation, -and were not long in getting ready an excellent breakfast for them. It -is in just such cases as this, where misery is massed, and where what is -done tells not only for the relief of misery, but for the strength of -the army and the putting down of the rebellion, that we find the -greatest satisfaction in stepping in with the gifts of the people. Many -of these men were in just the condition in which a set-back would be -likely to lead to a relapse and lingering illness, and in which again, -if they were well cared for, they might be built up rapidly, and soon be -sent back to their muskets. - -On account of the movements to-day, I shall ride out to the camps this -afternoon, and make some change of arrangements for the further -distribution of the anti-scorbutics. The gunboats were playing very -lively at sunrise, a little way down the river. This is as much as I -should say to-day, but you will hear of something that you hardly expect -by the next mail-boat. - -[Illustration] - - Cambridge: Stereotyped and Printed by Welch, Bigelow, & Co. - - - - - TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES - - - 1. Added Table of Contents. - 2. Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical - errors. - 3. Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed. - 4. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Hospital Transports, by Frederick Law Olmsted - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOSPITAL TRANSPORTS *** - -***** This file should be named 52122-0.txt or 52122-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/1/2/52122/ - -Produced by Richard Tonsing and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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- padding-right: .5em; } - div.tnotes { padding-left:1em;padding-right:1em;background-color:#E3E4FA; - border:1px solid silver; margin:2em 10% 0 10%; } - .covernote { visibility: hidden; display: none; } - div.tnotes p { text-align:left; } - @media handheld { .covernote { visibility: visible; display: block;} } - .footnote {font-size: 90%; } - .ph1, .ph2 { text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; } - .ph1 { font-size: xx-large; margin: .67em auto; } - .ph2 { font-size: x-large; margin: .75em auto; } - </style> - </head> - <body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Hospital Transports, by Frederick Law Olmsted - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Hospital Transports - A memoir of the Embarkation of the Sick and Wounded from - the Peninsula of Virginia in the Summer of 1862 - -Author: Frederick Law Olmsted - -Release Date: May 22, 2016 [EBook #52122] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOSPITAL TRANSPORTS *** - - - - -Produced by Richard Tonsing and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class='tnotes covernote'> - -<p class='c000'> <strong>Transcriber's Note:</strong></p> - -<p class='c000'> The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.</p> - -</div> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_i'>i</span> - <h1 class='c001'><span class='sc'>Hospital Transports.</span><br /> <br /> <span class='xlarge'>A MEMOIR</span><br /> <span class='large'><em>of the</em></span><br /> <span class='large'><span class='sc'>Embarkation of the Sick and Wounded<br /> from the Peninsula of Virginia<br /> in the Summer of<br /> 1862</span>.</span></h1> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div><em>Compiled and Published at the request of the</em></div> - <div><em>Sanitary Commission.</em></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='figcenter id001'> -<img src='images/title.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='xlarge'><em>Boston</em>:</span></div> - <div><span class='large'>TICKNOR AND FIELDS.</span></div> - <div><span class='large'>1863.</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_ii'>ii</span>Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by</div> - <div class='c002'>TICKNOR AND FIELDS,</div> - <div class='c002'>in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of Massachusetts.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='sc'>University Press:</span></div> - <div><span class='sc'>Welch, Bigelow, and Company,</span></div> - <div><span class='sc'>Cambridge.</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_iii'>iii</span> - <h2 id='DEDICATION' class='c004'><em>DEDICATION.</em><br /> <br /> <span class='sc'>To the Memories of</span></h2> -</div> - -<h3 class='c005'>J. M. GRYMES, M. D.,</h3> - -<p class='c006'>sometime Surgeon in charge of the Hospital Transport -<em>Daniel Webster</em>, and, at the time of his death, Surgeon to -the temporary <em>Home</em> for disabled soldiers, of the Sanitary -Commission at Washington;—</p> - -<h3 class='c005'>WILLIAM PLATT, <span class='sc'>Junior, Esq.</span>,</h3> - -<p class='c006'>late a Relief Agent of the Sanitary Commission, who -died from the effect of prolonged exposure and excessive -exertion in pushing succor to the wounded during and -after the battles of South Mountain, Crampton's Gap, and -Antietam;—</p> - -<h3 class='c005'>Lieut.-Col. JOSEPH BRIDGHAM CURTIS, U.S.V.,</h3> - -<p class='c006'>formerly of the Engineer Corps of the Central Park of -New York, afterwards of the central staff of the Sanitary -Commission, who fell while leading his regiment to -the assault of the rebel works at Fredericksburg, December, -1862;—</p> - -<h3 class='c005'>RUDD C. HOPKINS, M. D.,</h3> - -<p class='c006'>formerly Superintendent of the Lunatic Asylum of Ohio, -lately a General Inspector of the Sanitary Commission, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_iv'>iv</span>and who died in its service, while on the river passage -from Memphis to Cincinnati;—</p> - -<h3 class='c005'>MRS. FANNY SWAN WARRINER,</h3> - -<p class='c006'>who bore heroically to the end a woman's part in war, having -died at Louisville, Kentucky, on her way home from -the Head-quarters Relief Station of the Sanitary Commission -with the Army of the Tennessee,—of disease -there contracted;—</p> - -<h3 class='c005'>DAVID BOSWELL REID, M. D.,</h3> - -<p class='c006'>Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh; Fellow of -the Royal College of Physicians of London; Member of -the Medico-Chirurgical Society of St. Petersburg; formerly -Director of Ventilation at the Houses of Parliament -of Great Britain; late Professor of Physiology and -Hygiene at the University of Wisconsin; at the time of -his death, Special Inspector of the Ventilation of Hospitals -of the Sanitary Commission;—and</p> - -<h3 class='c005'>Surgeon ROBERT WARE, U. S. V.,</h3> - -<p class='c006'>for several years physician in charge of the largest Dispensary -District in Boston, afterwards a General Inspector -of the Sanitary Commission, and Surgeon of its -Relief Stations at Yorktown, White House, and Berkeley, -lastly Surgeon of Volunteers. He fell at his post in the -works at Washington, North Carolina, during its bombardment -by the rebels, March, 1863.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_v'>v</span> - <h2 id='INTRODUCTION' class='c004'><span class='sc'>Introduction.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>The Sanitary Commission, grateful for -the generous confidence reposed in it -by the public, would be glad to meet and -justify that confidence by a circumstantial -account of its operations in field and hospital, -from the first day of its existence to -the present. It might, perhaps, without -undue boasting, show such a picture of -what has been accomplished as would -stimulate, to the last degree, the interest -and the liberality of loyal hearts, if this -were required. But the immense mass of -details which such an account must involve, -would prove nearly as laborious in -the reading as in the performance, overwhelming -rather than enlightening all who -have not been personally engaged in the -work. The intense interest which the service -<span class='pageno' id='Page_vi'>vi</span>inspires in those devoted to it, lightens -what might, under other circumstances, -seem wearisome duties; but a minute description -of the ceaseless round of consultations, -examinations, correspondence, -journeys, accounts, distributions, required -of the Commission as trustee of the public -bounty, could not be expected to prove -interesting to others.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The most that the Commission can at -present be called upon to offer, or the public -be likely to accept, is such brief accounts -of single sections in the various -departments of its labor, as may indicate -the general method and spirit extending -through the whole. In accordance with -this plan, from time to time, the Commission -has published reports covering a single -battle-field, or a term of one round of -visits to the hospitals, or the results of -its arrangements for the care of disabled -and discharged soldiers for a stated period. -There is one branch of the service, however, -which has as yet had no such public -record,—that of the Hospital Transports. -In order to supply this omission in some -<span class='pageno' id='Page_vii'>vii</span>measure, the Commission has caused to be -placed in the hands of a manager of the -"Woman's Central Army Relief Association -of New York," a quantity of letters -and other papers, containing observations -made at the time, and on the spot, by those -in its service who assisted in the embarkation -and care of the sick and wounded -on the peninsula of Virginia in 1862. Passages -from these have been selected and -arranged with a view to give within moderate -compass as many particulars as may -be necessary to show the scope of the enterprise, -and the position which it held as -an aid to the government, together with -the difficulties and the success, the disappointments -and satisfactions, with which it -was attended. The plan is limited to the -Atlantic hospital transports, and to the -period of embarkation of the patients upon -them, for the sake of compactness and -completeness in the grouping of incidents. -A similar service in the Western rivers the -same year was larger in its scope, and in -some of its arrangements more satisfactory, -but it was at the same time less homogeneous -in character.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_viii'>viii</span>For the style of the letters quoted, this -only need be said: they were, for the most -part, addressed to intimate friends, with -no thought that they could ever go beyond -them, or, as in the case of those addressed -by the Secretary to the President of the -Commission, were in the nature of familiar -and confidential reports; nearly all were -written hastily, in some chance interruption -to severe labor,—often with a pencil, -while passing in a boat from one vessel to -another. Passages may be found which -are not merely descriptive of the Hospital -Transport service, but they contain thoughts -springing from the occasion, and which will -serve to fasten pictures of scenes and circumstances -with which that service was -associated, and which are now historical.<a id='r1' /><a href='#f1' class='c008'><sup>[1]</sup></a></p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f1'> -<p class='c000'><span class='label'><a href='#r1'>1</a>. </span>The letters were all written by two officers of the -Commission and six ladies serving with them. As the -different writers are quoted from in succession, and the -same occurrences are often described from more than one -point of view, a capital letter at the head of a paragraph -will indicate the change from one writer to another. The -officers will be known by the letters A. and B.; the ladies, -by the letters M. and N.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_ix'>ix</span>It should be understood that the account -is not intended to be complete in -any respect, and that no attempt has been -made to give public credit to individuals -for their services, whatever these may have -been. It is known that to do so in some -cases where public gratitude is most deserved -would give pain; to do so in all -cases would greatly swell the bulk of the -volume. In general terms only it may be -said, that among the surgeons who freely -gave their aid in the enterprise were numbered -some of the leading members of the -profession,—among those who served as -administrative officers, matrons, and nurses, -the most honored historical families of -New England, New York, New Jersey, -and Pennsylvania were represented. The -class termed Ward-masters was mainly -composed of medical students of two -years, with some young men of Philadelphia -who had had previous experience in -caring for sick soldiers in the noble local -charities of that city. It included, also, -some students of theology. The responsibility -for the detail of care of the patients -was chiefly with this class, and the devotedness, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_x'>x</span>pliability, and practical talent with -which they generally met this responsibility -was too remarkable to be passed -without at least this simple reference to it -as one of a class of facts of the war.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It is a secondary object of the recital to -make evident, from narrations of actual experience, -what is sometimes required for -supplying the unavoidable deficiencies of -government service in emergencies. Not to -have sprung at once into a thorough practical -knowledge of what the dread contingencies -of war require, is no just cause -of reproach to a peaceful people like ourselves, -who, meaning peace, sought only to -"ensue it"; but not to thoroughly learn -our duty under such an experience as we -are passing through, would indeed bring -shame upon our name.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It is no common nation's task that we -have undertaken, and only craven souls -will lose heart in finding that it cannot be -light or short in the sacrifices which it demands -of us. True and far-seeing lovers -of their country, as they regard the sufferings -of those uncomplaining men who -<span class='pageno' id='Page_xi'>xi</span>fought for us in the Peninsula,—men who, -though perhaps but green soldiers in the -field, proved, one and all, heroes upon the -bed of pain and in the hour of death, will -be led to the reflection, "This is what it -costs a republic to have nursed rebellion -tenderly at its breast." We know that the -barbarous spirit with which the chances -of war first were dared in this gambling -scheme of reckless ambition, will prolong -it, when resistance to the law can no -longer avail for anything but the gratification -of the personal vindictive hate of the -disappointed conspirators. And we know -that if we do well the work the pecuniary -cost of which we are throwing so heavily -upon our posterity, this will be the last of -such schemes. The more we feel its cost -ourselves, the more resolute shall we be -that, when done, this work shall have been -done once for all. The more ready shall -we be to meet whatever sacrifice it may -yet require of us; the more ready to truly -say, "Our loyalty is without conditions; -success at this point or that, this year or -next, we do not ask; we have elected our -<span class='pageno' id='Page_xii'>xii</span>leaders, and we accept what they have the -ability to give us. It is enough that in -this nation, standing firmly upon its declaration -of equal rights to all, no gleam of -peace can ever be seen to fall upon a rebel -in arms."</p> - -<p class='c000'>The deepest solicitude that all unnecessary -suffering should be avoided in carrying -on the war, is not in the least degree -inconsistent with this sentiment, provided -only it be guided and constrained by a -true appreciation of the duties and the -necessities of war. On the contrary, patriotism -and humanity have one origin, and -each strengthens the other in every heart. -Whatever, then, leads the public to truly -comprehend what the rebellion costs, and -at the same time inculcates a right spirit -of humane provision against the unnecessary -suffering of war, must foster a sound -and healthy public sentiment.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Such, it is hoped, may be the influence -of this little volume, to the introduction of -which only this further explanation will be -required by the reader.</p> - -<p class='c000'>A sudden transfer of the scene of active -<span class='pageno' id='Page_xiii'>xiii</span>war from the high banks of the Potomac -to a low and swampy region, intersected -with a net-work of rivers and creeks, early -in the summer of 1862, required appliances -for the proper care of the sick and -wounded which did not appear to have -been contemplated in the government arrangements. -Seeing this, with the approval -of the Medical Bureau, a proposal was -made to the Quartermaster-General to -allow the Sanitary Commission to take in -hand some of the transport steamboats of -his department, of which a large number -were at that time lying idle, to fit them up -and furnish them in all respects suitably -for the reception and care of sick and -wounded men, providing surgeons and -other necessary attendance, without cost -to government. After tedious delays and -disappointments of various kinds,—one -fine large boat having been assigned, partially -furnished by the Commission, and -then withdrawn,—an order was at length -received, authorizing the Commission to -take possession of any of the government -transports, not in actual use, which might -be at that time lying at Alexandria.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_xiv'>xiv</span>The only vessel then lying at Alexandria -stanch enough for the ocean passage -from Virginia to New York or Boston, -proved to be the <em>Daniel Webster</em>, an old -Pacific Coast steamer of small capacity. -She had been recently used for transporting -troops, and had been "stripped of everything -movable but dirt,"—so that the -labor of adapting her to the purpose in -view was not a light one.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This vessel was assigned to the Commission -on the 25th of April. Provisional engagements -had previously been made, in -New York and Philadelphia, with the persons -afterwards employed as her hospital -company. These were telegraphed for, the -moment the order was received, and the -refitting of the ship commenced,—at which -point we turn to the narratives of those -engaged in the work.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_xv'>xv</span></div> -<div class='ph1'> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='sc'>Hospital Transports.</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_xvi'>xvi</span> - <h2 id='CONTENTS' class='c009'>TABLE OF CONTENTS</h2> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-b c010'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><a href='#DEDICATION'>DEDICATION.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#INTRODUCTION'>INTRODUCTION.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#I'>CHAPTER I.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#II'>CHAPTER II.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#III'>CHAPTER III.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#IV'>CHAPTER IV.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#V'>CHAPTER V.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#VI'>CHAPTER VI.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#A'>APPENDIX A.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#B'>APPENDIX B.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#C'>APPENDIX C.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#D'>APPENDIX D.</a></div> - <div class='line'><a href='#NOTES'>TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES</a></div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_17'>17</span> - <h2 id='I' class='c004'>CHAPTER I.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-r c011'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>(A.) Hospital Transport <em>Daniel Webster</em>,</div> - <div class='line in8'>Cheeseman's Creek, April 30, 1862.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>I received General Meigs's order under which -this ship came into our hands on Friday. She -was then at Alexandria, and could not be got -over the shoals to Washington. It was not till -near night that I was able to get a lighter, and -this, after one trip, was taken off to carry reinforcements -to McDowell at Fredericksburg. I -succeeded before daylight of Saturday in getting -a tug at work, and by the next morning, Sunday, -had her hold full. At eleven o'clock got -the hospital company on board, but the commissaries -failed in their engagements, and at last -I had to send off a foraging-party at Alexandria -for beef. Finally at four o'clock, D., who had -gone after E., and E., who had gone after beef, -arrived simultaneously from different directions. -With E. came the beef, and we at once got -under way.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_18'>18</span>We had six medical students, twenty men -nurses (volunteers all), four surgeons, four ladies, -a dozen contrabands (field hands), three -carpenters, and half a dozen miscellaneous passengers. -There were, besides, five of us members -of the Sanitary Commission and of the -central staff, with one of the Philadelphia associates, -eight military officers, ninety soldiers -(convalescents, returning to their regiments), -some quartermaster's mechanics, and a short -ship's crew and officers. The ship has a house -aft, with state-rooms for thirty, and an old-fashioned -packet-saloon below, with state-rooms -opening out of it; and all forward of the engine-rooms, -a big steerage, or "'tween decks," -which had been fitted with shelves, some of -them fifteen feet deep, in which the soldiers -had been carried to the Peninsula, packed in -layers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I organized all our Commission people at -sunset on Sunday, in two watches, sea-fashion; -appointed watch-officers, and have worked since, -night and day, refitting ship. We broke up all -the transport arrangements,—they were in a -filthy condition,—thoroughly scraped, washed, -and scrubbed the whole ship from stem to stern, -inside and out; whitewashed the steerage; -knocked away the bulkheads of the wings of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_19'>19</span>the engine-room section, so as to get a thorough -draft from stem to stern; then set to fitting and -furnishing new bunks; started a new house on -deck, forward; made and fitted an apothecary's -shop; and when we arrived at Cheeseman's -Creek were ready for patients.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(M.) It was a bright day, the river peaceful -and shining. Just as we started, the little gunboat -<em>Yankee</em> passed up, bringing, all on a -string, five rebel craft which she had just taken -in the Rappahannock. Late in the afternoon -we passed the "stone fleet," eight boats, all -ready to sink in the channel, in case the <em>Merrimack</em> -should try to run up the Potomac. The -rebels having taken up all the buoys, at dark we -had to come to anchor.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Sunday, the first day, was gone. As for us, -we had spent it, sitting on deck, sewing upon a -hospital flag, fifteen by eight, and singing hymns -to take the edge off of this secular occupation. -Just after we had anchored, a chaplain was discovered -among the soldiers; and in half an hour we -got together for service, and an "unprepared" -discourse upon charity, much like unprepared -discourses in general. Quite another thing was -the singing of the contrabands, who all came in -and stood in a row so black, at the dark end -<span class='pageno' id='Page_20'>20</span>of the cabin, that I could see neither eyes nor -teeth. But they sung heartily, and everybody -followed them.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(A.) <em>Cheeseman's Creek.</em>—I went ashore to -report our arrival to the Medical Director. On -our way up the harbor,—a shallow river-mouth, -with low, pine-covered banks, in which there are -now about four hundred steamboats and small -transport-craft,—I hailed the steamboat <em>Daniel -Webster</em> No. 2, which carries the —— Regiment -New York Volunteers, and let the Colonel -know that his wife was among our nurses. This -morning I received his acknowledgments in the -form of a check for $1,000 for the Commission, -accompanied by what was still better, a note of -the most hearty and appreciative recognition of -what the Commission had done for the relief of -the soldiers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Picking our way among all the craft, and keeping -out of the way of the tugs and tenders which -were flying about, we landed on a large meadow -where were a number of wall-tents, one labelled -"Office of Quartermaster's Department"; another, -"Telegraph Office"; another, "Post-Office"; -another, "Office of Land Transportation"; -another, "Harbor-Master," &c., &c. -One contained a number of prisoners, brought -<span class='pageno' id='Page_21'>21</span>in the day before, and, of course, well-guarded. -Ordnance and forage barges lay along the shore, -with a few big guns, and piles of shot and shell, -just landed. The ground was crowded;—orderlies -holding horses; lounging, dirty soldiers; -idlers and fatigue-parties at work in relays; sentries; -Quartermaster's people, white and black; -and a hundred army wagons loading with forage -and biscuit-boxes from the barges. I went at -once to Colonel Ingalls, at the Quartermaster's -office. He was kind, prompt, decisive; horses -were ordered for us, and we soon rode off through -a swamp-forest, the air full of the roar of falling -trees and the shouts of teamsters and working-parties -of soldiers, the former trying to navigate -their wagons, and the latter making corduroy -roads for them. The original country roads had -all been used up; it was difficult even to ford -across them, when we had occasion to do so, on -horseback. The army wagons, each drawn by -six mules, and with very light loads, were jerked -about frightfully. We passed many wrecks, and -some horses which had sunk and been smothered. -Some wagons were loaded with gun-beds -and heavy rope screens for embrasures; and we -saw eight or ten mortars, each on a truck by -itself, and drawn by from sixteen to twenty-four -horses. At the first open ground we found cavalry -<span class='pageno' id='Page_22'>22</span>exercising; then a cavalry camp, then a bit -of wood, then rising dry ground, and our road -ran through more camps. Then, coming in the -midst of these camps, to the crest of a low swell, -we opened suddenly a grand view of the valley -of York River, a country something like the -valley of the Raritan, at Eagleswood and opposite, -but with less wood, more piny and more -diversified, the river much broader, a mile and a -half, perhaps, across. On the slope before us—nearly -flat, with an inclination toward the river—was -a space of several hundred acres, clear land, -and a camp for some twenty to forty thousand -men; shelter-tents, and all alive. It was a -magnificent scene, the camp and all beyond, as -we came upon it suddenly—right into it, at full -gallop. The military "effect" was heightened -now and then by a crashing report of artillery.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In the midst of the camp we came upon a -long rack,—a pole on crotched sticks,—at -which were fastened a score or more of horses. -"We must stop here," said Dr. C. "They don't -let you ride in." And that was all to show that -we had reached Head-quarters.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was an aristocratic quarter of the town, -when you came to look at the clean tents and -turf, but there were no flags or signs to distinguish -it. We walked to the tent of the Medical -<span class='pageno' id='Page_23'>23</span>Director, and just then there came another of -those crashing reports. "They have been keeping -that up all night," said the Doctor. "That -isn't the enemy?" "Yes." "Is he so near?" -"O yes! we are quite within range here."</p> - -<p class='c000'>The medical arrangements seem to be deplorably -insufficient. The Commission is at this -time actually distributing daily of hospital supplies -much more than the government.<a id='r2' /><a href='#f2' class='c008'><sup>[2]</sup></a></p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f2'> -<p class='c000'><span class='label'><a href='#r2'>2</a>. </span>See Appendix A.</p> -</div> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(B.) <em>May 1st.</em> No patients on board yet; -ship getting a final polish. Got up early and -found the <em>Elizabeth</em> coming along-side for -stores. The Commission has here at present, -besides the <em>Daniel Webster</em>, one or two store-ships, -and the <em>Wilson Small</em>, a boat of light -draught, fitted up as a little hospital, to run up -creeks and bring down sick and wounded to the -transports. She is under the care of Dr. C., -and has her little supply of hospital clothing, -beds, food, &c., always ready for chance service. -There is also a well-supplied storehouse -ashore.</p> - -<p class='c000'>In sight are the abandoned rebel quarters at -Shipping Point, now used as hospitals by one of -our divisions; a number of log-huts finely built, -but on low and filthy ground, surrounded by -<span class='pageno' id='Page_24'>24</span>earthworks, which are rained on half the time -and fiercely shone on the other half, and from -which are exhaling deadly vapors all the time, -a death-place for scores of our men who are -piled in there, covered with vermin, dying with -their uniforms on and collars up,—dying of -fever....</p> - -<p class='c000'>I attended this afternoon to the systematic -arrangement of the commissariat stores down -aft, sent a telegram for more supplies to Baltimore, -arranged for stowing the contrabands -and putting bunks in the new deck-ward, and -then put two ladies and a nice supply of oranges, -tea, lemons, wine, &c., &c. on a small -boat, and started them with —— to Ship Point -Hospital, where four poor fellows died last -night. Of course there is that vitally important -medical etiquette to observe, here as elsewhere, -and we must approach carefully, when we would -not frustrate our own plans;—and so it is. -"——, suppose you go ashore and ask whether -it will be agreeable to have the ladies come over -and visit the hospital,—just to walk through and -talk with the men." So the ladies have gone "to -talk with the men," with spirit-lamps, and farina, -and lemons, and brandy, and clean clothes, and -expect to have an improving conversation. After -the party was off, sent orders to Fort Monroe -<span class='pageno' id='Page_25'>25</span>for special supplies; received Dr. Tripler, who -dined with us; furnished wine, tea, bread, to a -surgeon who had been told that the Commission's -flag was flying here, and had come seven -miles across the swamps, and rowed out to us -in a small boat to try for these things.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(M.) By dark the <em>Wilson Small</em> came along-side -with our first patients, thirty-five in number, -who were carefully lifted on board and swung -through the hatches on their stretchers. In half -an hour they had all been tea'd and coffeed and -refreshed by the nurses, and shortly after were all -undressed and put to bed clean and comfortable, -and in a droll state of grateful wonder; the bad -cases of fever furnished with sponges and cologne-water -for bathing, and wine and water or -brandy-toddy for drinking, and a man to watch -them, and ward-masters up and down the wards, -and a young doctor in the apothecary's shop, -and to-day (May 3d) they are all better....</p> - -<p class='c000'>Meantime additional supplies arrived from -Washington, Baltimore, and Fortress Monroe, -and a surgeon and nurses of our company were -busy daily on shore at the Ship Point Hospital, -dispensing stores, and doing what they could for -the poor fellows there, who seemed to us in -want of everything.... One hundred and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_26'>26</span>ninety patients have now come on board; eighteen -miles some of them say they have been -brought in the ambulances (large statement of -exhausted fellows jolted over corduroy roads).... -We ladies arrange our days into three -watches, and then a promiscuous one for any -of us, as the night work may demand, after eight -o'clock. Take Sunday, for instance.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It was ——'s and ——'s watch from seven to -twelve. So they were up and had hot breakfast -ready in our pantry, which is amidships between -the forward and aft wards; ward-masters on the -port and starboard sides for each ward, to watch -the distribution of the food, and no promiscuous -rushing about allowed; the number for coffee -and the number for tea marked in the ward diet-books -under the head of Breakfast, and the -number for house-diet, or for beef-tea and toddy, -&c., marked also; so that when the Hospital company -learns to count straight,—an achievement -of some difficulty, apparently,—there will be no -opportunity for confusion. After breakfast we -all assembled in the forward or sickest ward, -and Dr. G. read the simple prayers for those at -sea and for the sick. Our whole company and -all the patients were together. It was good to -have the service then and there. Our poor sick -fellows lay all about us in their beds and listened -<span class='pageno' id='Page_27'>27</span>quietly. As the prayer for the dying was finished, -a soldier close by the Doctor had ended -his strife.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After twelve, our watch came on, and till four -we gave out clean clothes, handkerchiefs, cologne, -clothes to the nurses, and served the dinner, consulting -the diet-books again. The house-diet, -which was all distributed from our pantry, was -nice thick soup and rice-pudding, and we made, -over our spirit-lamps, the beef-tea and gruels for -special cases. So with little cares came four -o'clock, and with it clean hands and our own -dinner; after which the other two ladies came -on for the last watch, which included tea. Then -there was beef-tea and punch to be made for -use during the night; and so the day for us -ended with our sitting in the pantry and talking -over evils to be remedied, and should the soiled -clothes be sewed up in canvas-bags and trailed -behind the ship, or hung at the stern, or headed -up in barrels and steam-washed when the ship -got in? We crawled up into our bunks that -night amid a tremendous firing of big guns, and -woke up in the morning to the announcement -that Yorktown was evacuated.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(M.) While we were lying anchored off Ship -Point, down in the Gulf, New Orleans had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_28'>28</span>surrendered quietly, and round the corner from -us Fort Macon had been taken. What was it -all to us, so long as the beef-tea was ready at the -right moment?</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_29'>29</span> - <h2 id='II' class='c004'>CHAPTER II.</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>(A.) <em>May 5th.</em> On Sunday the <em>Ocean Queen</em>, -coming up from Old Point, grounded about -five miles off the harbor, and I went down -and put a few beds and men on board to -assume a footing. She had been brought to -Old Point with the intention of using her to -amuse the <em>Merrimack</em>, and had therefore been -stripped of everything not necessary to the subsistence -of the small crew.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(M.) On the way back, at eight in the evening, -found that a great part of the army fleet, -three hundred or more steamboats full of life, -all before scattered for miles about the harbor, -had been collected in close order and steam -up. A number of heavy steamers swept past -also, each with a tow a quarter of a mile long, -making on the dark evening a long line of light -and life. It was strange to see these floating -cities melt away; the colored lights from the -rigging going out one by one, and the bands -and bugle-calls growing faint and far.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_30'>30</span>(A.) I had sent the <em>Webster</em> to sea, and with -Mrs. —— and sister, B., and some two or three -others, started in the <em>Small</em> to go to the telegraph -and mail, and to bury the body of a -patient who had died in the night. It was -raining hard. When we reached the shore -there was no post-office, no telegraph,—nothing -of the military station left, except some -wagons and transports. Our storehouse was a -mile back. I left a portion of our party to move -the goods from it on board the barge, and started -in the <em>Small</em> for Yorktown, to which I presumed -Head-quarters would have been moved. On getting -out of the harbor, we saw that the <em>Queen</em> -was under way. It turned out that she had -been ordered to Yorktown by the Harbor-Master. -As she was lying-to, to sound the channel, -we came up with her, and I went on board, after -which—the <em>Small</em> going ahead to feel the way—we -had a magnificent sail to Yorktown, the -river so full of vessels that it was like getting up -the Thames, only the lead was constantly going, -"By the mark, five! A quarter less six!" and -so on. Noble river! and a noble ship! Ahead, -above all the fleet of three hundred transports, -there were a dozen men-of-war. With our hospital -flag at the fore, we slowly but boldly passed -through the squadron, and came to anchor, the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_31'>31</span>biggest ship of all, in the advance,—only one -gunboat, as a picket-guard, being above us. I -went ashore with the Captain and the young -men, but could find no telegraph, and no officer -of the general staff; and as many men had been -killed and wounded by the torpedo-traps,—infernal -machines set by the rebels,—we were not -allowed to enter the fortified lines of Yorktown. -So, picking up a hospital cot and stretcher left -by the enemy, I took boat again to return to -the ship, leaving the Captain and others ashore. -As I pulled out through the vessels at the wharf, -I saw to my surprise two small "stern-wheel" -steamboats coming along-side the <em>Queen</em>, one on -each side. Hastening on board, I found that -these boats were loaded with sick men, whom -an officer in charge was about to throw off upon -the <em>Queen</em>. They were the sick of regiments -which had been ordered suddenly forward last -night, and which were at this very moment engaged -in the battle of Williamsburg; we could -hear the roar of artillery. They had been sent -during the night by ambulances to the shore of -Wormley's Creek, where a large number had -been left, the officer assured me, lying on the -ground in the rain, without food or attendance. -His orders were to take them upon the "stern-wheelers," -as many as both would carry, find -<span class='pageno' id='Page_32'>32</span>the <em>Ocean Queen</em>, and put them upon her. I -protested. The <em>Queen</em> at present was a mere -hulk, without beds, bedding, or food even for -her crew, and without a surgeon. It was obvious -that the men were, many of them, very ill. -Some were, in fact, in a dying state.</p> - -<p class='c000'>They were largely typhoid-fever patients; and -having been for twenty-four hours without -nourishment, wet from exposure to the storm, -and many of them racked by the motion of the -ambulances over those frightful swamp corduroy -roads (which I described the other day) into -delirium, I was sure that many would die if -they long failed to receive most careful medical -treatment, with stimulants, nourishment, and -warmth, no one of which could at that time be -got for them on the <em>Queen</em>. The officer, however, -insisted. I determined to go ashore to -look for a surgeon, or if possible to find Colonel -Ingalls, the transport quartermaster, a gentleman, -and a most energetic and sagacious officer. -I put the two ship's officers each at a gangway, -with instructions to let no one come on board -till I returned, and to use force, if necessary. I -found a surgeon—a civilian—who was willing -to help us, and pulled back, finding to my disgust, -when I reached the ship, that the miserable -first officer had given way, and every man -<span class='pageno' id='Page_33'>33</span>who could walk of the patients had been taken -on board. The glorious women had hunted out -a barrel containing some Indian meal from some -dark place where it had been lost sight of, in the -depths of the ship, and were already ladling out -hot gruel, which they had made of it; and the -poor, pale, emaciated, shivering wretches were -lying anywhere, on the cabin floors, crying with -sobbing, trembling voices, "God bless you, -Miss! God bless you!" as it was given to them -from the ship's deck-buckets. I never saw such -misery or such gratitude. My rebel stretcher -came at once in play, and, after distributing -forty dollars among the half-mutinous, superstitious, -beastly Portuguese crew and pantry -servants, I got them at work bringing on the -patients who were too feeble to be led on board. -It was a slow and tedious process. By the blessing -of God, before it was over, B., with Dr. -Ware,—the two very best men I ever saw for -such an emergency,—came with the <em>Elizabeth</em> -from Cheeseman's Creek, and the Captain with -the students from the shore. There were straw, -bed-sacks and blankets, besides stimulants and -medicines, on the <em>Elizabeth</em>, and the Captain's -authority soon added all the ship's force to -the working party on her, filling beds and hoisting -out bales of blankets. B. went on shore, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_34'>34</span>found a rebel cow at pasture, shot her, and -brought off the beef, with another surgeon. By -ten o'clock at night, every sick man was in a -warm bed, and had received medical treatment; -and beef-tea and milk-punch had been served -to all who required it. But for three of them -even the women could do nothing but pray, and -close their eyes.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At half past ten, I went aboard the <em>Small</em>, intending -to run to Fortress Monroe for additional -supplies. It was stormy and thick, and I could -not induce the Captain to go out till daylight. -We reached Old Point about nine, A. M. I got -breakfast in the hotel, and then to Head-quarters. -While in the telegraph-room, a message was -received, which was whispered between the operators; -a minute afterwards a gun was fired, and -the long roll beat; the infantry fell in on the -parade, the artillery hurried to the ramparts and -manned the heavy guns, and powder-carts were -moving up the inclines. I asked, "What's all -this?" "Telegram from Newport's News that -the <em>Merrimack</em> is coming out!" She did not -come beyond Sewall's Point, however.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The boat from Baltimore brought six excellent -New York surgeons, twenty-six nurses, and ten -surgical dressers (medical students). I got them -all on the <em>Small</em>, and having succeeded in obtaining -<span class='pageno' id='Page_35'>35</span>the more important supplies in limited -quantities, at noon left for Yorktown. On -reaching here we found the "stern-wheelers" -again along-side, and over three hundred patients -on board; many very sick indeed, some -delirious, some comatose, some fairly <i><span lang="la" xml:lang="la">in articulo</span></i>. -The assistant surgeons, left behind at the abandoned -camps, are too anxious to be rid of -them, so as to move with their regiments, and -have surgery of war. And as their orders authorize -it, they hurry them off to us in this style, -after a day's ride in army wagons, without -springs, over such a country without roads as I -described last week. They were horribly filthy, -and there was no time to clean them, often not -to undress them, as, sick and fainting, they were -lifted on board.</p> - -<p class='c000'>About noon the next day I completed a hospital -organization of such forces as I had, dividing -the cabins and the upper steerage of the -ship into five wards, for the bad cases, each -ward having one surgeon, two ward-masters, -and four nurses,—the two latter classes in -watches; besides these, some assistant nurses -and servants, convalescent soldiers, and contrabands. -In these wards only the very sick—chiefly -cases of typhoid fever—were taken. -By cutting away bulkheads, and getting wind-sails -<span class='pageno' id='Page_36'>36</span>rigged, they were fairly well ventilated. I -had to offer $200 for the repair of damages -before this could be secured, however. All the -rest of the ship was the sixth ward, in which -the hernias, rheumatisms, bronchitises, lame and -worn-out men were placed, organized in squads -of fifty each, with a squad-master to draw their -rations of house-diet.</p> - -<p class='c000'>To get proper food for all, decently cooked -and distributed, has given me more concern -than anything else. The ship servants are -brutes, and our supply of utensils was cruelly -short. Fortunately the Captain is a good-hearted -and resolute man, and the ladies—God -knows what we should have done without them!—have -contrived to make some chafing-dishes -with which the kitchen is pieced out wonderfully. -Just think of it for a moment. Here -were one hundred miserably sick and dying -men, forced upon us before we had been an -hour on board; and tug after tug swarming -round the great ship, before we had a nail out -of a box, and when there were but ten pounds of -Indian meal and two spoons to feed them with. -No account could do justice to the faithful industry -of the medical students and young men: -how we all got through with it, I hardly know; -but one idea is distinct,—that every man had a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_37'>37</span>good place to sleep in, and something hot to -eat daily, and that the sickest had every essential -that could have been given them in their -own homes....</p> - -<p class='c000'>B. was all this time driving everything to -obtain supplies, while the sick kept coming -faster than we could get anything ready for -them. The last thing essential was more beef. -B. at length got hold of a couple of draught -cattle of Franklin's division, left behind in their -advance by steamboats, and while these were -being killed and dressed, we filled up to nine -hundred patients.</p> - -<p class='c000'>To avoid having more pushed on board, I -had the Captain heave short; so the moment -that B.'s boat came, and the beef could be -hoisted up, the steamer was under way, and -before night, no doubt, was well out to sea.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I then went on board the <em>Small</em> to drop -down, quite ill for the time from want of sleep -and from fatigue. A few hours' rest and a quiet -dinner brought me all right, however, and at -sunset I set out with B. to look after the sick -ashore.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>One of the strange effects, upon all concerned -as workers on these hospital ships, in the heart -<span class='pageno' id='Page_38'>38</span>of all misery and pain, and part of it, seems -to have been the quieting of all excitement -of feeling and of expression,—a sort of apparent -stoicism granted for the occasion. A slight -illustration of this quietness, which was characteristic -of most of the hospital party, is given -in the following passage from a letter of one -of the ladies on the <em>Ocean Queen</em>:—</p> - -<p class='c000'>"It seems a strange thing that the sight of -such misery, such death in life, should have -been accepted by us all so quietly as it was. -We were simply eyes and hands for those three -days. Great, strong men were dying about us; -in nearly every ward some one was going. Yesterday -one of the students called me to go with -him and say whether I had taken the name of -a dead man in the forward cabin the day he -came in. He was a strong, handsome fellow, -raving mad when brought in, and lying now, -the day after, with pink cheeks and peaceful -look. I had tried to get his name, and once he -seemed to understand, and screeched out at the -top of his voice, 'John H. Miller,' but whether -it was his own name or that of some friend he -wanted, I don't know; we could not find out. -All the record I had of him was from my diet-list: -'Miller,—forward cabin, port side, number -119. Beef-tea and punch.'</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_39'>39</span>"Last night Dr. Ware came to me to know -how much floor-room we had. The immense saloon -of the aft cabin was filled with mattresses -so thickly placed that there was hardly stepping-room -between them, and as I swung my lantern -along the rows of pale faces, it showed me -another strong man dead. N. had been working -hard over him, but it was useless. He -opened his eyes when she called 'Henry' -clearly in his ear, and gave her a chance to pour -brandy down his throat; but all did no good; -he died quietly while she was helping some one -else, and my lantern showed him gone. We -are changed by all this contact with terror, else -how could I deliberately turn my lantern on his -face, and say to the doctor behind me, 'Is that -man dead?' and then stand coolly while he -examined him, listened, and pronounced him -'dead.' I could not have quietly said a year -ago, 'That will make one more bed, then, Doctor.' -Sick men were waiting on deck in the cold, -though, and every few feet of cabin floor were -precious. So they took the dead man out, and -put him to sleep in his coffin on deck. We had -to climb over another soldier lying up there -quiet as he, to get at the blankets to keep the -living warm."</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_40'>40</span>The business of feeding men by hundreds at -short notice, in confined spaces, and with the aid -of very limited cooking facilities, is one which can -hardly be appreciated by those who have only -heard, not seen, how it is accomplished. It takes -good heads as well as good hearts, strong will -as well as strong limbs, to avoid ruinous confusion. -After a battle, when men are brought in -so rapidly that they have to be piled in almost -without reference to their being human beings, -and every one raving for drink first and then for -nourishment, it requires strong nerves to be able -to attend to them properly. Habit and system -are the two great aids,—or rather system first of -all, if possible; though system in such cases grows -out of experience. Happily system has ruled in -the work of the Sanitary Commission, and such -success as has attended its operations is chiefly -due to this, as every one must have observed -who had an opportunity to witness the difference -between its doings and those having the same -end in view, but carried on without well-studied -or sufficiently comprehensive plans.</p> - -<p class='c000'>But in these Atlantic Floating Hospitals the -difficulties were very great. The desideratum is -a practicable diet, simple yet nourishing, abundant -and not injurious; always ready, yet varied -enough to avoid the danger of satiety, which is -<span class='pageno' id='Page_41'>41</span>ever threatening the sick man, whose chance -of recovery may hang on his ability to eat his -food with relish. In this arduous part of the -Hospital Transport duty, the ladies were able to -be especially useful; their sympathy and good -judgment coming constantly in play, and the -supply of fruits, jellies, and a variety of delicacies -being generally so liberal as to afford full -scope to their powers. But in dealing with -hundreds and thousands of men, many of whom -are not particularly in danger, but yet obliged to -lie in beds for wounds to heal, it is necessary to -provide on a scale so large as puts mere delicacies, -or the ordinary resources of the sick-room, -quite out of the question. It is utterly futile to -attempt treating each one of four or five hundred -patients as if we had him alone in a private -family; and patients, as well as nurses and -friends, must learn this after very little experience. -But it is practicable here, as elsewhere, -to accomplish much that is beneficial and -comfortable by judicious system firmly carried -out. To avoid collisions, and vain attempts to -perform impossibilities, after a short experience, -but careful study of what was really needed, -rules were established which proved in practice -nearly perfect in the matter of preventing delay -and disappointment, while the result satisfied the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_42'>42</span>patients in general quite as well as we can hope -to satisfy sick men who have fitful appetites. -As the suggestion may prove applicable to other -cases, the established routine is given in full in -the Appendix (B.)</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_43'>43</span> - <h2 id='III' class='c004'>CHAPTER III.</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>Just before the <em>Ocean Queen</em> left, a reinforcement -of ladies and servants arrived from New -York. A part of these were put on the <em>Queen</em>; -temporary quarters were found for the remainder -on the <em>Wilson Small</em>. Sick men were at this -time being carted into Yorktown from the various -abandoned camps in the vicinity, and the -Sanitary party going on shore after the departure -of the <em>Queen</em>, these were found lying in tiers -in the muddy streets, while tents were being -pitched and houses cleared for their accommodation. -Several wagon-loads of hospital supplies -were sent to them from the store-boats of the -Commission; twenty-five dollars were given to -the surgeon in charge, to be used to stimulate -the exertions of his limited force of attendants, -and for the purchase of odds and ends, and he -was informed that, if more should be required, -it would be provided by the Commission, and -then the company started on their little boat for -West Point, where a battle was reported in progress.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_44'>44</span>(M.) <em>West Point, May 9th.</em>—We arrived here -early this morning. The whole field of battle is -open like a map before us. A white flag flies -from a small house just below us. We are -along-side a transport on which an officer was -yesterday wounded by a shell thrown from a -battery which had been concealed behind this -house, upon which the same flag was then flying. -Another transport near us has a shot-hole -through her smoke-stack. There are three or -four thousand men along the shore, and more -constantly arriving and disembarking by the -pontoons, with artillery and horses. As I write, -a blue column is moving off, the bayonets -glistening far into the woods. We are sending -off small stores, called for by the Commission's -Inspectors ashore, who are visiting the extemporized -hospitals, and are also supplying some of -the gunboats' sick-bays with fruits and ice.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Just here a steamboat, loaded with sick and -wounded, came along-side of us; a transport, -made use of as a hospital on the occasion, but -needing almost everything.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The more dangerously wounded upon this -transport were transferred to the <em>Small</em>, and -three ladies, with surgical dressers and servants, -beef-tea, lemonade, ice, and stimulants, went to -the assistance of the others, remaining with -<span class='pageno' id='Page_45'>45</span>them till, after a transshipment at Yorktown, they -were lodged in shore hospitals at Fortress Monroe.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(A.) The <em>Small</em> received the dangerous -cases, several of amputation among them; the -operations had been performed on the field. -One died at midnight. I had great difficulty, at -first, in our now very crowded little boat, in -restraining individual zeal within the requirements -of order and tranquillity; but I believe -I succeeded, and as soon as the women began -to experience the value of the discipline, they -fell into it finely, and all behaved in the best -manner possible. I put those on our boat in -watches, rigidly excluding from that part of the -boat where the wounded men were placed all -who were not absolutely required on duty. The -poor fellows were nearly all soon coaxed asleep, -and the man who died passed away, and his -body was removed without its being known to -his nearest neighbor. We had on board Dr. -Ware and two of the students, noble young -fellows, zealous, orderly, and discreet.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I think all the men who have any chance for -recovery look better this morning. One man -(amputation of thigh) who seemed nearly gone -when he came on board, staring wildly, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_46'>46</span>muttering unintelligibly, lifted his hand toward -me as I came into the cabin this morning; and -smiled when I bent over him. The nurse told -me that he said to her on waking from a sound -sleep, just at sunrise, "You have saved my life -for my wife, good woman." There are several -officers among them; one a hero, who led his -company against a regiment, pushing it back, -but losing one fifth of his men, and getting a -shot through the lungs. There is Corporal -C——, too, who has lost his leg, and who says -he bears no malice against the man who shot -him, but he hopes some day to meet and punish -the wretch who kicked him on his wounded leg, -after he was laid helpless.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(M.) <em>May 11th.</em>—Three of our wounded -men died during the night. Everything was -done for them; they could not have had more -care in their own homes. Our little boat is so -crowded that the well sleep on the upper deck, -all under cover being occupied by the wounded; -and, the small outfit of china, etc. being needed -for the sick, we take our meat and potatoes on -slices of bread for plates, and make the top of -a stove our domestic board.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_47'>47</span>As intelligence had come through telegraph -from Washington that the <em>Ocean Queen</em> had -been taken on her arrival at New York, against -all remonstrance, for other purposes, the <em>S. -R. Spaulding</em>, a large, seaworthy vessel, though -lamentably inferior for a hospital to the magnificent -<em>Ocean Queen</em>, was obtained in her place. -She was fitted for carrying cavalry, with stalls for -horses, and at this time filled with stable odor, -and needed coal and water as well as complete -interior reconstruction.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The <em>Daniel Webster</em>, arriving at Yorktown on -her return from New York, could not get into the -wharf-berth which had been secured for her near -the hospital; a tug was consequently procured, -which being run alternately with the <em>Small</em>, -between sunset and twelve o'clock at night, two -hundred and forty sick and wounded were taken -off and put comfortably to bed. After this her -hospital service was reorganized so as to transfer -from her all the force that could possibly be -spared, and to put on her any of the company -whom it was necessary to part with. An estimate -was made of the stores requisite for her -home trip, and at daylight what she could spare -was put on board the <em>Small</em>, and she steamed -off on her second trip to New York, eighteen -hours after she arrived. Everything is noted as -<span class='pageno' id='Page_48'>48</span>going on admirably in the loading of the <em>Webster</em>, -each man knowing his place, and not trying -to do the duty of others. The discipline -maintained by Dr. Grymes was most satisfactory, -and the corps of ladies and nurses work as if -they had been doing this thing wisely and well -all their lives.<a id='r3' /><a href='#f3' class='c008'><sup>[3]</sup></a></p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f3'> -<p class='c000'><span class='label'><a href='#r3'>3</a>. </span>Since the above was written, we have heard with deep -regret of the death of Dr. Grymes. Wherever he served, -his labors were singularly wise and efficient; with exceeding -gentleness and quietness of manner he combined much -energy of will, and to thorough skill was added a loving -heart, and a rare devotedness of purpose.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>At 9 A. M., the <em>Webster</em> started on her second -trip, and there was time to look after the -other vessels which were being fitted for the -service. One company had been put at work -on the <em>Elm City</em>, and another on the <em>Knickerbocker</em>, -both these river boats having been handed -over by the Quartermaster's Department to the -Commission, to be fitted for hospital service. -Stores had also been ordered to the <em>State of -Maine</em>, a government hospital in need. All was -found proceeding well with the limited force on -the <em>Elm City</em>; but the <em>Knickerbocker</em>, where was -she?</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(M.) <em>Steamboat Knickerbocker, May 13th.</em>—If -my letter smells of Yellow B, it has a right -<span class='pageno' id='Page_49'>49</span>to, as my paper is the cover of the sugar-box. -Since I last wrote, we have been jerking about -from boat to boat, fitting up one, and starting -her off, then doing the same by another. We -came on board this boat Saturday night. She -had then about two hundred wounded men on -board, taken from the Williamsburg fight, and -bound for Fort Monroe, two of the ladies and -assistants to look after the sick during the few -hours' run, and others to get things on hand, -and fit up the wards. We had fifty-six Commission -beds made on the upper ward floor that -night, and were ready to go on shore at Fort -Monroe after the three and a half hours from -Yorktown. Dr. C. came on board and had -all the men carefully removed to the Hygeia -Hospital, and we improved the opportunity to -get some roses from the garden for our wounded -men left on the <em>Small</em>, and to see Mr. Lincoln -driving past to take possession of Norfolk. We -lay at the fort all night, and were blown awake -the next morning by the explosion of the <em>Merrimack</em>, -when I found to my amazement that -along-side of us lay the <em>Daniel Webster</em>, No. 2, -Government hospital, with four or five of our -Commission company on board, whom we had -left at Yorktown. She ran, in passing, along-side -our supply ships, (all our boats of the Sanitary -<span class='pageno' id='Page_50'>50</span>Commission are known by their flags,) just after -we came away, and begged for help. Mr. A. -tossed on board everything necessary, including -two ladies, two surgeons, and blankets, and -started them off after us to the Fortress, with -two hundred badly wounded men. They had -been wholly uncared for till our people got on -board. They did all they could for them in so -short a time, washed them, gave them good suppers -and breakfasts, and Drs. W. and W. dressed -the worst wounds, watching them all night as -tenderly as women could. This boat was all the -next day unloading her sick; they were miserably -wounded, and had to be lifted with great -care. We on the <em>Knickerbocker</em> started up the -river again, and anchored off Yorktown.... -We wanted a stove for our hospital kitchen on -board, which has to be kept distinct from the -kitchen of the ship's crew; so we went ashore -with —— to seize upon anything we could find; -poked about in all the rebel barracks, asked all -the soldiers we met about it, and finally came -upon the sutler's hut,—sutler of the <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Enfans -Perdus</span></i>, who was cooking something nice for -the officers' mess over a stove with <em>four</em> places -for pots! This was too much to stand, so under -a written authority given to "Dr. Olmsted" -by the Quartermaster of this department, we proceeded -<span class='pageno' id='Page_51'>51</span>to rake out the sutler's fire and lift his -pots off;—and he offered us his cart and mule -to drag the stove to the boat, and would take no -pay! So, through the wretched town, filled with -the <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">débris</span></i> of huts and camp furniture, old blankets, -dirty cast-off clothing, smashed gun-carriages, -exploded guns, vermin and filth everywhere,—and -along the sandy shore covered -with cannon-balls, tossed into the river, and -rolled back,—we followed the mule, a triumphant -procession, waving our broken bits of -stove-pipe and iron pot-covers. I left a polite -message for the "Colonel <span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">perdu</span>,"—which had -to stand him in place of his lost dinner,—and I -shall never understand what was the matter with -that sutler, whose self-sacrifice secured our three -hundred men their meals promptly.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The next morning the <em>Knickerbocker</em>, to the -surprise of the Commission, was not to be found. -They searched the fleet twice through for us, -but in vain, and finally heard at the Quartermaster's -office, that a requisition had been received -at midnight for a boat to go at once to the -advance of the army, on the Pamunkey River, -and the <em>Knickerbocker</em> had been taken for it, -the fact of her having been assigned to the -Commission being entirely forgotten. The only -mitigation of the anxieties of those who remained, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_52'>52</span>for the ladies on board, was the assurance -that the boat would soon return. Meantime, -we, on board, sailed up the Pamunkey, -getting a fine chance to perfect the hospital -arrangements. We unpacked tins and clothing, -filled a linen closet in each ward, had beds put -in order for three hundred, got up our stove, set -kitchen in order, filled store closets, and arranged -a black-hole with a lock to it, where oranges -grow, and brandy and wine are stored box upon -box; and on reaching Franklin's head-quarters, -the messenger transacted his business, we landed -a file of soldiers and a surgeon of the division, -who had shown us great kindness on the voyage, -and were allowed to push off again unmolested. -The army lay all along the shore, and General -Franklin's head-quarters were in a large -storehouse back from the river. We found on -our return to Yorktown every one at work fitting -up the <em>Spaulding</em>.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>An order had been obtained from the Quartermaster -for the planks and boards of some -rebel platforms, with which to put up bunks, -etc., and a gang of contrabands were set at the -business. While this was going on, a visit was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_53'>53</span>made to the surgeon in charge of the shore hospitals, -with whom, after debate, it was agreed -that the <em>Elm City</em> should be made ready by two -o'clock to take on the sick who were waiting -transport near the shore. The <em>State of Maine</em> -was at the same time to be supplied and made -ready to follow without delay. Going on board -the <em>Small</em> again to carry out these arrangements, -A. was met by a note from the Quartermaster -enclosing a telegram from the Medical Director -of the army at Williamsburg, demanding a -boat provided with "<em>straw and water to be ready -to take on two hundred sick and wounded within -two hours at Queen's Creek</em>." The despatch concluded, -"This is of the utmost urgency. See -the Sanitary Commission." The only boat in -the fleet that had a fair supply of water on -board was the <em>Elm City</em>, already assigned for -other duty, and she had no stores of food. -There was about one day's supply of provisions -for two hundred men on the <em>Small</em>, and -A. wrote at once to the surgeon in charge of -the shore hospitals, that, to meet an order of -the Medical Director, it had become necessary -to change the arrangements just before made -with him. He would have to withdraw the -<em>Elm City</em>, but as supplies could be sent immediately -to the State of <em>Maine</em>, she could be got -<span class='pageno' id='Page_54'>54</span>ready before night to take her place. The -<em>Small</em> was then put in motion, and first the <em>Elm -City</em> was hailed in passing, with orders to "fire -up and heave short, and be all ready to move in -half an hour," thence to the <em>Alida</em>, which was -sent with the supplies to the <em>State of Maine</em>, and -then back past the <em>Elm City</em>, ordering her to -follow, and so in good time up to the mouth -of Queen's Creek, by the side of the <em>Kennebec</em>, -loading with wounded Secession prisoners, -brought out of the creek by light-draft stern-wheelers. -The process of embarkation, witnessed -at a point some distance up the creek, was rude, -careless, and quite unnecessarily painful; the miserable -wretches of rebels being made to climb a -plank, set up at an angle of forty-five degrees, -which they could only do by the aid of a rope -thrown to them from the deck. Strange to say, -they themselves made no complaint, but appeared -to think that they were well treated. So -much for habit. The only assistance the Commission -could render was to make the pathway -less slippery by nailing cleats closely together -across the steep planks. To do this, nails were -bought of an old man near by, who at first -asserted decidedly that not a nail could be -found on his premises, until he was offered one -dollar for twenty-five, when an abundant supply -was discovered.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_55'>55</span>Notwithstanding the Medical Director's telegram, -that the case was one of the "utmost -urgency," no sick men were found at the -place of embarkation on the creek, nor could -any be heard of nearer than at Williamsburg. -Proceeding thither, with great difficulty,—passing -on the way directly through the field of the -late battle,—A. inquired of the first man he -met after entering the town, "Where is the hospital?" -"The hospital, sir? Every house in -the town is a hospital; you cannot go amiss -for one." And this seemed to be literally -true. Finding the Medical Director, he learned -that he thought it important to relieve the hospitals -by transportation as fast as he, in any -way, could; but not supposing it possible that -the telegraphic order could be literally complied -with, he had taken no measures as yet to send -the two hundred patients in question to the -place appointed for embarkation. It was agreed, -however, that a convoy of ambulances should -be started at daylight, and A. returned to the -mouth of Queen's Creek, and despatched B. -with the <em>Small</em> to Yorktown to bring up additional -stores from the <em>Elm City</em>, upon which -the half-completed work of filling bed-sacks and -other preparations also continued through the -night. With the first boat-load of the wounded -<span class='pageno' id='Page_56'>56</span>brought off in the morning, arose one of those -conflicts of authority which so often embarrassed -the Commission at this time in its work.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(A.) At the first step I was met by a Brigade -Surgeon coming on board from the <em>Kennebec</em>, who -went about giving orders over my head, changing -my arrangements. As he persisted, and -refused to compromise after I showed my written -authority from the Medical Director, I told -him that I should allow no sick to come on -board until I was satisfied with the arrangements. -He then declared that he should go to -the Medical Director. "The very thing I want, -and I will go with you. Meantime the sick, if -any arrive, shall come on board, and Dr. Ware, -here, will see to their disposition, if you please." -He assented, and we then went to the landing -and saw the lighter again loaded with sick, in -the same manner as yesterday. When she was -full, the surgeon said he should return upon her -to the <em>Elm City</em>, "But I thought we were to -go together to the Medical Director, sir!" "I -have concluded not to do so, but have written -to inform him that my authority is questioned." -I deemed it best, after this, to go again to the -Medical Director myself, and, after a tedious -delay, got passage on a forage-wagon loaded -<span class='pageno' id='Page_57'>57</span>with oats. What with the continuous atmosphere -of thick yellow dust, and the jar of the -heavy wagon over execrable roads, this was a -hard ride.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I found the Medical Director, got a copy of -an order which the Brigade Surgeon should have -received yesterday, but which had failed of transmission -to him, which failure justified officially -his assertion of authority over <em>any</em> transport -coming at that time to that anchorage.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Returned to the landing, and, the lighters -having grounded, waited there, on the bank -of the creek, with a hundred sick men, being -devoured by mosquitoes and sand-flies. On -reaching the <em>Elm City</em>, found that, owing to -the conflict of authority, and consequent imperfect -system, as well as to the insufficient -number of attendants, the sick were but slowly -and with difficulty taken care of. Including the -hundred coming off with me, the number on -board was already over four hundred, or twice -as many as the Medical Director had estimated, -or I had had reason to calculate on in the supply -of water, medicine, and stores.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After sunset I went again up the creek, and -found eight men on the beach, left there sick, -without a single attendant or friend within four -miles, while, only the night before, two of our -<span class='pageno' id='Page_58'>58</span>teamsters had been waylaid and murdered, as -was supposed, by the farmers of the vicinity, -(guerilla fighting as they call it,) in the edge of -the neighboring woods. After taking them on -board the small boat, I asked who had charge -of the party, wishing to make sure that no -stragglers were left. A man was pointed out, -who, because he was stronger or more helpful -than the rest, seemed to have been regarded by -them as their leader, though he had no appointment. -He was able to answer my inquiries -satisfactorily, and then as he sat by my side, -while I steered the boat, he told me about himself. -His name was Corcoran. After the battle -of Williamsburg he felt sick. There was an order -to march, but his Captain said, "Good God! -Corcoran, you are not fit to march. Go into -the town and get into a hospital." He walked -three miles carrying his knapsack, and when -he came to a hospital the surgeon told him he -must bring a note from his Captain, and refused -to receive him. He went out, and, as he was -now very ill, he crawled into something like a -milk-wagon and fell asleep. He was awakened -by a man who pulled him out by his feet, so -that he fell heavily on the ground and was hurt. -He begged the man—a Secessionist, he supposed—for -some water, and he gave him -<span class='pageno' id='Page_59'>59</span>some; and when he saw how sick he was, he -said he would not have pulled him out only -that he wanted to use his wagon. Corcoran -then tried to walk away, but had not gone far -when he fell, and probably fainted. By and by -a negro man woke him up, and asked if he -should not help him to a hospital. The negro -man was very kind, but when they came to a -hospital the doctor said he could not take him -in, because he "hadn't a bit of a note." Corcoran -said, "For God's sake, Doctor, do give -me room to lie down here somewhere; it's not -much room I'll take anyhow, and I can't go -about any longer!" It was then three days -since he had tasted food. The doctor told him -he could lie down, and he had not been up -since till to-day.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I have repeated the whole of this story as I -heard it, while we were floating slowly down the -river, because the poor man who told it me -died soon after we got on board, kindly attended -in his last moments by our Sisters of Mercy. -A letter to his mother was found in his pocket, -and one of the ladies is writing to her.</p> - -<p class='c000'>This morning we returned to Yorktown, and -took on the <em>Elm City</em> thirty more sick from -a steamboat which had brought them from -Cumberland on the Pamunkey.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_60'>60</span>At ten o'clock the <em>Elm City</em> left for Washington -with 440 patients.... After noon I -went ashore, called on the surgeon in charge of -the hospitals and the Military Governor, made -our arrangements for a trip up the river to -collect scattered sick, and to tow our <em>Wilson -Small</em> up to West Point for repairs. She has -been knocked into and run against by all the -big boats till she is completely disabled. Returning -on board for this purpose, was met by -an officer with a telegram, begging that a boat -might be immediately despatched to Bigelow's -Landing, where an ambulance-train master had -reported that "a hundred sick had been left on -the ground in the rain, without attendance or -food, to die." Bigelow's Landing being up a -narrow, shoal, crooked creek, we ran about the -harbor looking in vain for a boat of sufficiently -light draught to send there. At length we determined -to take our whole Sanitary fleet to the -mouth of the creek, and, leaving the <em>Alida</em> and -<em>Knickerbocker</em> outside, try to get up with the -<em>Elizabeth</em>, for we had no single vessel, large or -small, in itself, suitably provided.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We ran to the <em>Knickerbocker</em>, but before we -could get her under way a steamboat, in charge -of a military surgeon, came along-side, and a -letter was handed me, begging that I would take -<span class='pageno' id='Page_61'>61</span>care of one hundred and fifty sick men who had -been taken on at West Point early in the morning, -and who had had no nourishment during -the day. It was sunset, stormy and cold. I at -first hesitated, on account of the greater need -of those at Bigelow's Landing, but the surgeon -in charge having induced me to take a look -into the cabin, I changed my mind. The little -room was as full as it could be crammed of sick -soldiers, sitting on the floor; there was not -room to lie down. Only two or three were at -full length; one of these was dying,—was dead -the next time I looked in. It was frightfully -dirty, and the air suffocating.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We immediately began taking them on board -the <em>Knickerbocker</em>.... It is now midnight. -B. and Dr. Ware started with a part of our -company and the two supply-boats, five hours -ago, for Queen's Creek, with the intention of -getting them to the sick at Bigelow's Landing, -if possible; if not, to go up in the yawl and -canoe with supplies and firewood, and do whatever -should be found possible for their relief. -Two of the ladies went with them. The rest -are giving beef-tea and brandy and water to the -sick on the <em>Knickerbocker</em>, now numbering three -hundred.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_62'>62</span>(M.) The floors of lower and upper decks -are covered with beds. The men all have -tremendous appetites, lazily sleeping and eating,—never -miss a meal three times a day. If -it were possible to have great eating-houses and -wayside places, where volunteers could break -down and sleep and doze for ten days or -so, the men forced upon us by the medical -authorities here and sent North would be doing -good work in their regiments,—a good bath, -seven days' rest, and twenty-one good meals are -all they need. —— is housekeeper on this -boat, and great pails of tea and trays of bread -and butter, and rice and sugar, go all around the -decks for breakfast. Good thick soup and bread -for dinner, and breakfast repeated, at tea-time. -"Peter," with six long-shore Maryland oyster-men -(darkeys) runs the hospital kitchen, and has -a daily struggle for the daily bread with the -incorrigible fellows who shirk work, and for each -meal protest against everything, and have three -times a day to be brought round by highly colored -blandishments. The sickest men, especially -the one hundred and fifty last taken on, have -plenty of beef-tea and cool drinks, made in the -ladies' pantry, and all of them are now undressed -and in clean, comfortable beds.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_63'>63</span>(A.) I am quite at a loss to know what I -shall do to-morrow. Unless additional force -arrives we certainly cannot meet another emergency. -It will not be surprising if this letter is -found somewhat incoherent, for I have fallen -asleep several times while writing it, hoping -all the time that B. might arrive. We have a -cold northeast storm and thick weather, and I -conclude that his expedition is unable to get -down, and I may go to sleep for the night. I -have just been through the vessel, and find -nearly all the patients sleeping quietly, and with -every indication of comfort.</p> - -<p class='c000'><em>May 16th.</em> I fell so soundly asleep, that, -fifteen minutes after I finished writing the above -last night, it had to be several times repeated to -me before I could understand where I was and -what it all meant when the officer of the watch -came to tell me that the supply boats were -making fast to us, with over a hundred more -sick. Anchoring the <em>Alida</em> at the mouth, B. had -attempted to get up the creek with the <em>Elizabeth</em>, -but, as I had feared, she went aground. Going -on with the yawl, he found one of the steam-lighters -at anchor with over a hundred sick and -wounded men lying on the deck, who were -soaked, not merely with rain, but from having -been obliged to wade out to her in water knee-deep. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_64'>64</span>He learned that, further up the creek, a -few men, too badly wounded to stand, or too -weak to wade off to the boat, had been left behind. -No persuasion could induce the captain -to return for them, but a threat to report him at -head-quarters, at length made him fire up and go -back. Eight were found just where I found -eight on my night trip up the same creek a few -nights before, some in a nearly dying condition. -Having brought them off to the lighter, and -served stimulants to them, she was run down the -creek to the supply-boats, the freight-rooms of -which had, in the mean time, been as well as -possible arranged to accommodate the patients.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>One of the ladies engaged in this night expedition -of the <em>Elizabeth</em> gives the following account -of it in a letter to a friend.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(N.) Not a moment is lost,—Mr. B. would -not even let me go for a shawl,—and the tug is -off. The <em>Elizabeth</em> is our store-tender or supply-boat; -her main deck is piled from deck to deck -with boxes. The first thing done is to pick out -six cases of pillows, six of quilts, one of brandy, -and one cask of bread. Then all the rest is -lowered into the hold. Meantime I make for -the kitchen, where I find a remarkable old -aunty and a fire. I dive into her pots and pans, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_65'>65</span>I wheedle her out of her green tea (the black -having given out), and soon I have eight buckets -full of tea, and pyramids of bread and butter. -The cleared main-deck is spread with two layers -of quilts, and rows of pillows a man's length -apart.... The poor fellows are led or carried -on board, and stowed side by side as close -as can be. We feed them with spoonfuls of -brandy and water; they are utterly broken -down, wet through, some of them raving with -fever. All are without food for one day, some for -two days. After all are laid down, Miss G. and -I give them their supper, and they sink down -again. Any one who looks over such a deck as -that, and sees the suffering, despondent attitudes -of the men, and their worn frames and faces, -knows what war is better than the sight of -wounds can teach it. We could only take -ninety; more had to go in a small tug-boat -which accompanied us. Mr. B. and the doctor -went on board of her, to give sustenance to the -men, and in the mean time the <em>Elizabeth</em> started -on the homeward trip. So the care of her men -came to me. Fortunately only a dozen or two -were very ill, and none died. Still I felt anxious; -six of them were out of their mind, one -had tried to destroy himself three times that -day, and was drenched through, having been -<span class='pageno' id='Page_66'>66</span>dragged out of the water, into which he had -thrown himself just before we reached him. -When we reached the <em>Knickerbocker</em>, Dr. Ware -came on board, and gave me some general -directions, after which I got along very well; -my only disaster had been that I gave morphine -to a man who actually screamed with -rheumatism and cramp. I supposed morphine -would not hurt him, and it was a mercy to -others to stop the noise, instead of which I -made him perfectly crazy, and had the greatest -trouble in soothing him. We did not move -them that night, and the next morning, after -getting them all washed, I went off guard, and -Mrs. M. and Mrs. N. came on board with their -breakfast from the <em>Knickerbocker</em>, where the one -hundred and eighty men were stowed and cared -for. Soon afterwards my men were transferred -to her. She still lies along-side, and we take -care of her. She is beautifully in order; everything -right and orderly. It is a real pleasure to -give the men their meals. The ward-masters -are all appointed, and the orderlies know their -duty. She will probably leave to-morrow.... As -for the ladies, they are just what they should -be, efficient, wise, active as cats, merry, lighthearted, -thoroughbred, and without the fearful -tone of self-devotedness about them that sad -<span class='pageno' id='Page_67'>67</span>experience makes one expect in benevolent -women. We all know in our hearts that it is -thorough enjoyment to be down here; <em>it is life</em>, -in short, and we wouldn't be anywhere else -(in view of our enjoyment) for anything in the -world. I hope people will continue to sustain -this great work. Hundreds of lives are being -saved by it. I have seen with my own eyes, -in one week, fifty men who must have died anywhere -but here, and many more who probably -would have done so. I speak of lives saved only; -the amount of suffering saved is incalculable. -The Commission keep up the work at great -expense. It has six large vessels now running -from here. Government furnishes these, and -the bare rations of the men, (or is supposed to -do so,) but the real expenses of supply fall on -the Commission; in fact, <em>everything</em> that makes -the power and excellence of the work is supplied -by the Commission. If people ask what they -shall send, say, "Money, <em>money</em>, stimulants, and -articles of sick-food."</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(A.) I went through the <em>Elizabeth</em> soon after -she came along-side, and all who were awake -were very ready to say they wanted for nothing. -We concluded to let them remain where they -were for the rest of the night. They had been on -<span class='pageno' id='Page_68'>68</span>the creek shore from ten to fourteen hours, without -a physician or a single attendant, a particle -of food or a drop of drink, and this on a cold, -foggy day, with rain and mist after nightfall. -With half a dozen exceptions, they are marvellously -well this morning, and profoundly grateful -for the kindness which, I need not say, the -ladies are extending to them. I am as yet -unable to make up my mind what to do with -them. The cold northeasterly storm continues.</p> - -<p class='c000'><em>May 17th.</em> Our poor little <em>Wilson Small</em> -since her first patching has been run into again -and again, and for some days has been so broken -up, that the poor little thing can't raise steam -even. We have been towed about by our supply-boats, -and to-day shall quit her while she -goes to Baltimore for repairs. We can't leave -her without real regret, even to go temporarily -on board the <em>Spaulding</em>, one of the finest vessels -of her size that I ever saw. We go on -slowly with our fittings, having but poor lumber -and only four carpenters. We have had, however, -a detail, ordered by the military governor, of the -"Infant Purdys," as the boys call the <i><span lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Enfans -Perdus</span></i>, to fetch and carry, and shall have the -<em>Spaulding</em> after next filling the <em>Daniel Webster</em> and -the <em>Elm City</em>, both which should be here before -to-morrow night. We sent off the <em>Knickerbocker</em> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_69'>69</span>this morning at daylight to Washington, with -two hundred and seventy sick and wounded. -There are two ladies for each watch, and the -value of their service in the minor superintendence -is incalculable.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The twenty ladies who came from New York -were really a great godsend, although at first, -with no boat to assign them to, we did not -know what to do with them. They have all -worked like heroes night and day, and though -the duty required of them is frequently of the -most disagreeable and trying character, I have -never seen one of them flinch for a moment. -Yesterday, I chanced to observe, <i><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">apropos</span></i> to an -excessively hard night's work, that all our hardships -would be very satisfactory to recall by -and by, when Miss M. said earnestly, "Recall! -why, I never had half the present satisfaction in -any week of my life before!" and there was a -general murmur of concurrence. If you could -see the difference between the men on our -transports, and those on the vessels managed -directly by government,—rude as the means at -our command are, and although we do all we -can to aid the latter,—you would better understand -the incentive and the reward of exertion.... -The conduct of the patients is always -fine;—patient, brave, patriotic. I am surprised -<span class='pageno' id='Page_70'>70</span>and delighted by it. We have sent details of -the ladies with every vessel, and have now remaining -with us only four, besides the hired -Crimean nurse, Mrs. ——.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Captain ——, whom I spoke of as mortally -wounded, and whom we had kept in the cabin -of the <em>Wilson Small</em> since our visit to West -Point, we sent off this morning on the <em>Knickerbocker</em> -feeling quite jolly and with a fair prospect -of speedy recovery. I don't doubt he -would have died but for good nursing and -surgery, as he had exhausting internal hemorrhages.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We had two deaths on board last night,—one -a fine fellow of sixteen, of pneumonia, in -the lower deck ward, and a convalescent in the -upper after ward. The latter came out of his -room, saying he was faint, and wanted water, -and, while the attendant turned for it, sprang -over the guards into the water below. A boat -was lowered, and efforts made to find him, but -he must have struck his head, and, being -stunned, did not rise.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_71'>71</span> - <h2 id='IV' class='c004'>CHAPTER IV.</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>(A.) We are lying in the <em>Spaulding</em> just -below a burnt railroad-bridge, on the Pamunkey -River, and, as usual, in the middle of the fleet of -forage boats. The shores are at once wooded -and wonderful to the water's edge, the fulness -of midsummer with the vivid and tender green -of Southern spring. Up the banks, where the -trees will let us look between them, lie great -fields of wheat, tall and fresh, and taking the -sunshine for miles. The river winds constantly,—returning -upon itself every half-mile or so, -and we seem sometimes lying in a little wooded -lake without inlet or outlet. It is startling to -find, so far from the sea, a river whose name we -hardly knew two weeks ago, where our anchor -drops in three fathoms of water and our great -ship turns freely either way with the tide. Our -smoke-stacks are almost swept by the hanging -branches as we move, and great schooners are -drawn up under the banks, tied to the trees; -the <em>Spaulding</em> herself lies in the shade of an elm-tree -which is a landmark for miles up and down. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_72'>72</span>The army is in camp close at hand, resting, this -Sunday, and eating its six pies to a man, and so -getting ready for a move, which is planning -in ——'s tent. Half a mile above us is the -White House, naming the place,—a modern -cottage, if ever white, now drabbed over, -standing where the early home of Mrs. Washington -stood. We went ashore this morning with -General ——, and strolled about the grounds,—an -unpretending, sweet little place, with old -trees shading the cottage, a green lawn sloping -to the river, and an old-time garden full of roses. -The house has been emptied, but there are -some pieces of quaint furniture, brass fire-dogs, -&c., and just inside the door this notice is posted: -"Northern soldiers who profess to reverence -the name of Washington, forbear to desecrate -the home of his early married life, the -property of his wife, and now the home of his -descendants"; signed, "A Granddaughter of -Mrs. Washington"; confronted by Gen. McClellan's -order of protection.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(M.) We were going up to head-quarters, -but refrained, on consideration, and came back -to the <em>Spaulding</em>, through army-wagons and pie-pedlers, -and rewarded the three Generals who -had come over to meet us with much-needed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_73'>73</span>towels, handkerchiefs, and cologne. The river -above us to the burnt railroad-bridge is crowded -with steamboats and schooners. Four gunboats -are our next-door neighbors. Beyond the bridge, -round the corner, and out of sight, winds the -Pamunkey, trees crowding down to the brink -and dipping their feet in the water. The Harbor-Master -wanting the room in the evening, we -dropped down the stream and anchored by a -feathery elm-tree.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(A.) The next morning I saw the Medical -Director at head-quarters. He seems to be in -a worse boggle than ever as to the disposition -of his sick. There are a great many still at -Yorktown to be removed, but the work is now -fairly systematized there, and the sick begin to -collect <em>here</em> by hundreds, with a prospect of -thousands, and no thought of system in disposing -of them, as far as I can see. The Director -has ordered us to take on men at once, but our -bunks are not up, and I have promised him the -<em>Daniel Webster</em> and <em>Elm City</em>, which should be -here to-morrow, and can take six hundred. -B. has gone down to bring up our boats -from Yorktown, with all the stores that can be -spared from our supply-ship. I shall try my best -here to carry out the plan I have always wished -<span class='pageno' id='Page_74'>74</span>to have pursued,—namely, the establishment of -a large receiving hospital, from which those who -really need to be sent away may be deliberately -selected and transferred to proper vessels, properly -equipped. During my visit this morning -to the Medical Director's tent, four persons -reported their arrival with sick, and were informed -that there were no accommodations for -them. Tents had been received, but there was -no detail on hand to pitch them, and if they -were pitched, there were no beds to put in them. -Sickness was increasing rapidly, every case showing -the influence of malaria. The Medical Director -said, apparently with justice, that he had -anticipated all this waste and confusion, and had -made ample provision against it, but that almost -none of his ordered supplies had reached him.</p> - -<p class='c000'>By night the <em>Daniel Webster</em> and <em>Elm City</em> -had come up from Yorktown, and I went up -with the first, securing with some difficulty a -berth for her, and began taking on the sick at -once, the Medical Director being present and -superintending the embarkation. He seemed -to have entirely lost sight of the plan about -determined upon the day before, to establish -the shore receiving hospital, and was only anxious -to get the sick off his hands as rapidly as -possible, being appalled by their accumulation -<span class='pageno' id='Page_75'>75</span>and the entire absence of provision for them. -Just at this time B. got back from Yorktown, -bringing a cheering account of the hospitals -there, and at the same time the arrival of large -medical supplies and hospital furniture was reported, -so that I had little difficulty in bringing -about a return to the plan of yesterday.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The substance of the plan was this. The -<em>Elm City</em>, able to accommodate four hundred -patients, was to remain at White House as a -receiving hospital; the <em>Spaulding</em> as a reserve -transport in case of a battle; on the occurrence -of a battle, the serious cases of sickness to be -transferred to the <em>Spaulding</em>, and the <em>Elm City</em> -used as receiving hospital for surgical cases; -the <em>Knickerbocker</em> to remain as a surgical transport. -If an engagement should occur at the -close of the week, the <em>Spaulding</em> would take to -sea three or four hundred sick, freeing the shore -hospitals to that extent, making about six hundred -with what the <em>Webster</em> would take; the -<em>Webster</em> to return and take two hundred more -the next week; the <em>Knickerbocker</em> to take two -hundred and fifty every twenty-four hours to -Fortress Monroe; thus relieving the shore hospitals -to the extent of two thousand by the end -of the next week, which would probably be all -that was necessary. The <em>Webster</em> and <em>Spaulding</em>, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_76'>76</span>being low between decks, crowded with berths, -and deficient in ventilation, were not suited to -the reception of sick and wounded for any other -purpose than that of immediate transportation.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(A.) To relieve myself of further responsibility -in case of another change of plan, I wrote -a memorandum of what we expected to be able -to do, and got the Director to sign his approval -of it. He told me yesterday that he meant to -have those who were to take ship carefully -selected, and that he did not believe there were -half a dozen who ought to go from here. I however -saw being put on board the usual proportion -of sick-in-quarters men, and told him. He -attributed it to disregard of his orders by volunteer -surgeons, a difficulty for which he declared -that there was no remedy short of an act of -Congress. I found Dr. ——, his chief executive -officer, and got him to go to the sick camp, -from which the men were being brought, when -he discovered, as he afterwards told me, that the -surgeon in charge had heard a report that the -Sanitary Commission intended to have a receiving-ship -here, and on his own responsibility -(assuming that the <em>Webster</em> was to be used for -this purpose) was sending men on board at random, -and without reference to the gravity of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_77'>77</span>their cases, his object being merely to get room. -He also found that ambulances coming in from -the advance had entered the train after it left -the hospital, and the men thus brought to the -shore were allowed to go on board with those -brought from the hospital, as if assigned for sea -transportation by the surgeon in charge. I -begged him to go on board and send off such -as he found of these interlopers, but he thought -it impracticable; and finally, instead of the half-dozen -proposed by the Medical Director yesterday, -I found that he had passed two hundred -and fifty on board. Meantime the tents before -spoken of had been finally pitched on a large -field near the White House. They were bare -of everything but shelter for the sick flocking in -from the different regiments. A thousand men -will probably be in them before to-morrow night. -All day long to-day the surgeons and young -men of the Commission have been working -over there, and we have sent over bed-sacks, -straw, blankets, and supplies for several hundred. -After much sanitary poking, pushing, and oiling, -the tents are some of them floored, and five -great pig-kettles are started boiling, and kept -always full of food for the sick. The patients -will, however, greatly overbalance the provision -made for them. It is hard work to galvanize the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_78'>78</span>proper authorities into action. The post hospital -record certifies now to sixteen hundred. There -are five surgeons and assistants, one steward, no -apothecary, and no nurses, except those selected -from among the patients. Two wells have been -dug, but the water of neither has as yet been -fit for using. Water is brought from the White -House well, nearly a quarter of a mile distant, -and until yesterday the whole supply was -brought by hand. It is now wagoned in casks. -We sent up three casks of ice from the <em>Webster's</em> -stock, which was found of great value. The -greater part of the men are not very ill, and, -with nice nourishment, comfortable rest, and -good nursing, would be got ready to join their -regiments in a week or two; but this is just -what they are not likely to have.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The weather is growing excessively hot, and -the army is pushing forward in a malarious -country in the face of the enemy. We have received -a few wounded men from the skirmishes -of yesterday. There is obviously great danger -that we shall be altogether overwhelmed with -sick and wounded in a few days. If the recommendation -of my telegram of Sunday is adopted -by the Surgeon-General, and a complete hospital -for six thousand sent here from Washington, -there will be reasonable provision for what is to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_79'>79</span>be expected; otherwise it is dreadful to think -of it. There is no doubt that we might take -care of a few hundred on our boats,—probably -save the lives of some of them; but considering -what a week, or, for that matter, a day, may -bring forth, I think it right to throw the authorities -still on their resources as much as we can, -and, if possible, force them to enlarge their -shore accommodations.... Nor, when ready, -shall I be inclined to hasten the removal of the -sick. I shall do my best to avoid taking any -but serious cases. It is plain that the facilities -so far offered in this respect have been abused, -and that serious evils have come of it. Those -responsible for the care of the sick here—I -mean the military administrative as well as -medical officers—have made the presence of the -transports near them an excuse for neglecting -all proper local provision, and evidently have -the idea that, in hurrying patients on board vessels, -they relieve themselves of responsibility.<a id='r4' /><a href='#f4' class='c008'><sup>[4]</sup></a> -I saw this danger from the first, and have (I -<span class='pageno' id='Page_80'>80</span>wish the Surgeon-General and our friends to be -sure of this) constantly done all that I could to -counteract it, not only by verbal protest, but by -a habit of action which I know that B. and -other friends here, who have not had the duty -of looking at the matter as comprehensively as -I have, have not been able always to regard as -justifiable....</p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f4'> -<p class='c000'><span class='label'><a href='#r4'>4</a>. </span>The reader must constantly remember that the Commission -did not supply <em>vessels</em>, but merely furnished a few -vessels already held by government with proper hospital -arrangements, and that these were at the command of the -medical authorities of the army, the Commission being -responsible only for their internal administration.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>But this is not all. Of this hundred thousand -men, I suppose not ten thousand were ever entirely -without a mother's, a sister's, or a wife's domestic -care before. They are wonderfully like -school-boys. Then this is really the first experience -of nearly all our officers (who are their -schoolmasters and housekeepers) in active campaigning. -They are learning to take care of -their men as a matter of self-interest. The -men need to learn to make themselves content—of -contented habit—away from home, to -understand that this is in the bargain. It is -obvious from the remarks we hear, that the rumor -that sick men are to be sent home has a -disturbing influence upon the education of the -army in both these respects....</p> - -<p class='c000'>The <em>Knickerbocker</em> has arrived while I have -been writing; thus I have all the elements of my -plan approved by the Medical Director on Monday. -But the question still troubles me greatly, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_81'>81</span>If they should have several hundred more patients -on shore than they have tents or beds for, -and among them all several hundreds seriously -ill, such as would properly be sent North, shall -I break up my reserve, and have no provision -for the avalanche of suffering which a great -battle before Richmond would send down upon -us? I am afraid that I stand alone in my resistance -to the demands of the present.<a id='r5' /><a href='#f5' class='c008'><sup>[5]</sup></a></p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f5'> -<p class='c000'><span class='label'><a href='#r5'>5</a>. </span>The wisdom of this resistance was satisfactorily established -a few days later, as will be seen.</p> -</div> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>As it has been publicly reported that the -Commission removed forty thousand men from -the Peninsula, it should be here stated that the -total number of soldiers, sick and wounded, conveyed -on the vessels in charge of the Commission, -during the summer, was eight thousand. -Except under positive orders, which it was not at -liberty to disregard, the Commission took no patient -on board its vessels until the opinion of a -medical officer was had that his wound or illness -was of such a character that he could not be fit -for duty within thirty days. This was a standing -order of the service, and was strictly enforced.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It is impossible to give in small compass an -adequate idea of the difficulties of the duty -which the Commission had taken upon itself; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_82'>82</span>difficulties which, though seeming small in -themselves, were terrible, because the lives of -men frequently hung on their being overcome, -and that instantly. To present a full picture, in -true and living colors, we must be qualified to -throw over the whole the atmosphere of sympathy -and enthusiasm which animated every heart -in presence of our suffering soldiers. On a -fixed and recognized basis we can do almost -anything; grooves are soon formed, in which -affairs run smoothly. But to build with infinite -toil on shifting sands; to be called upon to fill -leaky cisterns and keep them full; to give our -best strength to labors, the results of which -often fade while we work,—these things require -a great and good cause, and a certainty of -being sustained.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(A.) All our vessels are, from the nature of -engagement and intentions of those on board, in -a constant state of pre-organization and disorganization. -Our relations to the crews (seamen, -firemen, &c.), upon whom we are dependent, -differ in every vessel. Scarcely a day passes -in which there is not a real mutiny among them, -in which we have no right to interfere, but -which it is necessary we should manage to control. -We have scarcely any established rights, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_83'>83</span>and are carrying on a very large business by the -favor of a multitude of agents, whose favor in -each case hangs upon a separate string. Every -hour brings its own difficulty, which must be -met by itself.... Except in the results accomplished, -I need not say that the whole duty -is exceedingly unpleasant, from the amount of -dependence without rights, and of command -without authority.</p> - -<p class='c000'>No two individuals have the same understanding -of our duty or of our rights; no two -expect the same thing of us; no two look in -the same direction for the remedy of any abuse, -or the supply of any organic deficiency to which -attention is called. I must caution you again -not to form theories of what we are to do, and -expect us to do it. We are liable to occurrences -every day which make a new disposition of all -the forces necessary. In fact, new and previously -unexpected arrangements are made daily, and -these involve a continual modification of all -plans. All that can be done is to be as fully -prepared as possible for whatever can occur.... -I must act a little blindly, sometimes,—at -all events, cannot always give you my reasons -readily for what I determine upon. Twice -I have come up the river from hardly anything -more than a crude notion that it would be prudent -<span class='pageno' id='Page_84'>84</span>to be feeling that way, and would cost but -little; and in each case it proved to be what -—— calls "a <em>grand</em> good providence," leading -to a complete change in our tactics, and to the -saving of many lives.... The ladies are -all, in every way, far beyond anything I could -have been induced to expect of them. The -dressers (two-years medical students) are generally -ready for whatever may be required, and -work heroically. The male nurses are of all -sorts. The convalescent soldiers have been -the most satisfactory, because there was not -among them the slightest taint of the prevailing -sentiment of the volunteer nurses, that they were -going upon an indiscriminate holiday scramble -of Good-Samaritanism. There cannot be too -much care in future that whoever comes here -on any business comes, not to do such work as -he thinks himself fit for, but such as he will be -assigned to, and under such authority as will be -assigned him. He or she must come as distinctly -under an obligation of duty in this -respect as if under pay, and must expect to -submit to the same discipline.... But, in -truth, I have had comparatively little trouble of -this sort as yet, and in all respects am surprised -at the good sense and working qualities of companies -made up as ours have been.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_85'>85</span>As an illustration of the sudden changes of -arrangement often found necessary at a moment's -notice, a report is found, in which it is -stated that on one occasion, after overcoming -great difficulties in preparing the <em>Spaulding</em> for -the conveyance of the sick,—having procured a -party of thirty persons, including four surgeons -and four ladies from New York, to go on board -of her—on the 26th of May, while taking sick -on board, an order was received immediately to -remove all the Sanitary Commission's people -and effects, and send her to Fortress Monroe to -convey troops. The process of embarkation -was at once arrested; but by permission of -Colonel Ingalls, the post commander, the removal -of those on board was delayed until an -answer could be received to the following telegram, -which was immediately despatched to the -Assistant Secretary of War, Mr. Tucker, then at -Fortress Monroe.</p> - -<p class='c000'>(Telegram.) "The <em>Spaulding</em> was assigned -to the Sanitary Commission after the <em>Ocean -Queen</em> had been taken from them. The <em>Spaulding</em> -was not well adapted to the duty, but was the -only vessel then on York River which I would -accept. There was no other, and there is none -now here in which I would consent that a sick -man should be sent outside. The hospitals at -<span class='pageno' id='Page_86'>86</span>Washington and Alexandria are over-full, and I -suppose the sick must go outside if they are to -be taken away. There is here no hospital but -a few tents pitched by the sick themselves, in -which robust men could not spend a night, -crowded as they are, with impunity. There is -not the first step taken to provide for the wounded -in case a battle should occur. We have been -two weeks trying, under great difficulties, to get -the <em>Spaulding</em> tolerably fitted for the business; -have a hospital corps of thirty, sent for her -from New York; one hundred very sick men -on board, one hundred more along-side; shall -we go on, or quit?"</p> - -<p class='c000'>After waiting an hour, the Harbor-master's -boat came past, hailing with "Mr. Tucker -says, 'Go ahead,' sir!"—and the transshipment -of the sick to the <em>Spaulding</em> from the <em>Elm City</em> -was recommenced. The same night, as it appears -from letters, just after dusk, the Harbor-master's -boat appeared again, and Captain Sawtelle, -the Master of Transportation, hailed with—</p> - -<p class='c000'>"I am ordered to have the <em>Elm City</em> and -every other available vessel ready to leave here, -with water and coal enough for eighteen hours' -steaming, by break of day. You will oblige me -very much if you will get the <em>Elm City</em> ready -for me. How much coal has she on board?"</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_87'>87</span>"Not half enough for eighteen hours' steaming!"</p> - -<p class='c000'>"That is bad. I have to coal half a dozen -others to-night; there'll not be time for all."</p> - -<p class='c000'>"Very well, sir; then we'll manage it, by -clubbing that which is on the <em>Knickerbocker</em> and -the <em>Elizabeth</em>."</p> - -<p class='c000'>"If you can do that I shall be very glad, for -the order is urgent."</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(B.) We had just got through with a very -long and hard day's work loading the <em>Spaulding</em>, -and were sitting at supper when this order -came; but there was no help for it, so "All -hands!" it was again for a hard night's work.</p> - -<p class='c000'>All the hospital fittings and furnishings of -the <em>Elm City</em>, including the bedding, commissary -and small stores, medical stores, and what -not, required for the hospital treatment of four -hundred and fifty sick men and the maintenance -of their attendants, had to be unshipped, -packed, and conveyed to the store-boats, and -ninety sick men, some of them very sick indeed,—two -died during the night,—to be transferred -and put to bed again on the <em>Spaulding</em> -and <em>Knickerbocker</em>. It was a very dark night, -and most of those who were engaged in this -work were men of sedentary occupations,—students -<span class='pageno' id='Page_88'>88</span>and clerks,—and women accustomed -to a quiet and refined domestic life, and, as I -said, all had just gone through with an extraordinarily -fatiguing day's work. Some few broke -down before morning. At the same time twenty -tons of coal were to be got on board the <em>Elm -City</em> from the <em>Elizabeth</em> and the <em>Knickerbocker</em>, -and wheeled to her deck-bunkers. Then quarters -had to be found for her whole hospital company, -as well as provisions, on the other boats -of the fleet, and to accommodate this necessity -a general reorganization was found to be necessary. -This was our Sunday's night-work after -our Sunday's day-work. It was all done, everybody -in place, and, except those required to -watch the sick, asleep by four o'clock, and the -<em>Spaulding</em> (with 350 sick in bed) and the <em>Elm -City</em> (stripped for battle) both reported ready -to sail with the morning tide.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>One day later, B. writes:—</p> - -<p class='c000'>"Here we are at work again upon the <em>Elm -City</em>. Sunday, we spent all night in stripping -her, and now we have a day and night's work at -least before us in handling over again the very -same articles, refitting her for hospital service. -It is an exercise of patience, but it must be -done without delay. After we had got her all -<span class='pageno' id='Page_89'>89</span>ready for transporting troops, a change in the -plans of government occurred, and on application -she was again assigned to the Commission."</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(M.) The <em>Spaulding</em> is bunked in every -hole and corner, and is a most inconvenient -ship for carrying sick men, everything above -decks running to first-classing, and everything -below to steerage. The last hundred patients -were put on board, to relieve the over-crowded -shore hospital, late last night. Though these -night scenes on the hospital ships are part of our -daily living, a fresh eye would find them dramatic. -We are awakened in the dead of night -by a sharp steam-whistle, and soon after feel -ourselves clawed by the little tugs on either side -our big ship,—and at once the process of -taking on hundreds of men, many of them -crazed with fever, begins. There's the bringing -of the stretchers up the side ladder between the -two boats, the stopping at the head of it, where -the names and home addresses of all who can -speak are written down, and their knapsacks -and little treasures numbered and stacked;—then -the placing of the stretchers on the platform, -the row of anxious faces above and below -decks, the lantern held over the hold, the -word given to "Lower!" the slow-moving ropes -<span class='pageno' id='Page_90'>90</span>and pulleys, the arrival at the bottom, the turning -down of the anxious faces, the lifting out -of the sick man, and the lifting him into his -bed;—and then the sudden change from cold, -hunger, and friendlessness, to positive comfort -and satisfaction, winding up with his invariable -verdict,—if he can speak,—"This is just like -home!"</p> - -<p class='c000'>"Jimmy," eleven years old, one of the strange -little city boys who are always drifting about, -ran away from home last summer, after a drum, -finally turning up on our stern-wheeler as char-boy, -where he recognized a friend among the -sick men, and devoted himself to him in the -prettiest way. His runaway fever over, he -longed for his mother; so we tucked him into -the <em>Spaulding</em> and sent him home. The astonishing -lack of common sense among men strikes -us very forcibly.... Those who came -down here have hearts, plenty of them, but not -more than a head to four, and so they run -round the wards, wondering where the best tea -is, and the ice-water, which they are probably -looking at, at the time, and ask questions about -everything under the sun.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(B.) The <em>Spaulding</em>, being all in order, with -her sick men, corps of nine surgeons, ladies, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_91'>91</span>nurses, was started off, and the reserve force -went on board the <em>Knickerbocker</em>.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(A.) I have just bought what is left of a -small cargo of ice, probably sixty tons, at twelve -dollars, sent here on speculation for sale to sutlers. -We are now fairly well supplied at all -points, I think.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(A.) We began taking sick on the <em>Elm City</em> -this afternoon. I telegraphed you about the -crowded state of the post hospital. We had -fed this morning sixty men who had been turned -away from it on the ground that there was no -room. I wrote to the surgeon in charge about -this, and B. called on him with my note. He -merely said that he thought there could not -have been <em>as many</em> as sixty turned away! These -sixty men we heard of as lying upon the railroad, -without food, and with no one to look -after them. So some of the ladies got at once -into the stern-wheeler <em>Wissahickon</em>, which is -the Commission's carriage, and with provisions, -basins, towels, soap, blankets, etc., went up to -the railroad-bridge, cooking tea and spreading -bread as they went. After twenty minutes' -steaming, the men were found, put on freight-cars, -and pushed down to the landing, fed, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_92'>92</span>washed, and taken on the tug to the <em>Elm City</em>. -Dr. Ware, in his hard-working on shore, had -found fifteen other sick men, without food, and -miserable; there being "no room" for them in -the tent hospital. He had studied the neighborhood -extensively for shanties, found one, -and put his men into it. The floor of the one -room up-stairs was six inches deep in beans, -and made a good bed for them, and in the morning -the same party ran up on the tug, cooking -breakfast for them as they ran, scrambling eggs -in a wash-basin over a spirit-lamp.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(A.) The army struck its tents one night last -week, and silently stole away up the river. Bottom -Bridge is ours, and no enemy met; the railroad -is repaired at White House, and trains will -be running to-morrow; barges, loaded with rolling -stock and cannon, have been passing us on -the river all day.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The sick brought on board the <em>Elm City</em> this -afternoon had been lying in a puddle, which -nearly covered them. The water stood several -inches deep in some of the tents. These men -were selected by Dr. Ware, as the worst cases -out of sixteen hundred in the shore hospital. -(Several died before they reached the mouth of -the river.) Dr. Ware himself laid hold to put -<span class='pageno' id='Page_93'>93</span>up tents to protect men before the storm, and -said that he saw half a dozen tents yet remaining, -not put up at nightfall, though men were -constantly arriving, and were left out in the -ambulances.</p> - -<p class='c000'>If an engagement occurs this side of Richmond, -my opinion is that we shall have all the -horrors of Pittsburg Landing in an aggravated -form. I have tried in vain to awaken some of -the Head-quarters officers to a sense of the -danger; but while they admit all I say, they regard -it as a part of war, and say, "After all, -there never was a war in which the sick were as -well taken care of. England does no better by -her wounded; true, they will suffer a good deal -for a time, but that is inevitable in war," &c.</p> - -<p class='c000'>What ought to be done? The Surgeon-General -cannot at once do our sea-transport business -as well as we. By recruiting deficiencies at each -trip, we can for the present continue to employ -the <em>Webster</em> and the <em>Spaulding</em> for this purpose -advantageously. We can maintain the distribution -of supplies. We want also a depot at this -end for our sea-transports. For the rest, the -Surgeon-General can at once have it done a -great deal better than we, if he can place two -steamboats under the Medical Director's orders, -in addition to the <em>Commodore</em> and <em>Vanderbilt</em>, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_94'>94</span>equip them, or take them equipped from us; -put one good authoritative surgeon on board -each, with two to four assistant surgeons, and -six to ten dressers and stewards, and twenty to -thirty privates for nurses, and require certain -rules, to secure decent provision for the sick, to -be maintained on them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It is ludicrous to see the enthusiasm of some -of the surgeons at the outset about details; the -cleansing of patients, numbering, records of -disease, <em>pure</em> water, &c., and their entire forgetfulness -and inaptness to provide for more -essential matters,—food, buckets, cups, vessels -of any sort, and water of any sort. Doctors, -nurses, and philosophers are much easier to be -had, it seems, than men who would be able to -keep an oyster-cellar or a barber-shop with credit.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Dr. T. says that he is pestered by volunteer -surgeons, who leave their business at home to -have a short holiday professional excursion, and -who always expect to be put in the "imminent -deadly breach" at once. He has not tents, -horses, forage, nor table-room for them. Don't -let any more surgeons come here, if you can -help it. We try to treat them civilly, but all, -ashore and afloat, feel anything but civilly to a -man when he graciously proposes to be entertained -and sent to the front as an honored guest, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_95'>95</span>because, you understand, he is not one of your -"physicians," but a "surgeon," and not at all -unwilling to take an interesting gunshot case in -hand, though everybody else declines it! If -there is anything the regimental surgeons hate, it -is to let these magnanimous surgical pretenders -(it is of the pretenders I speak) get hold of their -pet cases. For this reason I hope ——, who -has a name, will assume the responsibility of -our surgical hospital.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_96'>96</span> - <h2 id='V' class='c004'>CHAPTER V.</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>(A.) <em>May 31st.</em>—Sick men arriving Friday -night by the railroad could not be provided for -in the crowded field-hospital ashore, which still -remained of but one fifth the capacity in tent-room -which I urged it should be made three -weeks ago. To make more room, on Saturday -morning, 31st, we were ordered to take off four -hundred upon the <em>Elm City</em>. They were sent -to her by smaller steamboats, and the last load, -which brought the number up to four hundred -and fifty, arrived so late Saturday night that she -could not leave till daylight Sunday morning. -The orders were to deliver the men at Yorktown -and return immediately. I urged Dr. ——, who -was the surgeon in charge, and the captain and -engineer to do their best, and telegraphed to -have every preparation made at Yorktown.</p> - -<p class='c000'><em>June 1st.</em>—We had sent out two parties to -look for straggling sick, and visit the hospitals in -the rear of the left wing. One of these returned -at noon, having been by Cumberland to New -Kent Court-House. From Dr. ——, who was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_97'>97</span>in charge of the other, I received a despatch -about sunset, stating that his party were assisting -the surgeons in a field-hospital, to which wounded -were crowding from a battle then in progress. -Soon after midnight this party arrived on board, -having come from the front with a train of -wounded, and we then had our first authentic -information of the fierce battle in which our -whole left wing had been engaged.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>On that Sabbath day, after the departure of -the <em>Elm City</em>, the wounded of the battle of Fair -Oaks began to arrive in large numbers by railroad. -After energetic remonstrances, with the -responsible medical officer, on the part of the -Commission, and a vain struggle to secure an adherence -to some plan by which care and method -in their shipment could be expected, a frightful -scene of confusion and misery ensued at the -landing, in the midst of which three government -boats and two of those assigned to the Commission -were loaded with wounded. We omit the -painful particulars, because they could not be -given without casting the gravest censure where -censure would now be useless.<a id='r6' /><a href='#f6' class='c008'><sup>[6]</sup></a> To understand -<span class='pageno' id='Page_98'>98</span>the extracts which follow, it is only necessary to -know, that so well were things managed on the -<em>Elm City</em> (which, it will be remembered, left, -loaded with sick, in the morning), that she had -proceeded to Yorktown, discharged her sick, -and returned with beds made, reporting ready -to receive wounded at White House before sunset -the same day.</p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f6'> -<p class='c000'><span class='label'><a href='#r6'>6</a>. </span>Some idea of the causes of the confusion at White -House at this time may be formed from a communication -addressed by the representative of the Commission to the -Medical Director, of which a copy is given in the Appendix -(C), together with a memorandum of arrangements -suggested subsequently, to provide against its recurrence. -The officer who seems to have been most palpably at fault -at White House has since been publicly disgraced for a -similar offence.</p> -</div> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(M.) The Commission boats were all here, -and ready to remove the wounded of the battle -of the 1st and 2d of June. They filled -and left with their accustomed order and promptitude. -After that, other boats, detailed by -government for hospital service, were brought -up. These boats were not in the control of the -Commission. There was no one specially appointed -to take charge of them, no one to -receive the wounded at the station, no one to -ship them properly, no one to see that the boats -were supplied with proper stores. Of course -the Commission came forward to do all it could -<span class='pageno' id='Page_99'>99</span>at a moment's notice, but it had no power; -only the right of charity. It could neither control -nor check the fearful confusion that ensued, -as train after train came in, and the wounded -were brought and thrust upon the various boats. -But it did nobly what it could. Night and day -its members worked, not, you must remember, -in its own well-organized service, but in the -hard duty of making the best of a bad case. -Not the smallest preparation was found, in at -least three of the boats, for the common food -of the men. As for sick-food, stimulants, -drinks, &c., such things scarcely exist in the -medical mind of the army, and there was not -even a pail or a cup to distribute food, had -there been any.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(N.) <em>June 5th....</em> We had been helping -the ladies on the <em>Elm City</em> all night, had returned -to our quarters, and just washed and dressed, -when Captain —— came on board, to say that -several hundred wounded men were lying at the -landing,—that the <em>Daniel Webster</em> No. 2 had -been filled, and the surplus was being sent on -board the <em>Vanderbilt</em>,—that the confusion was -terrible; there were no stores on board either -vessel. Of course the best in our power had to -be done. Our supply-boat <em>Elizabeth</em> came up. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_100'>100</span>We begged Mr. —— not to refrain from sending -us because we had been up all night; he -said that he wouldn't send us, but if, in view of -so much misery, we chose to offer our services to -the United States surgeon in charge, he thought -it would be merciful. We went on board, and -such a scene as we entered and lived in for two -days I trust never to see again. Men in every -condition of horror, shattered and shrieking, -were being brought in on stretchers, borne by -contrabands, who dumped them anywhere, -banged the stretchers against pillars and posts, -and walked over the men without compassion. -There was no one to direct what ward or what -beds they were to go into. The men had -mostly been without food since Saturday, but -there was nothing on board for them, and the -cook was only engaged to cook for the ship, -and not for the hospital.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The first thing <em>wounded</em> men want is lemonade -and ice (with the sick, stimulants are the -first thing); after that, we give them tea and -bread. Imagine a boat like the <em>Bay State</em>, filled -on every deck, every berth,—and every square -inch of room covered with wounded men,—even -the stairs and gangways and guards filled -with those who are less badly wounded,—and -then imagine fifty well men, on every kind of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_101'>101</span>errand, hurried and impatient, rushing to and -fro over them, every touch bringing agony to the -poor fellows,—while stretcher after stretcher -still comes along, hoping to find an empty -place; and then imagine what it was to keep -calm ourselves, and make sure that each man -on our own boat, the <em>Elm City</em>, and then on -this, was properly refreshed and fed. We <em>got -through</em> about one o'clock at night, Mrs. —— -and Miss —— having come off other duty, and -reinforced us. We were sitting for a few moments -resting and talking it over, and bitterly -asking why a government, so lavish and so perfect -in its other departments, should leave its -wounded almost literally to take care of themselves, -when a message came that one hundred -and fifty men were just arriving by the cars. It -was raining in torrents, and both boats were full. -We went on shore again; the same scene repeated. -The <em>Kennebec</em> was brought up, and the -one hundred and fifty men carried across the -<em>Daniel Webster</em> No. 2 to her, with the exception -of some fearfully wounded ones who could not -be touched in the darkness and rain, and were, -therefore, left in the cars. We gave refreshments -to all; a detail of young men from the -<em>Spaulding</em> coming up in time to assist, and the -officers of the <em>Sebago</em> (gunboat), who had seen -<span class='pageno' id='Page_102'>102</span>how hard pressed we were in the afternoon, -volunteering for the night-watch. Add to this -sundry members of Congress, who, if they -talked much, at least worked well. We went -to bed at daylight with <em>breakfast</em> on our minds. -At half past six we were all on board the <em>Webster</em> -No. 2, and the breakfast of six hundred -men was got through with before our own.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(A lady on the <em>Knickerbocker</em>.) <em>Sunday.</em>—"Three -hundred wounded to come on board!" -I wish you could see the three hundred white -beds, with a clean shirt and drawers laid ready -for each man.... They began to bring them -in about noon. Many of them were shockingly -hurt; but the men were proud of their wounds, -and one of them, an artist, private of a New -York regiment, was thankful that he had only -lost a leg,—"so glad it wasn't his arm!" We -went directly at work washing them, doing what -we could, too, at dressing wounds which had -been hastily bandaged on the battle-field thirty-six -hours before. Men very patient and grateful -always.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(A.) <em>Sunday Night.</em>—The <em>Knickerbocker</em> had, -by estimate, three hundred and fifty on board. -The night being fine, many were disposed of on -<span class='pageno' id='Page_103'>103</span>the outer decks, and before I left, at eleven -o'clock, nearly all had been washed, dressed, and -put to bed decently, and were as comfortable as -circumstances would admit of our making them. -All had received needed nourishment, and such -surgical and medical attention as was immediately -demanded. Leaving the <em>Knickerbocker</em> in -this satisfactory condition, I came back in a -small boat, at midnight, to the landing, where I -found that the <em>Elm City</em> already had five hundred -wounded on board. I ordered her to run -down and anchor near the <em>Knickerbocker</em>. There -had been a special order in her case from the -Medical Director to go to Washington. (I judge -that this was given under the misapprehension -that she had failed to go to Yorktown, and had -her sick still on board.) She was unable to go -at once for want of coal, which could not be -furnished her till the evening of the next day -(Monday). This finished the Commission's -boats for the present. The <em>State of Maine</em> -had been ordered to the landing by the Harbor-master, -and the wounded remaining on -shore, excluded from the <em>Elm City</em>, were flocking -on board of her. Our ladies on the <em>Elm -City</em> sent them some food, and we put on board -from our supply-boat bedding and various stores, -of which there was evident need, without waiting -<span class='pageno' id='Page_104'>104</span>to be asked, and without finding any one to -receive them, the surgeons being fully engrossed -in performing operations of pressing necessity.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The battle had been renewed in the morning -of this day (Sunday), and we had sent a relief -party, composed of medical students and male -nurses, with supplies of stimulants, lint, etc., to -the battle-field hospitals. A portion of this -party returned about midnight, with another -large train of wounded. All our force that -could possibly be withdrawn from duty on the -boats was immediately employed in distributing -drink, and in carrying the wounded from the -railroad to the boat. Some men died on the -cars. I made another visit to the <em>Knickerbocker</em> -in the morning, and on my return (Monday), -found that a train had just arrived, and the -wounded men were walking in a throng across -the scow to the <em>Webster</em> No. 2, Government Hospital, -the only boat remaining at the landing. I -knew that she was not prepared for them, and -sent for Dr. S., the representative of the Medical -Director. Dr. S. could not be found. I asked -for the medical officer in charge of the <em>Webster</em> -No. 2. The Captain said there was none, and -that he had no orders except to bring his boat -to the landing. I inquired for the surgeon in -charge of the railroad train, but could find none. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_105'>105</span>There was no one in charge of the wounded. -Meantime they were taken out of the cars, and -assisted towards the landing by volunteer bystanders, -until the gang-planks of the boat, -the landing-scow, and the adjoining river-banks -were crowded. I finally concluded that Dr. S. -must have intended them to go on board the -<em>Webster</em> No. 2. I could find no one in the -crowd who professed to have received his orders, -but, as many were nearly fainting in the -sun, I advised the Captain to let them come on -board. He did so, and they hobbled on, till the -boat was crowded in all parts. The <em>Small</em> was -outside the <em>Webster</em> No. 2, and our ladies administered -as far as possible to their relief. -Going on shore, I found still a great number, -including the worst cases, lying on litters, gasping -in the fervid sun. I do not describe such a -scene. The worst cases I had brought upon -the <em>Small</em>. Two died on the forward deck, -under the shade of the awning, within half an -hour. One was senseless when brought on; -the other revived for a moment, while Mrs. G. -bathed his head with ice-water, just long enough -to whisper the address of his father, and to -smile gratefully, then passed away, holding her -hand.</p> - -<p class='c000'>... At the time of which I am now writing -<span class='pageno' id='Page_106'>106</span>(Monday afternoon), wounded men were -arriving by every train, entirely unattended, or -with at most a detail of two soldiers, two hundred -or more of them in a train. They were -packed as closely as they could be stowed in -the common freight-cars, without beds, without -straw, at most with a wisp of hay under their -heads. Many of the lighter cases came on the -roof of the cars. They arrived, dead and living -together, in the same close box, many with awful -wounds festering and swarming with maggots. -Recollect it was midsummer in Virginia, clear -and calm. The stench was such as to produce -vomiting with some of our strong men, habituated -to the duty of attending the sick. How -close they were packed, you may infer from a -fact reported by my messenger to Dr. Tripler, -who, on his return from Head-quarters, was present -at the loading of a car. A surgeon was told -that it was not possible to get another man upon -the floor of the car. "Then," said he, "these -three men must be laid in <em>across the others</em>, for -they have got to be cleared out from here by this -train!" This outrage was avoided, however.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Need I tell you that the women were always -ready to press into these places of horror, going -to them in torrents of rain, groping their way -by dim lantern-light, at all hours of night, carrying -<span class='pageno' id='Page_107'>107</span>spirits and ice-water; calling back to life -those in despair from utter exhaustion, or again -and again catching for mother or wife the last -faint whispers of the dying?</p> - -<p class='c000'>One Dr. —— was at this time the only man -on the ground who claimed to act as a medical -officer of the United States. He was without -instructions and without authority, and, though -miraculously active, could do nothing toward -bringing about the one thing wanted, orderly -responsibility, and while he was there, ——, who -might otherwise have done something, would not -interfere. Dr. Ware, of our party, was at one time -the only other medical man on the ground. The -<em>Spaulding</em>, Dr. —— in charge, arrived Monday -night, but not in a condition to be made directly -useful, being laden with government stores, which -could not at once be removed by the quartermaster. -Her physicians and students, however, -could never have been more welcome. I put -one half her eager company at once at work on -the <em>Webster</em> No. 2. Captain Sawtelle, at my request, -pitched a hospital tent for the ladies at -the river-bank by the railroad, behind which a -common camp-kitchen was established. To this -tent quantities of stores have now been conveyed, -and soup and tea in camp-kettles are -kept constantly hot there. Before this arrangement -<span class='pageno' id='Page_108'>108</span>was complete, and until other stores arrived, -we were for a time very hard put to it to -find food of any kind to meet the extraordinary -demand upon us. Just as everything was about -giving out, B. found a sutler, who told him that -he had five hundred loaves of bread on board -of a boat which had just arrived at Cumberland, -but he had no way of getting it immediately up. -A conditional bargain was immediately struck, -and the <em>Elizabeth</em> hastened off to Cumberland -to bring up the bread. When it arrived, to our -horror, it proved to be so mouldy it could not -be used. B., almost crying with disappointment, -started again to make a search through the exhausted -sutlers' stores of the post. While doing -so, he came upon a heap of boxes and barrels -unopened and "unaccounted for." "What's all -this?" "Sutlers' goods." "Who owns them?" -"I do. I am the sutler of the —— New York, -up to the front. I want to get them up there, -but I can't get transportation." "What's in -here?" said B. in great excitement. "Mack'rel -in them barrels." "What's in the boxes!" -"That's wine biscuit. There's two barrels of -molasses and a barrel of vinegar. I've got -forty barrels of soft tack, too." "Where's -that?" "That's one of 'em"; and B., hardly -waiting for leave, seized a musket, and jammed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_109'>109</span>a head off. It was aerated bread, and not a -speck of mould upon it! He bought the sutler's -whole stock on the spot, and in half an -hour the ladies were dealing out bread spread -with molasses, and iced vinegar and water....</p> - -<p class='c000'>The trains with wounded and sick arrive at -all hours of the night; the last one before daylight, -generally getting in between twelve and -one. As soon as the whistle is heard, Dr. Ware -is on hand, (he has all the hard work of this -kind to do,) and the ladies are ready in their -tent; blazing trench-fires, and kettles all of a row, -bright lights and savory supplies, piles of fresh -bread and pots of coffee,—the tent door opened -wide,—the road leading to it from the cars -dotted all along the side with little fires or -lighted candles. Then, the first procession of -slightly wounded, who stop at the tent-door on -their way to the boat, and get cups of hot coffee -with as much milk (condensed) as they want, -followed by the slow-moving line of bearers and -stretchers, halted by our Zouave, while the poor -fellows on them have brandy, or wine, or iced -lemonade given them. It makes but a minute's -delay to pour something down their throats, and -put oranges in their hands, and saves them from -exhaustion and thirst before, in the confusion -which reigns on most of the crowded government -<span class='pageno' id='Page_110'>110</span>transports, food can be served them. -When the worst cases have been sent on board, -those which are to go to the shore hospital the -next day are put into the twenty Sibley tents, -pitched for the Commission, along the railroad, -and our detail of five men start, each with his -own pail of hot coffee or hot milk, and crackers -and soft bread, with lemonade and ice-water, -and feed them from tent to tent, a hundred men -every night; sometimes one hundred and fifty -are thus taken care of, for whom no provision -has been made by government. Dr. Ware sees -them all, and knows that they have blankets, -attendants, stimulants, &c. for the night. When -the morning comes, ambulances are generally -sent for them from the shore hospital, but -occasionally they are left on the Commission's -hands for three days at a time. They would -fare badly but for the sleepless devotion of Dr. -Ware, who, night after night, works among them, -often not leaving them till two or three o'clock -in the morning. The ladies from the <em>Webster</em>, -and other Commission boats, visit the shore hospital -between their voyages, and carry to the -sick properly prepared soups and gruels.</p> - -<p class='c000'><em>June 3d.</em> I cannot disentangle now the events -of the last few days, nor have I a very exact -idea of the numbers we have taken care of. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_111'>111</span>We put two hundred and fifty on <em>Webster</em> No. 1 -on Monday, among them General Devens and -Colonel Briggs of Massachusetts, and, fearing -that all intermediate hospitals would be full, and -the weather continuing very hot, sent her, in the -absence of orders, to Boston. The same day -the <em>Vanderbilt</em> and <em>Knickerbocker</em> were filled, and -to-day the <em>Spaulding</em>. Between two and three -thousand wounded have been sent here this -week, and at least nine tenths of them have -been fed and cared for, as long as they remained, -exclusively by the Commission.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(M.) Generally the government hospital boats -are ready and glad to accept our assistance, -but now and then one will stand off in the -stream "all ready," needing no help, till finally, -and when the sick are coming on board, at the -last moment, not a pound of bread or ounce of -meat will be found ready for them. The men -are expected to bring rations for a day or so, in -their haversacks, haversacks meanwhile being -lost at the front, and men being too badly -hurt to think of any such provision.... -This is where the Commission comes in, and -kettles of soup and tea, with fresh soft bread, -gruel, and stimulants, are sent to all these boats -from the tent kitchen, and with them go cups -<span class='pageno' id='Page_112'>112</span>and spoons, and attendants to distribute the food. -Many hundreds of men have been helped in this -way, who, without such a provision, would, to -say the least, have greatly suffered. Two days -ago there was a hospital transport near us, "all -ready," according to their own account, and after -the wounded men came on board, before the first -surgical case could be attended to, they had to -rush over to our boat for lint, bandages, rags, -pins, towels, and stimulants. One man had been -without the slightest nourishment all day until an -hour before his shoulder was taken off; then, -when it was too late, the surgeon hurried over -to ask us to take him beef-tea and egg-nog, and -we crossed the coal-barges and administered it; -all this after the Doctor had himself told me -that morning that they needed no help. It is -just the same with lint and bandages, sponges -and splints, all which the Commission supplies -freely. There was another boat near us with -a good staff and plenty of assistants, and everything -looking so fair that we supposed it all -right, particularly as we were assured that she -had been "preparing" for some weeks, and -had "all that was necessary." All day last Sunday -they were putting men on board, selecting -four hundred from the five hundred sick and -wounded who came down on Friday to the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_113'>113</span>post hospital, and who were all received on arrival -and taken care of by Dr. Ware and his -assistants. When they had been put on board, -and wanted food at the moment, it was not -ready,—plenty of it in the rough, but nothing -cooked in anticipation; and at six o'clock in -the evening, as we were crossing the boat from -the <em>Small</em>, which lay outside, we found the boat -full of very sick men, feverish and thirsty, and -calling for water, and no help at hand. We -asked for basins; there were none on board; -and to add to the rest, the forty "Sisters," who -had come down unexpectedly, by some one's -order, had all struck for keys to their state-rooms, -and sat about on their large trunks, -forbidden to stir by the Padre, who was in a -high state of ecclesiastical disgust on the deck -of the <em>Knickerbocker</em>, at not finding provision -made for them, including a chapel. —— labored -with the indignant old gentleman upon -the unreasonableness of expecting to find confessionals, -&c. erected on the battle-field, but -to no purpose. There sat the forty "Sisters," -clean and peaceful, with their forty umbrellas -and their forty baskets, fastened to their places -by the Padre's eye, and not one of them was -allowed to come over and help us. So our -boat's company went to work, Dr. Ware getting -<span class='pageno' id='Page_114'>114</span>for us all we needed from the Commission's supplies, -and before the boat left, the sickest men -were washed and fed; large pails of beef-tea, -milk-punch, and arrow-root were made, enough -to last for the worst cases until they reached -Fortress Monroe, and at half past seven we -climbed over the guards to the deck of the -<em>Small</em>, and the boat cast off. We wrote all the -names and home-addresses of the sickest men, -who might be speechless on their arrival, and -fastened the papers into their pockets. It was -hard to have the "Sisters," who would have been -so faithful, and who were so much needed, shut -away from the sick men by the etiquette of their -confessor. It is unpleasant to abuse people -for inefficiency. Possibly they <em>have</em> all that is -necessary on these government boats, stowed -away in boxes somewhere, but at the precise -moment when it is needed no one knows anything -about it. Such boats either have no one -at their head, or where there is one there are -many, which is worse than none.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We have, up to this time, sent away on the -Commission's boats, since Sunday, 1,770 patients. -These, after having once been got upon -beds, have been all methodically and tenderly -cared for. The difficulties to be overcome in -accomplishing it were enormous, and the greatest -<span class='pageno' id='Page_115'>115</span>of them of a nature which it would now be -ungrateful to describe. We have also distributed -to government boats and hospitals an immense -quantity of clothing and hospital stores.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(A.) Rustic Sidneys are so common we have -ceased to think of it. "I guess that next fellow -wants it more'n I do,"—"Won't you jus' -go to that man over there first, if you please, -marm; I hearn him kind o' groan jus' now; -must be pretty bad hurt, I guess: I ha'n't got -anythin' only a flesh-wound!" You may always -hear such phrases as these repeated by one -after another, as the ladies are moving on their -first rounds.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There is not the slightest appearance of a -conscious purpose to play the hero or the Spartan. -Groans, and even yells and shrieks, are not -always restrained, but complaint is never uttered, -though the Irish, especially when not very severely -wounded, are sometimes pathetically despondent -and lachrymose, and the Frenchmen look -unutterable things. But gratitude and a spirit -of patience never fails, a cheerful disposition -seldom.... In this republic of suffering, -individuals do not often become very strongly -marked in one's mind, but now and then one -does so unaccountably. I am haunted by the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_116'>116</span>laughing eye of a brave New Hampshire man,—laughing -I am sure in agony,—whom I saw -on the ——. [This was one of the worst of the -government transports, badly managed, hastily -loaded, and densely crowded.] He was lying -closely packed among some badly wounded -rebels, and in giving them some little attention -I had passed him by, because he looked as if -he wanted nothing,—so differently from the -others. Afterwards returning that way, they -seemed to have all fallen asleep; but this man's -strange, cheerful eye met mine as I was carefully -stepping over his feet. "Do you want anything, -my man?" "Well, now you are there, I -don't care if you h'ist that blanket off my leg a -piece; the heft on't kind o' irks my wound." -"Certainly," I said; drawing it down, and knowing -at once that he must be painfully wounded; -"is there nothing else I can do for you? -wouldn't you like a cup of water?" "If -you've got some cool water handy, I should -be obliged to you. I've got some in my canteen -they give me this morning, but it's got -warm." I brought him some, as soon as I -could. "That tastes good," says he. "Do you -know where this boat's goin'?" "She goes -first to Fortress Monroe; whether they will -send her on from there to New York, or take -<span class='pageno' id='Page_117'>117</span>you ashore there, I don't know. It will be -decided when you get there." "They mustn't -keep me there. I must go home." "Where is -your home?" "It's a place called Keene, up -in New Hampshire." "What's the matter with -you?" "Got a ball through my thigh." "Did -it touch the bone?" "Yes, broke it snap off." -"Rather high up the thigh, isn't it?" "Just -about as high as it can be; the doctors, they -tell me,—well, first they told me that 'twould -kill me if they didn't take it off, and then -they told me 'twould kill me if they did take -it off, it's so high up, they say they can't do it. -So, accordin' to their account, I've got to go -anyhow. That's what the doctors make out; -but I'll tell you what I think: I think God -Almighty's got something to say about that. -If he says so, well and good, I ha'n't got -nothin' to say. But I'd like to get back to -Keene. They must send me. I know I'll -die if they don't. They must." "I'm afraid -it would hardly do to send you out to sea,—the -motion of the vessel—" "O, I a'n't a -bit afraid of that, I don't mind the hurt on't. -The old doctor, he wasn't a goin' to send -me; he said 'twan't no use, and there wasn't -no room. But after they'd got about loaded -up, the young doctor came along, and I -<span class='pageno' id='Page_118'>118</span>got hold o' him, and I told him they must -send me, and finally he told 'em they must -get me in somehow. That did hurt, that 'are. -Fact is, I fainted away when they put me in, it -hurt so. I never felt anything like that. But I -tell you, when I come to, and found I was rattlin' -along down here, I didn't mind how much it -hurt." "Is it painful now?" "Well, when they -step round here, and when the engine goes, it's -kinder like a jumping toothache, down there. -Well, yes, it does hurt pretty bad, but I don't -mind, if they'll only let me go home. I guess -if they'll let me go home, I can pull through it -somehow; and if I don't,—that's God Almighty's -business, too; I a'n't consarned about -that." And he smiled again, that brave, man to -man, knowing New England smile. I found -that his wound had not been dressed in three -days; fortunately there was time for me to get -Ware to dress it before the boat left.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(N.) ... We lie here just outside some -other vessels at the railroad wharf. The one -nearest the wharf is the <em>Knickerbocker</em> (one of -our own boats, a refreshing sight to sick and -well). On it we are placing the wounded as they -now come in, somewhat slowly.<a id='r7' /><a href='#f7' class='c008'><sup>[7]</sup></a> Since last -<span class='pageno' id='Page_119'>119</span>night at ten o'clock there have been one hundred -and sixty-five brought on board. This -nearly completes the list of the wounded by the -Saturday and Sunday engagements, excepting -some two or three hundred who are in a hospital -on the extreme right, some ten miles from -the railroad. There have now been brought -in to the hospital boats about three thousand -seven hundred men, of whom six or eight hundred -were rebels. It has been touching to hear -the expressions of surprise and gratitude from -some of these young, fresh-looking Southerners, -as they received tender care from the hands -of those who were ministering to them in their -sad suffering. Of course our own wounded -were carried off the field first, and this left the -others with wounds for some time not dressed.</p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f7'> -<p class='c000'><span class='label'><a href='#r7'>7</a>. </span>This refers to the second loading of the <em>Knickerbocker</em> -after the battle.</p> -</div> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(M.) Among the sick and wounded who -came on board last night were several Secessionists. -One whom I was attending took my -hand, with tears in his eyes: "God bless you, -Miss." Another, who was near death,—he had -the most terrible wound I ever saw,—said, -gently: "God forgive me, honey, if it was -wrong. I thought it was right, but I don't like -it, that's the truth. I would rather have died -for the old flag, but—I thought it was right. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_120'>120</span>There, let them bury that with me" (showing -me a bracelet of hair on his arm). "It's my -wife's, honey; it is. My watch you may keep, -and if ever the time should come when you can -send it to her, please do so."</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(A.) Naturally enough, the prisoners do not -"bear up" as well as our own men. There -is not only more whimpering, but more fretfulness -and bitterness of spirit, evinced chiefly in -want of regard one for another.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(N.) On board the <em>Commission's boats</em> we see -the <em>unavoidable</em> miseries of war, and none other. -So soon as the men come on board, all suffering -except that of illness ceases, and we know and -see that every comfort and every chance for -recovery is freely supplied. I have a long history -to tell, one of these days, of the gratefulness -of the men.... I often wish,—as I give a -comfort to some poor fellow, and see the sense -of rest it gives him, and hear the favorite speech, -"O, that's good! it's just as if mother was -here,"—that the man or woman who supplied -the means for the comfort were present to see -how blessed it is. Believe me, you may all give -and work in the earnest hope that you alleviate -suffering, but none of you realize what you do,—perhaps -<span class='pageno' id='Page_121'>121</span>you can't even conceive of it unless -you could see your gifts <em>in use</em>. I often think -of the money and supplies which, by the goodness -of others, passed through my hands before -I left home. How little I then knew their -value! How little I then imagined that each -article was to be a life-giving comfort to some -one sufferer!</p> - -<p class='c000'>The object of the Commission is not clearly -understood. Those who admire its noble, wise -work naturally feel the wish that larger power -<em>should</em> be given to it. But the object of the -Commission itself is not this. It seeks to bring -the government to do what the government -should do for its sick and wounded. Until that -object is accomplished, the Commission stands -ready to throw itself into the breach, as it did -during that dreadful battle-week, and as it does, -more or less, all the time. The thing it asks -for is not the gift of power, but that the government -should come forward and take the work -away from it.... There are rumors that this -much-desired change will be effected. I am not -afraid to say that no enterprise ever deserved -better of the country than this undertaken by -the Sanitary Commission. Alive to the true -state of things, ever aiming at the <em>best</em> thing to -be done, and striving to bring everything to bear -<span class='pageno' id='Page_122'>122</span>upon that, it has already fulfilled a great work,—let -those who have reaped its benefits say how -great and how indispensable.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Since yesterday morning we have been leading -a life which Mr. —— feels to be one of such -utter discomfort that we all try to make the best -of it for his sake, though I will admit to <em>you</em> that -it <em>is</em> very wearing to have no proper place to -eat, sit, or sleep. No matter! our <em>Wilson Small</em> -will be back soon, and we shall resume our -happy <em>home</em> life on the top of the old stove. -We had luxury which did not please us on board -the ——, and piggishness which pleased us still -less on board the ——, and yet we are the most -cheerful set of people to be found anywhere. -This morning, just as Mr. —— was sitting with -his head on his hand, sighing over the horrid -breakfast to which we ladies had been subjected, -some one looked up and spied the <em>Daniel -Webster</em> coming up. Such vitality as seized us! -The good <em>Webster</em>! always perfect, prompt, and -true. In a moment, Dr. Grymes and Captain -Bletham were on board, and didn't we shake -hands all round! I suppose you know the -<em>Webster</em> had to put into New York in consequence -of a storm, which would have perilled -the lives of many of the sick if they had pursued -the voyage to Boston.</p> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_123'>123</span>I often feel the pleasantness of our (the -ladies') footing amongst all these people, official, -military, naval, and medical. They clearly respect -our work, and rightly appreciate it; they -strengthen our hands when they can, they make -no foolish speeches, but are direct and sensible -in their acts and words, and when work -is over, they do not feel toward us as "women -with a mission," but as ladies, to be with whom -is a grateful relaxation. I must say our position -here is particularly proper and pleasant.... -I suppose from eight to ten thousand troops -have arrived here within a week. At first, I -scarcely noticed their coming. I heard their -gay bands, and the loud cheering of the men as -the transports rounded the last bend in the river, -and came in sight of the landing, but such -sounds of the dreadful <em>other</em> side of war filled -my ears, that, if I heard, I heeded not. For the -last night or two, the arrivals by moonlight, with -the cheers and the gay music, have been really -enlivening. <em>We</em> see the dark side of all. You -must not, however, gather only gloomy ideas -from me. I see the worst—short of the actual -battle-field—that can be seen. You must not -allow yourself to think there is no brightness -because I do not speak of it.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_124'>124</span>(M.) We have on two of our boats nine contraband -women, from the Lee estate,—real Virginia -"darkies," and excellent workers,—who -all "wish on their souls and bodies" that the -Rebels could be "put in a house together and -burned up." "Mary Susan," the blackest of -them, yielded at once to the allurements of freedom -and fashion, and begged Mr. K. to take a -little commission for her the next time he went -to Washington. "I wants you for to get me, -sar, if you please, a lawn dress and hoop-skirt, -sar." The women not working on our boats -do the hospital washing for us in their cabins on -the Lee estate, and I have been up to-day to -hurry them with the <em>Knickerbocker's</em> eleven hundred -pieces. The negro quarters are decent -and comfortable little houses, with a wide road -between them and the bank which slopes to the -river. Any number of little darkey babies are -rushing about, and tipping into the wash-tubs, -and in one cottage we found two absurdly small -babies taken care of by an antique bronze, -calling itself grandmother. Babies had the measles, -which wouldn't "come out" on one of -them. So she had laid him tenderly in the -open clay oven, and, with hot sage-tea and an -unusually large brick put to his morsels of feet, -was proceeding to develop the disease. Two -<span class='pageno' id='Page_125'>125</span>of the colored women and their husbands work -for us at the tent kitchen, close by the shore, -and entertain us by their singing. The other -night Molly and Nellie collected all their friends -behind their tent and commenced, in a sort of -monotonous <span lang="it" xml:lang="it">recitativo</span>, a condensed narrative -of the creation of the world; one giving out a -line and all the others joining in. They went -straight through from Genesis to Revelation, -following with a confession of sin and exhortation -to do better,—till suddenly their deep humility -seemed to strike them as uncalled for, -and they rose at once into the "assurance of the -saints," and each one instructed her neighbor at -the top of her voice to</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c013'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>"Go tell all the holy angels,</div> - <div class='line'>I done, done all I ever can."</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Just as they came to a pause the train arrived; -midnight, as usual, and the work of feeding and -caring for the sick began again. Dr. Ware was -busy with his nightly work of seeing that the -men were properly lifted from the platform cars -and put into the Sibley tents; H. was "processing" -his detail with additional blankets and -quilts; and Wagner, our Zouave, and his five -men, were going the rounds with hot tea and -fresh bread, while we were getting ready beef-tea -and punch for the use of the sickest through -<span class='pageno' id='Page_126'>126</span>the night. By two o'clock we could cross the -gang-plank to the <em>Small</em> again, feeling that all -the men were quiet and comfortable.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We women constantly receive noble and patriotic -letters from the parents and friends of the -soldiers who have died here among us, one of -our duties being to write to the families of those -we have had care of. Mrs. —— had sent her -the other day, from one of the —— Regiment, -a little poem in such delicate acknowledgment -of kindness received that I must copy it:—</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c013'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>"From old St. Paul till now,</div> - <div class='line'>Of honorable women not a few</div> - <div class='line'>Have left their golden ease in love to do</div> - <div class='line'>The saintly work that Christlike hearts pursue.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>"And such an one art thou,—God's fair apostle,</div> - <div class='line'>Bearing his love in war's horrific train;</div> - <div class='line'>Thy blessed feet follow its ghastly pain,</div> - <div class='line'>And misery, and death, without disdain.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>"To one borne from the sullen battle's roar,</div> - <div class='line'>Dearer the greeting of thy gentle eyes,</div> - <div class='line'>When he aweary, torn, and bleeding lies,</div> - <div class='line'>Than all the glory that the victors prize.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>"When peace shall come, and homes shall smile again,</div> - <div class='line'>A thousand soldier-hearts in Northern climes</div> - <div class='line'>Shall tell their little children, with their rhymes,</div> - <div class='line'>Of the sweet saint who blessed the old war-times."</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_127'>127</span> - <h2 id='VI' class='c004'>CHAPTER VI.</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>(A.) We were "stampeded" last night. A -train arrived, and the ladies were at the kitchen -ashore getting tea ready. Dr. Ware went to the -cars, as usual, and two or three wounded men -were brought down on litters, to be put on the -<em>Elm City</em>. The doctor coming along with them -said, "These men were shot on the train, just -before arriving here." After they had been taken -on board, M. said to me, "Do you know they -are getting ready to take in the gang-plank, -and are firing up on the <em>Elm City</em>?" I went -on board; could not see the captain; the engineer -was having the fires pushed, and said the -orders had come from Colonel Ingalls, commander -of the post, to fire up and get away as -quickly as possible. All our boats had received -the same. I went out, and with difficulty got -the ladies to go on board. M., who had gone -up to head-quarters to see if there was no -mistake, came back with the message, "Drop -down below the gunboats, at once, and look out -to keep clear of vessels floating down on fire." -<span class='pageno' id='Page_128'>128</span>We of course obeyed orders, knowing nothing -of the reasons for them, and in half an hour -all our boats were anchored a mile below, with -steam up. As soon as this was accomplished, I -took a yawl, and pulled back to the railroad -landing, where I found everything quiet, Ware -and H. taking care of the sick who had been -left in the tents. Walking on to the post head-quarters, -I found all the camp-followers, teamsters, -sutlers, railroad and barge men, organizing -in companies, and arms and ammunition -serving to them. M., who had volunteered for -this duty, had a company. I found the Provost-Marshal, -who told me that the enemy had suddenly -appeared, apparently in considerable force, -about three miles from here, simultaneously on -the river and the railroad. A wagon train had -been captured, two or three schooners burned, -the telegraph cut. It was presumed that it was -an expedition designed to play havoc with this -post, where there is an immense amount of -army supplies of all kinds, with a force absurdly -inadequate to its protection,—in fact, but a weak -regiment of infantry, and a weaker one of horse; -but some artillery was landing, and before daylight -they would have two capital batteries of -Napoleons ready, and were gathering supports. -I got permission to send for the <em>Small</em>, which is -<span class='pageno' id='Page_129'>129</span>short enough to be quickly handled at the landing, -and to put on her the sickest of the men -who had been brought down during the day to -be sent to the post hospital, and who were still -in tents near the landing, as it seemed to me -they would suffer less disturbance afloat than -ashore in case the attack was made. It was -daybreak before I got them at anchor below -again. At sunrise I was allowed to bring all the -boats up; but as there was a standing order -against the shipment of sick at this time, (in order -to reserve the transports for the wounded,) -we kept our patients on the <em>Small</em> for some days, -the post surgeon not being able to receive them. -The women were greatly annoyed and indignant -at being sent, with the boats, out of harm's way.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(N.) We sat on deck ... watching the -fleet of transports, hospital-ships, and supply-boats -hurrying after and past us, and the signaling -from gunboat to gunboat, which seemed -done by a lantern at the end of a long pole, -dashed up and down through the darkness. It -was midnight when a messenger came in the -yawl, with orders to bring the <em>Small</em> back to the -railroad. All the way up we worked, getting -ready for as many sick as could be taken on her. -Forty-five beds filled every corner of the boat, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_130'>130</span>and beef-tea, punch, and gruel were ready by the -time we reached the railroad-bridge. Dr. Ware -and H., who had not run away, had selected the -sickest of the men in the tents, and had them all -ready to put on board, and with the help of the -<em>Spaulding's</em> nurses, whom we called for on the -way up, we took them on board that night, and -the next day and the next we had them in our -little boat,—some of the sickest men I ever -saw,—crazy and noisy, soaked, body and mind, -with swamp-poison, and in a sort of delirious -remembrance of the days before the fever -came,—days of mortal chill and hunger,—screaming -for food, for something "hot," for -"lucifer matches" even. Two of these men -died on board, not able to give their names.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The fright about the raid having somewhat -subsided, we settled down again, as we supposed, -into our daily routine of fitting up transports, -and of receiving and feeding the sick who -arrive on the trains. All sorts of messages and -people are constantly coming to our tent;—surgeons -from the front, to have requisitions -filled for lemons and onions,<a id='r8' /><a href='#f8' class='c008'><sup>[8]</sup></a> beef-stock, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_131'>131</span>brandy; orderlies, for officers sick, and just arrived -to take the mail-boat, needing refreshment; -and miscellaneous crowds, who have -constantly to be instructed that we are not -free sutlers. Captain —— had kindly provided -a wall tent for our use, and Dr. Ware, -in thought for our comfort, has it pitched close -by our kitchen, and the sickest men arriving by -train are put into it, and we are able to care for -them without hurrying across the railroad track -with our hot gruel. Here I found myself the -other day, spoon-feeding, with a napkin under -his chin, the pleasant chaplain who came down -on the <em>Daniel Webster</em> to join his regiment on -the first day we started as a hospital company. -His turn had arrived, poor fellow, and he came -back to us with a blister on each temple, and -symptoms of typhoid. We had in the tent at -the same time five or six officers, all sick. Our -little comforts, fans, slippers, mosquito-netting, -napkins, cologne, are great comforts to the sick -men, though to be sure one man did say to me -to-day, when I put a few drops from my bottle, -"<i><span lang="de" xml:lang="de">Gegenüber dem Julichs Platz</span></i>," on his handkerchief, -"O my! how bad that smells! I don't -mind it much, but perhaps you have spilt some -of that medicine you have in your bottle!" My -cologne of cologne!</p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f8'> -<p class='c000'><span class='label'><a href='#r8'>8</a>. </span>As scorbutic symptoms had been reported in certain -regiments, the Commission was sending small quantities -of fruit and vegetables by every returning hospital transport. -It afterwards sent whole cargoes, as will be seen -by reference to Appendix D.</p> -</div> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_132'>132</span>The <em>St. Mark</em> arrived about this time, a -splendid clipper East-Indiaman, and, after her, -the <em>Euterpe</em>, both first-class new sailing vessels, -entirely reconstructed interiorly by the Commission, -as model hospital-ships, and having their -own corps of surgeons, dressers, &c. Drawing -too much water to come up the Pamunkey, they -anchored at Yorktown, and the sick were taken -down on steamboats to them, and they made -the voyage round to New York in tow of -steamers.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(A.) <em>June 27th, 1862.</em> I was intending to -go down to the <em>St. Mark</em> last night. We had -had some rumors the day before that Stonewall -Jackson was making a dash to get in our rear, -and take this post. I did not mind them, but -about three o'clock, P. M., yesterday, Captain -S., the active executive here, came to me, and -said, privately: "Get away from this as soon -as you can; the enemy is here again; our -pickets are driven in, and I think we shall be -obliged, within three hours, to burn everything -that can't be run down the river. Give what -help you conveniently can to the vessels on the -river as you go down, but don't stop this side -of Cumberland." I called in our men and -women, found that our machinery, which had -been repairing for two days, was in such disorder -<span class='pageno' id='Page_133'>133</span>that it could only be used at all by the -exertions of three men supplying the place of -certain fractured iron, with their arms; and then -but very slowly, and with great care, of course. -We were in no condition to help anybody else. -I pushed off, however, in quarter of an hour, -taking the <em>Wissahickon</em> and <em>Elizabeth</em> in company. -One or two boats started before us, and -several immediately after. As we passed down, -we found the gunboats with their boarding-nettings -up, and all ready for action, and the skirt -of wood along the shore of the White House -grounds cut away to allow a sweep to their -guns. We left our consorts at Cumberland to -take forage vessels in tow down, and went on -slowly to West Point, where we anchored. Soon -after noon to-day the Captain reported his -machinery repaired, and we started to return to -White House. The river was full of vessels -coming down. We could learn nothing from -them except that everything had been ordered -to "clear out." We got here about sunset, and -found almost everything gone,—a remarkably -orderly and successful removal of a vast -amount of stores. Among what remained, whiskey -and hay were distributed, and everything -was ready for firing.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Stonewall Jackson had not come down upon -<span class='pageno' id='Page_134'>134</span>us as we had supposed, but our right wing had -been turned, and the enemy was hourly expected -to be pushing into White House. The authorities -at "Head-quarters" were by no means -as much surprised as we were at it all. Every -preparation had been quietly making for several -days for the arrival of the enemy, and the evacuation -and repossession were effected in as neat -and complete a manner as if the affair had been -arranged between the parties by the penny-post.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The <em>Knickerbocker</em>, and other of our boats, -just as they were, were used as retreats for railroad-men -and straggling Northerners, exclusive -of sutlers. The government boats, with the -<em>Commodore</em>, <em>Daniel Webster</em>, &c., were ordered -up, and the fifteen hundred sick men from the -shore hospital put on board. The Sisters of -Charity, who had been for a few days occupying -the White House, were distributed through -the different government craft, glad now to do -what they could; and so, all in good order, the -hospital ships, one after another, departed, the -<em>Wilson Small</em> lingering as long as possible, till -the telegraph wires had been cut, and the enemy -announced by mounted messenger to be at -"Tunstall's," worried constantly in his advance -by Stoneman with his cavalry, till all should -have got safely off, when he would fall back -<span class='pageno' id='Page_135'>135</span>towards Williamsburg, and the rebels would walk -into our deserted places.</p> - -<p class='c000'>So we came away,—watching the moving -off of the last transports and barges, and of -the <em>Canonicus</em>, head-quarters' boat, with Colonel -Ingalls and Captain Sawtelle and General Casey -and staff.... But by far the most interesting -incident was the spontaneous movement -of the slaves, who, when it was known that the -Yankees were running away, came flocking from -all the country about, bringing their little movables, -frying-pans and old hats and bundles, to -the river-side. There was no more appearance -of anxiety or excitement among them than -among the soldiers themselves. Fortunately -there was plenty of deck-room for them on the -forage boats, one of which, as we passed it, -seemed filled with women only, in their gayest -dresses and brightest turbans, like a whole load -of tulips for a horticultural show. The black -smoke began to rise from the burning stores -left on shore, and now and then the roar of the -battle came to us, but they were quietly nursing -their children and singing hymns. The day of -their deliverance had come, and they accepted -this most wonderful change in absolute placidity.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'><span class='pageno' id='Page_136'>136</span>All night we sat on the deck of the <em>Small</em>, -slowly moving away, watching the constantly -increasing cloud, and the fire-flashes over the -trees toward White House; watching the fading -out of what had been to us, through these -strange weeks, a sort of home where we had all -worked together and been happy,—a place -which is sacred to some of us now, from its -intense, living remembrances, and for the hallowing -of them all by the memory of one who -through months of death and darkness lived -and worked in self-abnegation,—lived in, and -for, the sufferings of others, and finally gave -himself a sacrifice for them.</p> - -<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_137'>137</span></div> -<div class='ph2'> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>Appendix.</div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_139'>139</span> - <h2 id='A' class='c004'>APPENDIX A.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c011'> - <div>See page <a href='#Page_23'>23</a>.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>"<em>The Commission is at this time actually distributing -daily, of hospital supplies, much more than the government.</em>"</p> - -<p class='c000'>This refers to a temporary emergency alone, for, notwithstanding -the recognized necessity for volunteer aid, -it is believed that the aggregate of all hospital supplies -voluntarily furnished by the people through the Sanitary -Commission and otherwise, great and unparalleled as this -gratuitous supply is, is but about one tenth as much as is -furnished by government. This fact ought to be kept in -mind, as there is a natural tendency on the part of those -who are rendering volunteer aid to exaggerate the relative -magnitude of their own labors, while the permanent and -vastly larger provisions of government are underrated, -and a habit of unjust censure indulged in, in speaking of -deficiencies which have to be supplied. The character -of this censure generally indicates complete ignorance of -the failures of other governments when engaged in war, -and a careless estimate of the immense labors involved, -and difficulties which invariably have to be overcome, in -providing for the constant necessities and exigencies of a -great army. It is the opinion of those whose sympathies -with the suffering of the soldiers on the one hand, and -whose careful study of facts on the other, ought to give -<span class='pageno' id='Page_140'>140</span>weight to their judgments, that never before, in the -world's history, was an army so well cared for in all its -departments, Quartermaster's, Commissary, and Medical, -and that never before, when deficiencies were discovered, -were they, on an average, as speedily remedied. In -every great trial, by war, of a nation, it has been found -necessary to employ a very large number of men in positions -of the gravest responsibility, for which they were not -adapted by nature or by training. This involves, of -course, not only incompetency for duties assumed, but -necessarily opens a door to continued neglect of trusts, -frauds, and peculations, which, under ordinary circumstances, -would seem to be of stupendous magnitude. This is -always a part of the cost of war, and, so far from being the -peculiarity of a republican form of government, or of the -present occasion, in no modern war have frauds and inefficiency -of administrative service been anything like as -slightly manifested in the condition and efficiency, under -all circumstances, of the troops in the field; and this, -whether we have regard to their food, clothing, equipments, -transportation, or, finally, to the provision which has -existed for the sick and wounded. The sustained average -health, vigor, and good spirits of our several grand armies, -in the great variety of circumstances in which they have been -placed, tells of a virtue and a vital force in our people and -in our institutions, which, rightly understood, should put to -shame much customary cavilling of flippant critics.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The writer of this note has recently travelled through a -region larger than the whole of England, which a year -before his visit was held by one hundred and fifty thousand -rebels in arms, and with advantages for defensive -warfare such as no country of equal extent in Europe -possesses. In every mile of this road he saw traces of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_141'>141</span>the desperate fanaticism of personal ambition and pride, -reckless of the life and property of others, with which -its defence had been conducted. And beyond it he found -those who were re-establishing the supremacy of republican -law in this land. He spent more than a week with -them, and in that time he heard no complaint so frequent -or so bitter as that against the whimperers and mischief-makers -they had left behind. The health and patience -of the men was a matter of profound astonishment to -him. That the officers were many of them exceedingly -unfit for their responsibility cannot be denied. In what -army are not many of the officers found to be so? But -even this was chiefly to be attributed to the very influence -which, in its worst form, was made the cloak of the conspiracy -which brought about the rebellion, and was commonly -felt and said to be so. And thus the army, fighting -the open, fights also with the insidious enemies of the -country, and when it returns both will have been conquered. -But if incompetency is common among State-appointed -officers, what evidence does the condition of -the army give of the action of great talent, integrity, industry, -and patriotic zeal, in the manner in which it is -provided for! Nowhere did the writer fail to find the -men clothed and fed as never were soldiers clothed and -fed in the pettiest frontier war before. He reached a -division in the extreme advance; bivouacked in a swamp, -its wounded picket-guardsmen were being brought in and -cared for, methodically, and well; not with the refinement -of a civilized home, but as wounded soldiers seldom -have been in the history of wars, under the most -favorable circumstances, before in the world. There was -nothing which, thus situated, the surgeon could wish to -have with him, which he had not. This division, since it -<span class='pageno' id='Page_142'>142</span>came to the war, had marched over four thousand miles, -and fought six great battles, and now here in the swamp, -wading from hammock to hammock, the enemy in force -in the next really dry land, the men looked as well in -health, and as cheerful in spirits, as a company of harvesters -at their nooning. They were carefully examined. -Were they in want of clothing? No. Were they well -shod? Yes. Were they well fed? They had full rations, -and could ask for nothing better. What did they -want? "To finish up the business they came here for, -and go home." Nothing else. It was actually so there -at the advanced post in the swamp, and it was so—it is -so at this moment—wherever, on sea or ashore, the -seven hundred thousand men now employed by our government -are scattered at their work. By what despotic -power was a machine ever made that could have accomplished -this, in two years?</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>F. L. O.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_143'>143</span> - <h2 id='B' class='c004'>APPENDIX B.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c011'> - <div>See page <a href='#Page_42'>42</a>.</div> - <div class='c002'>REGULATIONS FOR</div> - <div class='c002'>FLOATING HOSPITAL SERVICE</div> - <div class='c002'>OF THE SANITARY COMMISSION,</div> - <div class='c002'>FOR THE CAMPAIGN IN VIRGINIA.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<h3 class='c005'><span class='sc'>Terms of Service.</span></h3> - -<p class='c006'>The Sanitary Commission, being itself under military -authority, in order to meet its responsibilities, must require -of all persons who engage in the hospital service of the -army under its direction, that they place themselves, for -the time being, entirely at its disposal.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Those who volunteer their services gratuitously being -supposed to do so fully and in good faith, no distinction -can be known between them and those who may be paid -for their services, it being understood that these services, -in both cases, once engaged or accepted, are to be claimed -equally of right by the Commission.</p> - -<h3 class='c005'><span class='sc'>Administration.</span></h3> - -<p class='c006'>An agent of administration for the Commission will be -appointed for each hospital vessel, who will be regarded -by those on board as responsible for her fittings and supplies.</p> - -<h3 class='c005'><span class='sc'>Wards.</span></h3> - -<p class='c006'>Each vessel will be divided into hospital wards, designed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_144'>144</span>each for the accommodation of from fifty to one -hundred and fifty patients. In case of convalescents, a -larger number will be properly included in a ward.</p> - -<h3 class='c005'><span class='sc'>Surgeons.</span></h3> - -<p class='c006'>A surgeon in charge will be appointed to each vessel, -who will be responsible for the reception, classification, -and distribution of patients in the wards. He will sign -any necessary official medical reports of the vessel. Each -ward will be placed under the especial charge of one surgeon, -and, if practicable, there will be a surgeon for each -ward.</p> - -<h3 class='c005'><span class='sc'>Assistants to Surgeons.</span></h3> - -<p class='c006'>An assistant to the surgeon (with the title of Ward-master) -is to be constantly on duty in each ward. Under -instructions from the surgeon of the ward, he will superintend -and be responsible for the entire treatment of the -patients of the ward, during the hours in which he is appointed -to be on duty.</p> - -<h3 class='c005'><span class='sc'>Nurses.</span></h3> - -<p class='c006'>Two or more nurses are to be constantly on duty in -each ward. They will perform any and all duties necessary -in the care of the patients, under instructions from -the surgeons received through the ward-masters.</p> - -<h3 class='c005'><span class='sc'>Dispensary.</span></h3> - -<p class='c006'>A dispensary will be established on each vessel, and -one or more apothecaries will be placed in charge of it. -They will be responsible for the medical stores, and for -their proper compounding and issue upon requisitions -of the surgeons through the ward-masters.</p> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_145'>145</span> - <h3 class='c005'><span class='sc'>Hospital Pantry and Linen Closet.</span></h3> -</div> - -<p class='c006'>These will be in charge of ladies, who will issue to -ward-masters or nurses, or themselves administer and dispense, -under proper control of the surgeons, special diet -and drink, and articles of bed and personal clothing for -the patients.</p> - -<h3 class='c005'><span class='sc'>Watches.</span></h3> - -<p class='c006'>Ward-masters and nurses, and all who have part in -duty of a constant character, will be divided into two -watches, which will be on duty alternately, as follows:—</p> - -<table class='table0' summary='Watches'> - <tr> - <td class='c014'>1.</td> - <td class='c015'>From</td> - <td class='c016'>7 A. M. to</td> - <td class='c016'>1 P. M.</td> - <td class='c015'>A</td> - <td class='c017'> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c014'>2.</td> - <td class='c015'>"</td> - <td class='c016'>1 P. M. to</td> - <td class='c016'>4 P. M.</td> - <td class='c015'>B</td> - <td class='c017'>(dog watch.)</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c014'>3.</td> - <td class='c015'>"</td> - <td class='c016'>4 P. M. to</td> - <td class='c016'>7 P. M.</td> - <td class='c015'>A</td> - <td class='c017'>" "</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c014'>4.</td> - <td class='c015'>"</td> - <td class='c016'>7 P. M. to</td> - <td class='c016'>1 A. M.</td> - <td class='c015'>B</td> - <td class='c017'> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c014'>5.</td> - <td class='c015'>"</td> - <td class='c016'>1 A. M. to</td> - <td class='c016'>7 A. M.</td> - <td class='c015'>A</td> - <td class='c017'> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c014'>6.</td> - <td class='c015'>"</td> - <td class='c016'>7 A. M. to</td> - <td class='c016'>1 P. M.</td> - <td class='c015'>B</td> - <td class='c017'>(second day.)</td> - </tr> -</table> - -<h3 class='c005'><span class='sc'>Time of Meals.</span></h3> - -<table class='table1' summary='BREAKFAST'> - <tr><td class='c018' colspan='4'>BREAKFAST.</td></tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c016'>One watch at</td> - <td class='c016'>6.40</td> - <td class='c016'>A. M.</td> - <td class='c019'>(being then off duty.)</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c016'>The other at</td> - <td class='c016'>7</td> - <td class='c016'>A. M.</td> - <td class='c019'>" "</td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr><td class='c018' colspan='4'>DINNER.</td></tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c016'>One watch at</td> - <td class='c016'>12.30</td> - <td class='c016'>P. M.</td> - <td class='c019'>" "</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c016'>The other at</td> - <td class='c016'>1.15</td> - <td class='c016'>P. M.</td> - <td class='c019'>" "</td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr><td class='c018' colspan='4'>TEA.</td></tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c016'>One watch at</td> - <td class='c016'>6.40</td> - <td class='c016'>P. M.</td> - <td class='c019'>" "</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c016'>The other at</td> - <td class='c016'>7</td> - <td class='c016'>P. M.</td> - <td class='c019'>" "</td> - </tr> -</table> - -<h3 class='c005'><span class='sc'>House Diet.</span></h3> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div>BREAKFAST.</div> - <div class='c002'><em>To be ready at 7 A. M.</em></div> - <div class='c002'>Bread (or Toast) with Butter.</div> - <div>Coffee or Tea.</div> - <div class='c002'><span class='pageno' id='Page_146'>146</span>DINNER.</div> - <div class='c002'><em>To be ready at 1.15 P. M.</em></div> - <div class='c002'>Beef Soup and Boiled Beef or Beef Stew.</div> - <div>Boiled Rice or Hominy.</div> - <div>Bread or Crackers.</div> - <div class='c002'>TEA.</div> - <div class='c002'><em>To be ready at 7 P. M.</em></div> - <div class='c002'>Bread or Toast or Crackers, with Butter.</div> - <div>Coffee or Tea.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>When practicable, the house diet will be served at -tables to such patients as are able to come to them. When -not practicable to arrange tables, such patients as may be -designated by the surgeons will be divided into squads of -forty, and a squad-master appointed to each, who will receive -and distribute to the rest the prepared diet, as -may be found most convenient. Patients not able to -leave their beds will not be included in these squads, but -house diet will be served to them by the nurses of their -wards, if ordered by the surgeon.</p> - -<h3 class='c005'><span class='sc'>Special Diet.</span></h3> - -<p class='c006'>The surgeons will ascertain from the administrative -agent, or from the ladies, what articles of diet are available -on the vessel, and in their morning rounds direct what -choice shall be made from these for the diet of each patient, -for whom the house diet would not be suitable, -during the succeeding twenty-four hours. The ward-master -on duty at the hour for surgeons' morning rounds -will, in regular order, be on duty at each meal-time during -the following twenty-four hours, and will consequently be -able to direct the entire diet of each patient from verbal -instructions. He should, as soon as possible, notify the -proper person (no rule in this respect being practicable for -<span class='pageno' id='Page_147'>147</span>all vessels) of the quantity of each article of special diet -which will be required at each meal in his ward, and at -the proper time should (if necessary) send the nurses for -it, and see it properly distributed.</p> - -<h3 class='c005'><span class='sc'>Surgeons' Rounds.</span></h3> - -<p class='c006'>Surgeons' rounds should commence at 9 A. M., and -at 6 P. M. The ward-master on duty will closely attend -the surgeon, and receive his instructions as he passes -through his ward. The ward-master off duty may also -attend the surgeon at this time, for the benefit of receiving -instructions directly. The surgeon may make this a -duty, otherwise it will be optional.</p> - -<h3 class='c005'><span class='sc'>All Hands.</span></h3> - -<p class='c006'>In receiving and discharging patients, or in any emergency -which makes it necessary, ward-masters and nurses -may be required to do duty in their watches off. In -cleaning, fitting, or repairing the vessel for hospital purposes, -they will act under orders of the administrative -agent.</p> - -<h3 class='c005'><span class='sc'>Receiving and Distributing Patients.</span></h3> - -<p class='c006'>Before patients are taken on board, the vessel should -be properly moored or placed, gangways or other means -of entrance arranged, and, if possible, all duties completed, -for the time being, in the performance of which -the crew of the vessel are required. The surgeon, who -should have previously informed himself of the character -of the accommodations for patients in all parts of each -ward, should detail a sufficient number of guides and -bearers to convey the patients, and of all necessary attendants -at the gangway, and within the wards. These should -<span class='pageno' id='Page_148'>148</span>remove their boots, and each squad of bearers should be -instructed that all orders will be given them by their guide -alone, and that no one else is to speak aloud while carrying -a patient, or passing through the wards. All persons -not having a specified duty to perform in receiving patients, -should be put where they will not be in the way or -disturb the patients, but where they can be readily called -on if the force engaged is found insufficient.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As each patient is brought on board, he will be examined -by the surgeon in charge, who will direct where he -shall be taken; at the same time notes will be taken, as -follows:—</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><em>Number</em>, <em>Name</em>, <em>Company</em>, <em>Regiment</em>, <em>Residence</em>, <em>Remarks</em>.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>The administrative agent will, at the same time, cause -a corresponding number to be placed on the effects of the -patient, which he will take care of, to be returned to the -patient on his leaving the vessel. If practicable, the -patients may, before being taken to their berths or cots, -be washed and supplied with clean clothing.</p> - -<p class='c000'>It will not usually be in the power of the surgeon in -charge to select patients for his vessel. It may, however, -be proper for him to protest against taking patients whose -illness is not of a sufficiently serious character to warrant -their withdrawal from the seat of war, or those for whose -cases there is less suitable provision on the vessel than in -the hospitals they are leaving, or those already in a dying -condition, whose end will have been accelerated or whose -suffering aggravated by their removal; also, when going -to sea, against taking cases of compound fracture of the -lower extremities.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>FRED. LAW OLMSTED, <em>Gen'l Sec'y</em>.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-l'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>White House, Virginia, May 20, 1862.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_149'>149</span> - <h3 class='c005'>SANITARY COMMISSION.</h3> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div><em>Atlantic Hospital Transport Service.</em></div> - <div class='c002'>THE REGULATION OF DIET FOR PATIENTS.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>The simplest possible arrangements should be made for -the diet of patients which will be consistent with their -proper treatment.</p> - -<p class='c000'>At the outset, the cook may be ordered to prepare daily -for breakfast, to be ready at 7 A. M., ten gallons of -tea and fifteen loaves of bread in slices, with butter, for -every hundred patients on board; for dinner, ten gallons -of beef-stew made with vegetables, and fifteen loaves of -bread, for every hundred patients on board; for tea, the -same as for breakfast.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Orders for special diet should, as far as possible, be -confined to beef-tea, arrow-root or farina gruel, milk-porridge, -and milk-punch.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Quantities of each of these articles, except the punch, -may be prepared by the cook once a day, and delivered -to the matron, under whose care they should be warmed -in portions over spirit-lamps, as required at any time during -the day or night.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As a general rule, for each hundred patients on board, -there should be prepared, for twenty-four hours,—</p> - -<table class='table0' summary=''> - <tr> - <td class='c014'>2½</td> - <td class='c017'>gallons of beef-tea,</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c016'>4</td> - <td class='c017'>gallons of gruel,</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c014'>½</td> - <td class='c017'>gallon of milk-porridge.</td> - </tr> -</table> - -<p class='c000'>Where the patients are chiefly suffering from illness, -especially if from fevers, the above quantities will be -found larger than is necessary. Where a large proportion -<span class='pageno' id='Page_150'>150</span>of them are severely wounded, they may need to be -slightly increased.</p> - -<p class='c000'>By estimating the quantity of each article which will be -required for the twenty-four hours, as thus instructed, the -surgeon in charge will find it best to give his orders to the -cook for everything at once, one day in advance.</p> - -<p class='c000'>If the quantities ordered prove too small, the deficiency -can be made good by the matron with crackers, tea, -canned meats, or meat essence, &c., in the pantry; it being -best, if possible, to avoid any call upon the cook or -the ship's kitchen for this purpose.</p> - -<p class='c000'>If the quantities prove too large for one day, the saving -can be used the next. Whether too large or too small, a -proper modification can be readily made in the order to -the cook for the remainder of the trip. The surgeon in -charge will in this way be relieved of the necessity of giving -further consideration to this department of administration, -which, if not thus simplified, will be found to be a -source of much trouble and anxiety, greatly withdrawing -his attention from surgical and medical duties proper. -Associated surgeons should be careful to make no demands -for diet, inconsistent with this arrangement.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Milk-punch is best made with cold water in the pantry. -This and all other cold drinks can be made under the -superintendence of the matron, without any call upon -the cook. The cook should, however, be required to -keep a supply, as large as convenient, of hot water, -constantly ready to meet any demand from a surgeon or -the matron.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_151'>151</span> - <h2 id='C' class='c004'>APPENDIX C.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c011'> - <div>See page <a href='#Page_97'>97</a>.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<h3 class='c005'><em>Copy of Letter to the Medical Director of the Army of the Potomac.</em></h3> - -<div class='lg-container-r c002'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>White House, Va., June 3, 1862.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'><span class='sc'>My dear Sir</span>:—There must be some frightful misunderstanding -at the bottom of what is occurring here, in -your department. It is obvious from the tenor of your -telegraphic communications to me, that you are altogether -wrongly informed about it. The Sanitary Commission, -let me say at once, has not only obeyed every order, no -matter how irregular or disrespectful the mode of its -transmission, but has in good faith endeavored to carry -out, at every point it could reach, what was judged to be -<em>your intention</em>, supplying the absence or neglect of other -agents on whom you appeared to depend, as it best could. -Till night before last it made itself subordinate to the -Surgeon-General of Pennsylvania, who assumed to act as -your aid, and, under positive orders given by him in your -name, it refrained from pursuing a plan previously approved -by you, and by following which it is now obvious -that a much greater and safer transport of the wounded -would have occurred. From Sunday night to the present -time, the Surgeon-General of Pennsylvania has not been -seen here; a thousand wounded men have, in the mean -<span class='pageno' id='Page_152'>152</span>time, arrived, and, as far as I am informed, not the slightest -provision of any kind has been made for them under -order from you, or by any one whom you have regarded -as under your orders, except the Sanitary Commission. -After waiting some hours yesterday morning for the Surgeon-General -of Pennsylvania (who till then had been in -charge of the railroad wharf) to act, finding men fainting -in the sun ashore, I assumed the responsibility of taking -eighty of them upon our little boat, and of having the -remainder brought on the <em>Daniel Webster</em> No. 2. After -doing so, I found one Dr. ——, very hard at work dressing -wounded, &c. By advice of Captain Sawtelle and -myself, he took provisional medical charge, and I then -telegraphed you, advising that Dr. —— or Dr. —— -should be placed in general charge, with discretionary -powers.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We were doing what we could with men and women -who could be spared from our boats, which were all full -of wounded, to provide for those on the <em>Webster</em> and -ashore. Before night, the <em>Spaulding</em> having arrived, I -brought up fourteen fresh men and the ladies, with two -physicians, and they have been steadily at work, and up -to this time (noon of Tuesday) operating, dressing, feeding, -and, with the assistance of other volunteers, bringing -the wounded from the cars to the boat.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The <em>Vanderbilt</em> came more than a week ago, empty, and -assigned to hospital service. She came to the wharf that -had been built, at my request, for the use of the Sanitary -Commission, refused to leave at my request, and has occupied -it to our exclusion ever since. She has had surgeons -and a large detail of soldiers on board, and I had been -informed that she was reserved for the transportation of -wounded, by your orders. Neither those on board of her -<span class='pageno' id='Page_153'>153</span>nor those at the camp hospital appeared at the railroad, -or lent any assistance, to my knowledge, to the care of -the wounded, until, under advice from Captain Sawtelle -and myself, Dr. ——, who had received your telegram -disacknowledging him as having any official position, requested -the surgeon in charge to bring the <em>Vanderbilt</em> to -the railroad wharf. Having our boats and the removal of -the wounded in ambulance trains to attend to, I did not -think it necessary to inquire if she were prepared for hospital -duty, knowing that she had been a week idle, and -previously in hospital service; but late this morning I was -informed that she had not any commissary, or even necessary -medical stores on board, and nothing whatever was -being prepared for the sustenance of the patients.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We have provided bread and molasses, for the want of -anything else ready. We have been also called upon for, -and are providing, lint and bandages, &c., &c.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The <em>Elm City</em> and <em>Knickerbocker</em> are both off, the -<em>Spaulding</em> is yet to discharge the commissary stores with -which she came loaded, and there is not a boat here now -which can carry wounded, nor is there a tent pitched for -them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I have no time to be more full and exact. I have called -on Colonel Ingalls to establish a cooking arrangement on -shore, and shall try to get beef for soup.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I hear that more wounded are arriving. God knows -what will be done with them.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As the telegraph refuses to send any messages to you -to-day, being fully occupied with the General's business, -I shall, if possible, send this to you this evening by a -special messenger.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>I am very faithfully, &c.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_154'>154</span> - <h3 class='c005'><em>Copy of a Letter to the Surgeon-General.</em></h3> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-r c002'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in4'>Steamboat <em>Wilson Small</em>,</div> - <div class='line'>Off White House, Va., June 17, 1862.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>(A.) <span class='sc'>My dear General</span>:—Your prompt action, of -which I am notified by your telegram of this date, in -securing the shipment of large supplies of anti-scorbutics -to the Army of the Potomac, without waiting for the -Medical Director to assume the responsibility of ordering -them, leads me to hope that you may think it right in -like manner to interpose for the protection of the army -from other evils, for which the remedies are equally obvious, -and more readily attainable.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I therefore urge that tarpaulings, old sails, felt, or canvas -in bolts, with means of putting it together, be sent -here immediately, in quantities sufficient to form a shelter -for ten thousand wounded men. The materials for extending -and supporting it in the form of sheds can be found -in the woods immediately in the rear of the line of operations, -where the shelters should be placed. I should propose -that at least one depot for wounded should in this -way be prepared for each army corps. Water should be -secured in its vicinity, and means for providing large -quantities of beef-tea or soup.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I know that such an arrangement would have saved -many hundred lives after the battle of Fair Oaks. Nearly -all of those with whom I conversed, of the first three -thousand wounded men who received aid at this point -from the Sanitary Commission, assured me that they -had been without shelter from sun or rain, and without -nourishment, from the time they fell until they came -into our hands. This would be a period of from one to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_155'>155</span>four days. The men seemed sincere, and their appearance -was such as to lead me to the conclusion that, in -many cases, at least, they asserted no more than the -truth.</p> - -<p class='c000'>If, without waiting for a demand from the Medical Director, -or the convenience of the Quartermaster's staff of -this army, it would be in your power to order it, it seems -to me that a provision of the kind I have indicated -should be made within a single week. Everything necessary -should be sent here; canvas, nails, tools, laborers, -kettles, beef, pans, spoons, cooks. The smallest service -for hospital purposes cannot be procured here now by the -most energetic and persistent surgeons in less than a -fortnight from the time they undertake to secure it. I -have called three times a day, for ten days, for a detail of -ten men to police the landing-place of the hospital boats; -and though constantly promised me, and though the need -for the work is acknowledged to be very great, I do not -yet succeed in getting them.</p> - -<h3 class='c005'><em>Memorandum of Arrangements proposed by the Secretary<br /> of the Commission, to prevent a recurrence of the confusion<br /> in the Transport Service which occurred after the<br /> Battle of Fair Oaks.</em></h3> - -<p class='c006'>The following is a list of Transports understood to be -at present available for hospital service for the Army of -the Potomac:—</p> - -<h4 class='c020'><em>Sea Steamers, fitted for long passages outside.</em></h4> - -<div class='lg-container-b c021'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>S. R. Spaulding,</div> - <div class='line'>Daniel Webster No. 1.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_156'>156</span> - <h4 class='c020'><em>Coast-Steamers, which must make a harbor on the approach<br /> of bad weather, and which should not be sent beyond<br /> Philadelphia, unless the necessity is urgent.</em></h4> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-b c021'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Elm City,</div> - <div class='line'>State of Maine,</div> - <div class='line'>John Brooks,</div> - <div class='line'>Commodore,</div> - <div class='line'>Kennebec,</div> - <div class='line'>Daniel Webster No. 2.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<h4 class='c020'><em>Coast-Steamers which should not be run outside.</em></h4> - -<div class='lg-container-b c021'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Vanderbilt,</div> - <div class='line'>Whilldin,</div> - <div class='line'>Louisiana,</div> - <div class='line'>Knickerbocker.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<h4 class='c020'><em>Sailing vessels adapted to be used as Stationary Hospitals,<br /> or to be towed outside.</em></h4> - -<div class='lg-container-b c021'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>St. Mark,</div> - <div class='line'>Euterpe.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>The aggregate capacity of these vessels is equal to the -accommodation of four thousand (4,000) patients, and may -be increased to five thousand (5,000) if the necessity is -urgent.</p> - -<p class='c000'>From the time a boat leaves, until she can be prepared -to leave again,—</p> - -<table class='table0' summary=''> - <tr> - <td class='c015'>will be, if she runs</td> - <td class='c016'>to New York,</td> - <td class='c017'>7 days,</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c015'>" " "</td> - <td class='c016'>to Philadelphia,</td> - <td class='c017'>6 days,</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c015'>" " "</td> - <td class='c016'>to Washington,</td> - <td class='c017'>4 days,</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c015'>" " "</td> - <td class='c016'>to Annapolis,</td> - <td class='c017'>4 days,</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c015'>" " "</td> - <td class='c016'>to Baltimore,</td> - <td class='c017'>4 days,</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c015'>" " "</td> - <td class='c016'>to Old Point,</td> - <td class='c017'>2 days.</td> - </tr> -</table> - -<p class='c000'>If, in the event of a general engagement, all the -wounded sent from White House are taken to the nearest -hospitals, until these are full, there will be occupation -for but few of the boats; four of them, for instance, -would take seven hundred (700) a day to Fortress Monroe -continuously. Having filled the nearer hospitals, however, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_157'>157</span>all the vessels would be insufficient to sustain a continuous -movement to those more distant. Moreover, -most of the transports are unfit to convey patients to the -most distant hospitals. It is, therefore, necessary that the -business should be so arranged that transports may, from -the beginning, run both to the nearer and the more distant -hospitals, and that the limited number of sea-going vessels -should be run only to the distant seaports.</p> - -<p class='c000'>To accomplish this, I suggest that the different transports -be formed into <em>lines</em>, as follows:—</p> - -<p class='c000'>1. For <em>Virginia</em> hospitals.</p> - -<p class='c000'>(Fortress Monroe, Newport's News, Portsmouth, and Point Lookout.)</p> - -<p class='c000'>2. For <em>Maryland</em> hospitals.</p> - -<p class='c000'>(Washington, Alexandria, Annapolis, and Baltimore.)</p> - -<p class='c000'>3. For <em>Pennsylvania</em> hospitals.</p> - -<p class='c000'>4. For <em>New York</em> hospitals.</p> - -<p class='c000'>As two of the sea-going vessels cannot come up to -White House, and these, to be used effectively, must be -towed by the other two, the New York line would be -best employed in preventing too great an accumulation at -Fortress Monroe,—running only from Fortress Monroe -to New York.</p> - -<p class='c000'>If it be assumed that seven hundred (700) will arrive -daily at White House, they may be disposed of according -to the accompanying schedule with regularity, and with no -necessity for crowding.</p> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_158'>158</span> - <h4 class='c020'><em>Plan for the Disposition of Patients to be sent in Hospital<br /> Transports from White House.</em></h4> -</div> - -<table class='table2' summary='Disposition of Patients'> - <tr> - <td class='btt bbt blt brt c022'><em>Days.</em></td> - <td class='btt bbt brt c023'><em>Hospital</em></td> - <td class='btt bbt brt c024'><em>Men.</em></td> - <td class='btt bbt brt c024'><em>Md.</em></td> - <td class='btt bbt brt c024'><em>Va.</em></td> - <td class='btt bbt brt c024'><em>Penn.</em></td> - <td class='btt bbt brt c024'><em>N. Y.</em></td> - <td class='btt bbt c022'> </td> - <td class='btt bbt brt c024'> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>1st day</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Va.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>300</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'>300</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>" "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Md.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>400</td> - <td class='brt c024'>400</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'>1st day,</td> - <td class='brt c024'>700</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>2d "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Penn.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>400</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>" "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Va.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>300</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'>600</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'>600</td> - <td class='c022'>2d "</td> - <td class='brt c024'>1,400</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>3d "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Md.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>400</td> - <td class='brt c024'>800</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>" "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Va.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>300</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'>300</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'>3d "</td> - <td class='brt c024'>2,100</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>4th "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Md.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>400</td> - <td class='brt c024'>1,200</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>" "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Va.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>300</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'>135</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'>4th "</td> - <td class='brt c024'>2,800</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>5th "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Md.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>400</td> - <td class='brt c024'>1,600</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>" "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Va.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>300</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'>435</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'>5th "</td> - <td class='brt c024'>3,500</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>6th "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Md.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>400</td> - <td class='brt c024'>2,000</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>" "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Va.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>300</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'>735</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'>1,665</td> - <td class='c022'>6th "</td> - <td class='brt c024'>4,200</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>7th "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Va.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>300</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'>1,035</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>" "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Penn.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>400</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'>7th "</td> - <td class='brt c024'>4,900</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>8th "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Va.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>300</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'>735</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>" "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Md.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>400</td> - <td class='brt c024'>2,400</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'>800</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'>8th "</td> - <td class='brt c024'>5,600</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>9th "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Va.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>300</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'>1,035</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>" "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Md.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>400</td> - <td class='brt c024'>2,800</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'>9th "</td> - <td class='brt c024'>6,300</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>10th "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Va.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>300</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'>1,335</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>" "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Md.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>400</td> - <td class='brt c024'>3,200</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'>10th "</td> - <td class='brt c024'>7,000</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>11th "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Va.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>300</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'>1,170</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'>2,130</td> - <td class='c022'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>" "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Md.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>400</td> - <td class='brt c024'>3,600</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'>11th "</td> - <td class='brt c024'>7,700</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>12th "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Va.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>300</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'>1,470</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>" "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Md.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>400</td> - <td class='brt c024'>4,000</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'>12th "</td> - <td class='brt c024'>8,400</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>13th "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Va.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>300</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'>1,770</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>" "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Md.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>400</td> - <td class='brt c024'>4,400</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'>13th "</td> - <td class='brt c024'>9,100</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>14th "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Penn.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>400</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'>1,200</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>" "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Va.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>300</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'>2,070</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'>14th "</td> - <td class='brt c024'>9,800</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>15th "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Md.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>400</td> - <td class='brt c024'>4,800</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>" "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Va.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>300</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'>2,370</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='c022'>15th "</td> - <td class='brt c024'>10,500</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='blt brt c022'>16th "</td> - <td class='brt c023'>Md.</td> - <td class='brt c024'>400</td> - <td class='brt c024'>5,200</td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'>2,730</td> - <td class='c022'> </td> - <td class='brt c024'> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='bbt blt brt c022'>" "</td> - <td class='bbt brt c023'>Va.</td> - <td class='bbt brt c024'>300</td> - <td class='bbt brt c024'> </td> - <td class='bbt brt c024'>2,070</td> - <td class='bbt brt c024'> </td> - <td class='bbt brt c024'> </td> - <td class='bbt c022'>16th "</td> - <td class='bbt brt c024'>11,200</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='bbt blt brt c022' colspan='2'>Total,</td> - <td class='bbt brt c024'>11,200</td> - <td class='bbt brt c024'>5,200</td> - <td class='bbt brt c024'>2,070</td> - <td class='bbt brt c024'>1,200</td> - <td class='bbt brt c024'>2,730</td> - <td class='bbt c022'> </td> - <td class='bbt brt c024'>11,200</td> - </tr> -</table> - -<p class='c000'>To carry out the foregoing plan, the <em>Kennebec</em> and -<em>Daniel Webster</em> No. 2 should be run exclusively to the -Virginia hospitals,—one daily, each carrying three hundred -(300) patients at a trip.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The <em>Commodore</em>, <em>Vanderbilt</em>, <em>State of Maine</em>, and <em>Louisiana</em> -should be run exclusively to the Maryland hospitals, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_159'>159</span>each carrying four hundred (400) patients at a trip, one -daily, the round trip being four days.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The <em>Elm City</em>, being the best of the coast boats for outside -work, would run to the nearest outside post, Philadelphia, -once every six days, conveying four hundred -(400) at each trip.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The <em>John Brooks</em>, the <em>Whilldin</em>, and the <em>Knickerbocker</em> -would be surgical receiving hospitals, or reserve boats, to -take the place of any detained by grounding or other -accident.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The vessels of the New York line can be diverted to -Philadelphia as often as it is thought desirable.</p> - -<p class='c000'>After the wounded have ceased coming to White -House, the vessels of the New York line can be run to -other more Northern and Eastern ports, until the nearer -hospitals are emptied.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The above presumes that cases of light wounds and of -extremely severe wounds will not be allowed to come to -White House at all.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line in12'>Respectfully,</div> - <div class='line'>(Signed,) <span class='sc'>Fred. Law Olmsted</span>,</div> - <div class='line in30'><em>Gen'l Sec'y San. Com.</em></div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_160'>160</span> - <h2 id='D' class='c004'>APPENDIX D.</h2> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c011'> - <div>See page <a href='#Page_130'>130</a>.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c000'>Shortly after the battle of Fair Oaks, the new and -vastly more provident, liberal, and wisely economical -policy introduced into the medical service, with the appointment -of Dr. Hammond as Surgeon-General, and of -the new corps of Medical Inspectors, began to be felt in -the army of the Potomac,—and although many of the -agents necessary to the perfect success of that policy were -unable at once to accommodate their habits to the required -change, the Commission, scrupulously adhering to -its purpose to do nothing which the properly responsible -officials in any department evinced any readiness to do -without its assistance, had the satisfaction of seeing the -necessity for its special service, in connection with the -hospital transports, grow gradually smaller and smaller. -Under the dry, taciturn, and impenetrable manner, promising -nothing, of the new Medical Director of the Army of -the Potomac, who, just after the battle of the Seven Days, -relieved a predecessor of precisely the opposite qualities, -was found to be concealed some influence by means of -which whatever had before been impossible began to be -thought possible, and to be tried for, after a few judicious -dismissals had been made; and, after a few visits of influential -friends to Governors and Senators in behalf of the -dismissed had resulted in nothing but an incomprehensible -<span class='pageno' id='Page_161'>161</span>failure of their purpose, the Commission's occupation was -more than half gone with that army. But where so many -agents are to be depended on, and such sudden new dispositions -and reorganizations must be made, as after those -terrible seven days, it is impossible that any demand of a -large army should always be promptly and fully met. -Anxiety for the well, that they might be saved from -disease, soon outweighed anxiety lest the sick should not -be tenderly cared for, and in more than one direction an -opportunity was found to supply temporary deficiencies, -which otherwise would have told severely upon the health -of many thousand men. During the month after the -army reached and intrenched itself on the James River, -the vessels managed by the Commission probably did a -better service in what they brought to the army, than in -the comfort they secured to the sick who were sent away -upon them. The following extracts will serve to give the -reader a more complete understanding of its ruling spirit -and purpose, and show its continued action to the time of -the withdrawal of the army of the Potomac from the -Peninsula.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(A.) <em>Norfolk, June 30, 1862.</em>—We were driven -from White House Friday P. M.; arrived at Old Point -yesterday. Being unable to get coal there, came here -this evening. Shall coal to-night and leave at daybreak -for Harrison's Bar, on James River, where the gunboats -are said to be. We hope to get further up, but are advised -by General Dix that we cannot safely attempt it at -present.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(A.) <em>Off Berkeley, James River, July 1, 1862.</em>—We -felt our way up the river slowly, and with some -<span class='pageno' id='Page_162'>162</span>difficulty, having no pilot, and seeing no vessel under -way after passing out of sight of Newport's News until -we reached this point. Here there was a gunboat and -three small steam-transports, each of which afterwards -left, so that for a short time we were alone. Transports -soon began to come up, however, and to-night there are a -dozen or more about us.</p> - -<p class='c000'>We have Colonel ——, Colonel ——, and a few other -wounded officers on board. They were sent to us by -General McClellan's own ambulance, half an hour after -we arrived. The General had been here, and left only as -we were coming to the wharf. The officers he saw here -converse with us freely, and we have had officers on board -from most of the army corps, who have also talked, apparently -without reserve, with us. Yet reports and opinions -are so contradictory, that we are in singular uncertainty as -to what has happened and as to what we have to expect</p> - -<p class='c000'>The officers and soldiers all show the influence of intense -excitement; they acknowledge the gravest anxiety; -they are terribly fatigued, yet generally seem in good -spirits. They speak much of the bravery of the men.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(A.) <em>Chesapeake Bay, July 4, 1862.</em>—I left our anchorage -off Head-quarters of the Army of the Potomac, -where I wrote you last, about four o'clock yesterday -afternoon, and am running to Washington, by request -of the Medical Director, to advise the Surgeon-General -of the sanitary condition of the army, and to secure the -immediate supply, as far as possible, of its most urgent -surgical and medical wants. As the rebels have put out -the lights, and we could get no pilot, we were all night -feeling our way down the river, and shall not be able, -with all we can do, to get to Washington till late to-night. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_163'>163</span>I hope to get what is most necessary, and leave on our -return before night to-morrow. I telegraphed from Old -Point to have everything advanced.</p> - -<p class='c000'>I have seen and conversed freely with many staff officers, -and been among the men, wounded and well—if -any can be called well, where all are feverish with seven -days and nights of fatigue and exhaustion and starvation -and excitement. One, a Major-General, said, "I have -not been asleep, nor have I tasted food, in five days. I -have only sustained myself with coffee and cigars." As to -the men, the following is a fair sample of statements commonly -made: "My regiment has had, for the last five -days before arriving here, two days' rations; what has -been eaten of this has been uncooked; during that time -it has made five hard marches, and fought five battles; -one third of it has fallen in killed or wounded, and not -one man has been shot in the back. One third of what -remains is now on picket duty in the woods, which the -enemy is shelling; the other lies yonder, in the mud, -sleeping on its arms." This was during the rain, which -fell in such torrents day before yesterday. Yesterday the -enemy was attacking again, and the whole army in the line -of battle up to the time we left.</p> - -<p class='c000'>The exultant confidence of the army in itself is beyond -all verbal expression. It has grown out of the experience -of its ability to resist and foil and terribly punish desperate -assaults made upon it, as is supposed with forces -greatly superior in number. It says, proudly, "All that -men can do, we can do." But there is also the consciousness -of a terrible strain upon its energies, of an unnatural -strength, and the reflection is frequent that there must be -a limit to every man's endurance.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Rest and recuperation,—how are they to be had? The -<span class='pageno' id='Page_164'>164</span>first only by the relief of reinforcements; the second only -by good diet and favorable hygienic circumstances. Eastern -Virginia is all malarious,—the banks of James River -notoriously so; the army is chiefly upon a moderately -elevated, slightly undulating table-land; the river on the -south side; swampy ground at no great distance on the -other sides. It is open, airy, dry,—a healthful point, -upon the whole, as any that could be selected east of -Richmond. But the sun will lie exceedingly fierce upon -it, and it is supposed the army has lost two thirds of its -tents. Probably a majority of the men have lost also -their knapsacks and blankets. Many were without caps -or shoes. The area held is small, and will be crowded. -If the enemy is active, as it would appear his policy to be, -the officers will be too much occupied with the immediate -military necessities of the position to give much attention -to police duties. Even if they should be well disposed, -the excessively fatigued and exhausted condition of the -men, and the necessity of reserving their strength from -day to day for the struggle with the enemy, will forbid -the constant labor which would be necessary to prevent a -terrible accumulation of nuisances, until at least reinforcements -shall arrive so large that no more than the ordinary -quotas will be required for guard and picket duty. After -such tension and trial, a rapid reduction of force must also -occur from sickness, and those not on the sick-list will -suffer from the lassitude of reaction from excitement. -Under these circumstances, all our experience shows that -it will be hardly possible to enforce requirements, the observance -of which must be essential to a healthy camp.</p> - -<p class='c000'>Unless large reinforcements speedily arrive, then, not -only must the army feel that its heroism is unappreciated, -and the object for which it struggled is to be lost by the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_165'>165</span>neglect of others, and thus become dejected, dispirited, -and morally resistless to the dangers of disease; but it will -be physically impossible to establish such guards against -these dangers as are most obviously and directly called for.</p> - -<p class='c000'>There is, in general, a large degree of confidence that, -with the aid of the gunboats, which are throwing shell on -the flanks at frequent intervals, we can hold the position -till sufficient reinforcements come to place it beyond question; -but no one speaks with entire confidence, and the -nearer to the head the graver seems the apprehension,—though -with all there is that strange exultation—ready to -break out in laughter, like a crazy man's. There are -some few who are utterly despondent and fault-finding. -But there is less of this than ever before, and fewer stragglers -and obvious cowards,—nothing like what was seen -after Pittsburg Landing. Of what we saw after Bull Run -there is not the slightest symptom. In short, we have -then a real grand army, tried, enduring, heroic,—worth -all we can give to save it.</p> - -<hr class='c012' /> - -<p class='c000'>(C.) On Saturday we commenced the distribution of -the cargo, and it has been going steadily on since in a -very gratifying manner, every one concerned throwing off -his coat, and working with a will, these intensely hot -days,—surgeons, quartermasters, and other officers, -always giving us every possible assistance in their eagerness -to get this agreeable addition to their fare into the -camp-kettles as soon as possible. The salted fish was a -grand hit. It seems to have a peculiar attraction for -languid appetites this hot weather. We have met, thus -far, with but one man inclined to throw any obstruction -in the way of the distribution,—a brigade commissary, -who seemed to think any unusual indulgence of a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_166'>166</span>soldier's whims of appetite must be demoralizing. Word -of our intention had gone through the brigade, however, -before he interfered, and the eagerness of the surgeons -and of the soldiers took him very quickly out of the way -without any efforts on our part. Regimental transportation -was quickly at the wharf, with the thanks and compliments -of the colonels, and each received its quota.</p> - -<p class='c000'>... The promptness with which the cargo—nearly -a thousand barrels—would have been discharged, -will be somewhat affected by the inability of some of the -regiments of Heintzelman's corps to send transportation, -on account of a movement for which they are ordered to -stand in readiness to-day.... The sudden orders -given yesterday for the immediate transportation of -several thousand sick, have caused an influx of sick to -the landing, overrunning all that the exertions of the -Medical Director could do to provide for them.... -This morning we found five hundred and sixty convalescents -on board the transport <em>Cahawba</em>, with, to use the -language of the ——, "not a bit of a thing aboard for -'em to chaw upon." As the poor fellows, many of them -just getting up from fever, had been, in most cases, finding -their way from the camps to the landing on foot, during -the night, their want was urgent. Fortunately, we had -a good supply of the concentrated beef of Martinez's -preparation, and were not long in getting ready an excellent -breakfast for them. It is in just such cases as this, -where misery is massed, and where what is done tells not -only for the relief of misery, but for the strength of the -army and the putting down of the rebellion, that we find -the greatest satisfaction in stepping in with the gifts of the -people. Many of these men were in just the condition in -which a set-back would be likely to lead to a relapse and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_167'>167</span>lingering illness, and in which again, if they were well -cared for, they might be built up rapidly, and soon be -sent back to their muskets.</p> - -<p class='c000'>On account of the movements to-day, I shall ride out -to the camps this afternoon, and make some change of -arrangements for the further distribution of the anti-scorbutics. -The gunboats were playing very lively at sunrise, -a little way down the river. This is as much as I should -say to-day, but you will hear of something that you hardly -expect by the next mail-boat.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id002'> -<img src='images/i_167.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>Cambridge: Stereotyped and Printed by Welch, Bigelow, & Co.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='tnotes'> - -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 id='NOTES' class='c004'>TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES</h2> -</div> - <ol class='ol_1 c011'> - <li>Added <a href='#CONTENTS'>Table of Contents</a>. - - </li> - <li>Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical errors. - - </li> - <li>Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed. - - </li> - </ol> - -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Hospital Transports, by Frederick Law Olmsted - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOSPITAL TRANSPORTS *** - -***** This file should be named 52122-h.htm or 52122-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/1/2/52122/ - -Produced by Richard Tonsing and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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