SANITARY COMMISSION. No. 35. TWO REPORTS %h mfo Comfort rjita % t|e Sanitarg Commission SICK SOLDIERS PASSING THROUGH WASHINGTON. BY FREDERICK N. KNAPP, SPECIAL RELIEF AGENT. FIRST REPORT. Office of Sanitary Commission, Treasury Building, September 23, 1861. To Fred. Law Olmsted, Esq., Secretary of the Sanitary Commission: Sir : In answer to your request, I submit the folloAving report, as Special Relief Agent of the Sanitary Commis- sion : The main purpose had in view in this agency has been to lessen the hardships to Avhich the ignorance of the sick vol- unteers and their officers of the forms and methods of gov- ernment make them subject while in the city of Washington, and to provide for certain wants of the volunteers, Avhen 2 detached from their regiments, for Avhich the government arrangements had been inadequate, and Avhich the regular inspectors of the Commission, in their visits to camps and hospitals, could not attend to. Practically, the chief duty has been— First. To supply to the sick men of the regiments arriving here such medicines, food, and care as it Avas impossible for them to receive, in the midst of the confusion, and with the lack of facilities, from their own officers. Second. To furnish suitable food, lodging, care, and as- sistance to men discharged from the general hospitals, or from their regiments, but who are often delayed for a num- ber of days in the city before they obtain their papers and pay. Third. To give assistance and information, and secure transportation to men who arrive at the station house in small numbers, and Avant to find and join their regiments. Some of these are men accidentally left behind; some are men Avho have been detained by order for a feAv days at hospitals in Philadelphia or Baltimore. The facilities for carrying out this aim of the Commission have been, until recently, very deficient. There was no fit place at the reception buildings Avhere sick men could be made comfortable; no means near at hand for providing such food as was needed. Government did not recognise the necessity or fitness of such provision. On August 9, General Mansfield issued an order, directing the officers in charge of the reception buildings to furnish all facilities in their poAver to members of the Sanitary Com- mission who Avished to give comfort to the sick soldiers. But the facilities in their poAver were small, as, at that time no cooking Avas permitted there; except hard bread, only 3 uncooked rations Avere supplied; and there were no beds allowed in the building, as its object Avas simply for "re- ception" of troops. The most that we could do, therefore, Avas to have a place assigned us—part of the smaller building, the "Cane Fac- tory"—Avhere Ave put the sick as they came in, separate from the crowd of the other building; and here Ave had a pile of blankets, from Avhich Ave made such beds as Ave could, and then brought tea and coffee and supplies for the men from the restaurant in the station house, or, more often, from a boarding-house on Pennsylvania avenue. When the regiments Avhose sick men we had charge of went to camp, they usually carried their sick Avith them, unless the men seemed too feeble to go; in Avhich case we saw that the men were taken to a general hospital, or else Ave kept them in charge a feAv days longer, until the regi- mental hospital could be put into comfortable condition. Sometimes the sick of a regiment just arrived occupied a separate passenger car, and remained in the car until the regiment moved ; in that case we supplied them with tea and coffee and needed refreshments in the car. Often the surgeon of the regiment had no medicine at hand for the sick, it being locked up in his chest, Avhich could not be reached in the baggage car. In that case we obtained for him such medicines as immediate needs re- quired. When we found men from general or regimental hospitals Avaiting to get their discharge papers filled out, and for their pay, we took them in charge, sheltered and fed them, and if they needed help, Ave rendered it. When we found men who Avere too weak to bear the fatigue of going with their papers, we took charge of the 4 papers ourselves, had them filled up, obtained the signature of the men to blank receipts for money due to them by government, and thus, by consent of the paymaster, re- ceived the money, and paid it over to the men. This priv- ilege could only be granted in cases of absolute necessity. When we found men seeking their regiments, we directed them (from a record of the location of the various regiments kindly furnished us by General Williams ;) if they needed money, Ave gave it to them ; if they Avere weak, obtained an order for an ambulance, or an army Avagon, or a railroad pass, by which they Avere sent to their respective stations. In many cases, men who were discharged left their regi- mental hospitals sadly in need of clean garments, especially shirts, stockings, and draAvers. In such cases, before they started for home, Ave made the men clean and comfortable. When we found men at the reception buildings in need of medical treatment, but not sick enough to be sent to the general hospital, Ave called in a physician, unless their OAvn surgeon could be obtained. As a general rule, we Avere each day at the station— early in the morning, late in the evening, and at mid-day, and Avhenever the arrival of a regiment was expected. The men in charge of the reception buildings, and of the rations, and those who had in charge the locating the neAvly-arrived regiments, were kind, attentive, and ready to cooperate Avith us, so far as it was in their poAver, and in accordance with their instructions. About the 20th of August, government ordered cooked rations (cold meats and bread and hot coffee) to be ready for the regiments on their arrival at the station. This afforded some relief to men who were well, but did not furnish 5 the food needed by the sick, leaving to us still most of our work to do. On Friday evening, August 30th, the provost marshal visited the reception buildings, and issued orders that no men going or coming be allowed to remain in the buildings longer than six hours, as the buildings Avere for the recep- tion of troops, not for hospital purposes. This obliged us to pro\Tide immediately some other place Avhere Ave could take such soldiers as, from the necessities of the cases, required more than six hours of shelter or care. We fortunately obtained part of a house near the station, on Capitol Hill, (the second house from the railroad, on the street running from the rear of the station to the Capitol,) and on Saturday night it Avas furnished with beds and all conveniences for the accommodation of thirty to forty men ; and that night there were twenty-one invalid soldiers rest- ing there. The rooms of this house are large and high, and are Avell ventilated. One room is 19 by 33 feet, and 10 feet high ; the other room 19 by 33 feet, and 13 feet high ; each room with four AvindoAvs opening to the floor. There is a broad piazza to each room. There is a front entrance independent of the rest of the house, and stairs have been built from the rear AvindoAv down to the out-buildings beyond. It is hired by the month at a reasonable rent ; and an arrangement has been made Avith the woman Avho lives in the house—a most judicious, Avorthy, and kindly person—to take care of the rooms, and to furnish such board and general supplies to the men as Ave may order ; also to furnish all additional care to those who may require it. We have a store-room there, with such clothing and comforts as may be demanded. An arrangement has been made Avith Dr. Grymes, an expe- 6 rienced physician living near by, to be at the house every morning and evening, and prescribe for such men as require treatment. Rules in regard to neatness, behavior, &c, have been prepared, to Avhich the men received there are obliged to conform. Our own store-room furnished much of Avhat was needed to fit up the rooms. Some of the men taken to this house require only the shelter and beds for the night, and then in the morning take their rations Avith their regiment at the reception buildings. Others, more seriously sick, or just out of hospitals, need to remain and be cared for longer. It is not the plan to consider this, in any sense, a hospital, but only as a place where the Aveak can rest and be cared for, and the sick remain aAvhile until they are otherAvise provided for ; and also Avhere those returning home, Avho have no claim upon hospital or camp or station-house, may be sheltered if obliged to remain near the station more than six hours. Therefore, as a general thing, men will remain in the house but one, tAvo, or three days at any given time. We call the place "The Soldiers' Home." I will note down in brief some points from the journal Avhich I have kept. Friday, Aug. 9th. Go early to the station-house. Find in a passenger car 36 sick men of an Indiana regiment, which had arrived in the night ; found the car hot and very dirty, of necessity ; water-closet beyond use or endurance ; one surgeon is absent up town for medicine, (medicine chest is under baggage,) the other surgeon has gone to get leave to take to the hospital some of the sick. The men had eaten nothing for 24 hours, except hard bread and water; nothing else could be obtained. 7 As the first Avork, I employed a black man to reduce the Avater-closet to a sanitary state, and some other parts of the car likewise ; then got at a boarding-house tAvo pails full of tea, and a half bushel of bread and butter, for distribution, Avith some other little comforts for those most sick. These men were left in the car from no neglect, but because the reception buildings were too much crowded for the sick to be put there. In about an hour the surgeons returned ; they Avere attentive to the men, and seemed grateful for our kindness to them ; they desired themselves to have provided for the comfort of their sick, but did not knoAv which Avay to turn. Soon the army wagons and ambulances took the sick men to join in the move toward an encampment. But the poor fellows Avere fed. Saturday, Aug. 10th. After \Tisiting the neAAdy-arrived regiments, and giving some comforts to the sick, I found around the station-house on NeAv Jersey avenue thirty-six men of a regiment. Avho had dropped out of the ranks the afternoon before, as they moved from beloAv Alexandria to Bladensburg. It had been an intensely hot afternoon, and the march Avas evidently forced, (some of the officers Avere mounted.) I found upon inquiry that one man dropped out beyond the Long Bridge, and was left in charge of tAvo com- rades, (he died that night,) and the others fell out all along through the streets ; no officer Avas detailed at the time to collect these men, or to care for them. KnoAving that Bla- densburg Avas someAvhere on the railroad, the stragglers had all found their way during the evening to the station-house. They had eaten nothing since Friday noon, and Avere many of them quite exhausted. I brought them such supplies as I could, bread enough at least. One man I found apparently asleep, lying on the brick sidewalk in the hot sun with the 8 others : but upon trying to arouse him, as his companions said he Avas very sick, I found he Avas entirely unconscious. A physician Avas called in, and after a half hour the man Avas restored to consciousness. From Dr. McLaren I obtain- ed an order to send the sick men to the general hospital; from Gen. Mansfield an order to pass the other men to Bladensburg on the cars. Meantime, however, an officer of the regiment came to the station-house and marched twenty of the men to the camp. The others were left: they Avere too weak to march ; and at h\ o'clock they wrere sent by cars. During this time no surgeon of the regiment had informed himself of the condition of these men. The man sent to the hospital Avas in a very weak state for a number of days ; except for timely aid, he, too, AATould doubt- less haAre died. Aug. 11th, a. m. Furnish tea and food to 10 or 12 men Avho arrived in the night, and remained in the ambulances on the freight cars. They Avere othenvise well cared for, but needed more than hard bread and Avater. Also '' gave comfort" to the sick—some 15 or 20 of them—of another regiment, who spent the previous night in the Cane Fac- tory. At 6| or 7 p. m., a Pennsylvania regiment arrived in the train. The regiment marched into quarters upon the avenue, leaving their sick to spend the night in the baggage cars. We took them into the building, and gave them sup- per, shelter, and in the morning a breakfast. There were of these, sixteen men and six Avomen. Three of the men Avere so sick that in the morning they Avere carried to the general hospital. Aug. 12th. Look after these Pennsylvania men, and a few others. 9 P. M., at 6^ o'clock; thirty men arrive, belonging to the Wisconsin 5th, in charge of a sergeant. He left them im- mediately to go to headquarters to get Avagons to transport them to their camp. They were men sent on from the hospital at Baltimore. They had no provision for supper. We supplied them, and at about 9| they were packed into the Avagons which had arrived. Had I seen the sergeant before- hand, he would gladly have let them rest for the night in the reception house. Meantime, at about 8 o'clock, thir- teen men and one woman, of the Wisconsin 6th, arrive from Baltimore hospital, Avithout any one in charge of them. They had been merely told to go to Washington, and join their regiment. We gave them supper, made them com- fortable for the night, and after breakfast they Avere taken to their encampment. I will turn now merely to the record of the feAv last days, though meantime we Avere enabled in various Avays, by fur- nishing shelter, or food, or fresh clothes, to give comfort to many. Aug. 28th. Eighteen men arrive at station-house, from a Massachusetts regiment, to go home discharged; but there is some defect in their papers. The surgeon, who has care of the men, is obliged to go up the river twenty-eight miles, where the regiment is in camp, and he is grateful to us for taking the men under our charge until his return. Those Avho are well enough have eaten army rations (provided them, by order of Capt. BeckAvith, abundantly) at the re- ception-house; those more unwell have been furnished by us Avith comforts. They wrere here, in need of care, from Wednesday noon until Monday afternoon. And Avhen they left, they were very grateful. On Sunday night, Sept. 2d, Ave had in the new Home 10 eighteen Massachusetts men, and ten sick men of the Tarn- many regiment, who Avere delayed here two days through some defects in their papers of discharge. There Avere also three other sick men, who came Avith a Pennsylvania regi- ment on Saturday, and one Maine man, Avho came from the hospital at Annapolis with the surgeon's certificate of in- ability, but Avas too much exhausted by the journey to go over to Alexandria, Avhere his regiment Avas located, to get his papers made out. He is resting here. Monday night, Sept. 3d, there Avere 18 in the house; the Massachusetts men having' left, and four ne\v men having come in; the Tammany men still remaining. Sept. 9th. Thirty men arrive at the station-house from Annapolis hospital; some of them to join their regiments, some to be discharged. They receive from Captain Allen passes, so that they need not be arrested as they go through the city to report themselves at headquarters; but they have not a cent of money, and its a long walk—a mile or more— for sick men to take; and they must carry their knapsacks, too. Therefore I furnish to each man money enough to pay his omnibus fare up there and back again, so that he can return for the night to the Home if he is delayed. Some ten or fifteen of these men returned; their regiments were too far off to be reached that night. The next day, (Sept. 10th,) a number more—some twenty men—arrived from Annapolis hospital; Ave giATe aid to these as to the others, receiving some of them for the night. It is a little thing thus to give to a man enough to pay an om- nibus fare, and to buy a meal; but when that little aid is given to each one of fifty or a hundred Aveary men each week, the aggregate of fatigue and anxiety which is relieved is not small in its sum; and I am sure that if the friends at 11 home could purchase it at ten-fold its cost for those Avho are Aveary by the Avay, they would consider it cheaply bought. Sept. 11th. There were last night in the "Soldiers' Home," asAA^e noAV call it, twenty-five men resting. Among them Avere a number of Berdan's sharpshooters; none of them were sick enough to go to a hospital, but some of them will doubtless be saved from serious illness by two or three days of rest and care. These men represent a large class of soldiers noAV arriving, who come in companies of fifties or hundreds, not yet organized into regiments, and therefore having no surgeon with them. To such Ave feel that we can render especial service. Sept. 12th. A number discharged from a Maine regi- ment, but who arrived in the city too late to get their pay, after AA^andering about for some time found their way to the Home. They were without shelter and without money, for they had expected to arrive from their camp in Virginia in season to receive the money due to them, and start for home in the evening train. At first these men seemed un- willing to accept what they thought was charity; but I as- sured them that we were only supplying to them some of the very comforts which their own friends, perhaps, in Maine had sent on "for the soldiers," (for Maine has not been unmindful of the call made upon her.) I fancied that they rested better that night for the assurance; they did not feel so far away from home. Sept. 13th. Last night Ave sheltered thirty-eight men, and furnished fresh clothes to some Avho Avere sorely in need. Among those to Avhom Ave gave comfort Avas one man whose earnest tone peculiarly impressed me; so I note the par- ticulars. When I Avent to the reception-house in the even- ing I found there this man who looked tired and Avorn. I 12 asked him if he Avas one of the men to be discharged. He said no, but that he had Avalked over twenty miles, and had hurried most of the Avay. Some tAvo Aveeks ago, he receiAed the neAvs of his mother's death and his father's sickness, but he could not obtain leave of absence; yesterday it Avas tele- graphed to him that his father had died; he now obtained a furlough for six days; but he had tAventy-tAvo miles to Avalk before he could reach the cars; he started early, but arrived here a half hour too late for the train, and consequently Avould not be in Philadelphia in time for the funeral of his father. His wife Avas not living, but he had a little girl, three years old, in aid of whose support the city of Phila- delphia paid fifty cents per Aveek. He shoAved to me some of his letters from Avhat was once his home. Realizing, as I thought, in my OAvn heart, the sad loneliness and weari- ness and disappointment Avhich I knew he must experience. I said to him, Noav tell me honestly, for I want to knoAV, just hoAv a man feels Avhen he is situated as you are; do you not Avish you had never enlisted, and so Avere not obliged to start for camp again in three days after you reach your child? He answered, "No, sir; you can't make me say that. I enlisted because I loA7ed my country, and I Avas determined to fight for her, and if every friend I have got in the Avorld dies while I am away, I Avill not Avish I had staid at home." This man had borrowed of his captain barely money enough to pay his railroad fare both ways. I added something to this, but he was unwilling to take it till I told him it was for his little girl. Sept. 15. Last night there Avere only twelve men in the Home. But early this morning Ave received sixteen men from a Michigan regiment, which arrived in the night. None of these, excepting four Avho were sent to the general 13 hospital to-day, Avere very sick ; but Avith slight illness at first, they Avere entirely Avorn doAvn and prostrated by the fatigue of a long journey, without rest, from Michigan. Just at this point of time, a day and night of sleep, and some little care, Avill probably save them from a serious illness. Tuesday or Wednesday their regimental hospital will be ready, and they will then go there. Sept. 16. Although four thousand troops have arrived in the last 24 hours, there were but four sick men among them, except those of the Michigan regiment. The other regiments Avere from NeAv Hampshire, Maine, and Rhode Island. The inspection of troops, previous to their enlist- ing, is evidently more thorough than Avith the earlier regi- ments. Just before night I met ten of the Garibaldians, Avho ar- rived in the city too late to get their pay. They are from the regimental hospital—sick and discharged. I told them hoAv to find their way to the Home ; and, after a comfortable supper, they are noAV resting. Sept. 17. Last night there were forty-five men in the Home, more than half of them needing medical treatment. This morning one poor fellow left, who has been here anx- iously waiting ten days for his papers, Avhich had been sent to Poolesville to have a correction made in them. He is very sick with consumption, and every day of his unneces- sary delay seemed a wrong to him. Sept. 18. This morning all but twelve men left for their regiments, or for home ; to-night thirty more of the sick came in from the four regiments that arrived. This after- noon I went to a regiment over the river, and obtained from a captain twenty dollars, Avhich he had wrongfully or care- lessly charged to a young man Avhen his papers were made 14 out. Three other cases similar to this have previously claimed our attention. From the 19th until the present time our chief attention has been given to the neAvly-arrived regiments—some sev- enteen regiments having come in during the five days. The number in the Home the past Aveek has been from forty-five to fifty each night. Meantime, some men have been sent to us from regiments already in camp, but Avho Avere not provided Avith hospital tents. Most of these we transferred to the general hospital. The number of soldiers who have thus received care at the hands of the Commission (some more, some less ; some a single night's lodging ; some five or six days' shelter and support) is not far from seven hundred. This covers the time from August 9th to September 23d. In this connection, it may be proper to say that these facts give increasing evidence of Avhat a vast amount of delay, and consequent fatigue and anxiety, would be saved the soldiers Avho are sick and discharged, if the officers, whose duty it is in the various regiments to make out the discharge papers, could be led to feel the importance of making themselves thoroughly acquainted Avith all the forms required, and then would carefully regard them. Humani- ty, as well as official faithfulness, demands this. The pay- master, of course, is not authorized to give a man his money upon a discharge that has a single flaAv in it; so the man has to go back to the regiment again with his papers, and the delay is certainly a wrong to the sick man, who thought he had fairly started for home. I may also state that there is now established by govern- ment a much more perfect system for sending to their re- spective regiments the soldiers who arrive Avithout officers. 15 Allow me, likeAvise, to add, that in this formal report no record is made of Avhat, after all, is one of the most valuable and most grateful methods by Avhich "aid and comfort" are given to these soldiers, namely, by the expression of the sympathy Avhich they receive at our hands, by the Avord of good cheer, by the assurance that some one is Avaiting to help them on. And this has a tenfold value to them Avhen they receive it, not as from one individual, but as from a thousand hands reached out from a thousand hearts, that bear Avith them constantly the thought of helping and strengthening our soldiers Avho have left their homes. In conclusion, I Avould say, that we hope to accomplish still more good, and render aid and comfort still more effect- ually, as by degrees system and methods for greater effi- ciency are Avorked out. In an undertaking of this kind, one cannot mark down a plan of operations so much as follow the lead of circumstances. Respectfully. SECOND REPORT. Washington, October 21, 1861. To Fred. Law Olmsted, Secretary of Sanitary Commission : Sir : My first report bore date of September 10th. After it was approved and ordered to be made a document of the Commission, some delay occurred in printing, enabling me to bring the report doAvn to September 23d, which, with the approval of the Secretary, Avas done, so far as the addi- tional details were of general interest; and they are now presented to you, in printed form, in connection Avith the first official report. Other matters of expense and meth- ods, embraced in that time, Avill be connected Avith the present statements. Up to September 10th, the number of soldiers Avho had received aid and comfort at the hands of the Commission, as previously stated, Avas about 300 ; from September 10th to September 23d, the number Avas about 400 ; from Septem- ber 23d to the present time, the number has been 1,094. Total from September 10th to the present date, 1,494. The men who have been relieved Avere mostly of the same classes as those indicated in the first report, viz : the sick of neAvly-arrived regiments ; men returning from hos- pitals at Annapolis or Baltimore ; men Availing for their discharge papers or their pay ; men who had received their discharge papers, but needed a day or tAvo of rest before starting for home. To all of these shelter or food, or medical treatment or direction, or money were given, according to the needs of 17 each case. And as before, so now, fresh clothes Avere fur- nished to a number who otherwise would have carried one of the worst marks of the Avar home with them. Besides these men, hoAvever, at the time when the troops were pouring in so rapidly, Ave received from day to day a number of soldiers brought to us from the regiments already in camp near by. These regiments, in the unusual demand for supplies, Avere not furnished Avith hospital tents, and the general hospitals Avere too much crowded, or the men not sick enough, to make it desirable to have them sent there. With these men in the house, the Home assumed, for a Aveek or two, essentially the character of a hospital. But besides these, again, Avithin the past three Aveeks, we have had a neAv class, viz : men belonging to regiments moving from Washington to Annapolis for special service. A number of cases have occurred where the regiments have struck their tents and marched to the railroad station, bringing all their sick with them in ambulances, expecting to take the cars at once ; but they Avere detained there waiting sometimes for 24 hours. In all such cases we have immediately received the sick into the Home ; and there they remained until the train Avhich was to take them was ready to start. Some nights we have had as many as twenty such from one regiment, Avho otherwise (though just removed from a regimental hospital) Avould have been obliged to have rflept on the floor of the reception-house, or else in the army wagons and ambulances. Many of these Avere men who needed all the care Ave could give them. One night, October 9th, as I came out of the house, there Avere four army wagons draAvn up in a line in front of the Home, waiting the word to carry men (38 in number) to the cars, Avhich were to start for Annapolis ; and there I 2—35 18 found the wagons standing the next morning, and the regi- ment did not get under way until the folloAving afternoon ; but during all this time these 38 men were receiving assu- rance that the Sanitary Commission kindly provided for the sick soldiers. Last Saturday night we found at the reception-house about forty Avomen and children, (22 women and 19 children,) be- longing to the seven companies of regulars Avho had just arrived from Utah Territory, They were much Avorn with their tAvo months' journey. None of the little children Avere over six years old. We brought them all up to the Home, giving them the large rooms on the second floor to them- selves. It Avas a neAV sight to see so many little children there, but it was a pleasant one ; and it Avas right, too ; for by giving thus for the time some of the protection of a home to these wives and children, I am sure Ave gave the very best "aid and comfort" to those weary men at the recep- tion-house. Most of the Avomen and children remained here until yesterday. We regretted that Ave had not still greater facilities for rendering them comfortable, but such as we had Ave gladly gave to them. Dr. Grymes, the physician to the Home, in his report, dated October 10th, says : "I have professionally treated over 400 soldiers since the opening of the house—some of them very sick. I have sent 36 to the general hospitals from the Home, and others from the Depot. I have given medicine to many Avho were directed to call here for advice. I have furnished medi- cines to various regimental surgeons arriving at the station- house ; and, whenever the opportunity has occurred, have conversed and advised Avith them upon the prevailing dis- 19 eases of our section of the country ; and I have informed them what disposition they could make of their sick." The largest number in the house at any one time has been 91, the smallest number 13. On many nights in suc- cession the number has exceeded 50. An accurate record has been kept of the names of all received at the Home, Avith the dates of their arrival and their leaving, excepting where men were brought in merely to lodge for a night. In that case the number of men thus sheltered was put doAvn. The cost of boarding these men during this time, included in this report, according to the bills hereAA'ith transmitted, has been about $900. We now have the use of the whole house, of Avhich we previously occupied but part. The rent is paid by govern- ment. We are now also alloAved to draw rations for all the men received at the Home. This neAV arrangement has been made about two Aveeks. Mrs. Murry, the woman Avho before kept the house, a very faithful, kindly, and expe- rienced person, is noAV employed in the same service for the Commission. Mr. J. Boylston Clark, an unpaid assistant, during the last few Aveeks has rendered me much help, and kindly offers to continue the Avork so long as he is needed. He is a man of judgment and efficiency. The surgeon, Dr. Grymes, has been devoted in his atten- tion to the sick men received at the Home. He has been there at all hours of the day and night : he is kind in man- ner, judicious in his practice, and never impatient or weary. The existence of the Home and its services are becoming generally knoAvn. We now frequently have men, on their way home, sent directly to our care from their regiments. 20 A number of letters of grateful thanks have been received from men who had arrived at their own homes after resting at this Home on the way. Water for a bath-room has not yet been introduced into the building. Certain difficulties Avere in the Avay which, we think, have now been overcome, and an order will probably be issued soon by government to have the water brought in. In this connection, it may be well to state that the agent of the Sanitary Commission, from time to time, has made a report to the officer in charge of changes and repairs needed at and around the reception-house, and the house where rations are served ; and the suggestions have ahvays been received and acted upon. There is a room in a small neAv building near the station- house, where men Avho are sick Avith measles are placed if they arri\Te in the night, or cannot be immediately sent to the general hospital. To this room, tea and necessary sup- plies are sent from the Home. All the men connected Avith the reception-buildings have been uniformly ready to cooperate Avith us, and they have frequently brought the sick men from the station-house to the Home. Among the 1,800 men received at the Home, there has not been a single case Avhere rudeness or disrespect has been shoAvn, but uniformly thoughtfulness and expressions of gratitude. With reference to the diseases of the men who, from time to time, come under our care, I should say that at least three-quarters of the discharged men, composing one- third of the Avhole Avhom we receive, are persons Avho, ac- 21 cording to their own testimony, were more or less diseased before they left their homes, and Avho Avould never have been alloAved to enlist except for the culpable carelessness of the medical officers Avho inspected these same men before their enlistment. I have taken special care to inform myself upon this point, so far as I could from the opportunity afforded me of talking Avith three or four hundred dis- charged men. At one time we had nineteen discharged men from one regiment, and it Avas their united testimony that "the surgeon who examined them as recruits passed them off at the rate of a company of ninety men in an hour." The attention of public officials who have this matter in charge ought surely to be draAvn to these facts. By such carelessness private homes suffer, the public ser- vice suffers, and the good name of the army, as a place where the health of the soldier is cared for, suffers. It is a Avrong all round. With reference to other men Avho come under our care— not discharged, but belonging to newly-arrived regiments— I should say that one-half of these are men who ought never to have been allowed to enlist, while the other half is made up chiefly of men who, though ill when the regiment was called upon to move, could not bear to be left behind, and therefore undertook a journey Avhich was too severe for them. But such men usually are ready for service after a few days' rest. There are but few persons who come into our hands affected with contagious or infectious disorders, or threat- ened Avith protracted sickness of the severer types of dis- ease ; but Avhen any such arrive they are immediately 22 placed under the better care which they receive at the gen- eral hospitals. There is one other point AArhich, although not strictly con- nected Avith sanitary affairs, seems to me Avorthy of mention. Among these thousand and more of sick men Avhom we have had in charge, I have met scarcely one whose anxiety for reneAved health did not seem actually to centre chiefly upon this idea, namely, to have strength enough to fight for his country. Hundreds of those men go home with a feeling of bitter disappointment, to think that they can never strike that blow in their country's cause for which their arm and heart both Avere once so strong, while now the arm is pal- sied. I am more and more impressed not merely with the patience of these men, but Avith their deep-seated spirit of patriotism. I am convinced that many persons in the com- munity attribute to a mere love of excitement and to the attractiveness of a military life Avhat ought to be credited to a genuine, earnest purpose. I have had peculiar oppor- tunity here to get at the real feelings of a great many of these men, and I see more and more hoAv strong and real a current of life flows down southward from onr northern hills. Again and again have I Avished that all doubting or luke- Avarm patriots could witness some of these scenes, Avhich, to my eye, have so much real pathos in them—men returning to their friends and their homes simply to die, yet without a complaint or regret, except that they Avere too Aveak to bear arms. Even those men Avho were prisoners at Rich- mond, but Avho have noAV been allowed to return, (as they are maimed for life, nearly every one having lost a limb,) even these men utter no complaints. There have been ten of them with us the past two weeks, getting their papers of 23 discharge and of pension, yet I have not heard a murmur from one. It has seemed to me right, in my report, to give this measure of testimony. I will append to this report one letter of many, Avhich, although addressed to me personally, belongs to the Com- mission and to the public, whose charities I am allowed to bestow. The letter is printed just as it was received : Sept the 29—61 Dear Sir, on account of a feeling of gratitud toAvards you I sit doAvn to write a few lines to you—to let you knoAv that my Son arived home on the 24th in verry feeble health, about the same as when he left your House—& stil remains as week with verry bad Cough—Avhen I herd him tel of the kind treatment he receaved from you an entire Stran- ger and the kindness you Showd him, and the things you gave him—I could not refrain from Sheding tears of Grati- tude I feel as though he found a friend in need which is a friend in deed I feel as though Heaven Avould ReAvard you for your kind- ness—it would be a pleasure to me to See Such a good Soul—as it is not money you was after I beg you to accept our cincere thanks and may God bless you—if Ave never meet on Earth may God prepair me to meet you in Heaven Yours truly this from your obedient Servant P S my son will write you Soon if able Excuse my poor ignorant letter