Statement of the object and methods of the Sanitary Commission : appointed by the Government of the United States, June 13, 1861, / published by its Direction.

  • United States of America. Sanitary Commission.
Date:
1863
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Statement of the object and methods of the Sanitary Commission : appointed by the Government of the United States, June 13, 1861, / published by its Direction. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    18/76 (page 12)
    utter waste and failure. Quartermasters feel authorized to help forward supplies entrusted to the recognized agents of the Com- mission when they decline giving facilities to unknown and irresponsible relief agents. After a great battle such transpor- tation cannot be bought with money, though the lives of thou- sands may depend upon it, and the lives of many thousands have been saved because help was sent them through the Sani- tary Commission, and because the system of the Commission is known to harmonize with that of the Army. Tlie confidence thus reposed in the Commission economizes its resources in many other ways, and enables it to use them with special advantage and efiect. For instance, Government supplies ordinary rations to the hundreds of thousands of men who are relieved in the Homes of the Commission. It often fiirnishes transportation, guards for depots and for wagon trains, and details of men for special service in aid of the Commission.* Without this help the Special Relief system, which has done what no Government system could undertake, and what we could not have endured to see left undone, would have cost four- fold what it has. The special advantages thus secured to the Commission through the confidence reposed in it by the Public * HEAD-QUARrWRS DliPARTMENl' OF THE CUMCKRLAND, ) Stevenson, Ala., August 19th, 1863, ) Sir,—The General commanding authorizes the use of hnlf a car daily for the shipment of sanitary stores by the United States Sanitary Commission, from Nash- ville to such points South as may be desired. This letter, if exhibited to the Quarter-Master at Nashville, will procure you Ihe transportation at all times, unless the exigencies of the service should make it necessary temporarily to suspend the permission. General directions to ship nothing but government stores, will not affect this permit. Should it be necessary to suspend it, special direction will be given. I am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, 0. Goddard, Lieut. Col. and A. A, O. Dr. A. N. Reed, U. S. Sanilarij Commission.