Hospital Transports; A Memoir Of The Embarkation Of The Sick And Wounded From The Peninsula Of Virginia In The Summer Of 1862
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<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>
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<div><em>Compiled and Published at the request of the</em></div>
<div><em>Sanitary Commission.</em></div>
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<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>
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<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>
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<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.<SPAN name='r1' /><SPAN href='#f1' class='c008'><sup>[1]</sup></SPAN></p>
<div class='footnote' id='f1'>
<p class='c000'><span class='label'><SPAN href='#r1'>1</SPAN>. </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>
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<div class='linegroup'>
<div class='group'>
<div class='line'><SPAN href='#DEDICATION'>DEDICATION.</SPAN></div>
<div class='line'><SPAN href='#INTRODUCTION'>INTRODUCTION.</SPAN></div>
<div class='line'><SPAN href='#I'>CHAPTER I.</SPAN></div>
<div class='line'><SPAN href='#II'>CHAPTER II.</SPAN></div>
<div class='line'><SPAN href='#III'>CHAPTER III.</SPAN></div>
<div class='line'><SPAN href='#IV'>CHAPTER IV.</SPAN></div>
<div class='line'><SPAN href='#V'>CHAPTER V.</SPAN></div>
<div class='line'><SPAN href='#VI'>CHAPTER VI.</SPAN></div>
<div class='line'><SPAN href='#A'>APPENDIX A.</SPAN></div>
<div class='line'><SPAN href='#B'>APPENDIX B.</SPAN></div>
<div class='line'><SPAN href='#C'>APPENDIX C.</SPAN></div>
<div class='line'><SPAN href='#D'>APPENDIX D.</SPAN></div>
<div class='line'><SPAN href='#NOTES'>TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES</SPAN></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.<SPAN name='r2' /><SPAN href='#f2' class='c008'><sup>[2]</sup></SPAN></p>
<div class='footnote' id='f2'>
<p class='c000'><span class='label'><SPAN href='#r2'>2</SPAN>. </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.<SPAN name='r3' /><SPAN href='#f3' class='c008'><sup>[3]</sup></SPAN></p>
<div class='footnote' id='f3'>
<p class='c000'><span class='label'><SPAN href='#r3'>3</SPAN>. </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.<SPAN name='r4' /><SPAN href='#f4' class='c008'><sup>[4]</sup></SPAN>
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'><SPAN href='#r4'>4</SPAN>. </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.<SPAN name='r5' /><SPAN href='#f5' class='c008'><sup>[5]</sup></SPAN></p>
<div class='footnote' id='f5'>
<p class='c000'><span class='label'><SPAN href='#r5'>5</SPAN>. </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.<SPAN name='r6' /><SPAN href='#f6' class='c008'><sup>[6]</sup></SPAN> 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'><SPAN href='#r6'>6</SPAN>. </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.<SPAN name='r7' /><SPAN href='#f7' class='c008'><sup>[7]</sup></SPAN> 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'><SPAN href='#r7'>7</SPAN>. </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,<SPAN name='r8' /><SPAN href='#f8' class='c008'><sup>[8]</sup></SPAN> 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'><SPAN href='#r8'>8</SPAN>. </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 <SPAN href='#Page_23'>23</SPAN>.</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 <SPAN href='#Page_42'>42</SPAN>.</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 <SPAN href='#Page_97'>97</SPAN>.</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 <SPAN href='#Page_130'>130</SPAN>.</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'>
<ANTIMG 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 <SPAN href='#CONTENTS'>Table of Contents</SPAN>.
</li>
<li>Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical errors.
</li>
<li>Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed.
</li>
</ol></div>
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