E 470 
 .8 
 
 .U58 
 Copy 1 
 
SANITARY COMMISSION. 
 
 No. 75. 
 
 EEPOET 0.^ THE OPERATIONS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 U. S. SANITARY COMMISSION 
 
 IN THE 
 
 YALLEY OF THE MISSISSIPPI, 
 
 Made September 1st, 1863, 
 
 BY 
 
 E>R. J. S. NEWBERRY, 
 
 Sec'y Western Department. 
 
 Louisville, Ky., September 1, 1863. 
 F. L. Olmsted, Esq., 
 
 Genl. Secretary Sanitary Commission. 
 
 Dear Sir : — I herewith inclose our usual monthly financial 
 report and roster of the Department ; also, reports of receipts 
 and disbursements of stores from the various receiving and 
 distributing depots for the month of August, as well as a tab- 
 ulated statement of our entire transactions in the Supply De- 
 partment for the two years ending September 1st, during 
 which time I have had the supervision of the operations of the 
 Sanitary Commission at the West. I also inclose a report of 
 the Hospital Directory at this ofiice. In addition to all these, 
 I now propose what I have frequently before attempted of late, 
 but from the pressure of duties have not achieved, a brief re- 
 sume of the present condition of our operations in all parts of 
 the "Western Department. 
 
 Having recently returned from a visit to all the important 
 
2 
 
 foci of our work in the Home Field, I can give you fresli and 
 interesting informatioii, from my own observation, of the zeal 
 ■and success of the thousands of our co-workers who, through- 
 out the Northwestern States, are devoting themselves to the 
 preparation of supplies for the sick and wounded of our army. 
 From the different military departments I am in receipt of so 
 recent and full reports from our agents, that I can also give 
 you a fair representation of our late operations in the army. 
 In order that this may be the more readily comprehended, per- 
 mit me to take up the different departments in succession. 
 
 DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE. 
 
 A general quiet has prevailed on the Mississippi since the 
 'Capture of Yicksburg, and we have of late been compelled 
 Tto do nothing for wounded men. Yet our means have been 
 fully and steadily employed in supplying the wants of the 
 large and constantly increasing number of sick, multiplied by 
 the advance of the season, in all the corps of Gen. Grant's 
 army. From this cause the demand upon our efforts and re- 
 sources has been no less than at any previous time ; and, in- 
 deed, I may say that our operations in that Department have 
 been, by an irresistible influence, gradually but constantly 
 expanding. The many and great privileges accorded us by 
 the General commanding and by others in authority have 
 ■opened new and wide doors of usefulness, and by accepting 
 the responsibilities thus laid upon us, our duties have neces- 
 sarily been increased. All the facilities accorded us by Gen. 
 Grant at your solicitation have been continued to the present 
 time, and such additional favors as we have since felt compell- 
 ed to ask have been cheerfully granted. By reference to the 
 schedule of disbursements in that Department, it will be seen 
 that our expenditures there are now much greater than ever 
 before. The ability of our agents to meet so fully the de- 
 mands upon them is owing, in a great measure, to the vastly 
 increased efficiency of the Chicago Branch, to which I shall 
 have occasion to call your attention again. 
 
 Dr. Warriuer still continues at the head of our force on the 
 
V- Mississippi, ably seconded bvDr. Fithian, Mr. Way, Mr. Tone, 
 i^^ &c., and I need scarcely say that every day's experience has 
 .^ given me a higher appreciation of the value of his services. 
 I regret to state that all our employees in that district have 
 sooner or later been prostrated by disease, and have been fur- 
 loughed home for a longer or shorter time to recuperate. 
 There is no one of them who is not now performing his duty 
 at the peril of life and health, braving the dangers of his posi- 
 tion with a degree of devotion for which he should be duly 
 honored. 
 
 After the opening of the Mississippi, one of our agents was 
 despatched to Port Hudson to respond to any demand that 
 might be made upon us at that point. But, from the assu- 
 rance that a large amount of supplies were to be sent up by 
 the agents of the Commission at New Orleans, no effort has 
 yet been made to carry stores below JSTatchez, where there are 
 many sick not likely to be supplied from other sources, and 
 where we have, in consequence, established a depot. 
 
 The sickness among the troops at Vicksburg has been, as I 
 have said, increasing of late, both in the number and severity 
 of the cases ; the prevailing forms of disease being malarious 
 fevers and dj'sentery. Cases of the former have occurred so 
 malignant in character that they have been considered yellow 
 fever, even by some of the surgeons. Yet I think the testi- 
 mony is conclusive that no true yellow fever has occurred 
 there. 
 
 To meet this wide-spread and severe malarious disease, the 
 supply of quinine being inadequate, I have sent down with 
 other stores over 200 ounces in 500 gallons of whisky, all 
 bottled and properly labeled, to be distributed and used both 
 as a curative and prophylactic. Ice is another article so much 
 needed at Vicksburg that the resources of the Commission 
 have been freely used to supplement liberally the supply de- 
 rived from Governmental sources. Aside from the ten tons 
 taken, each trip, in the ice-box of the Dunleith, one barge car- 
 rying one hundred tons has been sent down, and another will 
 be dispatched as soon as the barge can be procured. 
 
In addition to the demands for tlie supply of our troops at 
 Yicksburg, urgent appeals liave been made for the relief of 
 the five thousand rebel sick left in our hands ; appeals which 
 we have not felt at liberty wholly to disregard, as you will have 
 learned from documents already in your hands. 
 
 At Helena we have maintained a depot of greater or less 
 importance, as the troops stationed there have varied in num- 
 l)ers. This has been generally under the charge of Dr. Fithian, 
 whose reports have from time to time been sent you. 
 
 At Memphis we have, at present, no Inspector, Dr. Esta 
 brook having been compelled hj illness to return to his home 
 in Iowa. Mr. Christy is there in charge of the Lodge and the 
 Eelief Department, Mr. Tone of the Department of Supplies, 
 and everything is going on smoothly under their supervision. 
 The Rev. J. P. T. Ingraham, of Milwaukie, Wisconsin, has 
 been appointed to act as Hospital Visitor at this place, and 
 will soon enter upon his duties. 
 
 At Cairo, one of the most important points in the AYest, 
 from a variety of causes, as you are well aware, our work has 
 never been quite satisfactorily done. I am happy to say, 
 however, that the evils from which we have suffered are in a 
 fair way to be remedied. Mr. C. IS". Shipman, of Chicago, an 
 exceedingly competent and excellent man, has been engaged 
 to superintend all sanitaiy work at this point, has entered upon 
 his duties, and has already effected marked changes and im- 
 provements. The old Home was always crowded with soldiers 
 ■undeserving of its charities, thrust into it by the military au- 
 thorities, who soon converted it into barracks, having all the dis- 
 agreeable features common to institutions of that kind. The 
 new Home, partly from the same cause, and partly from faults' 
 in its situation and construction, failed to accomplish all we 
 had hoped from it. Hedged about by difficulties otherwise 
 insurmountable, I applied to Gen. Grant for assistance in the 
 matter, and by him orders were issued, which, with the expen- 
 diture of a moderate sum on our part, will enable us to place 
 both the Relief and Supply Department in a condition highly 
 satisfactory. 
 
DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND. 
 
 Our work in this Department is now, as it has long been, 
 under the immediate supervision of Dr. A. N, Read, our 
 veteran Inspector, who has continued to exhibit in its man- 
 agement the same energy and wisdom whic^ have character- 
 ized his efforts in our behalf for months and years past. He 
 has been ably seconded by Drs. Castleman and Parker as In- 
 spectors, M. C. Read and L. Crane in the Relief Department, 
 and Mr. Robinson, Mr. Butler, Mr. Crary, and others, in the 
 Department of Supplies. I think I am justified in saying that 
 there is no part of the whole army where our work is more 
 systematically, thoroughly, and well done. The credit of this 
 desirable result is not, however, due wholly to the corps of 
 agents who have represented us so faithfully there, but should 
 be equally shared by the military and medical authorities, all 
 of whom have been at all times most cordially co-operative; 
 not only granting cheerfully every reasonable request we have 
 made, but^ even anticipating our wants ; often spontaneously 
 proffering the aid we were about to need. The catalogue 
 of the officers of this army, who have manifested towards the 
 Sanitary Commission cordial and appreciative co-operation, is 
 so long that I have not room to give it, but I may say, in gen- 
 eral, that our relations are of the pleasantest character with 
 ever}^ one. The evidences of hearty sympathy with us in our 
 work, given by Gen. Rosecrans, Gen. Garfield, his chief of 
 staff, Dr. Perin, the Medical Director, and Dr. Hamilton, Med- 
 ical Inspector, have been frequently exhibited in the docu- 
 ments forwarded to you. All of the regiments comprising 
 this army, I believe, without exception, have received careful 
 special inspections; the inspection returns having been for- 
 warded from time to time to the Central Office. I am happy 
 to be able to say, that their Sanitary condition is now and 
 has long been remarkably good. The percentage of sick is 
 as low, if not lower, than in any other army, and protective 
 measures, such as the policing of camps, &c., are so thorough- 
 ly observed that little is left to desire in that respect. 
 
6 
 
 By reference to tlie accompanying schedule of disburse- 
 ments, it will be seen that tbe amount of supplies furnislied 
 to the Army of the Cumberland has been very large, (over 
 20,000 bushels of vegetables alone since January 1st), yet since 
 the battle of Stone River no great and Unusual emergency has 
 called for extra efforts on our part. 
 
 HOSPITAL GARDENS. 
 
 The Ilospital Gardens established in this Department have 
 more than justified all our anticipations. That at Murfrees- 
 boro had, up to August 30th, furnished to the hospitals 248 
 barrels of assorted vegetables, and the gardener estimates that 
 it will produce during the balance of the season 800 bushels 
 of tomatoes, 1,200 of Irish potatoes, 1,200 of sweet potatoes, 
 25,000 heads of cabbage, besides large quantities of beans^ 
 melons, turnips, &c. 
 
 HOSPITAL CARS. 
 
 From time to time reports have been made to you of the 
 value of the service rendered by the Ilospital Cars on the Chat- 
 tanooga and Louisville & Kashville Railroads. Time has 
 only served to increase our estimate of their importance, and 
 as the army has advanced farther and farther from its base of 
 supplies, they have been made more and more useful, until 
 they are now recognized as an indispensable institution. By 
 one and another casualty, the cars forming the first hospital 
 train having been destroyed, the Government authorized the 
 purchase of three new ones to take their places. These are 
 now being fitted up at Columbus, Ohio, on the plan of the Rail- 
 road ambulances constructed by the Sanitary Commission in 
 the East, and will be equally complete with those. It is sup- 
 posed that they will be ready for use about the 15th of Septem- 
 ber. The Ilospital Cars have been constantly under the su- 
 pervision of Dr. Barnum as surgeon, and Mr. Mallory as stew- 
 ard. 
 
 The Home at IS'ashville, under the wise management of Mr. 
 Crane, has been a complete success, and has proved of inesti- 
 
mable value to several tliousands of the poor fellows for whose 
 benefit it was established. The number of inmates of the 
 Home, the services rendered them, the amount of money col- 
 lected for them, &c., are given in the detailed report of this 
 institution which accompanies this. Rev. Mr. Hoblit still con- 
 tinues his labors as Hospital Visitor at Kashville, Mr. Robin- 
 son in charge of the Department of supplies ; the latter assist- 
 ed by Mrs. Hopkins, widow of Dr.'; R. C. Hopkins, who died 
 while acting as Inspector for the Commission. I regret to say 
 that our corps of agents in attendance upon Gen. Rosecrans' 
 army have suffered greatly from sickness, every one of them 
 having passed through serious attacks of chill-fever or chronic 
 diarrhea, by which they have been for a longer or shorter time 
 unfitted for duty. All are, however, or soon will be, at their 
 posts again, with the exception of Mr. Atwater, whose health 
 is, I fear, permanently impaired. 
 
 DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO. 
 
 Such portion of General Burnside's forces as have been sta- 
 tioned in Eastern Kentucky have been carefully inspected by 
 Dr. "W. M. Prentice, and their wants supplied from our depot 
 at Lexington in charge of Mr. Butler. Important changes 
 have, however, lately taken place in that Department: Dr. 
 Prentice having resigned to take a position in the army, and 
 Mr. Butler having been transferred to Murfreesboro, where his 
 services were more urgently demanded. To supply the places 
 of these gentlemen, Mr. S. H. Prentice has been appointed 
 Storekeeper and Mr. R. K Strong Relief Agent, to follow the 
 advancing column. 
 
 From General Burnside we have received, as might have 
 been expected, every required facility. He has issued special 
 orders in our behalf, similar in import to those of Gen. Rose- 
 crans and Gen. Grant. 
 
 WEST VIRGINIA. 
 
 The number of troops in this Department has, of late, been 
 so small, their duties so light, and their casualties so few, that 
 
8 
 
 there has been comparatively little to do in a sanitary way 
 among them; so little, indeed, that three months since I trans- 
 ferred Dr. Parker to the Army of the Cumberland, leaving Mr. 
 Fracker, Storekeeper at Wheeling, now well known to all the 
 surgeons and officers in the Department, to supply any want 
 that might arise there, and I have reason to believe that his 
 duty has been well and faithfully done. During the month 
 of August, Dr. Theodore Sterling, temporarily employed for 
 that duty, made a complete round of inspection among the 
 troops stationed in West Virginia, giving me the result of his 
 observation in a report which has already been furnished you. 
 
 KANSAS. 
 
 The troops stationed at Leavenworth, Fort Scott, and other 
 places in Kansas and the Indian Territory, though they have 
 never been very numerous, have been so situated as to be 
 beyond the reach of many of the governmental supplies, liber- 
 ally furnished to those more favorably located. As a conse- 
 quence, appeals so earnest and urgent have been made to us 
 in their behalf that I have felt compelled to make somewhat 
 liberal appropriations for their relief. Mr. Brown is now, as 
 he has been for several months, acting as our agent, and has 
 been indefatigable in his efforts to reach even the most distant 
 frontier post with his stores. He is now assisted in his labors 
 by Dr. C. C. Slocum, and liberal shipments have recently been 
 made him from Chicago and Cleveland. Mr. Brown's letters 
 have from time to time been sent you. 
 
 WESTERN CENTRAL OFFICE. 
 
 Since the time of your visit, the work of our office has 
 greatly expanded, and has been brought to a degree of system 
 which I think would meet with your approbation. Our office 
 corps consists of the following gentlemen, in addition to my- 
 self, all of whom, by their faithfulness in the discharge of 
 their duties, and by their earnestness and unity of purpose, 
 have not only won mj personal esteem, but merit all honor 
 and respect from the Commission and its friends. 
 
R. T. Thorne, Assistant Secretary. 
 
 Dr. George L. Andrew, Medical Inspector and Editor of Tue 
 Reporter. 
 
 H. S. Ilolbrook, Superintendent of Hospital Directory. 
 
 Dr. K E. Soule, Chief Clerk. 
 
 C. S. Sill, Accountant. 
 
 W. S. Hanford, Superintendent of Transportation. 
 
 Rev. F. PI. Buslmell, Hospital Visitor and Relief Agent. 
 
 "VVe have also in service a carefully selected and well trained 
 corps of clerical assistants, whose names are enumerated in 
 the roster which accompanies this. 
 
 By an examination of the special reports of the different 
 departments of our work, which I now send or have hereto- 
 fore forwarded, you will be able to judge something of the 
 merits, as to efficiency and accuracy, of those who have them 
 under their immediate suj)er vision. 
 
 The Hospital Directory has grown greatly in importance 
 since the time of your visit. The number of names of sick 
 and wounded on our books is at this date 186,433, represent- 
 ing 737 regiments. The number of inquiries that have 
 been made is 5,852; in answer to which the information 
 required has been given in 4,016 cases. The number of hos- 
 pitals now reporting regularly to us is 102 ; number which 
 have reported, 184. 
 
 The Sanitary Reporter, which has reached its eighth num- 
 ber, is accomplishing far more for the cause than I had hoped 
 in its establishment. Its issue has been increased to 6,000, 
 and it is not yet sufficient to meet the urgent demands that are 
 made upon us for it. Though in no sense the official organ 
 of the Commission, and created to supply what was felt to be 
 a pressing want in this Department, we have aimed to make it 
 as catholic and national as possible, and have published all 
 the information in regard to the general operations of the Com- 
 mission that we have been able to procure. The testimonials 
 which it has elicited ^from our friends and co-laborers, both 
 East and West, are numerous and most flattering. 
 
10 
 
 HOME FIELD. 
 
 As I have before remarked, I have recently visited nearly 
 all parts of the Home Field in this Department, and have had 
 the pleasure of personal interviews with the noble band of 
 loyal and humane men and women who are devoting themselves 
 to the great work in which we are engaged. I cannot express 
 to you the gratification that this round of visits has afforded 
 me, nor my admiration of the devotion and efficiency which 
 characterizes the great corps of our fellow-laborers to whom 
 I have alluded. 
 
 You are already, in general, familiar with the thorough 
 system that pervades most of our branch societies in the 
 I^orth-west, and know with what energy and success they 
 have canvassed their respective fields of labor, and have united 
 in perfect concert of action the Soldier's Aid Societies which 
 have sprung up spontaneously, or as the result of their efforts, 
 in every town and hamlet throughout the land. And you also 
 know something of the admirable forms now generally adopt- 
 ed for recording and reporting their business. I can assure you, 
 however, that great progress has been made within a few months 
 past, and that whatever you may have found to approve in the 
 workings of the Supplj^ Department of the "West at the time 
 of your visit, its present condition would still further merit 
 3'our approbation. Transportation of stores is ever3'where 
 gratuitous ; messages relating to our business are sent over the 
 telegraph lines free, and the whole work of collecting and for- 
 warding supplies, while it has all the soul and enthusiasm of 
 a labor of love, is as thoroughly disciplined and systematized 
 as any of the great enterprizes of purely mercenary business. 
 
 As comparisons are confessedly invidious, and it is necessa- 
 ry that some examples should be given, I shall take the liberty 
 of refervjng to the work of each of our branches in succession. 
 
 CHICAGO. 
 
 Since the first of January, the work of the Chicago Branch 
 has been completely revolutionized, and so greatly expanded 
 
11 
 
 that it lias become tlie first in importance in the list of our 
 auxiliaries at the West. Always loyal and earnest in spirit, 
 and working with a degree of energy and success highly cred- 
 itable to the small number who took an active part in its ope- 
 rations, yet its efficiency has been many times multiplied 
 during the present year. This you will perceive at a glance, 
 when I tell you that on the 1st of January the whole number 
 of packages of stores forwarded to the army was 4,500, while 
 the present number is 16,315. This splendid result is due, in 
 a great degree, to the intelligence and industr^^ of the two ad- 
 mirable ladies, Mrs. Livermore and Mrs. Iloge, who have insti- 
 tuted a system of correspondence and canvassing, by which 
 the interest of the whole North-west has been greatly stimu- 
 lated, as well as drawn to this one focus. Contributions are 
 now made to Chicago from all ^Northern Illinois, from parts of 
 Iowa, all of "Wisconsin, Western Michigan, and Xortheru In- 
 diana. So that the work of this Society contains the embodi- 
 ment of the interest in our cause of an immense area. The 
 shipments from Chicago have been .for man}^ reasons, mainly 
 directed down the Mississippi, and have constituted two-thirds 
 of all our contributions to the army of General Grant. The 
 Chicago Branch, like that of Cincinnati, now publishes regu- 
 larly a Monthly Bulletin of its operations, for distribution 
 among its auxiliaries. 
 
 In Central and Southern Illinois, the contributions o sani- 
 tary stores mainly pass through the hands of the Illinois State 
 Sanitary Bureau, Imt are almost all forwarded to our agents 
 for distribution. With this Bureau our relations have alwaj-s 
 been cordial and pleasant, and a spirit of co-operation has been 
 manifested by its ofiicers which has contributed to the success 
 of their efforts and ours. 
 
 IOWA. 
 
 The patriotism and benevolence of the people of Iowa flow 
 toward the army in two channels : the one represented by the 
 Eev. A. J. Kynett, and the other associate members of our 
 Commission who are working in unity with us, and con- 
 stitute a branch of our organization; and the other repre- 
 
12 
 
 sented by Mrs. Wittenmeyer, holding an independent position, 
 or in allian ce with the Western Sanitary Commission at St. 
 Louis. The contributions made by those who are working with 
 and for us in Iowa, are forwarded to Chicago for shipment to the 
 army. 
 
 / "WISCONSIN. 
 
 A wide-spread and active interest in our work has been for 
 a long time exhibited in this State, and tliere are scattered over 
 all parts of it Aid Societies, whose contributions, forming a 
 large aggregate, pass through Chicago. In fact, all these socie- 
 ties are united in a State organization, of which, however, the 
 extent and the efforts are bounded by no State lines. It is but 
 just that I should also mention that the State officers of Wis- 
 consin, especially the Governor and Surgeon General, have 
 from the iirst worked in harmony with us and have manifest- 
 ed a broad and generous spirit, in striking contrast with that 
 which has actuated the officers of some other Western States. 
 Among those to whom we are indebted for the important part 
 that Wisconsin has taken in our enterprize, I should not fail 
 to mention the name of Mrs. H. L. Colt, Corresponding Sec- 
 retary of the Milwaukie Societ}^ a lady who has been herself 
 repeatedly to the army to look after the wants of our soldiers, 
 and by her untiring efforts in the home-field in their behalf 
 has most richly deserved their gratitude. Our co-laborers iu 
 the North-west are planning a grand Fair, to be held in Chi- 
 cago in October, for the benefit of our cause. No efforts will 
 be spared to make it what it can hardly fail to be, a complete 
 success. 
 
 MICHIGAN. 
 
 The people of Michigan, as you are aware, have not been 
 behind the inhabitants of other portions of the North-west iu 
 their interest or activity in the present war, and they have con- 
 tributed largel}^ in the aggregate to our resources. But from 
 the want of a general effort to excite interest and concentrate 
 action, many parts of the State have, until recently, done com- 
 paratively little for the cause in which we are engaged. The 
 Western and Southern portions, however, have been forward- 
 
13 
 
 ing supplies to Chicago for a year or more, and the South- 
 eastern portion has sent something like a thousand boxes to 
 the Soldier's Aid Society of Detroit since the period of its or- 
 ganization, November 1st, 1861. Feeling the importance of a 
 more thorough exploitation of the State of Michigan, about 
 the 1st of August I visited Detroit in company with Professor 
 Andrews, of Marietta College, for two years Colonel of the 
 36th Ohio, who was engaged to act during his vacation as can- 
 vassing agent for the Commission. On consultation with the 
 managers of the Aid Society, among whom Miss Valeria 
 Campbell deserves special mention for her unwearied efforts 
 in behalf of the sick soldier, a thorough re-organization of this 
 Society was effected, by which it became formally auxiliary to 
 the Sanitary Commission, and instituted measures for inter- 
 esting all parts of the State in its W(5rk. Since that time it has 
 greatly increased in efficiency, and is now sending us large 
 quantities of the most desirable varieties of stores. Of the 
 Detroit Society, Mrs. Bela Hubbard is President, and Miss Va- 
 leria Campbell, Secretary. 
 
 INDIANA. 
 
 The contributions of the people of Indiana to the sick and 
 wounded in the a^jmy, have mainly passed through the hands 
 of the Governor and a State Sanitary Bureau, acting under 
 his directions. Yet several hundred packages of stores have 
 been forwarded to Chicago from the ISTorthern portion of 
 of the State, and perhaps an equal number from the Southern 
 portion to the Commission of our auxiliaries organized at I*^ew 
 Albany. This latter Society, during the first year of the war, 
 nobly sustained the responsibility thrown upon them in the 
 care of the sick in the hospitals of their own city. 
 
 The accompanying report of the material aid which they 
 extended to these hospitals, will give you some idea of their 
 activity in our cause, but neither here nor in any other human 
 history is record made of the zeal and sympathy with suffer- 
 ing which led them to sacrifice months of their time in inces- 
 sant efforts for the welfare of the great number of sick and 
 wounded who were crowded in upon them. 
 
14 
 
 OHIO. 
 
 As you are aware, tlie State of Ohio occupies a conspicuous 
 and enviable position among the noble sisterhood who have 
 given so freely of their treasures and their blood to save our 
 country from ruin, and to maintain, in purity and permanence, 
 all our free institutions. Among the forms in which her patri- 
 otism has exhibited itself, not the least worthy of mention is 
 her general and earnest support of our philanthropic organi- 
 zation. As I have before stated, aside from all that has been 
 done by individuals, other organizations, or the State Govern- 
 ment, Ohio has now furnished to the army, through the agen- 
 cies of the Sanitary Commission, over thirty thousand packa- 
 ges of supplies; in other words, half of all that has been con- 
 tributed to the Sanitary Commission in the Missippi Valley^ 
 , This great efficiency which Ohio has manifested in our work 
 is unquestionably due, for the most part, to the early organi- 
 zation of three Branch Commissions within her limits, each of 
 which has been most earnest and untiring ; and two, that of 
 Cincinnati and Cleveland, managed with wonderful energy and 
 skill, have been pre-eminently successful and useful. That of 
 Columbus, though accomplishing less than the others named, 
 has done a noble w^ork, which will compare favorably with that 
 of any other similarly situated in the land. "With the w^orking 
 of the branches at Cincinnati and Cleveland you are already 
 considerably familiar, as you have visited them, have witness- 
 ed the perfection of their methods, and have seen abundant 
 evidence' of the great good which they have accomplished. 
 
 CINCINNATI. 
 
 The Branch Commission at Cincinnati has now distributed 
 over twelve thousand packages of stores, and is still as active and 
 prosperous as at any former period of its history. In addition to 
 the contribution of materials to which I have referred, the Cin- 
 cinnati Commission has expended large sums of money and a 
 vast amount of labor, of thought, of sympathy, and kindness 
 in the care of the sick in the hospitals of that city ; in the 
 equipment and management of hospital steamers ; in the care 
 
15 
 
 of troops passing tlirongli or quartered in the city^ and in 
 sustaining its admirable "Home," wliicli lias now accommo- 
 dated forty thousand soldiers. So great and varied are the 
 charities which it has dispensed, that I can do no more here 
 than allude, in a general way, to that which it would take vol- 
 umes to describe, that which has served to make the Cincinnati 
 Branch of the Sanitary Commission known and blessed in 
 every department and division of our Western armies. 
 
 COLUMBUS, 
 
 From the inland position of this city, and her remoteness 
 from the seat of war, the inhabitants of Columbus have not 
 felt, to so great a degree, the varied and pressing demands to 
 which Cincinnati has so nobly responded; but our representa- 
 tives there have not been regardless of the responsibilities 
 which have fallen to their lot. They have answered promptly 
 and efficiently all appeals which I have made, and have 
 forwarded an aggregate of supplies in the highest degree 
 creditable to them. The territory tributary to Columbus never 
 being thoroughly canvassed, I have authorized the employment 
 of an excellent man to act, for a limited period, as canvassing 
 Agent in this district. In addition to its other work, the 
 Columbus Branch has built, from its own funds, a very com- 
 plete and tasteful " Home " for the accommodation of the sick 
 and discharged soldiers passing through that city, and need- 
 ing, as they have done sadly, the aid that has been there ren- 
 dered them. 
 
 CLEVELAND. 
 
 Of the work of our branch at Cleveland I shall say little, as 
 it is already well known to you, and a free expression of my 
 admiration for its methods and successes might seem to you 
 not altogether in good taste. The merest justice, however, to 
 the Soldiers Aid Society of ]^orthern Ohio, requires that I should 
 at least allude to the energy which has already furnished us, 
 from a limited district, 10,000 packages of stores ; to a skill and 
 wisdom which, with simple, though nicely adjusted, machinery, 
 lias accomplished so quietly and peacefully this great result; 
 
16 
 
 and to a loyalty to us and our national platform, pure and un- 
 qualified from tlie first. In addition to the work which Cleve- 
 land has done in the Supply Department, she has also per- 
 formed her part in the work of special relief. She has, fov 
 many months past, kept up a Home and Hospital for sick and 
 discharged soldiers passing through, at which have been lodged 
 over 2,000; and 10,000 have been fed. 
 
 PITTSBURGH. 
 
 Owing to a series of unfortunate circumstances, which it is 
 not necessary that I should now enumerate, among wliich, 
 however, is not to be reckoned any want of patriotism or 
 benevolence on the part of the citizens of Pittsburgh, this 
 large and wealthy city has only lately become actively inter- 
 ested in our work. Up to the spring of the present year 
 the Sanitary Commission had there no resident representa- 
 tive. Much had been done, however, by the inhabitants of 
 Pittsburgh in behalf of the sick and wounded in the army, 
 or they had sent delegations to the scenes of several of our 
 earlier battles, had chartered and freighted two steamers 
 for the relief of the wounded at Shiloh, and had brought 
 home and carefully nursed in their midst a large number of 
 those who, at that time, could be but imperfectly accommo- 
 dated in the military hospitals at the "West. In addition to 
 this, a " Subsistence Committee " had been organized for the 
 purpose of supplying food to the troops passing through the 
 city, and at the date which I have given, they had ministered 
 to the wants of nearly 100,000 men. After the battle of Stone 
 Eiver, Mr. Shippen, who had been sent "West by Gov. Curtin 
 to look after the wants of Pennsylvania soldiers, and who, in 
 the prosecution of his mission, had become intimately ac- 
 quainted with, and very much interested in, our national 
 method, was engaged to canvass Western Pennsylvania in 
 our behalf. At Pittsburgh, he was received most cordially, 
 and, in response to his appeals, a local Commission was organ- 
 ized, consisting of some of the best known and most estimable 
 
17 
 
 men and women of the city. From that time to the present 
 our Pittsburgh associates have exhibited a devotion to the cause 
 in which they are interested which has elicited my warmest 
 admiration, and has been the means of contributino; laro-elv 
 to our resources, l^owhere, indeed, so far as I know, since 
 the war commenced, has any similar society accomplished so 
 much in so short a time after its organization. It has already 
 expended several thousand dollars in the purchase of sanitary 
 stores, and has forwarded to us some three thousand packages, 
 including a large proportion of tlie choicest and most valuable 
 articles which we distribute, all prepared with care and skill, 
 which reflects the highest credit on those who have its busi- 
 ness in charge. 
 
 Of the Pittsburgh Branch, Mr. Thomas Bakewell is Presi- 
 dent, and Mr. J. R. Hunter, Secretary of the Gentlemen's 
 Committee; Miss Rachel McFadden, President, and Miss 
 Mary Bissell, Secretary of the Committee of Ladies. 
 
 BUFFALO. 
 
 Although in defining the limits of ray department, Buffalo 
 was excluded from it and attached to that of the East, the 
 logic of events has proved stronger than our classificalion, 
 and whatever may have been her theoretical relations, Buffalo 
 has become practically a most important auxiliary in our ef- 
 forts in behalf of the armies of the West. It is true that most 
 of the troops from the State of New York have been in service 
 in some of the Eastern or Southern Departments, yet with a 
 noble generosity and catholic spirit, the Army Aid Societ}' 
 of Buffalo has overlooked all selfish considerations, and has 
 ever manifested a desire to extend her aid to such soldiers of 
 our ISTational Army, as most needed help and could be most 
 readily reached. 
 
 Acting on this plan, she has sent to us over three thousand 
 packages of stores, which have been distributed in the Depart- 
 ments of the Cumberland and the Tennessee, and I have 
 learned to rely with confidence upon receiving a prompt and 
 vigorous response to any appeal which I might be led by any 
 
18 
 
 present emergency to make. When I consider how small a 
 territory is tributary to the Buffalo Society, I cannot refrain 
 from awarding high praise to those who have drawn from it so 
 much to comfort and bless those for whom we are laboring. 
 
 KENTUCKY BRANCH. 
 
 During the first year of the war, Louisville was at or so near 
 the front, that the earnest and able men who compose the 
 Branch Commission at this point, were occupied and engross- 
 ed in the work of distributing stores, and in various ways 
 meeting the wants of the sick and wounded in their own 
 midst, and in the hospitals scattered at various points through 
 Kentucky and Tennessee. At this time all stores intended 
 for the army of the Cumberland were forwarded through their 
 agency, and their depository here had the double character of 
 a contributing and distributing depot. I look back with a 
 kind of horror to those dark days in the history of this rebel- 
 lion, when the theatre of war was at the very doors of the 
 citizens of Louisville ; when camps were in her suburbs and 
 troops thronged her streets ; when the hastily improvized hos- 
 pitals, including all the public school edifices, were crowded 
 with sick, so imperfectly supplied with care and comforts that 
 every loyal family felt impelled to contribute the tithe of its 
 domestic treasures and send its delicately reared ladies to min- 
 ister, by their own personal efforts, to the suffering and des- 
 titute in the hospitals of the wards in which they lived. IsTo 
 similar scenes had been witnessed in our previous history, un- 
 less in the epidemics of yellow fever at Norfolk and Phila- 
 del[)hia, in which the same paralyzing gloom pervaded these 
 cities, on which dark back-ground were illuminated similar 
 bright examples of christian charity. In the works of love 
 and mercy of those days, our Louisville associates bore a con- 
 spicuous part; and from that period to the present they have 
 never ceased to devote a large part of their time and thought 
 to the care of the great number of objects of pity and charity 
 which merciless war has thrown upon their hands. When 
 the armies were further removed, and the central ofilice waa 
 
19 
 
 transferred to this point, all the general business of the Sani- 
 tary Commission was relinqaislied to this office, while the 
 members of the Kentucky Branch, by a division of labor, 
 assumed the responsibility of all the local work, the cure 
 of the city hospitals, twenty-two in number, and address- 
 ed themselves to devise new measures of relief for soldiers 
 passing through the city, who were the proper objects of our 
 charity. The "Home," with all its cares, was entrusted to 
 their management; was largely extended, at an expense of 
 several thousand dollars, paid from the local treasury, and waa 
 made capable of accommodating one thousand men at a time. 
 It is now the most extensive and complete establishment of 
 the kind which exists in the country. Since January 1st, the 
 "ilome" has lodged seventeen thousand of those for whom it 
 was especially designed, while a much larger number of pas- 
 sing troops have been fed at the " Soldier's Kest" attached to 
 it. 
 
 Since the State of Kentucky has felt, in all its severity, the 
 iron hand of war, its power to contribute to any benevolent 
 fund has been almost entirely destroyed; so that while we have 
 ample evidence of a deep and wide-spread spirit of loyalty among 
 its people, they have not been able to express their interest 
 in our work by the liberal donations received in former 
 months. The amount of stores sent to the Kentucky Branch 
 from the interior of the State is now very small; but as you 
 will see by the accompanying tables, since its organization, it 
 has issued over six thousand packages. 
 
 Before leaving this subject, I cannot refrain from expressing 
 to you my conviction that one of the most important results 
 attained by the Sanitary Commission is to be found in the 
 home field; but one in all our reports to the present time en- 
 tirely over-looked. I allude to its influence in inspiring the 
 people in every farm-house and cottage, wherever a good 
 grand-mother is knitting a pair of socks, or a child making a 
 
20 
 
 pin-cushion, with a wider, deeper, higher, and purer patriot' 
 ism. 
 
 I need not dwell upon this topic, for I am convinced its truth 
 will be universally acknowledged. And yet it is due that this 
 truth be recognized and put on record. From all parts of the 
 country we have the testimony of our contributors that they 
 are driven by the spirit which pervades their work, to open 
 and desperate antagonism with disloyalty in every form; and 
 that unwittingly they are everywhere doing missionary work 
 for the national cause. "While our Government has one great 
 army in the field, of those wdio are pouring out their life-blood 
 in its defense, the Sanitary Commission has in the home field 
 another great army, composed of the mothers and sisters, 
 wives and sweethearts of our brave soldiers, working scarcely 
 less earnestly and efficiently for the same great end. 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 J. S. NETVTBERRY, 
 
 Secy West. Dept. U. S. San. Com^ 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 ABSTRACT OF FINANCIAL REPORT. 
 The amount of monej' expended in the Western Department from the gen-' 
 eral fund of the U. S. Sanitary Commission, to Sept. 1st, 1863, is |1J4,187 67^ 
 the entire cash expenditure of the Sanitary Commission for the same period 
 being $700,114 85, Of this fund the Western States have contributed in 
 cash, as follows: 
 
 Ohio, , $2,200 
 
 Michigan, ^ 592 
 
 Illinois, ,. 546 
 
 Indiana, 500 
 
 Minnesota, 45 
 
 Kentucky, 500 
 
 The remainder has been donated by the Middle and Eastern States, For-' 
 eiga Countries, and our Pacific States and Territories, which last have 
 given as follows : 
 
 California, $501,101 90 
 
 Nevada, 53,683 95 
 
 Oregon, , 26,33 IS 
 
 Washington 6,308 97 
 
 During the same period the differen Western Branches of the U. S. Sani- 
 tary Commission have expended ^160,000 in cash, mostly in the purchase of^ 
 materials and supplies. 
 
 SOLDIER'S HOMES. 
 
 From the organization of these Institutions to September 1st, 1863, there 
 have been admitted into six of the principal ones in the West 167,090 sol- 
 diers. The Home at Cincinnati has furnished food, rest, and other needed 
 assistance to 42,673; that at Cleveland, to 11,704; that at Cairo, to 51,170; 
 that at Louisville to 50.825; that at Nashville, during five months, to 2,542; 
 and the Lodge at Memphis, during two months, to 3,067 soldiers who were 
 not otherwise provided for. These figures do not include those passing 
 in companies, regiments, and brigades, whose names were not entered on the 
 books. The data are incomplete in most of the Homes during the earlier months 
 of their existence, so that we can only give approximative numbers; but we 
 can safely say that these Institutions have furnished, since their organization, 
 over 500,000 meals and over 250,000 lodgings, besides all the other services 
 rendered in the correction of pay and discharge papers; procuring half fare 
 tickets on railroads; collecting pay, and, above all, shielding them fromswind" 
 lers of every name and degree. 
 
gUPPLIfij^ DlSTHlBaTED B\^ THE U. S. SANITARY COMMISSION 
 IN THE WESTERN DEPARTMENT TO SEPT. 1st, 1863. 
 
 BEDDING AND CLOTHING. 
 
 r.lankets, 
 
 13,402 
 
 Mosquito Bars, 
 
 1,410 
 
 Bedticks, 
 
 25,377 
 
 Neck Ties, 
 
 554 
 
 Boots and Shoes, pairs, 
 
 6S2 
 
 Niiiht Caps, 
 
 4,817 
 
 Comforts and Quilts, 
 
 40,159 
 
 Pillows, 
 
 84,106 
 
 Coats, Pants, and Vests, 
 
 9,382 
 
 Pillow CaseS) 
 
 161,072 
 
 Drawers, pairs, 
 
 113,329 
 
 Sheets, 
 
 92,067 
 
 Dressincf-gowns, 
 
 12,610 
 
 t^hirts, 
 
 201,603 
 
 Havelocks, 
 
 1,864 
 
 Slipper?, paits, 
 
 16,172 
 
 Hats and Caps> 
 
 591 
 
 Socks, " 
 
 90,528 
 
 Mattresses, 
 
 716 
 
 Straw, bales. 
 
 131 
 
 Mittens, pairs, 
 
 9,764 
 
 Towels and Handkerchiefs, 
 
 297,960 
 
 HOSPITAL 
 
 PCRNITURE AND SURGEOXs' SUPPLIES. 
 
 
 Adhesive Plaster, yards, 
 
 1,298 
 
 Envelopes, 
 
 76,000 
 
 Arm Rests, 
 
 1,249 
 
 Eye Shades, 
 
 3,360 
 
 Bags, 
 
 1863 
 
 Fans, 
 
 12,500 
 
 Bathing Tubs, 
 
 11 
 
 Furnaces, 
 
 9 
 
 Band'gs and Comp. Lint, 
 
 lbs.. 229,948 
 
 Hatchets, 
 
 41 
 
 Bedsteads, 
 
 835 
 
 Lamps, 
 
 48 
 
 Beds, Feather, 
 
 9 
 
 Lanterns, 
 
 309 
 
 Bed Pans, 
 
 389 
 
 Lamp Oils, gals, 
 
 130 
 
 Books and Pamphlets, 
 
 233,000 
 
 Lumber, feet. 
 
 118,000 
 
 Brooms, 
 
 355 
 
 Kettles, 
 
 20 
 
 Buckets, 
 
 539 
 
 Knives and Forks, pairs. 
 
 1,833 
 
 Candles, lbs, 
 
 2.306 
 
 Matches, gross, 
 
 18 
 
 Candlesticks, 
 
 '170 
 
 Matts, Door, 
 
 43 
 
 Carpeting, yards, 
 
 246 
 
 Matting Cocoa, yds, 
 
 190 
 
 Chairs, 
 
 429 
 
 Mops, 
 
 153 
 
 Clocks, 
 
 6 
 
 Oakum, bales, 
 
 6 
 
 Combs and Brushes, 
 
 2,683 
 
 Paper, reams. 
 
 360 
 
 Cooking Stoves and furn. 
 
 10 
 
 Pens, 
 
 5,000 
 
 Ranges, 
 
 2 
 
 Pincushions, 
 
 27,851 
 
 Coffins, 
 
 7.3 
 
 Pitchers, 
 
 119 
 
 Coffee Pots, 
 
 118 
 
 Spittoons, 
 
 641 
 
 Cots, 
 
 442 
 
 Spit Cups, 
 
 1,825 
 
 Chambers, 
 
 766 
 
 Sauce Pans, 
 
 100 
 
 Cups and Saucers, 
 
 791 
 
 Scissors 
 
 48 
 
 Cushions and Pads, 
 
 53,142 
 
 Soap, lbs, 
 
 4,602 
 
 Crutches, prs, 
 
 3,321 
 
 Splints, 
 
 120 
 
 Desks, 
 
 25 
 
 Spoons, 
 
 2,504 
 
 Dippers, 
 
 81 
 
 Sponges, lbs, 
 
 230 
 
 Drinking Tubes, 
 
 lOS 
 
 Stoves, 
 
 8 
 
23 
 
 Tables, 
 
 53 
 
 Urinals, 
 
 313 
 
 Table Cloths, 
 
 822 
 
 Wash Basins, 
 
 1,100 
 
 Tin Cnps, 
 
 6,352 
 
 Wash Tubs, 
 
 10 
 
 Tin Plates, 
 
 4,016 
 
 Wash Boards, 
 
 12 
 
 Tumblers, 
 
 862 
 
 Washing Machines, 
 
 9 
 
 ARTICLES 
 
 i OF DIET 
 
 AND DELICACIES. 
 
 
 Ale and Cider, gals, 
 
 11,584 
 
 Hominy, lbs, 
 
 640 
 
 Apples, bush, 
 
 1,386 
 
 Horse Kaddish, bot. 
 
 574 
 
 Apple Butter, gals, 
 
 2,160 
 
 Hams, lbs. 
 
 9,314 
 
 Arrowroot, lbs, 
 
 3,551 
 
 Ice, tons. 
 
 270 
 
 Barley, lbs, 
 
 10,204 
 
 Lemons, bxs. 
 
 337 
 
 Beef, Dried, lbs, 
 
 18,710 
 
 Lemon tfyrup, bot. 
 
 2698 
 
 Beef, Concentrated, lbs, 
 
 33,873 
 
 Milk, concentrated, lbs, 
 
 46,807 
 
 Beans, bush.. 
 
 21 A 
 
 Mustard, lbs, 
 
 1,866 
 
 Bread, lbs. 
 
 10,304 
 
 Macaroni, lbs, 
 
 160 
 
 Broma, lbs. 
 
 200 
 
 Mackerel, lbs, 
 
 50 
 
 Butter, lbs, 
 
 41,197 
 
 Oat Meal, lbs. 
 
 1.878 
 
 Crackers, lbs, 
 
 102,014 
 
 Oranges, bxs, 
 
 98.^ 
 
 Cocoa, lbs, 
 
 455 
 
 Oysters, cans. 
 
 1,094 
 
 Chocolate, lbs. 
 
 98 
 
 Onions, bush. 
 
 3,835 
 
 Chickens, 
 
 4,114 
 
 Pepper, Ground, lbs, 
 
 76S 
 
 Chicken, cans. 
 
 905 
 
 Pepper Sauce, bot, 
 
 2,076 
 
 Coflee, lbs. 
 
 2,009 
 
 Pie Plant, bxs. 
 
 61 
 
 Cofi'ee, Concentrated, lbs. 
 
 105 
 
 Porter, bot. 
 
 1,008 
 
 Corn Meal, lbs. 
 
 23,119 
 
 Potatoes, bush. 
 
 49,141 
 
 Cheese, lbs, 
 
 12,113 
 
 Pickles, galls. 
 
 28,573 
 
 Corn Starch, lbs. 
 
 3,253 
 
 Rice, lbs, 
 
 3,872 
 
 Corn Dried, lbs. 
 
 644 
 
 Sasio, lbs. 
 
 2,608 
 
 Cakes and Cookies, lbs. 
 
 4,204 
 
 Salt, lbs. 
 
 1,170 
 
 Cranberries, bush, 
 
 5 J 
 
 Sardines, boxes. 
 
 44 
 
 Catsup, boti 
 
 1,339 
 
 Sausages, lbs. 
 
 427 
 
 Codfish, lbs, 
 
 52,862 
 
 Sour-krout, gals. 
 
 3,780 
 
 Eggs, doz. 
 
 37,638 
 
 Shoulders, lbs. 
 
 4,160 
 
 Farina, lbs. 
 
 8,344 
 
 Spice, lbs, 
 
 568 
 
 Flour, bbls. 
 
 37 
 
 Strawberries, qts. 
 
 896 
 
 Fruit, Preserved, cans, 
 
 103,330 
 
 Sugar, lbs. 
 
 26,066 
 
 Fruit, Dried, lbs, 
 
 497,365 
 
 Syrup and Molasses, galls, 
 
 688 
 
 Groceries, miscellaneous, lbs. 
 
 51,614 
 
 Tapioca, lbs, 
 
 1 ,409 
 
 Grapes, lbs. 
 
 1,650 
 
 Tea, lbs. 
 
 8,007 
 
 Hops, ibs, 
 
 395 
 
 Toast, bxs, 
 
 76 
 
 Herbs, lbs. 
 
 1,502 
 
 Tobacco, lbs. 
 
 1,304 
 
 Herring, bxs, 
 
 25 
 
 Tongues, lbs. 
 
 238 
 
 Halibut, bxs. 
 
 40 
 
 Vinegar, gals, 
 
 1,514 
 
 Honey, lbs. 
 
 532 
 
 jnSCELL 
 
 Wines and Spirits, bot, 
 
 ANEOUS. 
 
 36,399 
 
 Bromine, oz, 
 
 200 
 
 Charcoal, ground, lbs. 
 
 227 
 
 Quinine, oz, 
 
 290 
 
 Lime, bbls. 
 
 10 
 
 Twine, balls, 
 
 58 
 
 Chlor. Lime, bbls. 
 
 39 
 
 Cabbage Plants, 
 
 25,000 
 
 Disinfecting Powder, bbls. 
 
 10 
 
 Tomato Plants, 
 
 25,000 
 
 Copperas, lbs. 
 
 300 
 
 Chloroform, lbs. 
 
 110 
 
 Tin-ware, asst. bxs. 
 
 26 
 
 Flaxseed, lbs, 
 
 329 
 
 Graters, 
 
 323 
 
24 
 
 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 013 673 678 4 
 
 The foregoing list does not by any means comprise all the stores distrib- 
 uted by the agents of the Sanitary Commission, but only the leading articles 
 of such as are recorded on our books. Many thousand miscellaneous have 
 not been enumerated, as they would swell the list to an inconvenient length ; 
 and the records of our work for the first six months of the war are necessarily 
 very imperfect ; much having been done, and great quantities of supplies 
 given from the abundance of the enthusiastic people, of which no human his- 
 tory exists. 
 
 A careful estimate of the cash value of the stores known to have been dis- 
 tributed by our agents in the Western Department during the past two years, 
 fixes it at TWO MILLION TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND 
 DOLLARS. The expenses attending their distribution have been thirty- 
 five THOUSAND DOLLARS, or 0716 and one-half per cent, upon their valuation. 
 
\ 
 
 LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 
 
 013 673 678 4