Frederick Law Olmsted SUBJECT FILE Sanitary Commission 1861-66 & UDMinutes of the Meetings of the Sanitary Commission. Second Session. The Commission met, pursuant to adjournment at the residence of the President, in the city of New York, June 20, 1861, at noon. Present: Rev. H. W. Bellows, Prof. H. D. Bache, Prof. W. Gibba, Dr. C. R. Agnew, G. T. Strong, Dr. E. Harris. An informal statement was made by the President, relative to the results of his inquiries on the subject of the selection of a Resident Secretary. On statement made by F. L. Olmsted, the President of Central Park recommended that he have a temporary leave of absence from the Central Park, for the purpose of serving the Commission as a Resident Secretary for this body in Washington. On motion, the Commission agreed to go into an election; and Mr. Olmsted was elected Resident Secretary. The supply of suitable food for the sick was soon quite exhausted, nor could more be at once obtained of the Commissaries. A large number of sutler's booths were then standing at Whitehouse, but though pies and cakes and various unwholesome articles could be purchased of them in abundance, nothing could be found in all their stock which any other than a very hardened stomach could receive without resistance. At ten o'clock at night Mr. Knapp discovered a sutler's stock, recently arrived and intended to be sent to the front for sale. It consisted wholly of provisions, and a liberal offer soon secured the whole of it. With some other matters it contained twenty barrels of fresh soft (aerated) bread, a barrel of molasses and a keg of vinegar. The bread was quickly cut in slices, molasses spread upon it, and this was eagerly eaten by the famished wounded men; the supply of lanthorns having given out, each departing boat necessarily taking some, pine trees were felled and dry wood collected from the neighboring woods and bonfires built along the railroad near the landing by the light of which the transfer of wounded to the boats was made. As the sun got up the next day barrelfuls of eau sucree were made with molasses and water flavored with vinegar and ginger, and this being iced was most gratefully quaffed by the fainting wretches as they arrived and were removed from the close cars. Hot tea was kept constantly ready for those who needed it, as was milk ppunch or egg-nog made of course from canned materials. Within twenty-four hours the arrival of the Spaulding brought a good supply of beef-stock, of the best quality, carefully prepared expressly for the Commission by Martinez of New York (*), and after this beef tea or a very palatable and nourishing beef soup was always ready, and many a wearied hero, who had given himself over to die, and had not spoken except in whispers for many hours before, found strength and courage enough renewed, after a few spoonfuls of it had been placed in his mouth, to say clearly enough, "Thank you, that is good". An officer has since said: "I don't think anything will ever taste so good to me, or will do me so much good as a few spoonfuls of beef soup which the ladies gave me when I was taken out of the car at Whitehouse." * The Commission has expended above $20,000. for this preparation, nearly all of which has been used for the relief of wounded men immediately after battles, and where the government supply had failed.[1861-3] Soujourn in Washington (1st,&2d with family) Official position - "Confidential" - as representative & messenger of the Commission & the aid societies. Both led me to occasional interviews of necessity with Prest. Sec War. Generals Comdg Memb of Congress spec. Army & Navy Committee-both formal & informal with Prest altho "familiar language it was apparent that didnt consider me but what I represented & spoke for * proper courtesy essential matter of forms without [form?] usual-office of [STRIKETHORUGH: carelessness] unstudiousness informality chng from gay to grave. with the ladies - about assertions - the levee the Secy of Mr. Cameron - politician. weakness of his staff, small intrigues for interviews - wants of rules & order - lobbying with clerks - Hunter - first & secd interview - general experience & estimate - intercourse confidential with assists & stress of staff - & bureaus - L. M. G. - Com subordinates of Comsary. D.M. G., Pay & Pensions -High estimate of these, integ adaptation,overcarry errors neglects & mags[?] of superiors - constant informant (of ?] & unbusinesslike & Inst Paint & the lesson, more hererafter - loss of papers &tc &tc with Mr Dpt. Secy irregularPlan, 2. With McClellan - summray of expce with him - his staff - &his relatn to it - grateful for first expce - get imprt after Bull Run - political error & way about him. influence of soldiers letters. McDoweth, Woodworth Wells Seward - Blair & Post Office (satisfactory) other membs Cabinet - [Business of pub] Congress - Habits & style of livg that of poor provincial lawyrs of small practice, hard driven & doing nothing throughly - no severe study - some compensating qualifications result - decisive, wary, acute offence, always ready . open to anybody & anything - No classification of duty - hear & try & be made use of by anybody any moment for anything - Important business crowded out by petty but [in] business supposed to be important does no squelch new & unknown - Readiness to recieve Chm of importt ,Com - called out - expresses strong convictions - contrary expressed by visitor who assents better means of informatn - Five minutes after, Chm rises & expresses on his own visitors convictns, stronger terms, & gives it as [his] if an official report from opportunities & duties of his Chmenshp - This has result, nothing to be depend.d on - promises of little value - oppression of mmbs by lobbies & citizens with proper motives. With their unmethodical habits or efforts to get rid of them3 leads to [deceit] promises & assertions which are shamefully careless, or worse. I Learned to pay no regard to them & was allowed to assume them of no consequence. no apology for retiring in my duty restoration required - Not to become a bore, avoided M.C. them all possible except duty or service to them. Speak therefore only of more important & active members. [?] essentially always official courtesy same vs President - espclly with Committees. (account of Post Royal Bill exper, if possible, without names or indication of Bill-) proposed appt under it ignorance of candidate what it was, except pay & name - of certain membs in partic Boston exception.Hooker? as to business habits more others could be relied on certain shrewd, reserved, silent W Eng. O.membs could be relied on - Preston King - Sedgwich ( do did not study but will good & result of experc- who studied carefully - Chicago member - do - New York City nothing good - never the slightest use to me or Comm. Some gd characteristics. Mister [?] ill tempe'd & jealous, local - Pennsylvania surrounded by lobbyers & occupied by special insts. Exper or to [?], public doc printing - information & advice from officers & subordinates - readiness & sense of duty to all, openness -- but want of exper & business habits which would supply place of experience most of order, promptness, punctuality - ignorance & uncertainty - feeble administration, lax, irregular - fitful, discipline, nothing to be expounded on -heads & important persons always occupied with matters of office or lobby.P. 4 expce with opt as to printing - used with discretion & reserve reptd to opt - abrupt discontinuance - another privilege ordered discontinued - (freight) - protest & petition - no notice - order disregarded - never [recalld] countermanded - disregard never noticed. X Washington & its local govt - representation of all bad in US.- shiftless, incomplete purposes - old plan - what should be now - Rpt of Dr Clark - military improvement - filth dust - public grnds - Coms - of do & expce in his office [impression] example of govt by Congress - [?] grounds, com, pigs, highwaymen - shops & [?] shop customs. neighborhood. Rock Creek . on Lee's grounds & house as first seen. Shabbiness papers in garret. [?] X of departmental clerks etc. Local hospital organizations. The only spirit of their prominent officers. Want of prudentness & stgt forwardness. Their correspondence private, [all] politicians always at work indefatigable in my charmed open to them of influence. In hospital duty, apptly, such as Lester - many exceptions - Said as a whole to be much better than former administrations. Several judgment, as to economy - efficiency - Cabinet Secy (Mr. Chases) confession to Dr. Bellows - superiority in more strictly military offices - although red tape & idle habits & dispositions to regard civilians as interlopers & privates. important business ( so recognized & provided for) much more thoroughly looked after - often when clerks were detailed privates.p. 5 [office have no bar to work being done to military offices.] Examinations & civil service corps. The S. Com. Office. my associates - noble character. Knapp & The lodges & relief in W. deaths, frauds- relations with military offices. QmG &c. [the Surgeons] Surgeon Genl office - [His forces] The old office - red tape - the new - persecution of Sec. War. hypocrisy - Prest kept aloof- but occasly forced in & prevented some great injustice, The Surgns avoided much personal intercourse lest professional jealousy roused - then character respect due. & enthusiasm - rapid education & improvt. of many. Smithsonian Coast survey - Buche's comprehensiveness, Navy, Army, hard work at all. Well studied judgment meant something - leisure for general interests. Occasnl visits of Comsr's (San) to Wash & my visits to N. York & Phil. The members. their character & conversation - personal influence how much they suggested & helped to start & [for] set along in Washington & at home.of the relations of the Army & the people. My opportunites The duty & privileges of the Commission in this way My personal duty of gen'l information clues to the Army & to the ppl organization-education of inspectors-conversation with them. with people at home-who corresplts-not politicians or persons of prominence. Their visits to Washgn. Mine to New England & Saratoga & west. (incidental) -to comprehend essence of loyalty with refer to recruiting & supplies essay to sound [copphead?] as continuactove. Antagonism of provincials & national spirit. counter currents & eddies.97 [about: if the A. of recruitng in Washiington & the relations of the people & other CC My opportunities - Executive duty & organize -- correspondence -- inspection their instruction. Conversation with inspectors - with people at home. visits to New England. endeavor to sound copperheadism - to comprehend essence loyalty] Effort to federalize sentiment. Correspondence & conversation in consequence about sentiment & disposition of people. Their general soundness but ignorance, want of confidence in men, individuals, & offices excessive confidence in movements & masses, & subjection in consequence to local politicians & means of information, how decived [constant effort to cultivate federalism - value of Coms constant [?]] constant effort to cultivate federalism, patience & long views. value of Community in this respect [execution of the war] and its affiliated soc -- readiness of mass to federalize when understood but individuals, especially lenders/institutions persons resist, because unfavorable to [?] interests - much infused essentially decentralized & provincial condition of all communities spite of RR and Teletypes & a few genl newspapers etc. - dependence in consequence on local leaders whose interest to keep them so. This extended to army at first, but lately the army became much federalized in spirit & officers became absorbed in duties & their present community & for their ownp 8 convenience, helped their correspondents to general interests, general reforms & improvements, rather than regimental purveying demagogism & charity Helped by promotion of reg'l officers to general & associations in brigades division & corps. The politicians at Washn & especially those in the state and local officers resisted this always but were more & more rebuked, dissapointed & borne down in doing so. Knapp's expce with an Ohio agent. With Rhode Is'd -- with Buckingham -- why Connecticut seemed provincial? Two capitals Two metropoli. Gradual education of the war Evident that my opportunities extraordinary - none better - The result, no one can have more [profound] profound sense of the deep devotion in radical sense of grt numbers ppl. how extended to poor & remote on the other hand sense of provincial pettiness - touching evidence in character of gifts curtains taken down, heirlooms &c (see Bull Run Report) After defeat especially. Bull Run - on special occasions -- Boston, Chicago -- got waste and mismanagement & made use of for personal ends -- how politicians pushed in but gradually tired out. Besides individual unwillingness Most of comprehensiveness & unreadiness for comprehensions of local leaders evident on such occasions -- a self important Bumbles like the Hartford Retreat man.9 the affection interest of people increased as we progressed. Tho from poverty and various causes, gifts became less - Reasons for this progressive interest. At first the Army [army] took all vagabond fellows of many localities - so many that number of steady family men comparatively small. After as new demands made, men made well considered sacrifices to join army one of families [?] extent. at some time sentiment more & more federalized & with personal partnership, purer patriotism evident in those who did give, less enthusiasm, more calculations, more wisdom, faith & all virtue. These sacrifices being noble in spirit, cultivated nobility & magnanimity of character Most respectable, the later gifts in kind. Comparatively little from rich (of cities especially) - Sentiments with the gifts - tone of letters. Latterly very little talk or writing not of a practical character. The Army in its correspondence with the people. P. O. Character of letter from wounded. Letters sent before battles. Regard for [?] incident at Louisville ("Y.C. go any where") Political influence of army by letters Army gets new ideas of Slang - discussion & rapport of people at home. Politicians [always] behind hand - not compelling this.organize-management & discipline of A- First [a?] at Washington & Reserve. Old Army jealousy - Bull Run Report. (Mansfield) Bickwith McClellan better, but his staff had it strongly. gradually lost on peninsula. Lee drft letter to high [?] Local regiments real politics- much of state politics. Genl Grants also (with out mentioning his name or thoe of Governors) - Army modelled by old West Points- Effect on them of frontier scouting [?] on all parties of meanness of our government making economy [saving] on certain noticeable points the chief merit of many officers - restraining discretion. Army was too centralized, Any small, any item & action scrutinized at Washington [?] often impossible to judge fairly there. West Point. FLO's Notes for account of Sanitary Com. work -Diagram of a Scheme for the Administration of the U.S. Sanitary Commission, in the Form of an Orrery. The Circles indicate the various Divisions and Subdivisions of Labor, as [indicated] marked. The Lines show the Regular Channels of Communication between them - the Heavy Lines denoting Communication direct with the Chief Secretary. The Arrows indicate the direction of Accountability. In the case of the Chief Clerk, Transportation Clerk, Canvasing Agents, and Current Business with Government Departments, the Accountability runs towards the Chief of Relief, for Outside or Distributing Work and towards the Assistant Secretary for Inside or Collecting Work. In the same way, the Chief Inspectors of Military Departments, and the Hospital Visitor, are supposed to be responsible to the Chief of Relief for information as to needed supplies, and to the Chief of Enquiry and Advice for medical information. The Untitled Circles indicate clerical or other force, accountable to the larger circles nearest them. A line of communication is to be supposed as existing between the Chief of Relief and each of the Chief Inspectors of a Military Department. For the sake of convenience it is shown in this diagram as existing only in one instance. As regards the Western Department (indicated by the circle appropriated to the Associate Sec'y and his Assistant.) and the New York Office (indicated by a circle appropriated to an Ass't Sec'y) the necessary assignments of Labor although informally recognized by broken lines are not assumed in detail in this Diagram. The delegated Administration of the Commission being divided, in this scheme, into Four Branches namely: 1st. Secretaryship or the Motive Division, including the Secretaries of the different grades; 2nd. Enquiry & Advice or the Medical Division including its Chief and his Auxiliaries; 3rd. Relief or the Dispensatory Division, including its Chief and his Auxiliaries; and 4th Statistics or the Historical Division, including its Chief and immediately, his Assistants, and, mediately, all the Executives of the Comn. whether his inferiors or superiors in acting rank — the natural bias of the designer has been towards giving the Chiefs of these Divisions rather explanatory than exhaustive titles; but, if considered expedient, the elements of interchangeability might be accepted, and the titles of the first or Secretarial Divisions assigned to the Chiefs of the other divisions, without practical interference with the working of the scheme. Alfred J Bloor 26th Septemr. 1863 Private and Confidential One peculiarity of this Sanitarial System is that one of the Chief planets - a burning and a shining light - possesses the properties of a Comet in common with those of a fixed star. The red line indicates its supposed course when, being informed of a threatened blow from, say, the West, it speeds on its Errand of Special Relief, visiting the different celestial bodies on the way for purposes of consultation and consolation; and finally after placating the fiery orb, and turning aside the dreaded concussion, regaining its station by a track as economical and uneccentric as is consistent with its constitution. Inspectors and Army Relief Agents Chief Inspector of a Military Dept. Chief Inspector of a Military Dept. Chief Inspector of a Mili's Dept. Chief Enquiry and Advice Lodges Itinerant Relief Agents Hospital Visitor Chief Relief Canvassing Agents Pension drawing Actuary Accountant Chief Clerk Chief of Work Transportation Chief Current Business with Govt Deps. Office, Premises & Employees Documents Reception & Instruction of Visitors Asst Secry Washington Supply Correspondence Chief Secry New York Standing Commtee U.S. Sanitary Comn. [Standing Comtee.] The Loyal American PublicMinutes of the Sanitary Commission. NINETEENTH SESSION. ---------- TUESDAY, OCTOEBR 25, 1864 - MORNING. The Commission assembled at 10 o'clock, at the Washington office, 244 F street, Washington, D. C. President - Rev. H. W. Bellows, D. D., President; Geo. T. Strong, Esq., Treasurer; Horace Binney, jr, Esq., Dr., C. R. Agnew, Rt. Rev. T. M. Clark, D. D., C. J. Stille, Esq. Members of the Board Mr. Benj. Collins Assistant Treasurer; and Miss Abby W. May, Delegate from the N. E. W. Auxiliary Association, Boston. The President, Rev. Dr. Bellows, read an Address. The Treasurer, George T. Strong, Esq., presented his quarterly report, showing a balance on hand, Oct. 15th, of $481,786 10. The whole amount received by the Treasurer from all sources, since his appointment, is three millions and seventy-one thousand, two hundred and sixty-five dollars and one cent. $3,071,265 01 To this must be added the aggregate of contributions received at the Washington office and credited to the Central Treasury, though not actually received by the Treasurer.......................... 21,650 46 And the amount of contributions received at Louisville credited in a like manner.............................................................................. 14,560 96 __________________ Making a total of..................................................................... $3,107,476 43 ==============2 The sources from which this sum has been received are, as nearly as they can be ascertained, as follows, viz: Maine...$22,810 51 New Hampshire...1,667 05 Vermont...2,834 92 Massachusetts...52,746 64 Rhode Island...10,316 46 Connecticut...7,672 18 People of New England...6,683 75 New York...213,220 10 New Jersey...217,966 93 Pennsylvania...11,896 83 Delaware...785 00 Maryland...2,925 70 District of Columbia...4,900 00 Ohio...4,900 00 Indiana...1,164 15 Illinois...6,090 82 Michigan...632 25 Wisconsin...1,083 00 Minnesota...66 85 Kentucky...6,382 12 Missouri...80 00 Louisiana...2,861 25 North Carolina...5 00 California...970,987 43 Nevada...73,817 25 Oregon...48,916 27 Washington...19,837 99 Idaho...2,503 04 Colorado...1,025 00 Vancouver's Island...2,195 61 Nebraska...10 50 Santiago de Chili...3,688 84 Honolulu...7,185 00 Peru...2,002 00 Cuba...23 00 Canada...441 48 Newfoundland...150 00 England...11,000 00 Scotland...50 00 France...3,550 00 European Branch...11,872 09 London Branch...100 00 Belgium...100 00 Germany...760 00 3 Turkey...90 00 China...2,989 90 Japan...5,000 00 Italy...50 00 U. S. Navy...174 00 Total...$1,579,905 54 Contributions from Sanitary Fairs. New England State Fair, Boston...$50,000 00 Yonkers..."...12,000 00 Flushing..."...3,934 32 Brooklyn..."...300,000 00 Schuyler Co...1,287 43 Albany...80,000 00 Metropolitan...1,001,039 24 Warwick, Orange Co...1,432 73 Poughkeepsie...16,192 27 Hornellsville...800 00 South Adams, Mass...3,087 04 Maryland State...40,000 00 Wheeling, Va...2,500 00 1,512,273 03 Unknown Sources...7,584 93 Interest on United States Certificates at 6 per cent. withdrawn from U.S. Treasury...5,789 30 Interest on $300,000 00 allowed by Nassau Bank, Brooklyn...1,923 63 $3,107,476 43 Voted, That Mr. Stille and Mr. Binney be a committee to audit the Treasurer's account. The General Secretary presented the Minutes of the Standing Committee since the last session, and read an abstract of their more important records. The General Secretary read his quarterly report. The General Secretary read the preliminary report of Dr. Gould, Actuary, and his monthly reports for September 1st and October 1st. Voted, that Dr. Agnew be added to the committee appointed by the Board March 10, 1864, "to examine particu-4 into whatever evidence exists in our archives touching the mortality and sickness rate of the Army of the Potomac, and particularly of our losses on the Peninsula." Resolved, That that committee be instructed to ascertain and report how far the Battle-Field Relief Agencies of the Commission may have lessened the sufferings and mortality of the sick and wounded national soldiers. Mr. Binney submitted and read, on behalf of the Executive Committee of the Philadelphia Associates of the Commission, a report made October 24th to the Committee on the Protective War Claim Agency of that Body, by W.N. Ashman, Solicitor of the Agency. Resolved, That a committee consisting of the President, Mr. Stille, and Mr. Strong, members of this Commission, be appointed for the purpose of making application to the President of the Confederate States (with permission of the Government of the United States) for leave to send supplies to prisoners of war belonging to the army of the United States, through agents to be employed by the Commission, and approved by such officers as the President of the Confederate States may appoint: such agents to be allowed to make personal distribution of their supplies, paying the transportation thereof within the Confederate lines, and to be put under proper obligations as to silence in regard to matters coming under their observation while thus employed. That said committee have power to publish such application, and any correspondence that may result therefrom. Mr. Strong presented a tabulated statement of the disbursements of the Commission from its organization to October 1, 1864, prepared by Mr. Benjamin Collins, Assistant Treasurer; which was referred to the Committee on the Financial Statement, appointed May 3, 1865. Voted, That Mr. Strong be added to that Committee. Voted, That the President be requested to express to Dr. 5 Bache, Vice President of the Commission, the hearty good wishes of the Board on his proposed departure for Europe. The General Secretary read the quarterly report of Mr. John Bowne, Superintendent of the Hospital Directory. Voted, That the morning sessions be held from 10, a.m., to 2, p.m., and that an executive session be held daily at 7, p.m. On motion, adjourned until 7 p.m. EVENING. The Commission assembled at 7 P.M. Present—Dr. Bellows, Mr. Strong, Mr. Binney, Mr. Stillé, Dr. Agnew, Bishop Clark, and Mr. Wolcott, Members of the Commission; and Mr. Benj. Collins, Assistant Treasurer. Voted, To authorize the purchase of 800 pairs of gray woolen blankets to be sent to Colonel Muhlech, at Winchester, to replace blankets borrowed from the Quartermaster's Department by Dr. E. Harris. A letter having been read addressed by an army surgeon to a gentleman interested in the work of the Commission, making certain strictures upon the Commision's mode of issuing supplies, Resolved, That said letter be referred to the Associate Secretary of the Eastern Department, with instructions to inquire into the truth of its allegations, and of other statements to the like effect, in conjunction with said Surgeon, if possible, and to take in writing and report such evidence on the subject, both for and against such allegations, as he may be able to obtain. Mr. Knapp, Associate Secretary for the East, read his quarterly report. At 10 o'clock the Commission adjourned.6 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26—MORNING. The Commission assembled at 10 A. M. Present—Dr. Bellows, President; Bishop Clark, Mr. Binney, Mr. Walcott, Mr. Stillé, Mr. Strong, and Dr. Agnew, Members of the Board; Benj. Collins, Esq., Assistant Treasurer; and Miss Abby W. May, Delegate from the N. E. W. Auxiliary Association, Boston. The General Secretary presented and read, as supplementary to the report of the Associate Secretary, Mr. Knapp, the quarterly report of Mr. J. B. Abbot, Chief Assistant in the Department of Special Relief at Washington D. C.; The quarterly report of Mr. J. Y. Culyer, Chief Clerk of the Washington office; The quarterly report of Mr. J. B. Clark, Superintendent of the Home at Washington; The quarterly report of Dr. Julius Nichols, Pension Examiner and Physician at the Home; The quarterly report of Rev. J. A. Whittaker concerning Relief Work at and near Annapolis, Md., and a preliminary report of Dr. Joseph Parrish, Superintendent of the department of canvassing and supplies. Voted, That a circular be addressed by a committee consisting of Bishop Clark, Dr. Agnew, and Mr. Wolcott to the several religious publication societies of the country, tendering the service of the Commission for the distribution of such printed matter as may be contributed by them for army circulation. Voted, That Dr. McDonald be authorized to erect a storehouse at City Point, at a cost of $2,000. Voted, That the Treasurer be authorized to send Dr. McDonald $12,000 on account of expenses for October. 7 Resolved, That a committee, of which the President of the Commission shall be one, be appointed to proceed to City Point, and confer with the military authorities and Dr. McDonald as to the best means of reducing the expenses of the Commission's work at that point. The President associated with himself on this committee, Mr. Wolcott and Mr. Stillé. The General Secretary read the quarterly report of Dr. A. McDonald, in charge of the Commission's work on the James River, and the report of Dr. Wm. F. Swalm, Executive Officer at City Point. At 1:45, p. m. adjourned. EVENING. The Commission assembled at 7 P. M. Present—Dr. Bellows, Mr. Wolcott, Mr. Binney, Bishop Clark, Dr. Agnew, Mr. Strong, and Mr. Stillé, Members of the Board; and Mr. Benj. Collins, Assistant Treasurer. Voted, To reconsider the resolution of the 25th inst., concerning application to the Confederate authorities for permission to relieve national soldiers in rebel prisons. On reconsideration the resolution was lost. Resolved, That a committee, consisting of the President, Mr. Stillé, and Mr. Wolcott, members of this Commission, be appointed for the purpose of asking, (with the permission of the Government of the United States,) from General Grant, a flag of truce and an interview with General Lee, for the purpose of soliciting authority from him to send supplies to our prisoners of war, through agents to be employed by the Commission and approved by him, or those under whose authority he acts. Such agents to be allowed to make personal distribution of their supplies, paying the transportation thereof within the lines of the8 enemy, and to be put under proper obligations as to silence in regard to matters coming under their observation while so employed. Voted, That two Medical Inspectors be appointed by the General Secretary to visit the hospitals of Washington and the Eastern Department, and attend to the usual duties of such officers. Voted, That it is expedient to repeat the general inspection of hospitals throughout the country as in November, 1862, upon the plan then matured by the Medical Committee, and that the Surgeon General be requested to furnish us with the same facilities then extended to the Commission, in accordance with its original charter by the War Department, as a Commission of inquiry and advice into the sanitary condition of the United States forces. The President read a report of Col. Muhleck, Superintendent of the Commission's work in the Shenandoah Valley, under date of October 23, 1864. The President read a letter addressed to him by Dr. E. Harris, a member of the Commission, dated Winchester, October 24, 1864, which letter was referred to the Associate Secretary for the East, with power. * * * * At 11 P. M., adjourned. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27—MORNING. Present--Dr. Bellows, Mr. Wolcott, Bishop Clark, Mr. Binney, Mr. Stillé, Mr. Strong, and Dr. Agnew, Members of the Commission; and Mr. Benjamin Collins, Assistant Treasurer. Resolved, That every member of the Commission is entitled 9 to the fullest information from all its officers and agents as to all matters connected with its work, and to every opportunity of inspecting their operations, and forming an opinion as to their discretion and efficiency. But that no member of the Commission, unless acting under special orders from the Commission or the Standing Committee, is entitled to control or interfere with any such officer or agent in the execution of his official work. And that members of the Commission so acting under special orders, are not authorized to assume any responsibility beyond the subject-matter of such order. Voted, To add a member to the Standing Committee from Philadelphia. Voted, That Mr. Stillé be elected such member of the Committee. Voted, To appropriate $750 to reimburse Mr. Knapp for money advanced to Col. Muhleck, for expenses of the Commission in the Shenandoah Valley. Voted, That the next session of the Commission be held at Washington, January 10, 1865. Resolved, That the Associate Secretary for the East be authorized to expend an amount not exceeding $3,000 dollars in the purchase of supplies to meet battle-field emergencies, such purchase to be forthwith reported to the General Secretary, and that no further purchase be made by him till such purchase is approved. And that he is in like manner, and under like limitation, authorized to expend a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, for ordinary purposes. Provided, however, that the purchases authorized by this resolution be made only in emergencies in which it is impossible first to obtain authority therefor from the General Secretary or the Standing Committee without serious detriment to the service of the Commission. Voted, That Mr. Wm. A. Hovey be appointed Assistant 210 Secretary at Washington, with his present compensation, during the pleasure of the Commission. Resolved, That the Board has been highly gratified by finding the cemetery near the Soldiers' Home, dedicated to the interment of more than six thousand of our national soldiers, so beautifully laid out and so admirably arranged with the view of identifying the remains of each individual. Resolved, That the Board desire to express to Capt. Moore, of the Quartermaster's Department, its high appreciation of the humanity and energy shown by him in the prosecution and completion of this important work. * * * * * * * * * * Resolved, That in the opinion of the Board, the expenditures of the Commission must be materially diminished, and that the Standing Committee be instructed to take such action as will bring about such result. The General Secretary read the reports of Mr. F. B. Fay, Superintendent of the Auxiliary Relief Corps at and near City Point, Va.; and of Mr. A. M. Sperry, Relief Agent in charge of the Commission's station at the hospital for colored troops near City Point. Mr. Binney presented a report of the Committee on the Treasurer's account, showing it to be correct and in accordance with the vouchers, exhibiting a balance on hand of $481,786 10. At 2 P. M., adjourned. 11 EVENING. The Commission assembled at 7 P. M. Present—Rev. Dr. Bellows, Mr. Wolcott, Mr. Binney, Mr. Stillé, Mr. Strong, Bishop Clark, Dr. Agnew, and Dr. Newberry, Members of the Commission; and Mr. Benj. Collins, Assistant Treasurer. Mr. Stillé, Chairman of the Committee on the Financial Statement for popular information, presented a draft of a report, which was accepted, and referred back to the Committee, with instructions to bring up its statements to October, 1864, and, when so completed, to print it. The General Secretary presented a summary of the work of the Commission's Army and Navy Claim Agency, to October 1, 1864. The General Secretary presented an application from the Executive Committee of the Boston associates asking for an appropriation for the special relief of the Commission in Boston. Voted, That the Commission authorize the Treasurer of the Boston Associates to draw upon the Treasurer of the Commission for $2,828 28, for obligations incurred in the special relief service in Boston, and that the communication of the Secretary of the Boston Associates of October 20th be referred to the Associate Secretary for the East, for report to the Standing Committee concerning its proposals. Mr. Knapp presented the quarterly report of the Special Relief service of the Commission at Boston, for the quarter ending September 30, 1864. Voted, That it is inexpedient to entrust the disbursement of any funds of the Commission to any civilian within the rebel lines.12 Voted, That an appeal be addressed to the churches of the loyal States for concerted assistance to the treasury of the Commission on the occasion of the coming national thanksgiving. A letter from Mr. Knapp, Assistant Secretary, to the President was read, and elicited general discussion. Resolved, That the General Secretary be instructed to prepare a second report to the Secretary of War on the work of the Commission since December 1, 1862; and that he be authorized to call on members and officers of the Commission to assist him in the preparation of the same. Voted, That Dr. Newberry be requested to present to the Commission, at his earliest convenience, his views as to the most desirable scheme of inspectorial work. At 11 o' clock the Commission adjourned. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28—MORNING. The Commission assembled at 10 A. M. Present—Dr. Bellows, Mr. Wolcott, Mr. Binney, Mr. Strong, Mr. Stillé, Dr. Newberry, Dr. Harris, and Dr. Agnew, Members of the Commission; Mr. Benj. Collins, Assistant Treasurer; R.M. Lewis, of Philadelphia, Associate Member, and Miss Abby W. May, Delegate from the N. E. W. Auxiliary Association, Boston. Dr. B. A. Gould, the Commission's Actuary, made verbal report as to the condition of the work in the Statistical Bureau of the Commission. Voted, That the [Secretary] Actuary be requested to proceed at once to complete the loss and gain returns of the army, from August 1862 to the present time, and also to continue the collection and tabulation of the total statistics of the army, and carry on the general work of the Bureau according to the original plan. Resolved, That the Treasurer be authorized to remit to 13 Messrs. King and Baird three thousand dollars, on account of their bill, for printing the late Report on the Treatment of our Prisoners by the Rebels. A communication from Samuel Powell, Esq., of Philadelphia, to Mr. H. Binney, Jr., on the subject of the better accommodation of transport steamers arriving at Philadelphia with sick and wounded was, on motion, referred to the Standing Committee. Dr. Newberry, Associate Secretary at Louisville, presented and read his quarterly report of the Commission's work in the Western Department. Voted, That the report be accepted, and the Associate Secretary be requested to prepare it for publication as soon as possible. The President communicated the resignation of Mr. Bowne, Cashier of the Washington Office, which resignation was referred to the Standing Committee. Dr. Harris made a statement regarding the condition of the Commission's service in the Shenandoah Valley. At 2, p.m. adjourned. EVENING. The Commission assembled at 7 o'clock. Present—Dr. Bellows, Mr. Binney, Mr. Strong, Dr. Harris, Mr. Stillé, Dr. Newberry, and Dr. Agnew, Members of the Commission, and Mr. Lewis, of Philadelphia, Associate Member. Voted, That until further orders the general work of the Hospital Directory at Washington be so modified as to constitute14 an office of inquiry, employing not more than two men under such regulations as may be deemed advisable by the Associate Secretary; a full report upon the efficiency of this provision to be made to the General Secretary at the expiration of one month. Whereas a communication has been received from J. Alexander Shriver, agent for P. & B. Steamboat Co., relative to certain charter money claimed from the United States Government by said company for services of the steamboat "Elizabeth," during part of the year 1863, while said "Elizabeth" was used by the Sanitary Commission, to which service she had been assigned by order of the Quartermaster Genera; and whereas the steamboat "Elizabeth" was chartered not by the Sanitary Commission but by the Government, and assigned to the service of the Sanitary Commission in its gratutious labor for the soldiers, by order of the Quartermaster General, subject to withdrawal by his order at any time: Resolved, That the Sanitary Commission cannot recognize a claim upon them for services of the steamboat "Elizabeth," during any part of the period referred to, and is unable to appropriate any portion of the trust funds in its hands to the payment of obligations for which it is not liable. The Commission elected as Associated Members Messrs. [See Appendix A,] and as Corresponding, Messrs. [See Appendix B.] Voted, That the Standing Committee be requested to issue to the Associate Members of the Commission an address concerning the claims of the Commission upon them for service. Voted, That the diplomas of all Corresponding Members of the Commission elected thus far be dated August 18, 1864. Mr. Knapp, Associate Secretary, presented a communication proposing the creation of a General Department of 15 Special Relief Work, the subject-matter of which was referred to a committee, consisting of the President, the General and the Associate Secretaries. At 12, M., the session was adjourned. Minutes omitted on Pages 8 and 10. The General Secretary, by direction of the Standing Committee, presented and read a letter from Mr. F. N. Knapp, Associate Secretary for the East, under date of August 15th, asking that the action of the Standing Committee of June 17th, dividing the department of the East, be re-considered. After discussion, it was voted "That the action of the Standing Committee of June 17th, 1864, in dividing the department of the East, is approved by the Committee." Voted—That the salary of Mr. Collins, Assistant Treasurer, be fixed at $2,500 per annum, from October 1st.APPENDIX A. ASSOCIATE MEMBERS. G. L. Andrew, M. D. La Porte, Ind. Prof. Henry James Anderson, LL. D. New York. Albert Bierstadt, Esq. " Prof. Francis Bacon, M. D. New Haven, Conn. " S. F. Baird Washington, D. C. Rev. Henry Ward Beecher Brooklyn, N. Y. Wm. T. Blodgett, Esq. New York. Charles Bradford, Esq. Roxbury, Mass. Major General Ambrose E. Burnside, U. S. V. Providence, R. I. Rev. Leonard Bacon, Jr. Orange. N. J. " Phillips Brooks Philadelphia, Penn. " W. J. Buddington, D. D. Brooklyn, N. Y. " James Freeman Clarke Boston, Mass. Major-General G. A. Custer, U. S. V. Rev. Wm. H. Channing Washington, D. C. E. A. Crane, M. D. Providence, R. I. Judge Jos. V. Campbell Detroit, Mich. Joseph M. Choate, Esq. New York. H. M. Chapin, Esq. Cleveland, Ohio. Cyrus Curtiss, Esq. New York. Benj. Collins, Esq. " Hon. Schuyler Colfax, M. C. South Bend. Ind. Rev. Morgan Dix, D. D. New York. Edward Delafield, M. D. New York. P. E. Demill, Esq. Detroit, Mich. Prof. Theodore W. Dwight, LL. D. New York. Hon. Sidney Edgerton Idaho. Prof. Thomas Egleston, Jr. New York. Hon. Edward Everett Boston, Mass. Col. Oliver Edwards, U. S. V. Springfield, Mass. E. B. Elliott, Esq. Washington, D. C. B. F. French, Esq. Washington, D. C. Major General John G. Foster, U. S. V. New Hampshire. Rev. J. M. Finnatti Brookline, Mass.2 Rev. George Putnam, D. D. Roxbury, Mass. John Pierce, Surveyor-General Denver City, Colorado. J. J. Phelps, M. D. Brattleboro, Vt. Hon. A. Frank, M. C. Warsaw, N. Y. S. M. Felton, Esq. Philadelphia, Penn. B. A. Gould, Ph. D. Cambridge, Mass. Rev. Daniel R. Goodwin, D. D. Philadelphia, Penn. John H. Gourlie, Esq. New York. Rev. Horatio B. Backett, D. D. Newton Centre, Mass. Rev. Sam'l H. Gridley, D. D. Waterloo, N. Y. H. L. Hubby, Esq. Cleveland, Ohio. D. Huntington, Esq. New York. Rev. Frederick Hedge, D. D. Cambridge, Mass. Wm. J. Hoppin, Esq. New York. Col. Joseph Howland, U. S. V. " D. W. Hand, M. D., Surgeon U. S. V. Judge Ogden Hoffman San Francisco, Cal. Hon. Murray Hoffman New York. Col. T. Wentworth Higginson, U. S. V. Worcester, Mass. Philetus H. Holt, Esq. New York. Rev. Mark Hopkins, D. D. Williamstown, Mass. Major-General Joseph Hooker, U. S. V. Charles E. Habicht, Esq. New York. J. E. Hilgard, Esq. Washington, D. C. George W. Hunter, Esq. Philadelphia, Penn. Richard M. Hunt, Esq. New York. Rev. Thos. S. Hastings " Rev. J. P. T. Ingraham Indianapolis, Ind. Dwight Johnson, Esq. Brooklyn, N. Y. Prof. J. P. Kirtland Cleveland, Ohio. His Excellency Governor Low California. His Excellency Caleb Lyon Lewiston, Idaho. Francis Lieber, LL. D. New York S. Weir Mitchell, M. D. Philadelphia, Penn. Hon. Horace Maynard Tennessee. Hon. George P. Marsh Vermont. Prof. Dennis Mahan West Point, N. Y. Rev. A. T. McGill, D. D. Princeton, N. J. John May, Esq. Boston, Mass. Henry Nicoll, Esq. New York. Judge North Washoe City, Nevada. Prof. Edward North Ham'n Col., Clinton, N Y. John Owen, Esq. Detroit, Mich. Prof. A. P. Peabody Cambridge, Mass. Capt. P. P. Pitkin, Q. M., U. S. A. Walton H. Peckham, M. D. New York 3 Edward Philbrick, Esq. Boston, Mass. Almarin B. Paul, Esq. Gold Hill, Nevada. A. D. F. Randolph, Esq. New York. Rev. T. L. Starkey Cleveland, Ohio. F. W. Sargent, M. D. Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, U. S. V. Hon. Henry G. Stebbins New York. Hon. —— Stanford California. Otis D. Swan, Esq. New York. Rev. Matthew Simpson, D. D. Philadelphia, Penn. Major-General W. T. Sherman, U. S. V. Rev. W. H. Shailer Portland, Me. George L. Schuyler, Esq. New York. Lewis H. Steiner, M. D. Frederick City, Md. Prof. Wm. F. Tyler Amherst, Mass. Rev. J. P. Thompson, D. D. New York. N. P. Thayer, Esq. Boston, Mass. Col. Benj. C. Tilgman Philadelphia, Penn. N. S. Townshend, Medical Inspector, U. S. A. Rev. Augustus Thompson, D. D. Roxbury, Mass. Major-General George H. Thomas, U. S. V. " E. Upton, U. S. V. B. A. Van Der Kieft, Surgeon U. S. V. Annapolis, Md. Benj. Vernor, Esq. Detroit, Mich. Rev. Samuel Wolcott, D. D. Cleveland, Ohio. H. A. Warriner, M. D. Louisville, Ky. Peter B. Wight, Esq. New York. Rev. John Weiss Watertown, Mass. Rev. Theo. D. Woolsey New Haven, Conn. Gouverneur M. Wilkins, Esq. New York. Ellerslie Wallace, M. D. Philadelphia. Rev. Treadwell Walden Philadelphia. Hon. George Walker Springfield Mass. Rev. Wm. Whitney Gouv. M. Wilkins, Esq. New York. Ellerslie Wallace, M. D. Philadelphia, Penn.4 APPENDIX B. CORRESPONDING MEMBERS. John Bright, M.P. London, England. F.A. Brockhaus, Esq. Leipsig, Germany. Edwin Chadwick, C. B. England. Richard Cobden, M. P. England. Right Hon. Sir John T. Coleridge England. Gen'l Dufour, Commander-in-Chief of Swiss Army Doctor E. Engel Berlin, Prussia Wm. Farr, M. D., F. R. S. London, England. M. Compte de Gasparin Paris, France. —— Lander, M.D., Surgeon, Spanish Army M. Edward Laboulaye Paris, France. John Stuart Mill England. Major General Milutan St. Petersburgh, Russia. Baron Robert Osten Sacken, Consul New York. A. Pirogoff, Surgeon-in-Chief Russian Army St. Petersburgh, Russia. Robert Rawlinson, C. E. England. M. Elisée Reclus Paris, France. Prof. Goldwin Smith Oxford, England.May, '66 --Mark - Field Relief Corps } Died at Harpers Ferry 1861 overwork & exposure Prof Henry Hamilton Hadley of Union Theological Seminary N. Y. Yale 1847 [Aux. Rl Corps]. } Died Aug 2nd 1864 Excess of work on Hospital Boat From City Point to Washington Mrs. Arabella Griffith Basher wife of Major [Emit] Frank Basher Sp. Rt. [Ayrot] Fredericksburg S C } July 29 - 1864 at Washington Mr. G. C. Edgerly Concord, N H Field Relief Corps [A W Osluns] } July 15th 1864 at "The House" N. O. Excess of work William Wilson New York } Aug [1 or 2nd] 1864 Shot by Guerrillas near City Point [on Sanitary] Tug Boat S. E. [Brown] John Hamlin - Engineer on on Sanitary Tug Boat S. W. [Brown] } Aug [1 or 2nd] 1864 Shot by Guerrillas on Sanitary Tug Boat S. E. [Brown] Cha's H. Stanley. Aux. Rl Corps Beverly Mass } June - 1864 [Decease consequeny] [over work] Rev Israel Williams Aux. Rl Corps [Lounter. Men] } Sept - 1864 overwork & exposure F. N. Knapp Yonkers, N. Y. May 8/66 [*Giving list of those who died working for San. Com.*] History of U. S. Sanitary Commission — Charles Stille. L. P. Lippincott, Phila. 1866. Page 75. It will be observed on referring to the Plan of Organization that it was designed that the office of Resident Secretary should be one of the highest importance. He was to be charged with the chief executive duties of the Commission, to correspond constantly with its President, and to reside in Washington, where he was expected to maintain intimate personal relations with high Government officials. By him were to be appointed the agents of the Commission, charged with the inspection of camps and hospitals, and with the duty of giving the "advice" of the Commission when the case needed advice. They were to receive their instructions from him, and their reports were to be made to him. It was made his business also to see that the recommendations of these inspectors received the attention of the proper Government authorities, and were duly enforced. In short, he was to be the General Manager of the Commission, responsible for the faithful performance of all the work which it had undertaken, even in its minutest details. It was of course not easy to find a man wholly qualified for such a position. It was necessary that he should possess perhaps the rarest combination of qualities found in human experience. He must unite great administrative ability with unswerving faith and reliance upon great fundamental principles of policy, and his capacity was to be tested in a field of labor perfectly new, and hitherto wholly unexplored, at least in this country. The Commission, after a good deal of deliberation, decided that Mr. Frederick Law Olmsted, at that time Architect in Chief and Superintendent of the Central Park in New York, possessed the essential qualities requisite for this position, and he was induced to accept it. How he performed the duties of the office, how much the Commission is indebted to his earnestness of purpose and his extraordinary power of organizing labor in a new field, it will be the business of the historian to tell in almost every page of this work. It is only necessary to say here that by the public, to whom the name of Mr. Olmsted was familiar as the author of the most complete and philosophical account ever published of the condition of the Southern country before the war, and as the Director of a great public work, the successful management of which had been marked by incorruptible integrity, and the rarest administrative ability, his appointment was universally regarded as a sure guarantee of the success of the Commission's plans. -2- The original quality of Mr. Olmested's mind as well as his peculiar training gave him, in truth, some very great advantages in the novel and extraordinary position to which he had been called. PLAN. Sojourn in Washington (1st & 2nd with family). Official position - "confidential". As representative and messenger of the Commission and the aid societies. Both led me to occasional interviews of necessity with President, Sec. of War, Generals Commanding, Members of Congress, spec. Army & Navy Committee, both formal and informal. With President, although familiar language, it was apparent that he did not consider me but what I represented and spoke for; proper courtesy essential matter of form without form usual; appearance of unstudiedness, informality; change from gay to grave. With the ladies, about desertions; the levee. The Sec. of War, Cameron, politician; weakness of his staff, small intrigues for interviews; want of rules and order; lobbying with clubs. Stanton, first and second interview; general experience and estimate; intercourse confidential with assistants and others of staff and bureaus. Quartermaster General, com. subordinates of Commissary. Q.M.G. adgt. Pay and Pensions. High estimate of these, integ. adaptation; overcoming errors, neglects and wrongs of superiors; constant improvement (of Q.M.G. & West Point and the lesson, more hereafter), Loss of papers, etc., etc. with War Department; Secretary irregular and unbusinesslike. With McClellan; summary of experience with him; his staff and his relation to it; grateful for first experience; get important after Bull Run; political error & way about him; influence of soldiers' letters. McDowell, Wordsworth, Wells, Seward, Blair and Post Office (satisfactory), other members of Cabinet. Congress: habits and style of living that of poor provincial lawyers of small practice, hard driven and doing nothing thoroughly; no severe study; some compensating qualifications result; decisive, wary, acute of fence, always ready; open to anybody and anything; no classification of duty; hear and try to be made use of by anybody any moment for anything; important business crowded out by petty, but business supposed to be important does not squelch new and unknown. Readiness to receive; Chairman of important committee called out; expresses strong convictions; contrary expressed by visitor who asserts better means of information; five minutes after Chairman rises and expresses as his own visitor's convictions, stronger terms, and gives it as if an official report from opportunities and duties of his Chairmanship. This has result, nothing to be depended on, promises of little value. Oppression of members by lobbiers and citizens with proper motives. With their unmethodical habits, efforts to get rid of them elad to promises andPlan - 2. assertions which are shamefully careless or worse -- Learned to pay no regard to these in my duty and was allowed to assign them of no consequence - No apology for retiring required - Not to become a bore, avoided them all possible except duty or service to them - Speak therefore only of more important and active members, essentially always of official courtesy, same as President, especially with Committees - (Account of Port Royal Bill experience, if possible without nouns or indication of Bill), proposed appointment under it, ignorance of candidate what it was, except for pay and name, of certain members in particular - Boston exception (Horton) as to business habits, some others, certain shrewd, reserved, silent New England members could be relied on - President King (did not study, but well grounded and result of experience), Ledgwich, who studied carefully, Chicago member ditto - New York City nothing good - Never the slightest use to me or Commission - Same general characteristics - Western members illtempered and jealous, local. Pennsylvania surrounded by lobbyers and occupied by special instituations. Experience as to libraries, public documents, printing, information and advice from officers and subordinates, readiness and sense of duty to all, openness, but want of experience and business habits which would supply place of experience, want of order, promptness, punctuality, ignorance and uncertainty, feeble administration, lax, irregular, fitful discipline, nothing to be depended on - Heads and important persons always occupied with matters of office and lobby - Experience with Department as to printing - used with discretion and reserve - reported to Department - abrupt discontinuance - Another privilege ordered discontinued (freight) - protest and petition - no notice - order disregarded - never countermanded - disregard never noticed - of departmental clerks, etc. - local hospital organizations - the ruling spirit of their prominent officers - want of frankness and straight-forwardness - their private correspondence - politicians always at work, indefatigable in any channel open to them to influence - In hospital duty - Such as Lester - Many exceptions - Said as a whole to be much better than former administrations - General judgement as to economy, efficiency - Cabinet Secretary's (Mr. Chase) confession to Dr. Bellows - superiority in more strictly military offices - although red tape and idle habits and disposition to regard civilians as interlopers and privates - important business (so recognized and provided for) much more thoroughly looked after - often when clerks were detailed privates - Examinations and civil service corps - The Sanitary Commission Office - my associates - noble character - Knapp and the lodges and relief in Washington - Deaths - frauds - relation with military offices - Quartermaster General, etc. - Surgeon-General's office - the old Office - red tape - the new - persecution of Secretary ofPlan - 3. War - hypocricy - President kept aloof - but occasionally forced in and prevented some great injustice, - The surgeons avoided much personal intercourse lest professional jealousy roused - their character - esprit de corps and enthusiasm - rapid education and improvement of navy - Smithsonian - Coast Survey - Bache's comprehensiveness - Navy, army, hard work at all - Well studied judgment - Meant something - leisure for general interests - occasional visits of Commissioners (Sanitary) to Washington and my visits to New York and Philadelphia - the members - their character and conversation - personal influence - how much they suggested and helped to start and set along and the people - my opportunities - the duty and privileges of the Commission in this way - My personal duty of general information - clues to the Army and to the people - organization - education of inspectors - conversation with them - with people at home - Who correspondents - not politicians or persons of prominence - their visits to Washington - Mine to New England and Saratoga and West (incidental) - to comprehend essence of loyalty with reference to recruiting and supplies - essay to sound copperheadism as counteractive - Antagonism of provincial and national spirit - countercurrents and eddies - effort to federalize sentiment - correspondence and conversation in consequence about sentiment and disposition of people - their general soundness but ignorance - want of confidence of men and individuals and excessive confidence in movements and masses, and subjection in consequence to local politicians and means of information - how deceived - constant effort to cultivate federalism, patience and long views - value of Commission and its affiliated societies in this respect - readiness of mass to federalize when understood, but individuals, especially leaders and ambitious persons resist, because unfavorable to selfish interests - much impressed - essentially decentralized and provincial condition of all communities spite of railroads and telegraphs and a few general newspapers, etc. - Dependence in consequence on local leaders whose interest to keep them so, - This extended to army at first - but latterly the Army became much federalized in spirit and officers because absorbed in duties and their present community and for their own convenience, helped their correspondents to general interests - general reforms and improvements rather than regimental purveying, demagogism and charity - Helped by promotion of regimental officers to general and association in brigades, divisions and corps - the politicians at Washington and especially those in the state and local offices resisted this always, but were more and more rebuked, disappointed and borne down in doing so - Knapp's experience with an Ohio agent - WithPlan - 4. Rhode Island - with Buckingham - Why Connecticut remained provincial - Two capitals - two metropoles - gradual education of the war - Evident that my opportunities extraordinary - none better - the result no one can have more propound sense of the deep devotion in radical case of great numbers of people - how extended to poor and remote - touching evidences in character of gifts - curtains taken down, heirlooms (see Bull Run Report), etc. - after defeat especially - Bull Run - On special occasions - Boston, Chicago - Great waste and mismanagement and made use of for personal ends - how politicians pushed in - but gradually tired out - on the other hand sense of provincial pettiness - Want of comprehensiveness and unreadiness for comprehensiveness of local leaders - evident on such occasions - besides individual unwillingness - Self-important Bumbles (like the Hartford Retreat man) - The affectionate interest of people increased as war progressed - though from poverty and various causes, gifts became less - Reasons for this progressive interest - At first the Army took all vagabond fellows of many localities, so many that number of steady family men comparatively small - After as new demands made, men made well considered sacrifices to join army - out of families to larger extent - at same time sentiment more and more federalized and with personal partnership, purer patriotism evident in those who did give - less enthusiasm - more calculation- more wisdom - faith and all virtue - these sacrifices being noble in spirit, cultivated nobility and magnanimity of character and all virtue - Most respectable, the later gifts in kind - Comparatively little from rich (of cities especially) - Sentiments with the gifts - some of letters - latterly very little talk or writing not of a practical character.- The Army in its correspondence with the people - P. O. - Character of letters from wounded - Letters sent before battles - Regard for Commission - Incident at Louisville - "S. C. go anywhere" - Political influence of army by letters - Army gets new ideas of slavery - Discussion and support of people at home - Politicians behindhand - not comprehending this - Organization, management and discipline of Army - First observations at Washington and Port Munroe - Old Army jealousy - Bull Run Report (Mansfield) - Beckwith - McClellan better, but his staff had it strongly, gradually lost on peninsula - See draft of letter to Surgeon-General - local regiments - local politics - mischief of state politics - General Grant's observations (without mentioning his name or those of governors - Army modelled by Old West Pointers - Effect on them of frontier scouting with small parties - of meanness of our government - making economy in certain noticeable points the chief merit of navy officers - restraining discretion - Army was too centralized, being small - Every item and action scrutinized at Washington and held to account - Often impossible to judge fairly there - West Point. The Sanitary Commission closed an important session at Washington, on the 12th inst. Before adjournment, the Commission adopted the following Resolution, intended for publication: Resolved, That the Sanitary Commission, having, from the privileges accorded to it by the War Department, peculiar advantages for observing the condition of the troops, congratulates the government and the country upon the improvement which is taking place in the army and in everything relating to the army. This improvement includes not only the more immediate conditions of health, but the provisioning and supplying of the army, its discipline and moral. It is now a general rule, that the men of the army of the Potomac are well fed, and in fine health and spirits. The officers are giving dilligent attention to their dutues, and are gaining the confidence of their men. To this general rule there are not many exceptions, and the number is lessening. The Commission testifies of this from the personal observation of the army of the Potomac of its members: it has at the same time received generally satisfactory reports from its agents in the Western armies. The Commission also wishes to acknowledge the readiness, heartiness, and courtesy which which its suggestions have been received by the Secretary of War, by the Generals commanding each department, and by all the officers of the volunteer forces. The Commission desires further to express its grateful appreciation of the liberality and promptness of the public response to its call for material and precuniary aid, in its efforts to add to the appliances available for the care and comfort of the sick and wounded.The dock at the foot of Joralemon street, Brooklyn, yesterday afternoon was the scene of a oon-flagration and a number of explosions, which in a few hours destroyed goods, buildings, and ships to the amount of nearly $1,000,000.GENERAL NEWS. The dock at the foot of Joralemon street, Brooklyn, yesterday afternoon was the scene of a conflagration and a number of explosions, which in a few hours destroyed goods, buildings, and ships to the amount of nearly $1,000,000. The origin of the fire is at present shrouded in mystery, but there are not wanting rumors of incendiarism to account for the occurrence. The warehouses which have been burned contained large stores of nitrate of soda, sugar, guano, hides, wool, and cotton; the nitrate of sods, almost immediately after the fire was discovered, exploding, blowing down the walls and roof of the warehouse, knocking about seven persons, mostly firemen, into the river, who, however, were fortunately picked up without any loss of life, and doing great damage to the surrounding property for a great distance. Messrs. Rocke Bros. & Coffey lose about $115,000, and a number of others equally large amounts, some of them entirely uninsured. Several vessels lying at the wharf caught fire, and one, the [?r] Helena, was burned to the water's edge. [?t] a system—of awful [atrocities?] [?tention] to one or two points of [?essing] importance. Against the system put in [force?] [?anks], we have heretofore [prote?] [?testimony] of Mr. McKaye comes in [?monstrance}, and is entitled to [?] manifestly reluctant evidence [of?] [?s{ a personal liking for Gen. Banks [?] [?ormities[ inflicted by his rule on [a?] [?] to the planters and their views of [the?] [?condition] and future possibilities of [S?] [?Louisiana], and especially as to their [?] to yield to an emancipation policy "Many of them are even more rampant to enslave [?than] ever before. . . . . They make great endeavors [?that] they call their own negroes. . . . . They [y?] [?e] of the richest and most extensive sugar-[planter?] [?ole] Valley of the Mississippi, took the oath of [?] [?] refused to work his plantation unless he [?ould} [?] negroes retained to him. . . . . " [?"]I told a planter recently," says Col. Hanks, "[th?] [?] express order of Gen. Banks that the negroes [?] [?cated]. He replied that 'no one should teach HIS [negroes?] There is much more to the same effect [?e] the evidence, in order to hold up to [?e] the character of the men, of the [?] [?en], into whose hands the system of [?nks] puts the present and future of the [?en]. Col. Hanks (Superintendent of [?] The Nashville dispatch about Sherman tells a decisive story. Atlanta is at this moment either a closely besieged or a surrendered city. The long march, the hard fights, the indomitable patience, the abundant resource, and the inexhaustible strategy of Sherman are illustrated and rewarded by his possession of the Chattahoochee line. The Rebel works, says our dispatch, were the strongest yet found, perfectly protected against assault, the stream impassable, the intrenchments extending for five miles. Nothing in the defenses proper of Atlanta can offer such hope of obstinate resistance as the position which Johnston has now abandoned. There may be some sort of a siege or an assault, but we doubt not Gen. Sherman considers his work as good as done. —The Maryland raid hardly deserves another word till we know the result of what is called the pursuit mow making in Virginia. But as it does not seem to be any longer necessary to anybody's purpose to misrepresent the Rebel numbers, they not get reduced to 8,000 or thereabout.Sanitary Comon people PhotographsMr. James Richardson U. S. San. Com, 1863 CRESCITE ET MULTIPLICAMINI P. L. PERKINS 207 Balto. St PHOTOGRAPHER [*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] Killed at Fredericksburg I think, or died from his efforts there. [*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] BLACK & CASE Photographic Artists 163 & 173 WASHINGTON ST. BOSTON. Very truly Yr. Friend Helen L. Gilsond U. S. San Com - 1864 Dr. Hoyes' Hospital in Philadelphia 1864 [*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] No.... H. Manger's PHOTOGRAPH GALLERY, No. 1200 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. All negatives are preserved. Yours for the night Frank B. Tay May 1868. From Claflin's, Worcester, Mass. [*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] Additional copies can be obtained at any future time. D. Newburg [*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*] [*THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS*]