Report on the operations of the U.S. Sanitary Commission in the valley of the Mississippi, made September 1st, 1863 / by J.S. Newberry.

  • Newberry, J. S. (John Strong), 1822-1892.
Date:
[1863?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on the operations of the U.S. Sanitary Commission in the valley of the Mississippi, made September 1st, 1863 / by J.S. Newberry. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

    4/24
    Yicksburg, urgent appeals have 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- bers. 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 by illness to return to his home in Iowa. Mr. Christy is there in charge of the Lodge and the Belief 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 West, 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. 1ST. Shipman, of Chicago, an exceedingly competent and excellent man, has been engaged to superintend all sanitary 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 satisfactoiy.