Two reports concerning the aid and comfort given by the Sanitary Commission : to sick soldiers passing through Washington / by Frederick N. Knapp.

  • Knapp, Frederick Newman, 1821-1889.
Date:
[1861]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Two reports concerning the aid and comfort given by the Sanitary Commission : to sick soldiers passing through Washington / by Frederick N. Knapp. 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.)

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    papers ourselves, had them filled up, obtained the signature of the men to blank receipts for money due to them by government, and thus, by consent of the paymaster, re- ceived the money, and paid it over to the men. This priv- ilege could only be granted in cases of absolute necessity. When we found men seeking their regiments, we directed them (from a record of the location of the various regiments kindly furnished us by General Williams ;) if they needed money, Ave gave it to them ; if they were weak, obtained an order for an ambulance, or an army wagon, or a railroad pass, by which they were sent to their respective stations. In many cases, men who were discharged left their regi- mental hospitals sadly in need of clean garments, especially shirts, stockings, and drawers. In such cases, before they started for home, we made the men clean and comfortable. When we found men at the reception buildings in need of medical treatment, but not sick enough to be sent to the general hospital, we called in a physician, unless their own surgeon could be obtained. As a general rule, we were each day at the station— early in the morning, late in the evening, and at mid-day, and whenever the arrival of a regiment was expected. The men in charge of the reception buildings, and of the rations, and those who had in charge the locating the newly-arrived regiments, were kind, attentive, and ready to cooperate with us, so far as it was in their power, and in accordance with their instructions. About the 20th of August, government ordered cooked rations (cold meats and bread and hot coffee) to be ready for the regiments on their arrival at the station. This afforded some relief to men who were well, but did not furnish