Report on the condition of the troops, and the operations of the Sanitary Commission in the Valley of the Mississippi, for the three months ending November 30th, 1861 / by J.S. Newberry.

  • Newberry, J. S. (John Strong), 1822-1892.
Date:
1861
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on the condition of the troops, and the operations of the Sanitary Commission in the Valley of the Mississippi, for the three months ending November 30th, 1861 / 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.)

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    columns, should cover the broken and thickly-wooded bill-sides in their progress; thus meeting with almost inconceivable obstacles, which greatly tried their powers of endurance. The geological sub-structure of the whole country is that of the Coal measures, the water excellent, the drainage free, the air pure and salubrious. Yet in face of all these advantages, the military necessities con- nected with the occupation of a long frontier by a force in numbers about half what was desirable for the purpose ; the forced marches; the difficulties in the way of the transportation of needed supplies, and excessive rains, have entailed sufferings not experi- lienced by any other division of our army. Add to this, an inadequate supply of clothing, and we have ample cause for the prevalence of disease. In the valley of the Kanawha the sufferings and sickness have- been greatly aggravated by the many sad consequences of a remarkable flood by which it was inundated in October. The effect of this and other misfortunes on the health of the troops was such that at November 1st, out of a force of about 12,000 men, 2,038 were on the sick list. Since my last report, our inspector, Dr. Griswold, has visited all the camps and hospitals in Western Virginia with the exception of those at Cheat Mountain. The large force at this point has recently been much reduced, but he is now on his way to visit those remaining, who have established themselves in winter quar- ters. The results of his inspection, are given in the following extracts from his general report to me,—the detailed inspection returns having been forwarded to the Secretary. I left Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 20th, and arriving in this city, I procured the store 105i Main St., by the aid of Gov. Pierpoint, from Mr. Thomas Hornbrook, the owner, for an office for the Commission, and depot for Hospital Stores. No charge is to be made for rent until such time as it may be rented to the advantage of the owner. On the 24th ultimo I proceeded to Grafton and inspected the camp of the 7th Va. Regiment there stationed, the report of which I send you herewith. The hospital at Grafton I found improved in many respects, especially in neatness and order. The building was