ing to Richmond; thence to advance as rapidly as practicable toward Richmond, assaulting any works occupied by the enemy which he might meet, and establish communication or a connection with Gen. Ord at the Mill road, distant about seven miles from Richmond. Gen. Birney had captured the enemy's works at 8 A. M., and by nine o'clock his second division was on the advance toward Richmond on the New Market road. Communication was established with Gen. Ord, as directed, by 10 o'clock, and Gen. Grant, being on the field, expressed his gratification with the progress. The strong inner defences of Chapin's Bluff were soon encountered, and preparations were made to assault them. Gen. Ord had carried the first line of the enemy's works in his immediate front, capturing some fifteen pieces of artillery, and was then preparing to act in conjunction with Gen. Birney upon the enemy's line of fortifications. As the works were evidently very formidable, it became necessary to organize a regular assaulting column. This delayed the assault until 2 P. M. Meantime reënforcements were sent to the enemy, and as the assaulting column advanced they could be seen entering the works. From this cause and the strength of the works, the assault was unsuccessful, although the troops behaved with great gallantry. Two regiments only of the colored division reached one of the rebel forts, where they found a ditch ten feet wide and eight feet deep between them and the parapet. More than a hundred of these brave fellows jumped into the ditch and assisted some of their comrades to mount the parapet by allowing them to climb up on their shoulders. About a dozen succeeded in mounting the parapet by these means. But this force which had bravely pushed on was far too small to capture the fort, and was therefore compelled to retire, leaving their comrades in the ditch of the fort. But these were unable to make good their escape, as it would have been certain death to leave the the ditch and return to the troops, and were afterwards compelled to surrender. About eight hundred men were lost in this assault in killed, wounded, and prisoners. On the 30th the enemy attempted to recapture the works which had been taken, but without success. On the same day Gen. Warren attacked and carried the enemy's lines on their extreme right, and captured a number of prisoners. At the same time Gen. Meade attacked and carried the enemy's line near Poplar Grove Church.

On Oct. 7th the enemy made a vigorous and partially successful effort to turn the right flank of the Army of the James. Gen. Anderson, with one brigade of cavalry and two of infantry, sur

38

prised the Federal cavalry and routed the force on the right and captured many of them. Upon encountering the main body near New Market the enemy were repulsed and abandoned the Central road. The loss was about five hundred, that of the enemy was some larger, including one hundred and fifty prisoners.

On the 27th a movement was made by a portion of the 2d and 5th corps against the enemy's position at Hatcher's Run. A severe engagement ensued, in which the troops of both corps were driven back with severe loss. They, however, held their original position. The following is Gen. Grant's despatch respecting this movement:

CITY POINT, Oct. 27-9 P. M.

To Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secy of War:

I have just returned from the crossing of the Boylston plank road with Hatcher's Creek. Our line now extends from its former left to Armstrong's mill,

thence by the south bank of Hatcher's Creek to the point above named. At every point the enemy was found intrenched and his works manned. No attack was made during the day further than to drive pickets and cavalry inside of the main work. Our casualties have been light, probably less than two hundred killed, wounded, and missing. The same is probably true with the enemy. We captured, however, seven loaded teams on their way to Stony Creek to the enemy, about a dozen beef cattle, a travelling forge, and from seventy-five to one hundred prisoners. road without finding a point unguarded. I shall keep Butler extended around well toward the Yorktown our troops out where they are until toward noon tomorrow, in hopes of inviting an attack.

(Signed) U. S. GRANT, Lieut. General. The following is Gen. Lee's despatch:

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
October 28th, 1864.

Hon. James A. Seddon, Secretary of War:
Gen. A. P. Hill reports that the attack of Gen.
Heth upon the enemy upon the Boylston plank road,
mentioned in my despatch last evening, was made by
three brigades under Gen. Mahone in front and Gen.
dred prisoners, three stands of colors, and six pieces
Hampton in the rear. Mahone captured four hun-
of artillery. The latter could not be brought off, the
enemy having possession of the bridge.

In the attack subsequently made by the enemy Gen. Mahone broke three lines of battle, and during the night the enemy retired from the Boylston plank road, leaving his wounded and more than two hundred and fifty dead on the field.

About 9 o'clock P. M., a small force assaulted and took possession of our works on the Baxter road, in front of Petersburg, but was soon driven out. On the Williamsburg road, yesterday, Gen. Field captured upward of four hundred prisoners and seven stands of colors. The enemy left a number of dead in front of our works and returned to his former position to-day.

R. E. LEE.

The subsequent movements during the year were comparatively unimportant. Both armies prepared such quarters as to enable them to retain their positions during the winter.

SOME notice should be given to those charitable organizations which were designed to relieve the sufferings of the wounded soldiers. Their agents were not only present on the field of these unparalleled battles, but they had accompanied the armies in every campaign.

The proclamation of the President of the United States on the 15th of April, 1861, announcing the beginning of a civil war, and calling for 75,000 volunteer soldiers, not only brought to light the patriotic feeling of the masses of American citizens, who hastened to enrol themselves among the volunteer defenders of the country, but evoked a deep feeling of sympathy, and a desire to aid in the good work on the part of those who from age, profession, or sex, were debarred the privilege of giving their personal service in the field. Soldiers' aid societies, to furnish lint, bandages, hospital clothing, and delicacies, as well as nurses for the sick and wounded, sprung up on every hand; their zeal was often mingled with inexperience and ignorance, and the Medical Bureau of the War Department, nearly as ignorant as they of the immense duties and responsibilities which would soon overwhelm it, turned a cold shoulder to their offers of aid; but the motives which prompted them in their benevolent offers were worthy of all praise. Among these aid societies, many of them organized within two or three weeks after the President's proclamation, was one, "The Woman's Central Association of Relief," in New York, which had among its officers some gentlemen of large experience in sanitary science, and of considerable knowledge of military hygiene. These sought to give to its labors a practical character from the beginning, and they urged upon the association the importance of ascertaining at once what the Government would and could do, and then making arrangements to cooperate with it and supplement its deficiencies. Prominent among these gentlemen was Rev. Henry W. Bellows, D.D., who had previously won a high reputation by his efforts for improving the sanitary condition of our large cities.

Other organizations of gentlemen were at tempting by different, yet in the main similar measures, to render assistance to the Government. Among these were the "Advisory Committee of the Board of Physicians and Surgeons of the Hospitals of New York," and "The New York Medical Association for furnishing Hospital Supplies in aid of the Army," both new associations, called into existence by the exigencies of the war. Fraternizing with each other, as they well might, since they all looked to the ac

The idea of organizing a Commission which should unite and energize all these as yet isolated societies, and apply their contributions to the best advantage in aid of the Medical Bureau and the sick and wounded soldiers, seems to have been suggested to the delegation at the very outset of their mission.

On the 18th of May, 1861, Messrs. Henry W. Bellows, D.D., W. H. Van Buren, M.D., Elisha Harris, M.D., and Jacob Harsen, M.D., representatives of these three associations, drew up and forwarded to the Secretary of War a communication setting forth the propriety of creating an organization which should unite the duties and labors of the three associations, and cooperate with the Medical Bureau of the War Department to such an extent that each might aid the other in securing the welfare of the army. For this purpose they asked that a mixed commission of civilians, military officers, and medical men, might be appointed by the Government, charged with the duty of methodizing and reducing to practical service the already active but undirected benevolence of the people toward the army.

On the 22d of May, R. Č. Wood, M.D., then Acting Surgeon-General, and subsequently in charge of the Western Medical Department, followed this communication by a letter addressed to the Secretary of War, urging the establishment of the desired Commission as a needed adjunct to the new, extensive, and overflowing duties of the Medical Bureau.

On the 23d of May, the delegation addressed to the Secretary of War a "Draft of powers, asked from the Government, by the Sanitary delegates to the President and Secretary of War." In this paper the powers desired were stated as follows:

"1. The Commission being organized for the purposes only of inquiry and advice, asks for no legal powers, but only the official recognition and moral countenance of the Government, which will be secured by its public appointment. It asks for a recommendatory order, addressed in its favor to all officers of the movement, to further its inquiries; for permission to correspond and confer, on a confidential footing, with the Medical Bureau and the War Department, proffering such suggestions and counsel as its investigations and studies may from time to time prompt and enable it to offer.

"2. The Commission seeks no pecuniary remuneration from the Government. Its motives being humane and patriotic, its labors will be its own reward. The assignment to them of a room in one of the public buildings, with stationery and other necessary conveniences, would meet their expectations in this direction.

"3. The Commission asks leave to sit through the war, either in Washington, or when and where it may find it most convenient and useful; but it will disband should experience render its operations embarrassing to the Government, or less necessary and useful than it is now supposed they will prove."

Concerning the objects of the Commission, the delegation say:

"The general object of the Commission is through suggestions reported from time to time to the Medical Bureau and the War Department, to bring to bear upon the health, comfort, and morale of our troops, the fullest and ripest teachings of sanitary science, in its application to military life, whether deduced from theory or practical observations, from general hygienic principles, or from the experience of the Crimean, the East India, and the Italian wars. Its objects are purely advisory."

They indicate the following specific objects of inquiry:

"1. Materiel of the Volunteers. The Commission proposes a practical inquiry into the materiel of the volunteer forces, with reference to the laws and usages of the several States, in the matter of inspections, with the hope of assimilating the regulations with those of the army proper, alike in the appointment of medical and other officers, and in the vigorous application of just rules and principles to recruiting and inspection laws. This inquiry would exhaust every topic appertaining to the original materiel of the army, considered as a subject of sanitary and medical care.

"2. Prevention. The Commission would inquire with scientific thoroughness into the subject of diet, cooking, cooks, clothing, huts, camping grounds, transports, transitory depots, with their expenses, camp police, with reference to settling the question how far the regulations of the army proper are or can be practically carried out among the volunteer regiments, and what changes or modifications are desirable from their peculiar character and circumstances? Every thing appertaining to outfit, cleanliness, precautions against damp, cold, heat, malaria, infection, and unvaried or ill-cooked food, and an irregular or careless commissariat, would fall under this head.

"3. Relief. The Commission would inquire into the organization of Military Hospitals, general and regimental; the precise regulations and routine through which the services of the patriotic women of the country may be made available as nurses; the nature and sufficiency of hospital supplies; the method of obtaining and regulating all other extra and unbought supplies, contributing to the comfort of the sick

the question of ambulances and field services, and of extra medical aid; and whatever else relates to the care, relief, or cure of the sick and wounded, their investigations being guided by the highest and latest medical and military experience, and carefully adapted to the nature and wants of our immediate army, and its peculiar origin and circumstances."

The President and Secretary of War were not at first disposed to look with any great favor upon this plan, which they regarded rather as a sentimental scheme concocted by women, clergymen, and humane physicians, than as one whose practical workings would prove of incalculable benefit to the army which was rapidly coming into existence. The earnestness of its advocates, their high position, and the evidence which was adduced that they only represented the voice of the nation, produced some effect in modifying their views; and when the Acting Surgeon-General asked for it, as a needed adjuvant to the Medical Bureau, likely soon to be overwhelmed by its new duties, they finally decided, though reluctantly, to permit its organization. Accordingly the Secretary of War, on the 9th of June, decided on the creation of such a Commission, the President approving. The title first given to the new organization was "The Commission of Inquiry and Advice in respect of the Sanitary Interests of the United States Forces," but was subsequently changed to "The United States Sanitary Commission."

It was composed of the following gentlemen: Rev. Henry W. Bellows, D.D., President, New York; Professor A. D. Bache, VicePresident, Washington; Elisha Harris, M.D., Corresponding Secretary, New York; George W. Cullum, U. S. A., Washington; Alexander E. Shiras, U. S. A., Washington; Robert C. Wood, M.D., U. S. A., Washington; William H. Van Buren, M.D., New York; Wolcott Gibbs, M.D., New York; Cornelius R. Agnew, M.D., New York; George T. Strong, New York; Frederick Law Olmsted, New York; Samuel G. Howe, M.D., Boston; J. S. Newberry, M.D., Cleveland, Ohio. To these were subsequently added Horace Binney, Jr., Philadelphia; Rt. Rev. Thomas M. Clark, D.D., Providence, R. I.; Hon. Joseph Holt, Kentucky; R. W. Burnett, Cincinnati, Ohio; Hon. Mark Skinner, Chicago, Illinois; Rev. John H. Heywood, Louisville, Kentucky; Professor Fairman Rogers, Philadelphia; J. Huntington Wolcott, Boston; Charles J. Stillé, Philadelphia; Ezra B. McCagg, Chicago, Ill.; and nearly six hundred associate members, in all parts of the country.

It is a matter of wonder that in a field so

ernment medical service compelled it to assume more of the executive and less of the advisory functions. Still it has never failed to bear in mind that it was created to aid by its advice, counsel, and, where needed, its direct help, the medical department of the Government service. Under its charter, it at once proceeded to organize its action and to appoint committees from its members to visit every camp, recruiting-post, transport, fort, hospital, and military station, to ascertain and report all abuses, and to perfect such organization as might insure a higher degree of health and comfort for the soldiers. The medical members of the Commission undertook to consider the questions which might arise concerning the diseases of the camp, and their medical and surgical treatment, from the highest scientific point of view; and guided by the rich and abundant experience of European army surgeons, to prepare brief medical and surgical tracts adapted to the wants of the volunteer surgeons of the army. Among these tracts, of which many thousands have been circulated, were, "Advice as to Camping; ""Report on Military Hygiene and Therapeutics; "Dr. Guthrie's Directions to Army Surgeons on the Battle-field;""Rules for preserving the Health of the Soldier;""Quinine as a Prophylactic against Malarious Diseases;" "Report on the value of Vaccination in Armies;"" Report on Amputation;" "Report on Amputation through the Foot and at the Ankle-joint;" "Report on Venereal Diseases; ""Report on Pneumonia; ""Report on Continued Fevers; ""Report on Excision of Joints for Traumatic Cause;" "Report on Dysentery;" "Report on Scurvy;" "Report on the Treatment of Fractures in Military Surgery; "Report on the Nature and Treatment of Miasmatic Fevers; " " "Report on the Treatment of Yellow Fever;" "Report on the Treatment of Infectious Diseases," etc.

Three committees were appointed, one to communicate the matured counsels of the Commission to the Government, and procure their ordering by the proper departments; a second to maintain a direct relation with the army officers and medical men, with the camps and hospitals, and by all proper methods to make sure of the carrying out of the sanitary orders of the Medical Bureau and the War Department; and a third to be in constant communication with

the State Governments, and the public benevolent associations interested in the army.

This plan of organization was approved by the Secretary of War, on the 13th June, 1861, and on the 21st of that month the Commission issued its first address to the public. This was soon followed by an appeal to the Life Insurance Companies, and another to men of wealth throughout the country, for aid in the prosecution of its work. The members of the Commission, as such, received no compensation, but the purposes of the organization would require a very considerable number of paid employés, and would involve heavy expenses for publica tions and supplies, which could only be pur

chased with money. A considerable number of associate members were elected at this time, who gave their services in raising means for the operations of the Commission, and Ladies' Associations, in all parts of the country, prepared clothing and supplies of all sorts, and forwarded them to its depots.

The members of the Commission visited, during the summer of 1861, the different camps of the widely-extended armies of the republic, and carefully inspected and reported upon their sanitary condition and needs.

The necessity of the services of the agents of the Commission on the field immediately after, or, when practicable, during the progress of, important battles, was felt, as soon as such battles occurred. At first, owing to the difficulties of procuring transportation for its supplies to the field, in consequence of the dependence of the Medical Bureau upon the Quartermaster's Bureau for transportation, it could not reach the field so early as its officers desired, and in some of the earlier battles there was great suffering (partially ameliorated, it is true, by individual effort and enterprise) in consequence. But the Commission soon found it necessary to have its own independent transportation, and this both by land and water, its hospital transports, its wagons and ambulances, and its ambulance railroad cars. In July, 1863, it added to these the plan of attaching to each army corps a Superintendent of Relief, with his as sistants, wagons, ambulances, and supplies, to remain constantly with his corps and minister to its needs.

The transportation of the wounded soldier from the battle ground to the field-hospital, as well as to the more remote camp, post, or general hospital, is a matter of importance. If roughly and unskilfully performed, the wounded man not only suffers severely, but his injuries may be rendered mortal. At first it was the practice in the army for the line officers to detach two men who were uninjured from the ranks to bear off each wounded man; but this weakened the force so much in a severe battle (the bearers seldom returning to their place), that it was finally prohibited, and only the ambulance men of the regiment, or the members of the band, aided sometimes by the chaplain, or by civilians, assisted in that duty. An ambulance corps was organized in connection with the Army of the Potomac in the autumn of 1862, but did not attain much efficiency till the spring of 1863. Congress, at its session of 1863-64 extended its provisions to the other armies of the republic. By its provisions each regiment in going into battle is entitled to three ambulances, with their drivers, and six stretcherbearers, who are commanded by a sergeant, the stretcher-bearers marching with the regiment into battle, and the ambulances being drawn up in rear between the army and the field hospital; the ambulance force of the regiments forming brigade, being under the command of a second lieutenant, that of a division being commanded

a