Following the attack on Fort Sumter
that occurred on April 12th 1861, Dr. Henry W. Bellows, the founder
of the United States Sanitary Commission, met in New York city with
a large group of influential women of the city who were concerned
with the health and well being of the Union troops called upon to
squash the southern rebellion. From the start the women of the
relief agencies under the sanitary commission met with indifference
and even some hostility from the army medical establishment. The
army bureau felt that in due time the Commissions enthusiasm would
wane and the Army Medical could proceed as they had in the past.
Indifferent, lacking in organization skills. With the medical
departments main endeavor, had been up to this time handling minor
medical problems from the skirmishes with the Indians of the west.
On June 9th 1861 Simon Cameron, Secretary of War authorized the
appointment of the commission members. Lincoln signed the order on
June 13 1861. By June 16th a general order went out to all medical
officers of the army and volunteers to "render every facility for
such objects to give the Commission admission when on visits of
inspections, regimental and general. Afterwards, Camerons’ order was
reaffirmed by Edward Stanton who succeeded him as Secretary of War.
Three days after Simon Cameron had
signed the order establishing the Commission, Dr. Henry Bellows was
elected president of the United States Sanitary Commission. He
served on the commission from 1861 until 1878 the deactivated date
for the commission. The board of the sanitary commission met once
every 6 weeks in Washington. Later on they met quarterly, leaving
day to day operations to Fredrick Olmsted. These quarterly meetings
usually lasted 4 to 5 days. Eventually the day to day operation of
the sanitary commission became so huge that standing committees were
formed that met daily in New York. The Commission appointed a chief
sanitary inspector for each division of the Union Army. The
employees in the field were paid because it was felt that more
efficient people could be recruited. Salaries ranged from $ 5000.00
annually for the general secretary, down to about $ 2.00 a day and
subsistence for those in the relief services. On June 21 1861 a
general appeal was sent out to the citizens of the north telling of
the aims of the Commission and seeking their help. Following the
Battle of Bull Run on July 18 1861,it became apparent to the surgeon
general that there was a need for an overall plan to handle the sick
and wounded. Soldiers wounded on the battlefield had been left to
die of thirst or starvation, if not from there battle wounds. Other
soldiers deserted the battle under the pretense of helping to remove
the wounded. Several comrades would be required to carry a wounded
soldier to the rear. These same comrades might encounter difficulty
in finding there way back to the front.
