“ Miscellaneous Department.” This solved
the mystery, but on our expressing wonder as
to what “miscellaneous” included, our fair
charmer proceeded to explain, first telling us,
with an appeal to our sympathies, that the
“ Miscellaneous ” had been called the “scav
engers ”of the Fair. We suggested that this
Committee take for its motto this, from Scrip
ture: “Gather vp the fragments: that nothing he
lost:"
First, we saw everything that a surgeon or
physician could need in the way of apparatus
—cases of instruments, artificial arms, boxes
for pills and everything made, invoiced and
contributed by the best makers, and for sale
at regular retail prices. Here, also, are family
cases of Homoeopathic medicines for sale; lan
terns, lamps, and shades of all kinds; crutches
and canes, together with a fine contribution of
playing-cards; also, a large case of Mason’s
best shoe blacking, surmounted by appropriate
figures in bronze. Wc paid one dollar for a
chance to win an elegant case of stuffed birds,
valued at one hundred dollars. A beautiful
miniature cottage, with grounds, furniture, and
all the modern improvements complete, the
work of a lady who is devoting herself to this
department, is here for sale ; it would make a
beautiful parlor ornament. Two other orna
ments of the same kind are here for sale—a
beautiful church, with pulpit, pews, stained
glass windows, and so arranged that it can be
lighted up at night. A full-rigged miniature
vessel is also exhibited.
HOW THE SANITARY IS WORKING IN THE
FIELD.
[Letter from Dr. Steiner.]
Sanitary Commission,
Headquarters Field Relief Corps,
Army of Potomac, 12 miles from Richmond,
June 0, 1804.
My Dear Mr. Stili.£:— Our friend John
son suggested that a line from here to you for
the Sanitary paper would be acceptable; ac
cordingly, I take the pen and shall try to com
ply with his suggestion. Separated as we are
from the comforts of home and home-life,
writing is by no means an easy task, still, what
we can do, to show the liberal public who be
stow their wealth lavishly on the army, is
always freely done.
You all know, more or less, what this heroic
army has done since the morning of the 6th
ultimo; how it braved the deadly fire of the
Wilderness, underwent the bloody battles of
Spottsylvania, fought at Jericho Crossing, on
the North Anna, and, having crossed the l’a
munkey, has fought day and night for the recon
struction of our glorious Union and the re-esta
blishment of the reign of law and order. In this
long series of battles many a gallant soldier
has freely otfered up his life for his country,
and many more have received those honorable
Oue, ID^ailt Pabe.
wounds which will forever endear them to
those who know how to appreciate a patriot’s
offering. The line of march of this army
has been consecrated forever by a baptism of
blood, which must make it a prominent feature
in the geography of the country. And the
work still goes on. As I write, the continuous
sound of musketry from sharpshooters and
skirmishers salutes my ear, and prevents me,
even if I could attempt to think of other things,
from forgetting where I am, and what is the
cause that has brought us all from our homes.
A General of indomitable firmness of purpose
and determination, aided by the prudence and
wonderful command of the minutim of military
science possessed by another, is in command,
and an army, possessed of full confidence in
him, sturdily stands by him ready to execute
all his commands.
This protracted series of battles lias resulted
in an unprecedented number of wounded; in
an unprecedented demand for assistance. The
Government had provided for the emergency
most liberally, and still the demand was for
more. Starving, suffering men—heroes all
bloody with their wounds—were to be aided
and succored. The Sanitary Commission had
looked forward toward this emergency with a
full knowledge of what was expected from it.
A full account of its stewardship cannot be
rendered until the great campaign shall be
won. Its first preparation consisted in secur
ing eighty thousand dollars’ worth of supplies,
in loading a boat and barge to reach the first
water-base that should be opened, and in hav
ing a trained band of nurses, under the vete
ran army nurse, Frank R. Fay, ready for
work. As soon as permission was given it,
the Commission started for Belle Plain. The
flag of the Commission streamed gaily from
the flag-staff of the Mary F. Rapley, as she
entered the harbor and made fast to the dock.
I can never be too thankful that the great
privilege of opening up and conducting this
grand scheme of relief for the army was mine.
It is now a matter of history that thousands
(twenty thousand and over) of the wounded
were fed by our agents at Belle Plain—that at
Fredericksburg every hospital daily drew from
our stores sent thither in our own wagons—
that even organizations, whose pride tempts
them to ignore us in their speeches and pamph
lets, drew from our stores, (the receipts for such
issues are on file,) and employed these in their
own ministrations, though no reference is made
to the same in their speeches made at public
meetings since—that all the wounded at Port
Royal received the kindest treatment in the
same way at our hands—that at White House
the work is continued under charge of that
“big-soulcd man,” the Rev. John A. Anderson
—that ministers of the gospel of every faith,
Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Metho
dist, and others, have recognized the catholicity
of our organization, and have worked in con-
junction with us. It is not for me to laud this
work. The work that is done will speak for
itself; that which is to be done we may hope
shall equal it. Let us thank God that He has
enabled us to minister, in the name of Chris
tian philanthropy,to our fellow-men; it is not
ours to mar the ministrations by Pharisaic
declarations of our superiority to other workers.
Such is not the spirit of the U. S. Sanitary
Commission.
The Field Relief Corps is working steadily
in this army. Wagons under competent
agents are now dispensing clothing, and such
other articles as may be needed to supplement
the Government supplies in the division hos
pitals. As the wounded are only kept here
for a few hours, the wants in the field are not
as great as at the Water Base, and hence but
few laborers comparatively are needed in this
place. Our supplies will, however, be kept up,
and will be offered freely to the chief medical
officers of the corps. In this great contest it is
our pleasure to aid in upholding the authority
of the officers by dispensing mostly through
tlicir aid. The amount of mis-appropriation
charged against medical officers is certainly
very small, notwithstanding the popular idea
on the subject. Medical officers prize their
characters and their subsequent reputations at
home too highly to be chargeable with such
offences.
Army life during a campaign like the pre
sent is by no means a luxury. Crackers, cof
fee and beef may be considered good food for
one day, but when the same bill of fare con
tinues for five weeks, it becomes intensely
distasteful. Disease will visit the campaigner.
Already one. of our relief corps has been sent
from this army with typhoid fever, brought
on by his labors here. Still, all feel that the
position is a glorious one, and arc ready to
brave the common lot of the army.
Would that some of your glorious women
could be here to see the comforts that their
gifts produce—that your wealthy men could
see what an investment they made when they
contributed to the soldiers’ fund ! One hour
would repay them for all their labor, for all
their contributions. Just as the sweet sounds
of the birds singing on the boughs of a tree
near me, bring quiet home-feelings and
thoughts to one’s heart, even while the rude
sound of musketry greets one’s ear—so the
gifts of liberal hearts and gentle hands make
the soldier feel, amid blood and carnage, that
there are those at home whose best wishes and
most fervent prayers are always with him.
God bless the women of this land ! May their
hands never tire nor their hearts faint in well
doing, until the blessings of peace shall once
more visit our counry.
■pRINTED by Rinowalt k Brown, 111 k 113 South 4th
-*• Street, Philadelphia, for the Great Central Fair in
aid of the United States Sanitary Commission.