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for Relief. Its constitution was drawn up by
Dr. Bellows.
Auxiliary associations were formed, and after much difficulty an organization was made on a far more extended and efficient plan, which contemplated the co-operation of the association with the Medical Department of the army, under the sanction of the
Government, in the care of the sanitary interests of the soldiers.
Miss Dix, as we have seen, had already done much in that direction.
Dr. Bellows and his associates now endeavored to do much more, and their efforts were rewarded with success.
On the 9th of June, 1861, the
Secretary of War issued an order, appointing
Henry W. Bellows, D. D.,
Professor A. D. Bache, Ll. D. (
Chief of the Coast Survey),
Professor Jeffries Wyman, M. D.,
W. H. Van Buren, M. D.,
R. C. Wood,
Surgeon-General of the United States Army,
G. W. Cullum, of
General Scott's staff, and
Alexander Shiras, of the United States Army, in conjunction with such others as they might associate with them, “A Commission of Inquiry and Ad, vice, in respect of the
Sanitary Interests of the United States Forces.”
They were to serve without pay from the
Government, and were to have a room for their use in the city of
Washington. “They were to direct their inquiries,” says the historian of the Sanitary Commission,
1 “to the principles and practice connected with the inspection of recruits and enlisted men; the sanitary condition of volunteers; to the means of preserving and restoring health, and of securing the general comfort and efficiency of the troops; to the proper provision of cooks, nurses, and the hospitals, and to other subjects of a like nature.”
They were to correspond freely with the War Department, and with the
Medical Bureau.
The
Surgeon-General issued a circular, announcing the creation of the Commission.
The persons named in the
Secretary's order proceeded
to organize a board of managers, with
Dr. Bellows, who may be regarded as the founder of the Commission, at its head.
He submitted a plan of organization, which was adopted.
On the following day
the Commission waited on the
President and
Secretary of War, who gave their sanction to
Dr. Bellows's plan by affixing their signatures to it, and it became the
Constitution of the Commission.
Its seal bore the style and the date of creation of the organization; also a shield bearing the figure of Mercy, winged, with the symbol of Christianity upon her bosom, and a cup of consolation in her hand, coming down from
