NEWS OF 150 YEARS AGO
March/April 1862
From The Missouri Democrat, Wednesday, March 12, 1862.
Appeal.
The “Western Sanitary Commission” are in need of a large supply of stores, of almost every kind, for the following uses:
1. To fit up and furnish “Floating Hospital” for relief of the sick and wounded on the lower rivers. The steamer “John H. Dickey” has been purchased by order of Gen. Halleck for this purpose, and has been instructed by the Medical Director to the “Commission” for all the requisite arrangements.
They wish to make the complete outfit including hospital stores and supplies of all kinds, bedding, &c., &c., as a free will offering of the loyal and humane people of St. Louis to the sick and wounded.
The boat will follow the army as nearly as practicable, and will be amply provided with surgeons, nurses and other attendants. In event of a battle, the wounded of both armies will, by special order, be treated alike. Woolen and canton flannel goods for shirts and drawers, are especially needed. Also linen rags and rolled bandages, of which specimens may be seen at the Commission Rooms, No 10 Fifth street.
2. A large house has been taken to establish a “Soldier’s Home,” for temporary relief of men on furlough, and of those who, for whatever cause, are let unprovided for either a single night or more.
The number of such cases is very large, and such an establishment will prevent much suffering and disorder. For this “Home,” almost every kind of plain provisions and groceries will be required, in considerable quantities.
3. The demand for hospital stores and garments is increasing from every direction. Kansas and Arkansas must both be supplied, and the Commission is making the best arrangements practicable with this view. Already a great deal has been sent, but as the army gets further west the local supplies decrease, and St. Louis is continually appealed to for aid. An agent from Nashville, now here, also represents great need among our sick in that city.
During the last week, the Commission has sent to different points, on the rivers or to the interior, nearly eleven thousand articles, in addition to forty-eight thousand previously distributed. The necessity of largely increased supplies for these outlays will be readily seen.
The members of the Commission are giving almost their whole time to the work, and are exercising the closest economy in all expenditures of money. They earnestly ask material aid, both in money and goods, from their fellow-citizens, to be sent to the Rooms of the Western Sanitary Commission, No. 10, Fifth street.
JAMES E. YEATMAN, Pres’t
