Sanitary Commission No. 68. Preliminary Report of the Operations of the Sanitary Commission with the Army of the Potomac, During the Campaign of June and July, 1863
Washington: (S.n.), 1863. Wraps. Octavo. 8 pages. Fine. Some minor creasing at top edge toward fore corner.
Frederick Law Olmsted--pioneering American landscape architect and co-designer of New York's Central Park--here gives a very interesting report in his role as General Secretary of the United States Sanitary Commission during the Civil War.
Olmsted gives a good outline of the activities of the Sanitary Commission in connection with the Battle of Gettysburg. He first describes the logistics for the staging and distribution of supplies, and for the relief and transportation of wounded. He then lists principle articles and their quantities distributed for relief of the wounded on the battlefield in the ten days following the battle. This included some 60 tons of perishables which were delivered by refrigerated railcars and 8,500 dozens of eggs collected from farm houses in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
In conclusion, Olmsted says, "The service of the Commission has never been more honorable to those engaged in it than in this campaign." He notes that four U.S.S.C. agents were captured and made prisoners of war while working to push forward supplies. He praises those serving in the Commission, crediting their courage, zeal, industry, patience, and good discipline "for the large amount of work which has been done...with a comparatively small display of force."
Does not appear to have been removed from a larger volume. A rather scarce report. OCLC locates 6 copies as of May 2021.
Item #836
Price: $375