E Chas. S. Tripler to = Maj. S. WILLIAMS, et, September 9, 1861

Medical Director’s Office, Washington, September 9, 1861.

MAJOR:

In reference to the letter of Mr. George Gibbs, referred tome by direction of Major-General McClellan, I have to state that the subject of suitable provision for the reception of the wounded at this position has engaged my attention for the last three weeks. 1 had commenced arrangements by providing a hotel in Baltimore and ordering it to be fitted up. I had also asked authority to take the Riggs. house, near the Circle, with the purpose of converting it into a hospital. I had also other arrangements in view, when I was informed by the . Surgeon-General that under the direction of the Secretary of War he – had taken all the general hospitals under his exclusive supervision and control, and that he intended making extensive arrangements for the — reception of all the sick and wounded that this army would afford; . . that’in case of an action I would find accommodations in readiness for E the wounded. E Ata meeting of the Sanitary Commission, at which I was present, — last week, a resolution was passed appointing a committee to wait upon the Secretary of War, to request him to have frame buildings erected – sufficient for the reception of 15,000 men, and also to request General —,- MeClellaw’s approval of the same. The committee had not been able _ to see General McClellan up to last night.- I have now the honor to say

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Cuar. XIV.) . GENERAL REPORTS. 101

that, in my opinion, frame huts, such as were finally constructed in the Crimea, are much better adapted to hospital purposes than large build- . ings of masonry, such as hotels, colleges, and the like. They admit of more perfect ventilation, cà n be kept in better police, are more convenJent for the sick and wounded and their attendants, admit of a ready distribution of patients into proper classes, and are cheaper. The Quartermaster-General informed me some time since that he would . put upany buildings that might be required. So far as I am informed, _ there are about 2,700 beds iu the general hospitals on the Potomac and in Maryland. Notwithstanding unremitted efforts, I have not been able to get reports of the number of sick in all the regiments of the army, _ but in forty-eight regiments that have reported there were on the 31st . August 916 sick in hospital and 1,546 in quarters. Of the strength of – these regiments I have no accurate information. Assuming them to average 800, we have an aggregate of 38,400. Again, assuming that . all the sick in hospitals and one-half of those in quarters would require to be sent to a general hospital in case of an advance on our part, we — Should require 1,689 beds for their accommodation. This gives a ratio of 1 to 23.33 nearly, or between 4 or 5 per cent. I think we may esti- . mate for 5 per cent. of any force intended to leave here as sure to re- – quire hospital accommodation. If this army attains a strength of – 200,000, we shall then want 10,000 beds immediately available. Again, should this army of 200,000 men have a general engagement with anything like equal numbers, and the action be well contested – upon the side of the enemy, we may calculate upon casualties reaching -.60,000 as a maximum. Of these, should the battle be fought princi—pally with artillery, one-half would be killed or mortally wounded. It – 1s scarcely to be expected or apprehended that anything like so great a – slaughter will really be endured by the troops on either side, but I do = not think it an unreasonable estimate to say that we should have hos- – pital accommodation for 20,000: wounded. This number ought to be reached of our own men and those of the enemy that will fail into our – hands. Now, if this estimate is at all reasonable, it is easily seen that there – are not buildings enough in Washington that are likely to or can be – procured to meet our wants. There is no question m my mind as to the – absolute superiority of temporary huts of suitable size and properly constructed over all other buildings that can be had for our purposes. The cost of the buildings will be about one-half or less of what we are —now paying for rents of hotels, colleges, and seminaries. If the matter – were in my hands, I should recommend the building of these huts at . once. E

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

E Surgeon and Medical Director Army of the Potomac.
= Maj. S. WILLIAMS, et
= Assistant Adjutant-General, Headquarters Army of Potomac.
%
[Appendix H.]