Price, 5 Cents; 6 Copies for 23 Cents, Address Secretary, 
REPORT OF 
Red Cross Hospital, 
ST NST10NHL DRILL d* ENCSMPMENT, 
Camp George Washington, May 23-30, 1887. OFFICIAL REPORT 
OF THE 
RED CROSS MOSPITRL, 
AT 
CAMP G-ECRG-E WASHINGTON, 
May 23-30, 1887, 
WASHINGTON, D. C., 
BY 
CLARA BARTON, 
President of the American National Association of the lied, Cross. 
Published by the American Association of the Red Cross, Washington, I). C. 
WASHINGTON : 
RUFUS H. DARBY, PRINTER. 
1887. report. 
To the People of Washington and others in- 
terested : 
The kindly courtesy and co-operation extended by 
the citizens of Washington to as president of 
the National lied Cross, during its part in the hospital 
of the late Military Drill and Encampment, have ren- 
derecfit a pleasure as well as duty, to make some report of 
the work done, and the causes which led to it. 
Having been for many years a resident of this city, 
making it always the central point of any work in which 
I am engaged, I have naturally all the interests of citi- 
zenship in its welfare, confessing also to a degree of 
laudable pride in its good name and fame abroad. 
When, a few months ago, I learned that a camp, 
composed of the National Guard of the country, was 
to be formed here, to engage in competitive drill under 
the supervision of regular army officers, I thought it 
instructive and useful. If armies must exist, and nations 
and peoples must still depend upon them for defence, 
it were well that the knowledge gained by the bitter 
and terrible experience of the late war be, so far as 
possible, transmitted to those who must follow with 
only theory in place of practice. 4 
Here was to be brought together a body of 5,000 to 
8,000 men, from every State and Territory in the Union; 
men from cultured homes, accustomed to all the comforts 
of settled life, sheltered rooms, good beds, well-selected 
food, regular habits of occupation and rest, and directly 
following a journey of one thousand to two thousand 
miles, to be camped out around “ Potomac Flats,” under 
single canvas, subject to the strict regulations of an 
actual camp of soldiers, under the stern military disci- 
pline of an army camped for march or battle, with all 
the excitement of competitive drill, and to compete as 
for their lives. 
As usual, in all phases of war, the fact had been over- 
looked, that drilled men, in spite of all their automatic 
precision of step and motion, were still flesh and blood, 
and could suffer; and it seemed still harder to realize 
that men only “ playing soldier ” could become really 
ill, and actually need care and attendance; and when 
I learned, that owing to this general misconception, no 
provision for an active hospital service had been made, 
and none contemplated, I became alarmed, not only for 
the prospective condition of the troops, but for the en- 
campment, and reputation of the city as well. 
True, the appointment of the regular medical and 
surgical staff for the general supervision of the camp 
had been most worthily made. Sick call would be 
promptly held at eight o’clock each morning; but for 5 
the unfortunate soldier who must answer it, there was 
to be noplace but his mess tent; nurse nor attendant, 
save his busy unskilled comrades, who must necessarily 
stand in the ranks; provision nor quiet beyond the rest- 
less turmoil of a boisterous camp of soldiers. Where 
would the kind-hearted, perplexed surgeon-in-chief send 
his sick charges ? How dispose of the weary waiters at 
his tent; and when parade, march and drill brought 
their victims from the ranks to the ground, who was 
to take them, and where? Were they to lie and die 
in camp; be brought to corner drug-stores for a like 
fate, or lingering, seek shelter in the various city hospi- 
tals after neglect and hardship had rendered them hope- 
less, and a howl of honest indignation go out over the 
entire country at the heartlessness of the city which 
could thus plan for itself a national amusement without 
provision, care or thought for the welfare of the invited 
guests who came at its bidding ? “What were the man- 
agers of the Drill and the people of Washington think- 
ing of? And the Reel Cross, with its central committee, 
headquarters, warerooms, and all in Washington—what 
was it doing ?” 
True enough; and what answer were any of us to 
make when thus arraigned ? The trouble once upon 
us there would be no escape, and perhaps having per- 
mitted it to come, there should be none. 
The arrangements for the encampment itself had been 6 
carefully and well made, and have, I believe, elicited 
commendation from all; and one mentions with deli- 
cate hesitancy, that in the multitude of attendant cares, 
an actual hospital service had not been thought of. 
It was perhaps the place of the Red Cross to move, 
as being in its direct line of action, and educationally 
its duty to bring to the observation and knowledge of 
these military bodies, the latest and most improved 
methods of caring for, and saving the sick and wound- 
ed of armies; methods held of such importance as to 
have become the subject of international treaty, and in 
themselves to-day, no less a feature in military progress 
than the improvement of firearms as a means of quick 
and terrible destruction. After consultation, our ap- 
prehensions were communicated to the otfice of the 
Surgeon-General, and by its efficient officers made 
known to the managers of the Drill. Ro words 
of mine can do justice to the prompt action taken by 
these gentlemen when once their attention was directed 
to the situation. General Manager De Leon, himself 
breaking down from overwork and thought, came 
commissioned by General Ordway, to ask of the 
Red Cross that it take the direction of creating and 
conducting a hospital upon the grounds of the encamp- 
ment, that I, as its head, take personal supervision of 
the same, appointing my medical staff, nurses and 
attendants; that we assume all responsibility and liabil- 7 
ities, beyond cost of medicines and the erection of the 
tents as for the camp in general. 
It does not remain for me to inform you that this 
proposition was accepted for the Red Cross, and but 
few words are necessary to say in what manner the 
trust was fulfilled; for it was done in broad day, with 
open tents and records, in full view of the entire city 
and its thousands of visitors. Through day and night, 
sun and cloud, wind and rain, we were never from your 
sight, and never from our posts. 
The first step was the selection of medical director, 
and when I write the name of Ur. J. 0. Stanton as 
having accepted that appointment, I am certain of the 
congratulations of the entire city. You know how 
efficiently, faithfully, and well he would strive to do. 
I know how more than well he succeeded. All that 
ability, skill, and wide experience could bring to his 
charge, were there. 
Under his supervision and with the concurrence of 
General Ordway, most admirable grounds for a hospital 
were selected, and twenty tents erected, comprising 
dining tent, kitchen and wards, together with a “ Red 
Cross Ducker barrack ” for dispensary and medical 
headquarters. It was the determination of both Ur. 
Stanton and myself, to establish and conduct a thorough 
army hospital as though in active service at the field, re- 
quiring the same prompt attention on the part of atten- 8 
dants, and instituting throughout, the same discipline; 
both the welfare of the patients, and the instruction of 
nurses required this. With such purpose, Dr. Stanton, 
as medical director, proceeded to appoint his surgical 
force :* nineteen from among the leading physicians of 
the city, six of whom had been army surgeons, were 
invited to a place upon his staff. Twelve to alternate 
each other in the direct charge of the hospital, having 
always one on duty day and night. Six in charge of 
the ambulance and stretcher corps, attending every 
parade, march, or drill, and one to act as executive 
officer. 
Through the kindly courtesy of the Hon. Secretary 
of War and Surgeon-General, we were enabled to 
supplement this force by the addition of two most faith- 
ful and competent hospital stewards! from headquar- 
ters. Ho words could add to the credit of the record 
which the estimable service of these gentlemen won for 
themselves. I have seen many an army division of 
twenty thousand men, entering battle, which would have 
felt itself rich with two-thirds of the medical and 
*Dr. ,1. O. Stanton, Medical Director; assistants—Dr. I. C. Ross, Dr. 
G. B. Harrison, Dr. Harrison Crook, Dr. James T. Young, Dr. Thomas 
F. Mallon, Dr. Thomas B. Hood, Dr. J. W. Bayne, Dr. Lachlan Tyler, 
Dr. W. H. Hawks, Dr. H. L. E. Johnson, Dr. D. P. Wolhaupter, Dr. 
H. A. Robbins, Dr. F. C. Fernald, Dr. M. H. Cuthbert, Dr. George C. 
Ober, Dr. Olin Leech, Dr. IT. M. Cutts, Dr. S. W. Powers, Dr. W. E. 
Handy. 
fHospital stewards—F. M, Marshall, G. M. Weed, 9 
surgical force of Dr. Stanton’s staff, and one-third of 
our hospital accommodations would have been princely; 
and when these twenty-two gentlemen presented them- 
selves and received the insignia which entitled them to 
work under the Red Cross, it really seemed a formidable 
array of medical power for a hospital without a patient, 
and doubtless provoked many an incredulous smile from 
our pleasant-natured community (for I always maintain 
that Washington leads the world in genial good-heart- 
edness), who could scarcely conceive how that hospital 
should ever have a patient. 
One little week later, these surgeons had diagnosed 
and treated 186 cases of illness as varied in character as 
their patients themselves, dressed 12 accidental wounds, 
and watched through many an anxious hour the cases 
which threatened serious results. The ambulance had 
rushed in with 44 cases of sunstroke, and those two 
indefatigable hospital stewards had put up 306 pre- 
scriptions, and personally met and aided every patient 
able to reach the dispensary, either assisting him to his 
bed in the hospital tents, or back to his command if 
able to return. Every attention which could be shown 
every consolation which could be afforded, every kind- 
ness which could be offered to the sick and suflering 
stranger within our gates, had been joyfully rendered 
and gratefully received. Every life had been preserved 
and every man was safely on his way home ready to 10 
publish to the uttermost bounds of the country, the 
generous hospitalities extended to him at the Capital 
of the Nation. I think all will concede that our city 
physicians might have been worse employed during 
this week, especially as no one thereby either relin- 
quished or neglected his ordinary practice. 
The next step, and no less important in the formation 
of a hospital service, was the selection of nurses. Right- 
fully to the well-known organization of “ Army Nurses,” 
under the leadership of its honored and beloved presi- 
dent, Miss Harriet Dame, belonged the place of honor. 
This was generously accepted, and its active members, 
to the number of twenty, took place upon the staff. 
It was a beautiful sight—the easy grace with which 
these women after twenty years of retirement took up 
again their accustomed work. Every duty seemed stereo- 
typed, every motion trained. The tent was home, visions 
of the old days and nights came back, and many a tear 
for dear memory’s sake fell over faces less smooth and 
fair, but none the less tender and true, than when 
twenty years ago they left home and friends, dared 
hardship, danger and death, perilling all for the love 
of the Master and humanity. 
The next to be invited was our younger and still 
larger body of “ trained nurses,” to the number of fifty. 
These, at the instance of their able and faithful pres- 
ident, Dr. Murphy, of Columbia Hospital, unanimously 11 
volunteered for either continuous or alternate service, 
and took place upon the staff. Of fhese women, it is 
not enough to say that they did full credit to the teach- 
ing they have received, and that in no instance did they 
fail. One discovers in them a devotion to duty, an ad- 
herence to principle, a self-forgetfulness and spirit of 
sacrifice, which no teaching could create. The noble 
nature was there before the instruction, and through it, 
largely, they have sought the profession they wear. 
Permit me, I pray you, friends, to commend to you 
this fraternity of women ; to ask for them your consid- 
eration, confidence, patronage, encouragement and care. 
They deserve it. They have entered upon lives of 
hardship, toil, and self-abnegation, to lessen the woes of 
others ; let us not forget to help them to bear their own. 
As Superintendent of Nurses, it was my fortunate 
privilege to appoint Dr. Susan A. Edson, one of the 
first women in America to wear the title of M. D. 
Serving as nurse in field and hospital throughout the 
war, and before the memory of whose chosen and hon- 
ored service, when the black pall of martyrdom and 
death lay over all the land, our heads are bare, and our 
hearts are still. 
The above-named persons comprised our hospital 
service for the encampment. Shall I enumerate ? In 
charge, Clara Barton, assisted by Dr. J. B. Ilubbell, 
general field agent of the Red Cross; Mr. A. S. Solo- 12 
mons, vice-president, and the Rational Executive Com- 
mittee; Medical Director, Dr. J. 0. Stanton, with a 
staff of nineteen surgeons, and two hospital stewards ; 
Superintendent of Nurses, Dr. Susan A. Edson, with 
twenty “ army nurses,” and fifty members of Training 
School for Nurses ; Miss Mary Vandersall, chief nurse, 
and Mr. Charles Foster ward master; thus constituting 
a body of ninety-two physicians and nurses, every one 
ready for duty, and understanding how to perform it. 
From the 23d to the 30th May, inclusive, was the 
space of time allotted for the encampment. The air 
was full of the noisy din and stir of soldier life; battal- 
ion after battalion marched into camp with music and 
shout, but above and beyond all lay the hospital, omi- 
nous and still as a summer afternoon that waits the 
bursting of the storm. 
At noon of the 23d, the graceful unfolding of the 
American flag from the top of its staff one hundred 
and fifty feet above headquarters, announced that Gen. 
Auger had taken command; that the camp was open 
and ready for action. 
Five minutes later, the folds of the “American 
Combination Red Cross Flag,” floating out from its 
staff in front of the hospital, announced that it was 
also ready; and as we gathered under that banner of 
universal humanity, and I spoke to those about me the 
few words of charge I had to give—that they save, serve 13 
and forbear, and that they love one another, the peace 
of Heaven seemed to settle down upon all hearts, never 
to be broken by a ripple of discord nor discontent; not 
a murmur of complaint from any lip, till, with tear- 
ful eyes, we took again each other’s hands at parting; 
every duty done, every life preserved, every comrade 
safely on his way home. The peaceful banner was 
folded away, but we left a sign upon every arm, as a 
testimony to all nations and peoples of the earth, that 
the wearer thereof was known and counted worthy to 
work in the relief of that direst of woes which has en- 
veloped the world in terror and misery since the 
earliest history of man. This is the first time the Red 
Cross badge has been dispensed in this country; our 
physicians and our nurses are the first to receive it. 
They wear it, as they should, proudly and gladly as an 
earnest of that love for humanity for which the good 
have always been ready to suffer, and the Great Leader 
gave his life. 
The Red Cross means people’s help for military and 
national necessities, and not, as is generally understood 
or rather misunderstood, national help for people’s neces- 
sities. When the Red Cross moves it is always the 
people who come to its aid and fill its hands. With this 
view, when we found our own warerooms lacking some 
furnishings required in the sudden equipment of an entire 
hospital, we asked of you about us to come to the rescue 14 
with the needed articles. The readiness with which our 
requests were met, although but slightly comprehending 
their significance, and always believing that nothing 
would be needed, that the hospital like the Drill, 
“was only for show,” is but another added proof of the 
willing natures of our citizens. 
We arranged for one hundred patients, a few words 
in regard to the details of which, may not be without 
interest as something in which yourselves took gener- 
ous part. 
Upholstered cots were rented, and for the snowy 
sheets and pillow-slips with which to dress them, let me 
return grateful thanks to Columbia Hospital, with its 
veteran doors ever open to the calls of humanity; to 
Dr. Godding, of St. Elizabeth’s, and to Mr. and Mrs. 
Stoughtenberg, of the City Hospital who not only 
sent, but came to bring; to the kindness of Messrs. 
Beveridge and Boteler for delf; to Mr. Ho eke for med- 
icine-cases; for chairs to Mr. Towles, and Mr. and Mrs. 
II. C. Spencer, who, out of the scarcely cold ashes of 
their own, could still supply; to the Howard, Willard’s 
and Biggs House, for each a dinner for our corps of 
helpers, and to the latter-named for every proffer of 
assistance which a generous nature could devise; to 
Miss Snow for the origin and charge of a flower mission 
which literally transformed our wards into conservato- 
ries, and one looked over barricades of. roses and lilies 15 
to the pale faces beyond ; to Mr. ¥m. Saunders, of the 
Agricultural Department, for rare blooming plants; to 
the honorable Secretary of War for the order of an am- 
bulance and driver; to Col. Batchelder and Dr. Morton,of 
the Quartermaster’s Department, for awnings and labor- 
ers; to the Independent Ice Company for the voluntary 
proffer of abundant ice for the hospital during the entire 
time—the gratitude of many an overpowered and fever- 
ed patient must be their thanks; to Dansville Sanitarium, 
H.Y., for one hundred pounds of its wonderful-Granula ; 
tothe“ Cerealine Company,” of Columbus, Ind., for abun- 
dant quantities of that delightful article of food for sick 
or well, together with competent agents to prepare it— 
no better fortune could befall a hospital; to the “Ducker 
Portable Barrack Company,” hi. Y., through the courtesy 
of its accomplished agent, Wm. II. Hanna, for the use 
of a “Red Cross Ducker barrack” for dispensary; to 
Mr. R. D. O. Smith for excellent photographic views; to 
Mr. J. F. Page for loan of oil-stoves for cooking; to 
Mr. A. E. Cook and Mr. G. W. Fitts for disinfectants 
of great service to us;* to Mr. Gilbert D. Fox for gen- 
erous donation of “ Wright’s Pond Lily Toilet Wash,” 
which at this day needs but its name to speak its praise; 
to Mr. Toler for use of folding cots, tables and chairs; 
to Gen. John B. Dennis, commander of Rational Guard 
of Dakota, for helpful co-operation ; to Mr. John 
H. Stafford, of Massachusetts, for valuable and ready 16 
assistance; and to the thousands who came, day by day, 
to view our work and hid us speed, our thoughts go 
out in grateful remembrance. 
To the press of the city we beg to return most grate- 
ful acknowledgments for kindly attention and excel- 
lent reports; its good words were strengthening and 
helpful, and even its Critic-cisms, generously provided 
for the amusement of the art-loving public, might have 
been more harmful. 
I have elsewhere given, in part, the number of pa- 
tients treated in the hospital; you will pardon, if I quote 
them here as a whole: 
Entire number nursed in wards during the week . . . .83 
Number diagnosed and treated . ... . . . 186 
Number of wounds from accidents surgically dressed . . .12 
Number of sunstrokes 44 
Number of prescriptions prepared . 306 
And to the credit of the camp, it affords me pleasure 
to state, that not one of these cases was due to 
the use of liquor. Our records show not one case of 
alcoholism. 
And in this connection, may I be pardoned a word 
in relation to the camp itself, and the character of the 
men who fell under our charge. Of the former, only 
its soldierly hearing and thorough work marked it as a 
soldiers’ camp ; for any unseemly conduct, so generally 
looked for, it might have been a camping party of 
pleasure. 17 
Of the latter, our patients, soldierly, brave, uncom- 
plaining, gentlemanly men, from all sections and quar- 
ters of the country,—if they have taken away with them 
pleasant memories, they have left the same. The manly 
tear brushed away at parting, revealed unmistakably 
the grateful cultivated spirit that prompted it. And 
the beautiful letters with far-distant post-marks, daily 
finding their way from mother, wife, or sister, to the 
patient hands which so carefully nursed, reminds only 
too ominously who would have been hurt by any unfor- 
tunate neglect; and along with these, our gratitude goes 
out to the brave-hearted women and high authorities, 
who sought, so far as possible, to “ deliver from temp- 
tation,” and if their white ribbon fluttered near our Red 
Cross, who shall say it nay ? 
I am happy to say that Dr. Stanton will, later, make 
a full medical report of the hospital, of which the most 
accurate records were kept; and we hope, also, for a 
report from Dr. Edson, of the efficient and interesting 
department under her charge. 
With the exception of three dinners, and some gifts 
of thoughtful friends, our food was provided and pre- 
pared by ourselves. All persons occupied upon the 
premises, as surgeons, stewards, nurses, attendants, and 
workingmen, found place at our tables, where an aver- 
age of one hundred and twenty-five meals per day were 
served. The food for the patients was prepared by 
heir nurses and taken to the wards. 18 
If I fail in expressing what is due to all persons con- 
nected with the management of the encampment, it is 
because I cannot find the proper terms, and more es- 
pecially is this true of its immediate commanding offi- 
cer, General Ordway, whose competency and kindness 
were the theme of all. 
The utmost sympathy was felt for Manager De Leon 
who, worn out, and overborne, fell in the march before 
the day was done. 
Notwithstanding a week of almost incessant rain, we 
believe our hospital to have been in every way a success. 
We feel that its example will not be lost on future 
military gatherings; and that it was not unappreciated 
by others seems substantiated by the following passage 
from General Order No. 18, of the commander-in-chief, 
Gen Augur, which we take the liberty to insert:* * * 
[From General Order .No. 18.] 
“Camp George Washington. 
“The General commanding also tenders his thanks to 
the Red Cross Association, for the very efficient hospital 
service they have maintained in the camp and on the 
march. It has been a commendable illustration of the 
purposes for which the Red Cross Association was 
established, and a valuable exposition of its object and 
operation. 
“By command of Major-General Augur: 
“ James B. Carnahan, 
“Brigadier- General and Adjutant-General.” 19 
From the unavoidably personal nature of this report, 
I submit it with hesitancy. If among our townspeople 
it should be felt that any credit is due, please give it to 
the Red Cross, and those who grandly came to serve 
and help it. And for myself, I pray you say only that I 
worked in a good cause and was fortunate in my 
appointments. 
Respectfully submitted by request of the Executive 
Committee of the Rational Red Cross Association. 
Clara Barton, 
President.