ies ever drawn together before. It was presided over by
D. D. Field, Esq.[5] Rev. Dr. Bellows explained the object of the
meeting, and an eloquent address was made by Vice-President Hamlin. Dr.
Crawford, since Brigadier-General Crawford, who had been at Fort Sumter,
followed him. Drs. Wood, Mott, Stevens, etc., urged the merits of the
enterprise. Articles of organization were brought in, which, under the
name of the Women's Central Association of Relief, united the women of
New York in a society whose objects were to collect and distribute
authentic information with regard to the wants of the army; to establish
a recognized union with the New York Medical Association for the supply
of lint, bandages, etc.; to solicit the aid of all local associations;
and to take measures for training and securing a supply of nurses
against any possible demand of war. Dr. Mott was appointed President of
the Association; Rev. Dr. Bellows, Vice-President; G. F. Allen, Esq.,
Secretary; and Howard Potter, of Brown Brothers & Co., Treasurer.

Wise questions were put to the Chief Medical Purveyor of the U. S. Army
by the Association, to which kind and patient verbal answers were
returned. But it was evident that he regarded its solicitude as
exaggerated, and its proffer of aid as almost superfluous, believing the
Medical Department was fully aroused to its duties, and able to meet
them. There can be no doubt that this opinion was perfectly honest,
loyal, and faithful. But the women still believed that something might
be done for the objects of their solicitude. A committee, consisting of
Dr. W. H. Van Buren, Dr. Elisha Harris, Dr. Jacob Harsen, and Rev. Dr.
Bellows, etc., was appointed to visit Washington, and confer with the
medical authorities and the War Department in regard to the whole
subject of volunteer aid to the army. The committee came to the
conclusion, after some weeks' observation in and about Washington, that
neither the Government, the War Department, the Bureau, the army, nor
the people understood the gigantic nature of the business entered upon,
or were half prepared to meet the necessities which must in a few weeks
or months fall crushingly upon them. Such facts convinced them of the
necessity of a much more extensive system than had been contemplated at
the period of their organization, and thus the idea of a Sanitary
Commission, with an office and resident staff at Washington, presented
itself to them as alone able to meet