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 the views of the Central
Association and the emergencies of the case. The ordering of a Sanitary
Commission _without rights or powers_ was finally granted, the _duties_
being enough to satisfy the most active. The order for the Commission
was issued by the Secretary of War June 9th, and approved by the
President June 13th, 1861.
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