To carry out the foregoing plan, the Kennebec and Daniel Webster No. 2 should be run exclusively to the Virginia hospitals,—one daily, each carrying three hundred (300) patients at a trip.
The Commodore, Vanderbilt, State of Maine, and Louisiana should be run exclusively to the Maryland hospitals, each carrying four hundred (400) patients at a trip, one daily, the round trip being four days.
The Elm City, being the best of the coast boats for outside work, would run to the nearest outside post, Philadelphia, once every six days, conveying four hundred (400) at each trip.
The John Brooks, the Whilldin, and the Knickerbocker would be surgical receiving hospitals, or reserve boats, to take the place of any detained by grounding or other accident.
The vessels of the New York line can be diverted to Philadelphia as often as it is thought desirable.
After the wounded have ceased coming to White House, the vessels of the New York line can be run to other more Northern and Eastern ports, until the nearer hospitals are emptied.
The above presumes that cases of light wounds and of extremely severe wounds will not be allowed to come to White House at all.
Respectfully,
(Signed,) Fred. Law Olmsted,
Gen'l Sec'y San. Com.