"Our first work was to establish stations for sanitary stores in the camps, wherever it was practicable, to which soldiers might come for the supply of their wants without the trouble of getting passes into Washington. Our Field Relief Agents, who have followed the army from point to point, called on the officers to inform them of our storehouse for supplies of vegetables and pickles. The report of the Superintendent of Field Relief will show how great a work has been done for the army in these respects. How great has been the need of a full and generous distribution of the articles of food and clothing may be realized by the fact, that here were men unpaid for the last six months, and yet to remain so till mustered out of the service in their respective States; whose government accounts were closed, with no sutlers in their regiments, and no credit anywhere. Every market-day, numbers of these war-worn veterans have been seen asking for some green vegetable from the tempting piles, which were forbidden fruits to them.
"In order to make our work in the army as thorough, rapid, and effective as possible, it was decided to accept the services of the 'Hospital Visitors.' They have been at home in the hospitals ever since the war began, but never in the camp. But we believed that even here they would be safe, and the gifts they brought would be more valued because brought by them.
"Six ladies have been employed by the Sanitary Commission as Hospital Visitors. These were temporarily transferred from their hospitals to the field.
"The Second and Fifth Corps were visited by Mrs. Steel and Miss Abby Francis.
"The Sixth Corps by Mrs. Johnson, Miss Armstrong, and Mrs. Barker; on in each division.
"The Ninth Corps by Miss Wallace, whose illness afterward obliged her to yield her place to Mrs. Barker.
"The Fourteenth Corps by Miss Armstrong.
"The Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps by ladies belonging to those corps—Mrs. Porter and Mrs. Bickerdyke—whose admirable services rendered other presence superfluous.
"The Twentieth Corps was visited by Mrs. Johnson.
"The articles selected for their distribution were the same for all the corps; while heavy articles of food and clothing were issued by orders from the field agents, smaller articles—like towels, handkerchiefs, stationery, sewing materials, combs, reading matter, etc.—were left to the ladies.