Report Of The Committee To Visit Gettysburg

Hev. J. M. Gkkgory, ono of the Coramittee appointed by our citizons to visit Gettysburg and vioinity, and carry words of clieer aud extend material aid and comfort to our wounded soldiers, gave a report of the doings of the Cumuiittce to a large audience convencd in the Congregational Church on Tuesday evening. Mr. Grkgory said the Eommittce met the first indications of the war at Pittsburg, in the shapeof the extensive fortifications - 22 miles - recently thrown up to proteet the city against the supposed advance of Lee's invading army, and also in the shape of the iron-ribbed and iron-clad gunboats being constructed for service on the Ohio and Mississippi. - And here, too, they feil in vvith the living tide of fathers, niodiers, brotliers, sisters, and friends, bound for a Hke destination, the late battle field of Gettysburg, in search of wounded or dead soldiers. The Committee - Messrs. Gregory, Botsford, and Goodale, - wetit from Harrisburg South by tho first truin over tlie road since the battles. At Hanover Junction they met a train of wounded soldiers en route for Baltimore. A delegatiou of the Christian Commission had established its headquarters in a freight car, and was serving all passing soldiers with refreshments, but for which, owing to the neglect of the proper officers, the wounded men, loaded in freight cars, would have been compelled to make the loug and weary ride from Gettysburg to Harrisburg or Baltimore without either food or drink, unless so fortúnate as to have a stray cracker or so in their pockets. At this distance we can see no possible excuse foi such neglect to provide for supplyiog the wants of wounded soldiers in transit. At Gettysburg they found the Churches, College buildings, Seminary, &c, &c, all converted into hospitals, the wounded being laid upon tiers of mattrasses. In these hospitals the wounded were generally wel! cared for, aud tv here the surgeons were competent and faithful nothing was lacking that would minister to their comfort, but he regrotted to say the surgeons were not all of this clasa. - A large number of the wounded were yet in tents in the fields and woods adjoining the town, and many of these wero suffering for want of proper care They were laid upon hay or mattrasses placed on the ground, and both hay aud mattrasses damp and mouldy, when a little energy on tho part of officers in charge would have placed their beds upon racks above the ground. In one of these tents thuy found Fred Sheets and Jos. Malbv, of Co. D, 4th Michigan, both of whom have siuce died. Sheets lay on tho field two days, and when ncarly dead with thirst discovered a wouudcd rebel and offered him $10 to help him to a brook near by. The rebel culled a comrade to assist him, thev crawled to Sheets aud while rolling with him to the brook one of them was killed by a ball, falling acrosss Sheets. Mr. Gregory said that Sheets was in good spirits and expressed no regret at his fa te. In one hospital they found 24 men of the Michigan 24th, 17 of whom had limbs amputatcd, a larger proportion tlian in other hospitals. One man from the 24th was poiuted out as one of the best marksmen in the regiment Ilaising his wounded arm, he said, " I may lose this, but I am even with tbem ; I fired 52 rouuds and had a good sight every time." The description of the battle field and battles we must pass over. At the time of their visit - two weeks after tho battle - the ground for miles around was still strewed with fragments of limbs which marked the soverity of tho contest, and the stench was such aa to threaten a pestüence. To show how the contcst wavered, Mr. G. said he was told by an old man, residing on the battle field, that now the rebels were in possession and then the federáis, that now a rebel wounded offi eer would be deposited in his dwolling, and next a federal officer, and all left without guard or care, to live or die. This man reported carrying 18 dead bodies from his own house during the day. Mr. Greuory stated as the conclusions from his observations, that the S,mitary Uommission, tlie Cliristian Commission, and the Michigan Relief Uommittee at Washington were all doing nobljr in relieving the sufïeriogs of siok and wounded, and were all worthy of our support. That the Sanitary Comniission, through governuH-ut aid, could always be earliest on the spot, and with efficiënt agents and honest and faithful surgeons could extend abundant aid, but he was sorry to beüeve that many surgeons wero neither holnest, nor faithful, nor competent. That if he krtew a wounded friend was to f'all into the hands of sneh a EÍurgeon as Dr. J. II. Ueecii, of the Michigan 2-tth, lic should rest content, but if he did not know the surguon he should wish to go to his aid. Tlio Committee also visited Washington, Baltiraore, Philadelphia, aud one of them, Mr. Botsford, Fortress Monroc. They luid extended sucli relk-f as they fouud ueceasary, by fiirnishing tho wouhdt d soldiera cash to enable them tü puicha.se stutionery, or artidrs of lood, etc, The soldiurs wel" e glad to see them, to heat" froin iheir frieiitls, and to know that thuy were reniembered. The committeo brought baak u largo porlion of the rnoney entnisted to tbeir care, and Mr. G. recommciuled that the subscribera be called ti.trether, a permanent Keüef Cotr.iiitteo orgaoizeii, with power to coücct iuiid-, and tliat igents be sent occasinnally to the armv, and especially immrdíateiy íií'íer any grent bsittle, to carry WÓrdfl ol cheer and substantial consolatioi). They were too late on the ground. We think this recominendaa pood one, and hope that our citizens will act upon t.