Heroes came in many guises

John Hartwell

Lt. Colonel
Forum Host
Joined
Aug 27, 2011
Location
Central Massachusetts
We hear occasional mention of the U. S. Sanitary Commission, and see photographs of their "offices." They all seem so staid and unexciting. There is little real understanding, I think, of just what they did, and how they went about their job of distributing the "Aid to Soldiers" offered by the civilian population of the Union. The following Resolution of late November 1862, tells of the dedication an sacrifice of one Sanitary Commission worker.

“Resolved, That the Philadelphia Associates of the Sanitary Commission have learned, with the deepest sorrow, the death of their late most faithful superintendent, William Platt, Jr., Esquire, who fell a victim to disease contracted on the battle fields of Maryland, in the service of the Commission, and in the discharge of the highest duties of humanity and patriotism.

“Accepting the invitation of the Executive Committee, in June last, to undertake the superintendence of the business of the Philadelphia agency, Mr. Platt devoted all the force of a highly energetic, though gentle character, to the discharge of the duties of his post. Giving his whole time, and applying remarkable vigor to the business of the agency, he soon brought it to a state of efficiency not previously reached, while his judicious and effective applications to the friends of the Commission brought its claims under general notice in Philadelphia, and rapidly filled its treasury, so that the contributions, which, on his entering on his office in June last, were but eight thousand dollars, had, at the time of his death, in November, exceeded the sum of forty thousand dollars, an increase which the associates ascribe almost wholly to the labors of Mr Platt, and of an agent of his own designation.

“All the services of Mr. Platt were rendered gratuitously. When the battles in Maryland were impending in September last, Mr. Platt hastened to Washington, and volunteered to take charge of a wagon train of hospital stores, for use in the field. Visiting and supplying the hospitals at Rockville, Frederick, and Middle-town, and reinforced with other supplies forwarded by the Commission, he left Middletown at 11 o'clock at night, on the 17th of September, and proceeded with his train of wagons to Boonsborough, and thence to Keedysville, and arrived at the headquarters of the army at 9 o clock the next morning. His own modest official report of his services omits mention of the fact that, as he came within sound of the cannon, he quickened his speed, driving the leading wagon himself, and, when darkness threatened to delay the train, he left it and walked in advance, carrying a lantern, and compelling the reluctant drivers to follow.


“The supplies of the Commission thus brought to the battle field by Mr. Platt anticipated those forwarded by the Government, and were at once distributed by the medical director and surgeons of the army, to the unspeakable relief of the sufferers.

“But Mr. Platt s earnestness was not satisfied with mere direction and supervision. On the 20th September, as the ambulances appeared bringing the sufferers from the bloody battle field of Antietam, but unaccompanied by competent assistance for their removal, Mr. Platt gave himself up for a long time to this arduous service, carrying the wounded in his arms to places of shelter, and there rendering them the tenderest offices of a nurse. Thus engrossed, he overtasked himself, and through fatigue and exposure contracted the disease which, on the 22d of November, brought to a close, in his 37th year, his short but well spent life.

“To those who knew and loved him in the relations of private life, and particularly as an active member of the church which he adorned by a consistent Christian conversation, no public record is needed of his modest virtues. But as he fell in the service of his country a willing offering in the noblest cause his life has become part of its public history, and it is, therefore,

“Resolved, That the Philadelphia Associates of the Sanitary Commission desire to perpetuate their estimate of the services and worth of their late friend and officer by some enduring memorial, and they therefore most respectfully request the family of Mr. Platt, and the vestry of St. Thomas s Church, "Whitemarsh, (of which he was warden,) to allow them to erect in that Church a mural tablet to his memory.”

The document is an appendix to
THE REPORT OF LEWIS L. STEINER, M. D. Inspector of the Sanitary C0mmission, containing a diary kept during the rebel occupation of Frederick, Md. and a Report of the operations of the U.S. Sanitary Commission during the campaign in Maryland, September, 1862:
https://openlibrary.org/books/OL233...er_M._D._inspector_of_the_Sanitary_commission
Said Report has a great deal more detail of the operations of the Commission during the campaign -- including Dr. Platt's own report.
 
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