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18

In the organization of the Medical Department in the Valley of the Mississippi, early in 1863 it was not proposed or intended that Surgeons, hospital attendants &c. should be paid from the Freedmens fund. There was no fund. No revenue had been realized from any source. The freedmen were wholly dependant upon the Government for everything received, food, clothing and medical attendance. The Government assumed the support of the hospitals and promised to pay Surgeons and Attachees in the same manner as they were paid in other hospitals.

The first freedmens hospitals in the Valley were established in accordance with Special Orders No 9 issued by order of Genl. Grant and dated at La Grange, Tenn. Nov. 27th 1862. Medicines were issued to Dr. Palmer, Surgeon in Charge by the Medical Storekeeper on requisitions approved by a Medical Director of the Army.

On or about the 21st of May 1863, the Adjutant General of the Army, Gen'l. Lorenzo Thomas, issued an order providing for hospital Attendants. This order provided that they should be paid by Medical Storekeepers. Medicines were furnished in this way and hospital Stewards and Attendants paid up to the 23d day of July 1864, at which time the Surgeon General telegraphed, by order of the Sec'y of War "That no issues of medicines would be made, or bills paid by the Medical Department on account of freedmen, not in the United States service."

The hospitals at this time were in good condition and the necessities were such that it would have been inhuman