Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 21.djvu/21

 United Confederate Veterans. 13

viving Confederate veterans is to be found in the States, North and South.

The reports of 100 Camps show only 270 disabled Confederate veterans, or less than 3 per cent, of the total number attached to these Camps.

During the period which has elapsed since the formation of these Camps the number of deaths reported was 471, or less than 5 per cent, of the total number

The disabled and indigent soldiers as well as the indigent widows of the Confederate soldiers supported by the individual Camps amount to an insignificant number.

These statistics are interesting in indicating the independence and substantial thrift and prosperity of the Confederate veterans through- out the South. They have clear consciences, and are able to main- tain their wives and children, and pay the enormous taxes imposed by the pensions of their conquerors, and at the same time to do fitting reverence to their distinguished dead and to erect noble monuments to their beloved chieftains.

We note an absence of a proper number of medical officers in many of the Camps, and urge their immediate election or appoint- ment by the individual Camps.

We would suggest the election by each Camp or organization of one surgeon with the rank of major, and two assistant surgeons with the rank respectfully of captain. The officers thus elected to the individual Camps should hold office through life, or as long as they may be willing to yield their gratuitous and gracious services to the sick, disabled and destitute Confederate veterans, subject to removal only for due cause.

The surgeons and assistant surgeons elected, chosen, or appointed by the individual Camps should be duly commissioned by the General Commanding, and should constitute the permanent standing medical corps of the United Confederate Veterans.

Each Camp should preserve a hospital register of all the sick and wounded treated, giving full particulars of all wounds or injuries, however or wherever received, and with the detailed statement of the Confederate veteran, of the circumstances of the battles and skir- mishes in which said wounds were received.

Each surgeon in charge of a Camp or Soldiers' Home should pre- pare and present an annual report relative to the sick and disabled veterans to the surgeon-general.

The consolidated reports, of the labors of the Medical Corps, thus