January 29, 1776
In Cambridge, Massachusetts, at the beginning of 1776, John Morgan wrote this letter to the public. Born in Philadelphia, Morgan became chief physician to the Continental Army and director general of the hospital in Cambridge during the initial battles in Massachusetts. “IMPRESSED with a lively sense of the spirit of patriotism” in the colonies, Morgan made a plea for medical supplies. Certain towns in Massachusetts had provided “seasonable aid,” and local ministers had been particularly helpful in collecting donations. But the hospital was still “in great want” of fabric, tape, thread, needles, and other necessary things for making bandages, dressings, and tourniquets.
John Morgan’s letter—first printed locally in Massachusetts and then reprinted in places at a distance, like Philadelphia—called on communities to collect supplies to send to Cambridge. “The expense of conveyance, if any, will be cheerfully paid,” Morgan clarified. He encouraged the public to “yield all possible assistance to the wants and distresses of the sick soldiery!” Morgan was writing on behalf of “men who chearfully and hourly expose their lives for their country’s welfare; and who, amidst the destructive rage of battle, willingly encounter danger in all shapes.”
Dunlap’s Pennsylvania Packet or, the General Advertiser
Printed by John Dunlap
General Hospital at Cambridge, January 1, 1776.
To the PUBLIC.
IMPRESSED with a lively sense of the spirit of patriotism which so eminently adorns the good people of this country, the subscriber, who is appointed to the chief direction of the sick and wounded, thinks it incumbent on him to make known the seasonable aid he has lately received from the towns of Concord, Bedford, first and second parishes of Sudbury, Acton, Marlborough, Stow and Lincoln. The Hospital having, for some time past, been in great want of old linen for bandages, compresses and lint; of fine tow for dressings; sadlers or sole leather, and web or gartering for tourniquets; of tape, thread, needles, pins, and other articles of a like nature; application was made to the inhabitants of the above-named places for a supply, at such prices as they themselves should think reasonable. No sooner were our wants thus made known to them, than with an alacrity and zeal truly characteristic of the people, the business of collecting those things was immediately undertaken by some of their Select-Men, and other proper persons. The Clergy in particular of the several congregations engaged warmly in the work. To their pious and animated exhortations, from the sacred desk, may be ascribed much of that Christian charity, and those laudable effusions of philanthropy which were manifested on this occasion, and which cannot fail to secure to them the esteem of the public, and to reflect a lasting honour on their attachment to the cause of liberty, and the rights of human nature. What they could, they furnished with an unsparing hand: Offer of pay they nobly rejected, preferring the conscious pleasure that arises from deeds of charity to every selfish, sordid gratification that interest inspires: An instance of benevolence worthy of admiration! Neither is its importance limitted by the intrinsic value of the donation: It holds up a bright example of imitation to others.
Ever since the first establishment of a military hospital among us, there has been too great a scarcity of those essential articles; and through the present supply is truly liberal in respect to the numbers who furnished it, yet its salutary influence cannot be lasting, unless it is still continued from other quarters. May we not therefore expect that a spirit of emulation will be kindled in every humane breast, and an affectionate concern to yield all possible assistance to the wants and distresses of the sick soldiery! Men who chearfully and hourly expose their lives for their country’s welfare; and who, amidst the destructive rage of battle, willingly encounter danger in all shapes, for its defence, may surely challenge the compassion of those who reap the advantage of their courage, without any of that risk which is inseparable from it. Can it be once doubted, then, whether the inhabitants of other places will be backward to contribute what need to cost them so little, towards laying in a sufficient store of those articles to secure against all future apprehensions of further scarcity or want of them? But whilst they are of a low price in themselves, yet money cannot always purchase them, and from their exceeding utility, in cases of need, they become of inestimable value.
As it is impracticable for the subscriber to make personal application to people at a distance to furnish a supply of what is wanted of this sort for the patients in the hospital, he hopes all printers of the public news will be pleased to give this address a place in their papers: He also flatters himself the Committees established in different places, especially in all large towns, will be pleased to set on foot a further collection of such of the articles already enumerated, as may be most easy for them to procure, especially of old sheets and soft worn linen; and to forward the same to the Camp with all possible dispatch. The expense of conveyance, if any, will be cheerfully paid, and the generous donors may rest assured their contributions will be managed with the strictest care to prevent waste, and meet with due acknowledgment from their humble servant,
JOHN MORGAN,
Director General of the Continental Hospital, and Chief Physician to the Army.
N.B. Blankets are greatly wanted for the Hospital; for which a suitable price will be given, if sent to Cambridge. Any persons having blankets to dispose of, who live at a distance, if they will be so kind as to rend notice thereof by the post, mentioning the quality and price of them, shall have an immediate answer.
