Dear Sir, - Immediately on the reception of the news of the late battle. I took such measures as were in my power for the performance of our duty in the relief of the wounded.
On application to Dr. Head, Medical Director, I obtained at once three Government wagons, and the promise of 21 ambulances, to be ready the day following. The wagons were loaded with stores from the Louisville Commission, and started the same evening for Perryville. I myself hired a buggy, and taking with me Mr. Thomasson, whom I had engaged to go with and assist me, pushed on as rapidly as possible.
We found the first hospital for the wounded at Maxville; this was a tavern, with sixteen rooms, containing 150 wounded and 30 sick, mostly from a Wisconsin regiment. 25 were in cots; some on straw; the others on the floor, with blankets.
The surgeon in charge -- P.P. White, of the 101st Indiana -- had authority to purchase all things necessary. Flour was very scarce; cornmeal, beef, mutton, and chickens plenty. There was no coffee, tea, or sugar to be had. The cooking was all done at a fireplace, with two camp-kettles and a few stew-pans. The ladies of the town, however, were talking articles home, and cooking them there; thus giving great assistance.
From this place to Perryville, some ten miles, nearly every house was a hospital. At one log cabin (H.P. Bottom House) we found 20 of the 10th Ohio, including the major and two captains. At another house were several of the 93d Ohio; and the occupants were very poor, but doing all in their power for those in their charge. The mother of the family promised to continue to do so, but said, with tears in her eyes, she feared that she and her children must starve when the winter came. As at the other houses on this road, the sick here had no regular medical attendance. I therefore prescribed for them, and left them medicines.
We reached Perryville after dark, Mr. Thomasson giving his place in the buggy to a young soldier whom we found lying by the way-side, sick and unable to walk. I saw him placed in hospital and properly cared for.
On our arrival we learned that we were the first to bring relief where help was needed more than tongue can tell. Instead of 700, as first reported, at least 2,500 Union and rebel soldiers were at that time lying in great suffering and destitution about Perryville and Harrodsburg.
In addition to these, many had already been removed, and we had met numbers of those -whose wounds were less severe walking and begging their way to Louisville, 85 miles distant. To these we frequently gave help and comfort by sharing with them the slender stock of food and spirits we had taken with us.
There had been almost no preparation for the care of the wounded at Perryville, and, as a consequence the suffering from want of help of all kinds, as well as proper accommodations, food, medicines and hospital stores, was excessive. For this state of things, however, the surgeons are not to blame. Both those in authority and those in attendance had done and were doing all in their power to prevent and mitigate the suffering to which I have alluded. The fault lies higher than they—with the superior military authorities who withheld from the surgeon the information, and denied them the resources which alone would have enabled them to meet the emergencies of the case. Dr. Marks, of the 10th Wisconsin, was in charge at Perryville. He received us kindly, took care of our horse, and gave us shelter. We slept on the floor. In the morning be secured for me two rooms, which were put in order, the three loads of goods taken in and opened, and a U. S. S. Com. sign placed over the door. Soon after the twenty-one ambulances arrived loaded with our stores. At the same time came Dr. Goddard and Mr. Fosdick from Louisville, Dr. Davis, Dr. Atwater and Mr. Johnson from Cincinnati, (the latter in charge of supplies,) all of whom rendered efficient service.
Surgeons were then notified that stores could be had, and they were rapidly given out. There were, at this time, some 1,800 wounded in and about Perryville. They were all very dirty, few had straw or other bedding, some were without blankets, others had no shirts, and even now, five days after the battle, some were being brought in from temporary places of shelter, whose wounds had not yet been dressed. Every house was a hospital, all crowded, and with very little to eat. At the Seminary building there was some fresh mutton, and a large kettle in which soup was being made. I left at this house a box of bandages, comfortables, shirts and drawers, and a keg of good butter. Three days after, at this hospital, I found that the surgeons had improvised bedsteads, and had provided comfortable beds for all their patients from the stores of the Sanitary Commission.
Leaving Dr. Goddard to superintend the further distribution of supplies, on the 12th I went, with Mr. Thomasson, to Danville. We here found the wants of the sick, as urgent as those of the wounded at Perryville. The Court House was literally packed,—many had eaten nothing during the day, most of them nothing since morning. I inquired if soup could be made here. The surgeons thought not, but kindly gave me authority to get it if I could. Mr. Thomasson introduced me to some good Union men, through whose assistance I was enabled, to succeed in the effort. It was now 5 o'clock P. M. There was no beef in the city, but a butcher agreed to bring an animal, kill it, and have it ready in two hours. There 'was no water in the town—the wells were all dry—but the same good butcher sent and hauled water in barrels. Then there were no kettles for sale, all having been taken by the rebels; but at last one was found in a private family; another was discovered two miles out, of the city, owned by Mr. John J. Creig; he sent that in, saying that he should not want it until hog-killing time, and would lend it. No pails were to be had for love nor money, but I bought some covered firkins with handles, a wash tub and spade, then dug trenches and laid stones with my own hands, and thus set both kettles. I made a fire of some old boards found in the Court-House yard, sent a soldier for some pepper and salt, and at half-past 10 o'clock I had the satisfaction of seeing two 32-gallon kettles of nutritious and palatable soup ready for distribution. This was given out at once, but by other hands than mine, as by this time I was completely exhausted. The remainder of the beef was brought in in the morning and the kettles kept boiling.
I should not forget to mention the very essential services rendered by Mr. Thomasson. He introduced me to the right men, and worked, himself, at anything and everything, and most efficiently. While at Perryville, feeling the disgrace of having numbers of the enemy's dead lying yet unburied, we called on Col. Read, the commander of the post, and obtained a detail of negroes and secesh citizens, who worked two days, burying several hundred, and completing the task.
On the 15th, having with much difficulty obtained, horses and saddles, we rode on to the advance of the army, reaching General Mitchell's division, in General Gilbert's Corps, after dark.
On making a hasty inspection of the condition of the troops, I found that the new regiments had suffered much from the severity of the service they had performed, and the exposure to which they had been subjected. The men had made long marches, were without tents, had only one blanket or an overcoat each -- some one, some the other -- their food, hard bread and bacon,, beef occasionally, no vegetables. For new recruits, this had proved rather trying, and over ten per cent had been disabled by it.
I found several of the regimental surgeons with no medicines whatever, and they informed me they had received, strict orders not to take any. Some of them told me they had a few medicines which they carried on their persons. The spirit of the army is not what it should be. Through distrust of the Commanding General, they are seriously demoralized.
On my return to Danville, I found the number of sick considerably increased. As there were many who were without shelter, I looked around to find, some building where they might be carried, and, at least, have a roof over their heads. After some search a carriage-shop was found which would answer the purpose. This belonged to Mr. J. W. Welch. At my solicitation he opened it, had the carriages removed and placed it at my disposal. I then procured two loads of straw, which was spread upon the floor, and about two hundred men were brought in and laid upon it.
Returning to Perryville, I had the satisfaction of seeing the, condition of the wounded considerably improved, thanks to the untiring exertions of the surgeons in charge, and the stores we had placed at their disposal.
They are still, however, far too much crowded, and their condition in many respects is susceptible of improvement. At the Seminary Hospital, the best of the series, there were seventy-nine wounded, accommodated as follows:
1st Room, 25 X 23 X 10 feet, 22 beds, 6 nurses.
2d Room, 18 X 20 X 10 feet 12 beds, 4 nurses
3d Room, 12 X 18 X 10 feet 10 beds, 4 nurses
4th Room 25 X 25 X 10 feet 20 beds, 6 nurses
5th Room 18 X 18 X 10 feet 15 beds, 4 nurses
These were all badly wounded. At this time there were about one thousand of our men, and eight hundred of the confederates, having similar accommodations.
The-government supplies not having arrived, and more stores being needed, on the 18th I returned to Louisville to report to you, and procure further assistance. Ten tons of sanitary stores, on five large wagons, have left today for Perryville, and I shall start to-morrow morning with Messrs. Thomasson and Butler, to see to their distribution.

Yours Respectfully,
A. W. REED,
Inspector, S. C.