tments, more or less distinct. These were:

"First, the supply of vegetables;

"Second, the depots for hospital and miscellaneous supplies; and,

"Third, the visitation of troops for the purpose of direct distribution
of small articles of necessity or comfort."

These men, war-worn--and many of them sick--veterans, were without
money, often in rags, or destitute of needful clothing, and they were
not to be paid until they were mustered out of the service in their
respective States. Generous, thorough and rapid distribution was
desirable, and all the regular hospital visitors, as well as others
temporarily employed in the work, entered upon the duties of field
distribution. In twenty days, such was the system and expedition used,
every regiment, and all men on detached duty, had been visited and
supplied with necessaries on their camping grounds; and frequent
expressions of gratitude from officers and men, attested that a great
work had been successfully accomplished.

This was the conclusion of Mrs. Barker's army work, and what it was, how
thorough, kind, and every way excellent we cannot better tell than by
appending to this sketch her own report to the Chief of Field Relief
Corps.

"WASHINGTON, D. C., _June 29, 1865_.

"A. M. SPERRY--Sir: It was my privilege to witness the advance of
the army in the spring of 1862, and the care of soldiers in camp
and hospital having occupied all my time since then, it was
therefore gratifying to close my labors by welcoming the returning
army to the same camping grounds it left four years ago. The
circumstances under which it went forth and returned were so
unlike, the contrast between our tremulous farewell and our
exultant welcome so extreme, that it has been difficult to find an
expression suited to the hour. The Sanitary Commission adopted the
one method by which alone it could give for itself this expression.
It sent out its agents to visit every regiment and all soldiers on
detached duty, to ascertain and relieve their wants, and by words
and acts of kindness to assure them of the deep and heartfelt
gratitude of the nation for their heroic sufferings and
achievements.

"The Second, Fifth, Sixth, Ninth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth,
Seventeenth, and Twentieth army corps have been encamped about the
capital. They numbered over two hundred thousand men.

"Our first work was