Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-06-22
For tie Enquirer
The Bo.u,tal Mt CuIpeper G. H.

Inc general QOSpltal OF tue military depart
ment of the Potomac has been placed at Cul.
pepper Court House. There are already nearly
three hundred sick soldiers there. AS the
forces Of the department are receiving constant
increase, and rs the casualties Of battle may, 10
due time, be added to the assaults Of disease,
we must expect to see this number increased.
Meantime the surgeons IN charge, though
supplied with medicines, find themselves in
want Of many things requisite for n sick man;
and such is the pressure of the multitudinous
cases attending the sudden creation Of a large
army, these necessities may be expected in the
future. In these painful circumstances, the
good ladies Of the little village and its vicinity
have come to the rescue, with their purses,
their larders, their needles, and their personal
services, and have done for our sick soldiers a
generous and blessed work, for which their
only earthly reward is the enthusiastic graft
tude Of tho poor fellows whom they have re.
lieved. Nor do they grow weary in well.doing,
although this labor of love grows daily on their
hands.
But it is perfectly obvious that the work Of
charity may be expected soon TO assume pro-
portions by which their strength will be utter
y overwhelmed. While Culpeper has furnish
ed her due share Of volunteers for the war, it
is mol l1lT u cNpCCL llilS OuS utlSlOOl " VI
the county to be burthened with the whole
care of the sick OF q great army, drawn from
o large part OF Virginia, South Carolina, Ala
bama, Mississippi and louisiana. 1t seems to
me as much rs we can ask OF them, to bestow
their time and tabor for the relief Of those
whom Providence thus throws upon their
Christian charities, while the people of oil the
region from which these troops come, should
| IL ,.os 1torae.1roo oe n D-iv;1apa tho py.Nrt.
| ding OF all the materials needed for their be-
n~evolent ministry. I, therefore, take this inc.
thod, unsolicited by the people Of the place,
all Christian females, as a most appropriate
way of doing good, the contribution of such
things as arc needed in q large hospital. Let
each wife, sister and mother, throughout the
South, who extends her aid to these generous
! sisters in Culpeper, remember that, perhaps,
! her husband, her brother, her son, may be in
| this hospital before the campaign closes, TO
| feel the bitter need Of such comforts. Let me
assure them, that of all the sorrowful incidents
Of war, the military hospital, even under the best
regulations, is the most mournful; it is far more
dreaded by the soldier than the battle field. -
With all that an Astounding charity CAR do to
alleviate its evils, untold discomforts will still
be endured by mul,itudes; and that by men
who, at home, have been accustomed to every
comfort.
In every war, the ''psstilcnce that walketh
in darkness" destroys moro than "the destruc.
ton that wasteth ut MONDAY" Hence it fol-
lows, that to save the precious lives and health
| Of our sick soldiers is Inc bes. generalship, and
the truest patriotism. And every one who has
a bclo-ed relative in the army, can surely COM
| prehend something Of the heart sinking and
drcary horue.sickness with which the strong
| man lies down, wilted by disease, amidst the
scores Of stranger sick, and hireling nurses, as
he thinks Of his peaceful home far away (Which
he thinks he shall most likely see no lnore) and
Of the loving hands that would tend his sick
couch there. Remember, that though your
particular gift may not cheer the one you love,
in the hour Of his suffering and dependency,
it will cheer some other, and will be a cheap
thank. Offering to the Providence who has raised
| up friends for your friend.
The articles which will be seasonabie and
useful will suggest themselves to every cxpc-
| rienccd householder. I would specify particu.
larly money, for procuring neccssaries or ser.
wants attendancrs, rice, tea, 1ohite sugar, corn
starch, crackers, and other articles gJ0od not
! perishable in their nature: mdlt7esSes and Oct
ticks with piltow slips, stout sheets, acorsted
oeks, shirts and draoers, even fhalf worn, cheap
c~alicoes for skreens and comforts, cotton batting
and rawc cotton, cheap spoons, plates, and drink.
ing.cups, (bcst of pewter or tin blackberry and
port aeiaes, acash basins, and foot baths, and
toues. Those who are disposed to contribute
such articles can send them by railroad, via
Gordonsvillc, to the Ladies Of the Hospital
Association, care Of Messrs. Cooper and Fou.
chez, Culpeper c. H., Va. And may not the
liberal donors reasonably ask that the Orange
& Alexandria and other Rail Roads will trans.
| port these free.will offerings free Of charge?
Z. l. DABNEY,