Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-09-26

Letter from our State Agent.-An
Appeal fer Hospital Stores
aad CASTOR Clothing.
We have been permitted by Allen Broom
hall, Esq, of Atalissa, to copy the following
letter received by him from Ira NJ. Clifford,
the energetic and humane State Agent for the
care Of our troops in the field. We earnestly
hope his appeal will meet with ready res
ponse:
CoR1Srn, MISS, Sept. II.
ALLEN BRooxHALL, Eso.:-Dsar Sir: Yours
of the 9Th inst has followed me from one point
to another, until fear you despair of getting
an answer.
have been constantly employed in distrib-
uting the hospital stores and vegetables con-
tributed by the good citizens of our State,
since the first of the present month The
troops are constantly on the move, in action,
or awaiting with orders to move, and have
found it very laborious to keep on their track.
Iowa is sending, and has sent already, to
the army four times as many vegetables as
any other State, and think twice as many as
all of the Western States, to this point. Yet
the demand is greater than we can so far
supply. would urge the sending by the Soci-
ETY. you represent, onions, potatoes, tomatoes
Tin cans) beets, carrots, parsnips, and cabbage
(pickled or made into kraut). Shirts and
drawers are always needed, especially draw
ers. Old linen or cotton pants with patch
will be very acceptable, and will answer the
s,,ck xxyo1l mods
You will be particular in instructing the
donors to put the potatoes, onions, beets,
parsnips and carrots in separate barrels
then bore holes in the heads and sides, or
chip out pieces Of the slaves, so they will have
plenty Of air. forgot to mention that pick
les Of any kind are very much needed.
In shipping you will direct to Mrs. Annie
Wittenmyer, care U. S. Sanitary Commission,
Columbus. Ky. Make an arrangement with
the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad to take
them to Davenport. They will turn them
over to R. NJ Prettyman, who understands
all my arrangements. and they will be sure to
come to the right parties and be properly dis
tributed.
In this connection would add that at the
present time there are contrnband'. as they
are termed, coming in or rather fleeing from
bondage by thousands Of these poor crea-
lures, not third have sufficient clothing to
cover their nakedness decently. While it is
not expected that the Society organized for
the benefit of tn, soldier could be properly
called upon to consider the interests of the
negro, vet their destitute condition demands
that at least the ladies of your Society take
this matter in hand and contribute, by way
r II - ky>ovv
may feel inclined to donate. These goods
would have to be shipped and the freight pre-
paid, as they cannot properly be called hos
pital stores; and if directed to my care they
shall be placed in the hands of persons select
ed to distribute to those most needy. fyou,
through your Society or in any other way,
should feel inclined to take this matter under
consideration, you will please direct the same
to Columbus, Ky. understand that is the
intention to have the contrabands sent to that
point. Five hundred went there on the cars
this day. I saw in one camp, yesterday,
twenty one hundred. The men are being de-
tailed to work for the Government on the
Notifications, &C.. and it is in behalf of the
females that make this appeal.
Iwrite you in great haste, having great
many letters to answer this day, and hope
YOU will have the kindness to assist me, in
spreading all the information for the benefit
of our mission that you can, and are at liber.
ty to use this for the purpose of securing the
object for which we are all laboring in any
way you think it may be most profitable.
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
IRA NJ. CLIFFORD.
P. Shark all goods until further in.
struct you, "[W] care Partridge & Co., St
Louis, Mo-" and send invoice to R. NJ Pref
lyman, Davenport. Iowa, stating that they
are for Mrs Annie Wittenmyer, to be directed
to her at Columbus, KY, care U. S. Sanitary
Commission. G.