Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-08-21
THE NEW ENGLAND ASSOCIATION IN
NEW YORK.


NEW YORK.
THE WORK IT HAS DONE FOR OUR SOLDIERS.
At the recent meeting of the Committee of
the New England Soldiers Relief Association
in this city Colonel Howe presented a report,
embodying some interesting statistics Of the
work that has been accomplished by the asso-
citation during the past three or four months
We make the following extracts:
OVER EoUR THOUSAND SOLDIERS CARED FOR.
As matter of record, would say that from
the Sth of April to August LIST, period of
three months and twenty-five days, 1910 men
-l,59S being from other states than New Eng
land-have slept under this roof, and been fed
here and in almost every case have bathed
and been provided with new undertaking, and
whenever wantedO outside garments, boots,
hats, crutches and canes. This is an average
of thirty-nine men per day from date OF open
ing, although it would be fairer statement to
date from the first of May, for not until that
time did we consider ourselves fairly in shape
or under way. This would make a daily aver
age Of fifty-six men. Besides these, through
the interchangeable and tender care of the ladies
of our association, hundreds have been visited
and clothed in the hospitals both in this city
and on our islands.
OUR SICK AND WOUNDED.
may be pardoned if say that were this
building to be closed tomorrow it has accom-
plished a great and noble object 1t has full
filled the highest expectations of its most en-
thusastic friends. We have now reached a
point of system in the military condition of our
affairs where even the service of so gigantic
and we-conducted an institution as the SAM
tary Commission land who can ever write the
history of the immense value il has been to
this country is about to pay so great COM
pliment TO the Medical Board of the service, by
Withdrawing from its labors and passing into
the surgeon-general's hands all its effects
Having reached this point where the govern
ment is able to care for and control ali its sick
and wounded. One might suppose that this
institution had fulfilled its mission. But no.
There is a class of men over whom we should
ever maintain the most watchful care and tend
er regard, and those are our discharged sold.
iers for whom the "regulations" have no word
and for whom our army officers (kind as they
may hey can do nothing. These men come tc
us in various stages of suffering and want
They have sacrificed their health in defence o.
their country's rights. And while our govern
ment has discharged all its obligations to then
by paying them off, this is so frequently donC
before means of transportation is given then
that, in consequence of having allotted or re-
mtted their wages home, they often reach here
penness and starving.
In the case of late arrival we took man,
officers and men from off the ship--some pen.
niess, but many with large amounts of money
about their persons-po positively too weak and
feeble to know or care what they had about
them or to take care of themselves. AT thi,
,Io,,a IL.
hundred dollars, in various amounts, belong.
ing to men who are here, but too feeble as yet
to continue their homeward journey. These
brave fellows not only need las their Just right
all that we men can do for them, but they need
and receive the delicate and tender nursing oil
our women. do not dare to trust myself to
pay, or attempt to pay, that tribute which the
women of the New England Association have
so fully won.
1t is enough to say that from the 18th to the
3lst of July, sixteen days, we received in thi,
building, clothed and forwarded to their homes
four hundred and nine discharged soldiers
being an average OF twenty-four men day.
They came from all parts of the country. II
six days Of the present month we have received
sixty-seven discharged men.
The committee before whom a project wa,
brought to close the rooms, on account of the
change in the furlough system, by which sick
and wounded soldiers are generally retained
near the army instead of being sent home, de-
cided to continue the work of the association
SO long as good TO the service can be accom-
plished through this means, the New Englant
Rooms, we may safely say, will, as heretofore
be open, and all soldiers applying will freel,
receive the aid of which they may stand il
need.-M J. Z. Post