Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-10-29
THK sOEDTKR,s NROEssTTIRs,


We csnnot recur to this subject too frequently.
It is one of primary importance, and must be
considered. The facts mast be looked in the
face. The d~estitution in our army must be pro-
vided for.
We have already published well authenticated
complaints from intelligent observers, and they
continue to be addressed to the public The
Richmond Whig, in referring to the army under
| General LEE, from which it has direct infOrms-
ton, says that many Of bis soldiers have not
changed their clothing since they left Richmond.
They have slept in it, fought in it, crossed the
Potomac in it, marched over dusty roads and
through storm and sunshine in It F; yet they have
not changed it OF washed it in al this time,
because they had no other to put on when that
was taken off. The reader will not be surprised
to hear, therefore, that many of the troops are
| covered with ye'min, and their clothing rotten
and dirty beyond anything they have ever seen.
There is no negro in the South who is not better
of, in this respect, than some of the best soldiers
aud first gentlemen il ell the land.
The same journal understands that the gsv-
erDment has already forwarded to General LEES
army over thirty thousand garments and q large
shipment Of shoes. This number of garments,
allowing a coat, pair Of pants, and shirt, to q
man, will furnish suits, say, for ten thousand
needy men. This viii go far toward relieving
the more destitute. The government has in its
employ, in Richmond, ffy-eight tailcTs who cut
out the cloth, and tWenty-seven hundred women
who make it up into garments-the whole turn
ing out, on an average, nine thousand garments
per week, or coats, pants and shirts for three
thousand men. There are other establishments,
in other parts of the Confederacy, where cloth
ing is being manufactured for the army, and the
force engaged is sufficient, perhaps, to turn ont
twenty thousand garments a week. At this rate,
estimating our army in the field at four hundred
thousand men, ii would require more than 8 year
to furnish each man with q single suit of clothes.
five suppose the various government establish
ments will be able to supply two hundred
thousand meR by Christmas, there will still be
two hundred thousand left, who will have to
look to the people at home for their outfits, or go
without clothing. If the government should
provide for three hundred thousand, the number
left for the country to clothe would still be
fightfully large-ons hundred thousand men
These figures are merely rough estimates, and
are only intended to serve the purpose of direct
ing the attention of the people to the magnitude
Of the labor before them. After government
shall have done 81 it can, there will still be
much left for the warm hearts and willing hands
of TIE people to perform. And, if they would
accomplish this labor in time to benefit those for
whom it is undertaken, they cannot set about it
too soon. The weather among the mountains in
Virginia IS already cold to the mon who DO duty
for US with only tattered, dirty and thresdbaTs
garments upon their msnly limbs. Let the pso-
pie, then, everywhere, and in whatever circum-
stances, commence the good work as soon as
possible, and never leave of until one Of the
best and bravest armies in the world shall have
been furnished with all the comforts It may be
in our power 10 bestow. There are noRe so indi
gent that they cannot contribute something TO
the relief Of such troops as ours. Let it be re-
membered that though destitute as they ere rep
to be, AMI though many Of them have
gone without food for days together, and that st
= time whea they were making long marches
aad fighting bloody battles With the enemies Of
cur country, still they are cheerful, patient and
r~esoluse as ever, and are ready now, as they
been At all times, 70 asseT. their birthright
to be free. If the invader thinks differently, he
has only to seek them whegethey are, aad he will
soon be cured Of his folly.