New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-26
CASES NEEDING RELIEF.

Feb 70, 1852 }
The Rev H. W. BELLOWS Pyniest United Stasss Sanitari
Commission.
My DEAR SIR: I beg that you will cali the atten
ton of the Sanitary Commission Of its Executive
Committee in New.York, to a new class Of cases
that seem imperativeiy 20 demand relief, but for
which no provision has yet been formally made.
During the last two weeks we have received al
" The Home" twenty-one men whom We have bad
to help wholly or in part to pay their fare to their
several homes. They were men who had little OF
else nothing due TO them from Government, because
having drawn clothing at an average cost OF say $5s
or 40 and having been in service but few months,
the allowance for clothing, IS 80 per month, COW
cred but IA small part OF what was charged against
them, and the balance had TO come out OF what is
allowed for pay due" and pay for travelling and
sub .i-tence."
Had these same men not been disabled by sick
ness, they would have been Obliged to draw but
little more clothing during the year, and the year
allowance would become si2.
Their back pay amounts to but little, for they
have generally received all that is due them up to
the first of the previous month, and have cent 1t
home or otherwise disposed Of it. Ia most instances
they have seut II home ~ ,
SO they are lett adrift. Government has fulfilled
it, contract and cannot furnish them free passes lest
il thereby expose itself 10 fraud encourage men
TO neglect making provision for such contingency
| But the fact remains. Here are these men, away
from home and without means to get there; most
of them SICK some very sick II their lack of money
arose in any case from any fault Of theirs 1t Is al
mott invariably the fault Of ignorance.
The course thus tar adopted with these men has
been this: ] inform myself by examining their
papers Of discharge at the Pay office, that they are
notwithstanding not III their control tbat Ii
that they have not received their pay ana spent IT.
Next that there In no one able to furnish them
money upon whom they could reasonably call for 1t.
Next no such help being AT hand, take them 10 the
ears and buy ticket for them 10 their homes, first
seeing that they are comfortably provided with
clean lannels &c. II man ia very sick 20 that be
evidently needs "A support ana care, engage some
Trustworthy person travelling TO Inc same poilt to
rec bin safely returned 10 his home.
Now, all tins takes money, and III the aggregate,
for even two weeks, it becomes quite a sum. Some
arrangement may by ard by lie made By which GOV
ornmsnt will, under certain specinc condiioDs SEND
such home but at present they are 90 the hands
OF the Commission rs amoners OF the grateful ana
aectionae bounty OF the people toward the people
volunteer army.
The II men thus sent home during these two
weeks have cost the Commission S2ll O--ltwo Of
them We're 90 sick that we had IN each Gaze TO pay
fellow-traveler TO take care Of him. tniil some
other provision Il made cannot help doIDg So.
SO much for my statement. Now FOR the question.
Could you not present this 10 some two or three
individuals who would be more likely TO contribute
for special than for general charity, and get us
,um OF 81 coo 80, upon which we could draw for
tLis one purpose. l sm confident the money could
not be bestowed in any way by which more real re-
lief would be gwen or more gratitude called forth.
! Previously 10 our helping them tas ai'erward
found some poor discharged SOLDIERS had been wait
inc IN Ills place DAYS and weeks trying to pick NJ
the means to get hone by odd jobs Iney were mel
we aid not happen to get hold of when they were
discharged. But now, with our new Lodge nea'
the Paymastcrs Office, we are informed OF the con
di,ion of almost all discharged
/ Very respectfully and truly yours,
! +. y. KNAPP, Special Relief Agent