New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-27
CASES NEEDING RELIEF.


Ny DEAR Sin: 1 beg that you will call the atten-
ton Of the Sanitary Commission, or Of its Executive
Committee in New.York, to q new class Of cases
that eeem imperatively TO demand relief but for
which no provision has yet been formally made.
During the last two weeks We have received q,
" The Home twcnty-one men whom we have had
to help wholly in part to pay their fare to their
several homes. They were who had little or
else nothing due to them from Government. because
having drawn clothing at average cost of cay $3S
or 49, aud having been in service but few months
the allowance for clothing s. 50 per month, COW
cred but small part OF what Was charged against
them and the balance had to come ovt Of what Is
allowed for pay due and g pay for travelling and
subsistence"
Had these same men not been disabled by sick.
ness, they would have been obliged TO draw bot
little more clothing during the year. aud the years
allowance woald become So
Their back pay amounts TO but little, for they
have generally received all TINT IL due them up to
he ilist oi the previous month, ald have sent il
home otherwise disposed of it. In most instances
tkey have sent II home.
So they IRE lett adrit. Government has fulfilled
its contract and cannot furnish them free passes lest
II thereby exposc itself 20 fraud or encourage men
10 negl.o, making provision for such a contingency
But the fact remains Here are theSe men, away
from home and without means 10 get there; most
OF them SICK very sick Ii their lack OF money
arose in any from any fault of theirs, 1t is al
most invariably tie fault Of ignorance.
The course thus far adopted with these men has
been this / inform myself by examining their
papers of discharge at tho Pay Office that they are
desiute0 To causes not in their control that ia
that they have not received their pay and spent II
Next, that there Is no one able 10 furnish them
money upon whom they could reasonably call for it.
Next no such help being at hand, take them 10 the
cars and buy ticket for them 10 their homes first
seeing that they are comfortably provided with
clean hannels, &c. II man is very sick so that he
evidently needs u support and care, engage SOME
Trustworthy person travelling 20 the same point ~
eco him safely returned To bis home.
Now, all this takes money, aud in the aggregate,
for even two weeks, il becomes quite sum. Some
arrangement may by aud by DO made by which Gov
ernment will, under certain specific conditions send
such home but ut present they are on the hands
Of the Commission AS almouers Of the grateful and
ailedonate bounty Of the people toward tho people,
volunteer army.
The q men thus cent home during these two
weeks have cost the Commission $2lI 5c--ttwo OF
them were 80 sick that we had In each TO pay
fellow traveller to take care OF him. Until some
other provision is made We cannot help doing no.
So much for my statement. Now for the question.
Could you not present this case to two or three
individuals who would be more likely 10 conlribnte
for IA special than for general charity, and get us
sum Of 81 900 or so, upon which We could draw for
this one purpose. i am confident the money could
not DO bestowed in any way by which more real re-
lief would DO given, or more gratitude called forth
Previously TO our helping them, las aiterward
found) poor discharged soldiers had been wait
ing in ills place days and weeks trying to pick up
tue means 70 get home by odd jobs. iney were men
we did not happen to get hold of when they were
discharged. But now, with our new Lodge near
the Paymaster's Office, we are informed oil the con-
diiion Of almost all discharged.
Ysry respectfully and truly yours, -,
T. n. KNAPP, Special Rollef Agent