The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-09-04
HOSPITAL FUND OF THE FIRST
REGIMENT.
correspondence between Rev. Ed.
ward ID. Neill and Edward A. Ste
yens.

PHILADELPHIA, August y, 1868;
10 the Editor of the Pioneer:
Today received the enclosed letter from a
person by the name of Stevens, who appears
10 DC under singular delusion that the moor
sick soldiers of the First Minnesota are be;ng
Systematically robbed.
BY publishing the letter and NV repIv Won
will confer a favor.
Yours truly, ED NEJIJ
LETTER TO CHAPLAIN Z u. NEur
WASHINGTON ID. c., Aug. 10. 1864
REV. L. ID. NELL, Philadelphia, Pa.-SrR:
That seemingly never ended question as to
where the Hospital Fund of the First NIinneso-
ia Is, and what is being and has been done with
it has once more come up for discussion. tt i,
somewhat involved in mystery, and that mys-
terry should be cleared up. large amount
was raised and the people are DESTROYS Of
knowing what has become of it. Inquiries are
being made in the Minnesota papers concern
ing this matter some of them propose to an
swer. That | may do so becomingly, l address
you this letter in the hope that you will give
me some information On the subject. The
questions desire you to answer are these:
/. How much did you receive, as custodian
of the fur d, in cash
2. HOY much in other articles, delicacies,
ETC.?
}. How much did yOu cxpend: How much
for expenses How much directly to the sick.
4. When you left the regiment to whom did
you turn over the fund? How much and in
what funds, currency or gold?
.. Was The amount of cash received by you
all i'll gold: If not, in what proportion?
1t has been stated that you used to loan
money to Harry Hines, Qhe Regmenta Post
mastery in considerable amount: that Won
loaned it from the Hospital Fund, and that YOU
charged him interest therefor. Is this true or
false?
Excuse the seeming impertinence contained
i'll some Of the above questions. No one in
Minnesota appears to know anything abeut the
matter, unless it be certain officials, and they.
(why know not do not seem inclined to give
the public any information whatever concern
ing it.
Meanwhile scores of men of the regiment
are lying in various hospitals, suffering from
diseases contracted in the line of duty. or
wounds received upon the battlefield Some
OF these men may never leave their beds alive.
The Hospital Fund belongs to them and to
them only, and it is in their behalf that l ask
these questions. If they are robbed of the
deicacies they should receive, or if thay be
denied them. it is due to them and to their
friends that the reasons should be SO stated.
l. for one, cannot longer stand idly by, aud
see them Systematically robbed. at least with
out knowing into whose pockets their money
goes.
Hoping yor will give mc the information
asked for at once, for delays ar dangerous.
Subscribe myself
ED. a STEVENS.
Late of the First Minnesota
REPLY OF MIR. NEIL.
PHILADELPHIA, August u, 1868.
Ed. A. STEvENs-SW: This morning | re-
ceivcd your note, and Notwithstanding its i'm
pertinence, it gives me pleasure to answer your
queries in relation to the fund contributed by
the churches and citizens Of Minnesota, through
my solicitation, for the use Of the sick and
wounded of the First Minnesota,
The surn Of IL OIL 81 was forwarded to me-
to he disbursed upon the order o., the Surgeon
Of the regiment.
After my resignation aS Chaplain was accept
ed, | placed the uneXpened balance of 81 lis
and some cents, in the hand, of Charles Sehef-
fer, Treasurer of the State, to be held until
my successor was elected
An INSCRIPTIONS slanderer in one Of the least
important newspapers of the State, last winter
circulated q falsehood that the money contrib
utea was in gold, ard that / had sold it at
premium for my own benefit but it only cx-
cited contempt for the writer, for the donors
knew that nne-tentEs of the fund had been
sent in drafts on New York.
The only boxes that received, think. was
from Lake City and Red wing, containing
sheets and nght-gowns
Anticipating slanderous attacks from one or
wo unhappy persons, was very particular to
acknowledge everything received, not only by
a letter to the donors, but by publication in
the papers. In the st. Paul daily papers. from
time to time, [ made minute reports of every
cent of expenditure, and transmitted these re-
ports to be filed in the State Executive Office.
By writing to the editors at st. Paul, or to
the Hon. Mr.. Scheffer, State Treasurer pre-
some you can readily obtain copies of the re-
ports. YEEsHs sal
You speak of u rumor that | had loaned
some of the funds on interest to the Regiment
al Postmaster Mr.. Hines. By asking him, you
could have long ago discovered that the rumor
was wholly false.
am glad to see your interest in our soldiers,
for they are noble men.
Yours &C.,