The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-02-14

to cover their nakedness, or the means. tc
procure it. Such state of destitution, and
even misery, I never before bsheld. On
Tuesday last, the day of their arrival, OBJ
served mother, about twenty-three years
of age, with FIVE little ones elinging to hel
the oldest child being about FIVE years Of
age. The day was bitter cold. Themoth,
er had on what appeared to be linsey dress
(and that some inches too SHORTY as the only
covering of her body, with tattered stock
ings, and worthless, sIip-shod shoes. The
children were in much worse condition;
their only covering was calico short dresses.
minus sleeves, their little limbs and feet en-
tirely unprotected. Upon inquiry, ascer-
tanned that she came from Arkansas, and
that her husband had been some two months
since murdered by the bushwhackers, and
all their personal effects destroyed, because
he had advocated Union sentiments. a
In the same train there were several fam
lilies of widows, with their children-made
SO from the same causes as the instance re-
ferred to above.
These people are still here, having no
means to proceed further = Government
having to this-point furnished their trans
portation. They are living, some in shan
ties made of cottonwood boards, some in
tents; but the majority in the open air,
with nothing to protect them from the in
clemeneies of the season. Mild as the
weather is much of the time, many have died
and more will die from absolute want of the
necessaries of life.
Captain N: H. Insley, Quartermaster, and
Major B. S. Henning, Commander of the
Post, both have done all in their power TO
do by way of alienation to these poor ref
ugees. Major Henning has, and continues
to furnish many of these families with sub
sistence from the Government stores
An appeal has been made to the benevo-
lent citizens of Leavenworth, by Capt. ms
ley, in behalf of these suffering refugees, for
clothing and provisions, &c. Capt. Insley
made all the provision in his power to shell
ter them, but, not having a sufficient num-
Der of tents, they remain unsheltered. So
scarce are houses here, that several of the
employees in this Department, at salaries
ranging from forty to seventy five dollars
per month, are using tents as a temporary
shelter until houses can be procured. So
far as 1 can learn, the majority of these
people, before the breaking out of the re-
bellioD, were in good circumstances, and
many even wealthy Not long since, in a
tent-though without any means of warm
ing it-and during one of the coolest nights
of this winter, mother was delivered of
twins, having nothing but the bare earth to.
rest upon and no one to render assistance.
The next day the ladies of the post sup
piled her with such comforts as could be
procured, but one of the children died from
the exposure. The citizens have given lib
orally; but the burthen is too great for them
to bear unassisted. I do not know that it'll
will be in the power (howeyer good the will) |
Of the farmers of Lyon, having large sur
plus of wheat, to render assistance TO these
creatures.
All here is quiet. Events of the war
reach here via Leavenwortb, and therefore
you are in receipt of intelligence as early as
we The press of business in the Quarter
masters Department is such that the clerks
[ eight in number) are kept constantly en-
ployed during the week, and frequently on
Sundays. Should any matter transpire of
to you as a journalist, I will adj /
wise you from time to time.
- a. Yours respectfully,
W. A. SHANNON.
a.iu E Cotton seed. aEs