Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1863-11-04
Relief for Soldiers Families.

While the citizens of Indiana are ex-
erting themselves 10 raise their quota of
troops in response to the last call of the
President, we are gratifed to know that
they are not unmindful of soldiers fami-
lies Liberal contributions have been
made, and are being made, by generous
hearted patriots to provide for the COM
fort of those whose protectors are in the
army. The farmers, especially, in vari-
GUS parts of the State, have been most
prominent in this labor of love- Various
cities have eajoyed the privilege of wit
Messing long professions of wagons,
loaded with wood, potatoes, apples, and
other comforts and necessaries of life,
which a prosperous farming community
were donating for the benefit of soldiers
families. How could a Government be
other than victorious when it is sustained
by such undaunted soldiery, and such
liberal, Christian, and benevolent citi-
zensI
We have, from time to time, published
in the Journal accounts of professions
of wood wagons, yet never have we en-
joyed the pleasure of seeing such pro-
cession pass through the streets of Ev-
ansville This is not because the far
mers of Vanderburgh county are less
DatriOtio or mora ,Danu-;ons +bo,, +bo,o
has moved in the matter or called their
attention particularly to it We now
say to the farmers that many of the fam
lies of soldiers now in the field, as well
as of those who sleep the sleep that
knows no waking" having laid down
their lives that we might enjoy the quiet
of prosperous homes-will suffer unless
arrangements are made to provide for
them. No article do they need so badly
as wood. We know of some who have
been depending, for weeks, upon the
scraps of wood they picked up in
our streets, or floating in the river to
keep them warm and cook what little
food they earned or received from
sympathizing friends. But the cold
weather is approaching with rapid and
icy tread. The dependence that enabled
them to get along in Summer, will not
answer in Winter. They must be fur
nished with wood, or they will suffer
keenly. Have not those who have given
up husbands and fathers suffered enough,
without enduring the agony of shivering
around cold es-halfstarved
and neglected? God forbid that such
scenes should ever be witnessed in Ev-
ansville. Yet they will be, unless the
patriotic and benevolent make immedi-
ate arrangements to supply the wants of
the needy.
Our citizens, the farmers will remem-
Der, subscribed literally to insure the
comfort of the sick and wounded SOL
diers Thirty-Gve hundred dollars were
paid over to the State Sanitary Commits
sion to alleviate the wounds and suffer
lngs of those who have been stricken by
disease or rebel bullets. The farmers
were not called upon to aid in that work.
They arc appealed to now, TO CIV; i -. 80.
undeFtaking-it is an insult to call it a
charity-which is Just as praisewerthy.
In our estimation it is more praisewor-
thy. They are called upon to furnish
material aid to the families of soldiers in
our city, who will suffer unless they are
provided for. Our proposition is this:
Let the farmers in the different town
ships of the county-for that matter each
township might actor itself-make their
arrangements to bring into the city, on
some agreed-upon day, load of wood or
such provisions as will add to the ccm-
fort and happiness of those receiving
it. Let each township appoint com
mittee to visit all the farmers in the
township, fix upon day for their errand
of mercy to the city, and then notify Mr..
John Greek, our Trustee, or some one
else who feels interested in the matter,
and arrangements will be made to give
them proper reception, and make suit
able disposition of their contributions
viii not the farmers of some one or
more townships move in this matter at
once2 Don't postpone or delay it Let
not one week pass away without the
Journal having the qualification of re-
cording the arrival of splendid process
sion of wagons loaded with wood or 9TH
er comforts for soldiers families, who are
in need of them. But wordy appeal is
unnecessary. We have said sufficient to
insure early and efficient action on the
part of the farmers of our highly-favored
county.