Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-09-12
sTEPHEHsOE, Alabaml

II September A, 1858.
Secretary SOLDIER Aid Society of Northern
Ohio:
Your INQUIRIES in letter which reached
Murfreesboro', after left for the North,
was never received by me on account Of
my absence, but Ipresume you have before
this received satisfactory Information
from other quarters. Upon my arrival
here 1 and the army scrttered over great
breadth Of territory, with the
prospect Of an early engagement
and although generally in good health
in want Of ali kinds Of stores usually for
warded to your Society. The Commissary
department is now furnishing no vegeta-
bles, and all that the soldiers sick or well
can obtain are furnished through the Com
mission. Indeed it is only when an espe-
oial pressure, through the reports Of sur
geons or medical and Sanitary inspectors
is brought to bear upon the Commissary
department, that it furnishes so Bulky ra-
tons SIS vegetables in any considerable
quantities and these frequently commenc-
ing the supply after serious evil has 40.
crued from the want of them.
We ere now distributing moderate but
1T 8 full supply to ali within our reach
from this point and hope to start to-mor-
row for a general reconnaissance Of the
wants Of the whole army now stretching
along over mountains and valleys with
front Of over one hundred miles.
We require for constant distribution po-
Latoes, onions, pickles, butter, cheese, eggs,
canned and dried fruits, farranaeeous del
icaciss, stimulsnts, cOrdisls, etc, and wish
to accumulate here supply of bendages,
rags, hospital clothing, etc., in anticipa-
ton Of an engagement.
The hospital garden at Murfreesboro', in
which you have taken an especial interest,
has proved complete success. and has al
ready done much and will do more to-
wards meeting the demand for vegetables.
The gardener has handed me an account
Of the quantities Of vegetables already
gathered which, with his estimate of the
amount yet to be gathered, gives an sggre-
gate Of 5000 bushels Of vegetables,
not including pumpkins, squashes,
melons, ououmbers, lettuce radishes,
spinsge, ETC., Of which there was a good
supply, and 25,0oO csbbages Of which
there were planted 5000 He is an ex-
psrienced market gardener, and tells me
that the products Of the garden would sell
in the Northern markets for over 500 70.
This certainly shows q profitable result;
for the entire expense to the Commission
for seed and garden tools, and 10 Govern
ment for hired oontraband labor.
will not, I think, exceed $500, the garden
part of the work having been done by the
convaleseents. And ss they have always
been moderately worked, the labor has
been to them beiter than medicine.
To visitors, am told, feature Of the
garden not least attraetive has been the
brilliant display Of flowers from the sup
ply Of plants furnished by you and your
associates. 1t is true the hospital is now
abandoned, but while the tents were filled
with the sick the flowers had resched
their highest stage Of perfection, and had
warmed with pleasant thoughts Of home
the heart Of many sick soldier.
The garden Is still in charge Of Mr..
Jotn Hartman, Of the 101st o. vi II
is securely guarded and the products sent
TO the different hospitals where and when
they are most needed.
thrust your eo-lsborsrs and auxiliary
societies will continue your lsbora with
unabated zeal, for fear large increase
Of sickness during this hot weather, es.
Pecially in those regiments which may be
stationed along the fsRnessse, where
the fogs ct night are very thick
and cold, aud cannot fail to
produce disease Families alongths river
are frequently found sometimes num-