The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-03-31
FIR tie Western Democrat.

Mr.. EDITOR: VIII you have the goodness to
give the following insertion in the Democrat:
Business having compelled me to he in and pass
through Petersburg sundry times within the last
i eight months. have had an opportunity of seeing
how our poor down-trodd+n soldier is treated while
, on his way home from Virginia. These poor men,
who have suffered, been wounded. sick and
naked, leave Fredericksburg. Richmond or some
other point with farlough of only Is, 20 or gu
days. Many of them have but very little money,
and what they have they wish to take home to their
starving mothers, wives and children-this they are
prevented from doing by being left everywhere but
leave them by the hundred; here they left either
to star,e to succumb to the extorton OF the
hotels Of that place. What must they do! why
take something called breakfast. which consists OF
fried fish, rye coffee without milk, and butter that
out-ranks Gen. Lee; for this two dollars are de-
manded, and if they remain day it is seven dol,
lars and many compelled to remain several
days, you these establishments rake all the
soldiers money into their pockets 1t would not lie
bad if they would give him the equivalent Of his
money.
How often have Travelled with these poor fellows,
who told me that they had been left here and there
until they obliged to pay out the last cent,
and it only through the Kindness of some good
one in the cars who would divide with them, that
'they got anything to eat. Often | have sick
! and wounded men compelled to lie in the piazza of
a certain hotel, and one STORMY night in December
eleven in that condition because they could not
conveniently pay So for bed.
What is wanted at Petersburg is a house for the
soldier who is on his way home, and then if he
should be left at Petersburg he would know where
he could find a warm breakfast. dinner supper.
and where he could stay all night withoutit costing
him anything. Such house, with one hundred
beds, could be kept up without much expense by
having elderly Ladies in charge of it, and if any
men needed let them be over fifty years old Or
men who have lost limb in the good cause; one
armed or eyed man would make just good
commssaries, clerks or stewards as foreigners or
those who will not fight for the South and who fill
these places. / know there persons who will
say let them go to the Hospitals in Petersburg.
These men have been doing all in their power for
weeks or months to extricate themselves from
Hospitals and they do not feel disposed to enter
others; their object is to go home and take their
little mite Of money to their naked and half starved
little ones. Others will say let there be way side
Hospital No, many of them would sooner die in
the street than enter any Hosptul. and am sorry
to say, from my observations they show their good
sense 1t is trae there have been and still
we'll directed Hospitals; but they are out of
Hospital, and what they wish is to go homo and take
their money with them. 1t only the other day
that saw in Petersburg poor young fellow who
was looking the picture of death. and who, while
was assisting him to a seat, said, 'Oh, Mister, |
have been left by the and if had not been
am too sick to travel; have money tn pay the
high price of board and | am told must go to
Hospital" He was only one of hundreds who
daily in the same situation. Such a house as
have spoken of could be kept up by private contr-~
buttons from all the different States, as the House
would be for the benefit of any soldier in distress.
| repeat that it could be kept up at little expense
for the that there would be Physicians,
Medicines Clerks, Book keepers, &c, at Hos
pitfalls and Hotels. W. j. NJ.
Papers friendly to the cause please copy. -