Daily national Republican., 1863-01-02
Soldiers Free library.

Though no formal visitation was made TO the
hospitals yesterday In which dinners were pro.
ylded as on Christmas, yet the soldlers In The
hospitals and elsewhere In this city were not
forgotten on New Years day by few patriotic
individuals. Several Of our most prominent
citizens and ladies spent much Of the day In
visiting the hospitals, dispensing little comforts
to the suffering patriots.
One Of the most interesting places which we
visited was the Soldiers Free Library Of Wash.
iugton, located at 407 Fifth street. This lnstl-
tuition, which Ia now quite formidable affair,
| supplying reading matter for the Thousands Of
soldiers In our city, has grown M under the dl-
rectlon Of those noble friends Of tho soldiers,
Mise Elida D. Rumsey and John A. Fowlc,
| who have had control ofthe matter, and through
whom hundreds Of dollars worth Of Blbles,
| Testaments, tracts, hymn-booEs, hospital stores,
/ &C., have been dispensed from the liberal and
patriotic ladies of the North. We visited this
interesting locality about o'clock, and wit
messed a scene which would rejoice the heart
of every lover Of his country's brave defenders.
| Over the door the celebrated dag presented by
| the children of Dorchester was suspended, while
/ on the out7lde was large placard announcing
/ that the library will he open all day on New
| Years day. 1863. All the soldiers are invited
to call and write their nance In our New Years
book and get a email token from our Northern
iionds."
/ Entering the room, We found Il crowded with
soldicrs of different regimcnta from all parts ol
/ the country. Mr.. Fowle was cngAgsd in dellV.
! Ing lbrary books TO the sOldiers, registering
their Names number Of the books, Sc. On q
/ box in the back part Of the room stood Mrs,
Walter Baker, a wealthy and patriotic lady
from Dorchester. Mass, who came all the way
/ frcm her distant home for the express purpose
Of being present on this, 10 her, Joyful occasion
She has already contributed largely to The libra
~, and brought 200 volumes with her on this
occasion. She was engaged In distributing tC
each soldier a sheet Of paper and AN envelope
directing each to ''write long letter hOane tC
wife, sister, or the one you love best" She
alro gave a card of the library, and, TO such al
desired, bibles, testamcnts, pamphlets, &c
For this, she requested their signatures In hcl
autograph book, that she might show hci
friends the names Of her Washington friends
When we entered this room we heard LOUD
and hearty cheers from the soldiers, which al
most stunned us with It's deafGning enthusiasm
We soon learned the cause of the uprOar. Mr.
Fowle held In his hand soldiers shirt, plalnl,
but neatly and carefully made, the whole il
perfect order, even to the smallest button hole
On one side Of the same was pinned the care
de- yisite Of a beautiful brIght-cyed little girl
while the following words were neatly writer
on the front;
"Thc little fingers Of Alice Heath, of Bunke
HW, CharlestoWn, Mass, aged A. years, sewel
every stitch In this shirI. she love8 The sol
der"
Mr. FOWle stated that tho shirt was the dOna
tion Of the little girl whose portrait was al
tacLci, 10 a wounded, soldier. lie Intended Il
give the shirt 10 the greatest sufferer. He founO
one soldier with nine bullet holes In his body
and afterwards, one In Annory Hospital Will
lftegni this afternoon, he heard Of one will
nineteen wounds, und whom he found one witt
twenty honorable marks, he ould give him Ia
shirt. He then proposed three cheers for tn
noble little girl, They were given with viii
Many time. anring the day the came thrilliny
incident wac euaotcd in the presence Of ncI
audience. Many were Ecamations ofthes