, 1863-10-10
THE FREEDMEN AT MEM.
=. P1A1S.
Aid for the Contraband4- to
Reach Them.

| F{A T.
Editors Chicago Tribune:
The question Is constantly asked, "What
| shape ahal1 contributions to the Freedman's
Aid assume ~ An answer through your
columns may reach many who will be glad
Of it.
Who need help2 Women and children, not
| men. The able bodied men are all at work Or
In azms. They ask no aid. The old men and
| in6rm are provided for by Government by
grants Of unserviceable military clothing.
SO the women and children, alone, ara lefs.
Probably not less than thirty five thousand Of
these are gathered upon the banks Of the
Mississippi from Helena to Natchez.
Their condition Is one Of extreme destltu-
ton. Multitudes hare no change Of raiment
whatever, while that with which they made
their escape is perishlng. No one who has
| not seen can at all imagine the filth and dis
| ease which this simple fact assures. Many,
o"day, have not clothing sufficient for the
uses Of modesty aud decency.
They come In, necessarily, without any
cooking utensils. The suffering, ariaing
from this want, 1t is hard for US, with our
well equipped kitchens, to imagine.
Nor will 1t seem to the heart Of the chris"
| tim PhflAnthropfst, eight thing that so
great amnltitude is thrown into our hands for
Education and christian teaching.
What needs to be done then Is evident,
Women and children hudd1e together in
| crowded caOps, sheltered In rotten and leaky
tents, .. not shsltezed at all, must be clothed,
or perish.
Quter garments may be Of any material.
Flannel under clothing OF every form and for
every sge, L. . prime necessity, Without
| which there Will hetamong them suffering I'M
! imaginable and dieease incu1able. Shoes-ol1
nc m shoes are Of little va1uea as protection on
| mud floors, in camp, In rainy Southern win.
ter. In summer and In dry places they might
be valuable. 4 large supply Of heavy shoes,
running In size. as high as tens Is one Of the
| mont pressing necessities. Bonnets, old or
new. can be dspens ed with, and send fnstead
cotton or gingham handkerchfete, which they
Hill wear as turbans and never mlss the hon
nets. VAIN stockings, Of course, cooking
ntensils ofall Eorts fit for use about an open
fire. tin ware, spoons, knives, forka and the
Like aye required. Medicines Of the simpler
sort for children's aile, herbs tor teas, such a.
amy supplies do not contain, are much
Thete are the most pressing Of their pbys1.
cal necessities, for the supply Of which they
must DC, during the coming winter, utterly
| teCe1dant.
it is hoped. and not Without good
Eeasop, that the opening Of another
spring will ind 50 large regions Of country
can be emptled and the people all scattered
upon plantations for labor wages and self
support. But the winter, full Of horrors,
mukt be passed in these camps, where, ex.
cept at Ioets lorger establithed, as Cofinth,
MempAis, Island :fen, ard aslena, they hare
Missionaries aud teachers are moral neces.
sity, which, I an aure. win not be forgotten
By these who have the interests Of this race
or ct the nation at heart. And books fol
beginners In sufficient numbera to render the
organization Of schools possible.
Wha.eTer 1s undertaken for their physical
cowfort, saltafion, rather, should be under
taken quickly. 8uccor cannot reach them toe
soon. Exposure is already doing deadly
work among them.
Tie matter has seemed to the military au.
thorfties Of so pressing importance, that tht
General Superintendent Of contrabsnds fol
Gen. GTant's department, under direction oil
the General himself, has ordered me nortf
for the purpose OF aiding and e1peditiug, se
fsr as may be in my power. such organiza
! uons as may be formed for their relief Ever
at the Oldest and best organized posts, as al
Memphis or Corinth, the e1Igency is felt, In
tomuch that the Commander Of the District
Of Memphis Issued to me special order tu
the came effect.
An contributions of clothing and supplied
60 to the care Of Chaplain John Ea.o1, Jr.,
General Superintendent contrabaudB, Depart.
ment OF the Tennessee, and arc by him eurn-
cd over to the supefiotendenta Of the various
caups where most reeded, and issued With
the utmos. care to such as are found most
| destlspfe. They are received with joy and
gratitude. Manya hearty prayer rises from
those camps Of Gods poor Tor their distant
be1efacto7s, and many blessing from Hin,
rbo sha}l soy, "1o as: much as ye have done
! L. 1n,r - HEx x1o
it unto Me,'' awaits them RHO put their hands
| to this woik.
Very respectfully,
| Your obedient servant,
] A. s. FIsKE,
Chaplain 18th Maine infantry, mud for seven
/ Oar 4.