Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-12-12
SOLDIERS AID SOCIETY.

GFOm Lne secOnu uumOer OF Lhe SANITARY
Bulletin, semi-monthly pamphlet issued
from the Central Office of the Commission
in New York city, we extract the follow
ing paper illustrative Of the operations of
the Hospital Directory, and showing the
"heart-wOrk" that is daily done in this
department of the Commission.
Hundreds whose hopes have been blast
ed and whose hearts sorely riven by the
sad chances of war, will long remember
aud gratefully acknowledge the sympathy
and kind assistance that 80 greatly soft
ensd to them the agony Of their search for
the missing or the dead.
TaE HOSPITAL DIRECTORY.
ZONE INQUIRY AND ONE ANSWER"
The working of this machinery, erected
by the Commission for the supply OF in
formation with regard to patients in the
various United States Hospitals, is well il
lustrsred by the following facts taken from
Mr.. H. s. HolbrOoks report from Louis
vile, Kentucky, Of September l, 1868:
An old man enters the office. He has
travelled from Northern Ohio to meet his
son in this city;he has been told to inquire
at the Sanitary Commission rooms for di-
rection to the hospital which contains him
While the clerk turns to the books, he chats
CT his son and home, Of the different arti-
cles in his carpet-bag, put in by mother
and sisters at no ne-eaoh had sent some
little comfort. He is ell animation and
hope, as if at the very door which is to ad-
nit him to the realization of all his happy
suticipstions. The record says -''died"-
that very morningl The register says, zone
inquiry, one answer" 1t does not speak
Of the careful preparatory suggestions that
sympathy tenderly makes towards the an
nouncemsnt of the saddsning fact 1t does
not show that strong old man eonvulsed
and weeping like child. You see not his
departure from the Office stunned with
grief. You feel not the stifled thanks of
his farewell grasP-fulI payment for oil
your sympathy and care. He goes slowly
and sadly away. One Of the clerks ac-
companies him, who procures bgrial-case
for the remains of his "poOr boy" and as.
sists him in all his preparations for his
mournful journey home on the same day.
The register ssys-"One inquiry, one
snsWer,"
A mother from Northern Indiana has re-
eeived dispatch that her son is sick in
Nashville; she is on her way to see him;
she applies for pass, but passes for Ia
dies are seldom granted, and not without
apermit from headquarters. Her creden-
tisls are all right, but she is told that it is
more than doubtful if she is permitted to
go. She comes to the Directory; her sons
name is on the books; "telegraphing is ex.
pensive, and the result doubtful" "Tis
too bad, she exclaims, 81 have seven sons,
and all Of them in the army; do not wish
them away, but I DO want, if they get sick,
the privilege Of going to nurse them" "My
dear madam, you shall go; that fact will
get you pass" and so it did. The reg
lister says, zone inquiry, one answer"
A sprightly young wife is sent from the
telegraph office to have a dispatch written
for permit to visit her husband in Nash
vile. She is quite impatient at the use
less delay in consulting the records for
his name. "She kaos0s he is in Nashville
and Iall she wants is dispatch written,
and will be obliged for as much haste as
possible" "Are you sure he is In Nash
ville2 2" "Certainly." "You would have
no objections to meeting him here2' 'You
are playing with me, sir; will you give
me the dispatch 2" ~ don't think you will
need one. This abstract will please you
better. There are directions where to find
your husband, few blocks off," With
one look, to be sure she was not being
''plsyed" with, she was off from the office
down street at what he would call the
double quick" and found him not in
Nashville. Had she come to the Directory,
possibly she might have obtained a pass |
70 Nashville, and gone; or failing in that, |
would have gone home without seeing him. |
A short time ago this case came under |
,ur notice. A soldier in hospital in Nash |
Ville writes to his wife that he is very
sick, and requests her to come to him. |
The letter was dated the 9th Sept. Two
lays after yards he is transferred to Louis |
7ille, bU' his letter informing her of the
,hsnge never reached her. She leaves
lsme and stops over night in Louisville,
md goes to Nashville on the 10Th. There /
Ihs learns that he is in Louisville. De-
aged for lack Of funds, she returns to this
ity on the 22d and finds that he died on /
he night Of the 18th, the next night after
he lodged in the same city, so near to
aeh other, yet never to meet. Had she
.nown of the Hospital Directory, and con
ulted it, this lifelong grief would have
'een prevented.
A father desires to visit q sick son.
lis statements accord with our record
he dispatch written for him explains the
sse.
"To Brig. Gen. J. A. Garfield, Chief of
taft, Murfreesboro, Tenn: Had four sons
q army two are dead; two belong to the
9th Ohio, Co. -. William c. is
ick at Gallstin, hospital four. Please
rant pass. A. c..
]. S. NEwBERRY, Voucher"
The pass was granted.
A father from Pennsylvsnis presents q
stter from the Surgeon Of q hospital in
ashville, saying that his son will be dis
lsrged and sent to this city in care of
le Sanitary Commission, and requests
lie father to meet him here. He asks,
here is he2' We have no note of his
rival. "He must still be in hospital at
ashville. But stay; here is 8 report
Ist In" Fhe name is there, and died
ugust 9, 1858, the very day tae father .
'ceiVed the letter, and set out to meet
N. His son had sent him word not to t
ing more money than necessary to pay 4
5 fare to Louisville, as he was paid of a
I'd had enough. What was to be done 2 !,
e loaned him his passage home; made
L the necessary papers to get the effects 7
his son; wrote to Nashville to Sanitary