Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-07-11

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partment, our stores are held ready for any
demand that may arise.
We hear that the Relief Associations Of
New York alone have sent fifteen car
loads of supplies 10 the neighborhOOd of the
battlefield, and greatly we envy them the
privilege Of ministering to those who have
fallen in gaining for US the memorable
successes Of the past week.
Our work of relief to the heroes of this
battle has been confined to the service
which we are able to render those who, re-
turning to their western homes, have
sought the rest and refreshment provided
at our little depot Hospital" Here we
have received many during the past few
days, as will be noticed by the appended
report and undoubtedly the week to come
will give us further opportunities of offer
ing such hospitality.
This little wsyside inn has been haven
of rest to many q worn and broken travel
er, and no part of our efforts to mitigate
the sufferings, or to relieve the wants Of
the soldier, has been more successful, or
brought more grateful returns.
Not a day passes but some waif from the
ebbing tide of wars crimson river is thus
cast within our reach, and we must ever
feel that such a presence brings a rich
blessing upon each one whose generosity
has provided us with the means of sustain
ing this department of relief.
Something of the work of special relief
done by the Sanitary Commission at the
Soldiers Home in Nashville, may be learn
ed by the following extracts from letters
Of our agent there: aH
SPECIAL RELIEF DEPARTMENT OF THE SAN
1TARY COMMISSION IN NASHVILLE.
The work Of correcting the. papers Of
the discharged soldier is to him one Of
great value. By doing this work we have
| learned, as we never should have learned
otherwise, something of the physical suf-
fering, the mental anxiety and the pecun-
iary loss, little neglect may cause. In
some cases when he receives his papers,
the soldier has scarcely strength to reach
his home, and not half enough to go the
same distance from home Before the
"Home was established by the Commits
sion here, when he arrived at Nashville,
from Murfreesboro, he was compelled t.
find food and lodging as best he could, at
the public houses, and for very Indifferent
fare he must pay from three to four dollars
per day. Having secured quarters, be
must 20 the next day in the morning, tc
the pay-masters, where he finds crowd
and where he must wait his time; toe
feeble to wait, he leaves his papers, being
directed to come for them at four o'clock
at that time he returns to find that such
errors have been made in his papers as
will deprive him of part or the whole Of
his pay. They certify, perhaps, that he
has drawn pay to September 1868, instead
Of 1862, only the error of figure; bu
the error is a fatal one. although it is plain
that it is q mistake. Or. the statement o.
his clothing account is incorrect; or If hC
has been paid part oFhis promised bOun.
ty, the surgeon has perhaps, failed to state
that his disease has been contracted since
he entered the service, and our Govern
ment officers construe the law to require
them to give the Government the benefit o.
the doubt, rather than the soldier. Or tn,
time when he entered the service is no
correctly stated; or perhaps, he has beer
detailed for special duty, and for that rea
son was absent when the paymaster visite;
the regiment, and unless the reason WHY
he was not paid is stated, he cannot b
paid. For some of these reasons or others
his papers must be sent back to his regi
ment for correction, or he must lose par
or the whole Of his hard-earned money.
do not know what the decision was in tn
majority of cases, but 1 know that manJ
of them SO longed for the rest Of hom,
that they took the part that could be psit
them and receipted in full. In some case
if all vas wrong so that they could no
draw any pay, if they could obtain trans
portation they gave up all; others
thoughtful and calculating, knew tina
they and those they loved at home, needeC
the money, would wait, but until our hell
was offered them they had to wait lonJ
time, sometimes 80 long, that their ex
penses must have been as much as they
received. Now, all who come into tn
city from the front, are invited to tn
"HOme where they receive lodging ant
food, free Of charge. As soon as they en-
ter their papers are examined, and i
wrong, sent back in the morning train tC
one of our agents, who, If possible, Sc
cures their correction the same day, send
ing them back on the same train. Often
this cannot be done until the second day
and sometimes the regiment is away OF
picket duty or scouting, and several day.
must elapse before they can be corrected
and although they are long and weary
days, there is nothing that can be don'
but to wait. e- r-..-
For those whose papers are correct, The
reliefsgent collects pay for all who are