Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-12-05
SOLDIERS AID SOCIETY.


ils existence exclusively to them from the
fact that the entire cost of the building
was contributed for that particular object
and in no instance have we allowed funds
donated the purchase of sanitary supplies,
and for the general purposes Of the Society,
to be encroacbed upon.
To ell whom experience has acquainted |
with the wOrkin and results Of our special
relief system for the past two years, the
motives which led to the present step are
self-evidcnt. A fuller exposition to the
public, of these causes, and statement Of
the future operations of our home are due
at our hands.
The care of discharged soldiers has always
claimed our first attention. This class
rapidly increasing in number-has imPer-
stive demands upon the community. Gen
orally discharged through unhtness for
further service, either disabled by wounds
or with constitutions permanently impair
ed by disease, they have still no claim up
on any Government institution.
Months may elspse before the FIRST install
ment Of the pension can be obtained, and to
help such men upon their way to home and
friends, or temporarily supply the place of
such, to feed, shelter, and if sick, provide
them proper care and comfort, is duty
and privilege we have daily performed
and shall continue to perform with our
present more extended means. The last
few weeks have brought an unusually
large number Of such cases within our OBJ
servstion.
No sick soldier ptitled to place in our
U. s. General Hospit- Nsen allowed to
receive our bounty, ,ssVe-sna l. = not un-
frequently-in the way Of transp> ftatiOn
to the hospital and in obtaining the food
Immediately required by the condition Of
the patient. Due precautions are always
taken to insure relief only to those whose
sole right is that suggested by common
gratitude and humanity.
Occasional applications are also made
to US by furlOughed men, who, through
some informslity in their papers, are IN
able to obtain sdmittancs to the hospital
at Camp Cleveland. The regulations in
such instances are rigid, and the most hu-
name Surgeon must abide by them. Our
experience in this class is comparatively
small, for the strict attention paid to the
examination Of soldiers papers, and the
rectifying of errors therein contained by
the Agent of the Sanitary Commission at
the different Soldiers Homes on the route,
generally leaves us little to correct in
these matters.
A third class, to whom we extend aid, is
composed Of men returning on sick fur
Tough, who are detained at this point, Ell
ther through physical weakness or by fail
ing to make immediate connection with the
different roads. Many soldier leaves the
hospital armed with the strength his ea-
gerness for the moment lends, who can y t
barely succeed in reaching his journeys 8
end. To a large number of such men our
Depot Hospital has offered rest ard re-
freshment, often for few hours only, but
in many instances several days have
elapsed before the patients have recov-
cred sufficient strength to continue the r
homeward way.
The fourth class Of persons relieved un-
der our system comprises the too large
list Of furloughed soldiers in transit who
are ss a rule absolutely without money.
Until the Soldiers Aid Society undertook
this charge, tee sympstbies of those en-
ployed at the depot we're severely taxed to
relieve the suffering continually preseD ted.
We we're told Of men Offering to sell their
clothing for food. We feel assured that a
great and good work has been accomplished
in this department alone.
For each and all these objects our pres
emit quarters are totally insufficient. A
room containing only four beds, can in
ordinary circumstances accommodate only
the very sick, and often for tSis it is found
too contracted. For sll others we have no
place in our establishment, and meal at
the Dining Hall is all We can offer.
Our present arrangements have not al
lowed of our employing person to attend
the room at night, and on Sunday we are
obliged to board our patients at various
places in the nsigbborhoOd. In our new
home we have accommodations for sll.
The sick will have kind attendance, and to
the well soldier we can afford comfortable
food and rest. The moral influence of such
q place can not be oVerestimsted. No SOL
dier can plead the want of warmth and
shelter as an excuse for frequenting the
saloons and bar-rooms. Can we not al
imagine the cheerful sound to a weary
man who looks only to arriving hungry
and forlorn in strange city ; Of the invi.
tstiOD, which, running forward to greet
him ere he reached his journeys end, to 8
home provided by grateful sympathy. As q
soldier said who had been cheered by Oul
gifts in a distant hospital; at is these
proofs Of kind remembrance that stouter
our hearts,"
The plan Of the building furnished and
recommended by DR.. Newbsrry, was mod.
eled after the Soldiers Home st Louisville
claimed to be the best establishment oi
that kind in the United States. To Mr.
Randalls lsCrswford Of this city are we alone
indebted for the successful carrying out o.