The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-12-08

U. 5. GEsEnAL HosrIfAL No. I /. D
ci tn NAsHvlLLE, TENN,


l have teeu pouring over the contents Of your
truly interesting and vel como letter. There
is nothing that soldier es eems more highly
than letter from kind friend at home. Il
strengthens tho chords Of affection and 70 calls
to mind former pleasant associations. How
gratifying to the isolated soldier the thought
that he is not forgotten. How cheering when
undergoing the hardships and privations Of
cruel war. to contemplate the goodness Of
kind friends at home, through the iudispensa.
bic chanel Of the Soldiers Aid Socie.y-the
sanitary current that brings life and salvation
TO dying patriots. Life, by the iuvigoratipg
cordials- the appetite restoring fruits. tho ma
ny little delicac;es fixed up by kind molhors
and sisters. God bless them at home! Sal.
walton through the religious tracts and books !
Yes, believe there have been hundreds Of
valuable lives saved through this medium.
Wo are thus enabled 10 pass away many pleas
ant hours, that would otherwise be lonesome
and weary. They are Of more real value than
all the roots and herbs ip tho hands of the
most skllful physician. Once let the sick and
wounded soldier become homesick aud dejec
ted, dowuhearted and forsaken, there is little
hope Of his recovery. Through the medium
Of the Sanitary Department, have no hesi-
iation in saying that thousands Of lives have
been saved. have been connected with the
hospital department twenty two months; have
had every opportunity, serving niue months
as hospital Steward, 10 become acquainted
with the condition of the sick and wounded
soldier; to learn his wants and necessities, and
to know what ho receives, both from the Gov.
ernment and The Sanitary Department.
must speak in the highest terms of the SAM.
tary Department. 1t is doiss great and
noble work. Large quantities are received
at the U. s. s nitary agency. Nearly all the
sanitary stores come thrGpgh this department.
Mr.. Robertson, the agent, is very active in
distributing them among the suffering and
needy. lie deserves the highest encomiums
duous task. or the care, the responsibility,
the labor but few have an approximate idea.
will now relate the manner in which the
stores are distributed here in this city.
Whenever the Surgeon in charge fuds that
the supply from the Government is not suffi-
rieut for the health and comfort Of tho sick
When the supplies paruot be procured by tue
hospital iuud, then, on the written statement
Of the Surgeon that such and such articles are
noAd~a, tho, eupplied. LHIge quantities
ere forwarded 20 other similar departments
for distribution. We receive at this hospital
from time 10 time, sanitary stores: such as
cried fruits, caned fruits, pickles, cabbage,
beets, onions, potatoes, crackers and great
pany other little comforts, so gratifying to the
suffering heroes, who hsye uerited the high
est applaudils of praise, after performing so
nobly their duty. have no doubt there are
a great many, perhaps there are some in your
town, who have some misgiving with regard
to I he donations reaching their proper desti
nation. As long as ! have been in the service,
and as much as / have had to do in getting
sanit,ry supple, for the boys, have never
known single instance where sanitary sup
plics were sold or offered ior sale. Some 70
frain from giving, thinking that the officers
appropriate them to their own use. | cannot
say but some Of the stores are improperly used
that 90 10 the field, for l have been on the
field so little that have not bad change 10
observe. hear no complaints from this
source. Here, mono but the sick aud needy
soldier gets them. Mayor Harmon, Surgeon
iu charge Of this Hospital, has adopted the
strctest rules in regard to h,ir disuibgtion.
He is tho soldiers friend, true gentleman,
end post worthy officer. May the gold
leaves that now adorn bis ilustrious shoulders,
30 sYrpoguted by that poble emblem of our
Country, the eagle. l have no hcsitaucy 10
saying that any one caught usin, sanitary
stores not entitled to them or sLeali G the sams
the penalty Yogld be double that fer stealing
any other stores. l would sooner attempt to
steal from the Government than from the San
itary Department. Those who circulate and
so readily b.kcys the false reports, tha! the
soldiers do not get them; that they have to
pay for tbcm; that the officers approprjsis
them to their own use, are that class Of indi
vduals who are 80 narrow minded that they
think raors Of dollar than Of their Country or
humanity who, il soldier, sick, wounded,
naked and hungry should call at their door,
would turn him away empty. Those who
say they would give but for tho pretcpses
have not the least spark Of humsnity iu their
bosoms, aud deserve to be turned out ofcom'
munity. Do they suppose that everybody
in the army is like thomselycsl Shame on
spch selfshness
JACOB L. DAY.