Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-05-06
April "a, 1853.


HHADouARrERs Glsr REa'T n G.. TRoops,)
.... - james leland, 8 C., April %. !
n. " Holden, Esq:
DEAR SIR:-In the Observer of last week there
was an editorial notice, representing upon the au
thority OF gentleman recently from the Island)
that the soldiers composing Clingman's brigade
were actually suffering for the want of something
to eat. Such an announcement as this, clothed in
SO much earnestness and sincerity as given BY the
editors of the O6serrer is calculated give all Of
our friends at home great deal of trouble.
l Immediately wrote to the Observer and gave
the facts. AS the Standard probably has the larg-
esl circulation Of any other paper in the State,
have to request Of you to publish this letter, hoping
that every person who has a friend or acquaintance
in this brigade may see it La the first place. the
following are the rat!ons receive for hundred
men:
100 pounds of beef (or % pounds of bacon and
80 pounds of sugar in licu,) la5 pounds of meal,
s7a pounds Of grits, small hominy,) 10 pounds of
rice, pounds Of sugar, pound of candles, 2
pounos Of soap, A pounds of salt.
From this, every enc can see for himself, that We
ore in no danger Of starving. The men of the 6lst
regiment are in extraordinarily good health and con-
dition If they were all sick, none could attribute
thsi. sick nsss q a-..nt Of. son,ething to eat
In the Observer Of the 23d l see u collection has
been made by the people of Fayetteville for the
suffering volunteers from Cumberland county, now
near Charleston, amounting in, money and bacon
lat IS cents per pound) to So 408 So. The editors
say the list has not been completed. The follow
is taken from the Charleston Mercury Of this
morning:
THE SOLDIERS RArIoNs.
JAMES ISLAND, April 25.
To the Editors of the Mercury There was a
notice in the Fayetteville Observer short time
since. relative to the ratiohs given to Chnghan's
brigade N. C. I. You state in your paper of this
hat no infor NJ tbo
wrong. Please permit me-to say that said inform
ant had reference to the 5lst regiment and was
right-a fact that can be substantiated by thous-
and honest but empty stomachs.
We haze been living (rather staying) for some
time on too ounces Of meat per day; but it is not
South Cardinals fault neither do we blame her,
We have found the fault and remedy. Our brig.
aae commssary is the man who has so sorcly tested
our abilities to live without eating. though sup
pose he was saving it to give a feast At all
events, he has acknowledged! the corn and bundled
orer the meat (the back ratons) and We arc too
proud to claim kin with anybody, even first class
co'nmiSsary. 5.
In this blame is attached to the brigade commits
sary, Major Cage 1t is due to Major Gage to state,
that at the time these too ounce rations issued
he was unable to attend to any business owing to
serious tall from his horse. His business was at
| tended to BY a servant 1t seems to me that the
fault should rest with the commssary of the 5 LIST
regiment the person acting as such, the office
Of commissary is vacant and not with Major Gage.
If they had no comrssary, Major Gage was not to
! blame for it.
A regimen:a commissary is presumed to know
what the men arc entitled to-, and if he does, and
fails to draw what can be had, there's no one to
blame but himself Ifthere had been any necessity
for the very liberal subscriptions of the people OF
Fayetteville for the relief of the sufering soldiers
near Charleston, it would have read very WE'LL but
| as it is it does not read well at all.
If the people of Chatham County have taken
any steps to relieve my suffering company, hope
they will go no further. I am happy TO- state to
them:thas We are getting along very well, and we
would oil feel much better satisfied il we knew that
there was no soldiers wife or eh,ld at home no
worse provided for than we are. At present, there
is no need,o any subscriptions being taken up in
our behalf Those Of OH. friends at home who are
willing to do great deal for as let them rather
look around them and see if they can't find soldiers
wives, widows and children, who are in suffering
condition. You cannot provide for them too we'll
Visit weekly, and daily if necessary, and let them
want for nothing.
l What you may send to the soldier here he may
forget; but what you do for his wife and child
at home, he can nerer forget Above all things, fol
Gods sake, don't pretend to do great deal for the
soldiers, while at the same time you may be grow
ing rich by your extortions upon their helpless ant
needy families.
In conclusion then, urge upon our friends a
home, to take good care Of the women and children
left behind by our brave soldiers. They must b.
| prooidsd for. If they are not the day of retribu
ton will come Don't give yourselves any trouble
about Wen sound the alarm when there's any
necessity for it -. =, -. ..'
Very truly yours, &C.,
N. A. RAMSAY, Capt,
- = Co. D., 61sf N. G. 7.