Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-12-19
SOLDIERS AID SOCIETY.
Is B1SK s4sEr4, cIuvEzAHD. Dec. 10, lass.
DAY IN NASHVILLE HOS
PITALs.

Of this city, will be read with interest at
many q northern freside, where the fes-
tivities Of last Thanksgiving Dsy were
ssddened by the sight Of the vacant places
ct the Widespread board. Il will be 10y
to know that even in the far off hospitals
Of Nashville, the benevslenec and energy
Of few warm hearted women was en-
ployed for the comfort and pleasure of those
who, by the fortunes Of war, had been de-
MED the enjoyment Of home Thanksgiv-
ing day:
NASHVILLE, Nov, u, 1868.
DEAR LADIES OF THE AID sooIETY-I, as
one Of the ladies detailed to prepare
Thanksgiving dinner for the soldiers in
Nashville, on Friday last, in company with
Mrs. DR.. Hsslow, called on the surgeon In
charge Of the hospital to which had been
appointed, to ascertain what they could do,
and what they wished us to do. learned
that they could furnish everything for q
good dinner, except poultry and cranber-
ries, and that the surgeon would like US
to have general oversight ofthe prepars-
tions and attendance at the dinner. DR..
| HasloW drew the hams last Saturday and
on Monday nine were boiled and held in
season for use in case our poultry did not
arrive. On Tuesday the Steward was or
/ dered to purchase one hundred pounds of
mutton, have il boiled on Wednesday ready
for meat pies. which were baked on Thurs
day, and served hot. Tuesday evening q
part Of the poultry came and was divided
among the different hospttals-three tur-
keys and thirty-fVe chickens falling to
ours, which had nearly four hundred
mouths to fill. Wednesday afternoon 1
deserted my duties at the Commission
Rooms and we went to the hospital kitoh-
en-, made three gallons Of blanc mango, two
Of custard, dressing for the poultry, and
prepared ffty-fVe "mangoes" ready to
fill and ornament in the morning. So
much done and put under Jock and key,
supper time come and we left for our own
quarters, but only to renew our work after
tea in eur own kitchen. Everything hsv-
ing been prepared before hand, we rolled
up our sleeves, put on our aprons and COM
menced frying old fashioned, raised, Yam
kee doughnuts. With the assistance Of
two soldiers, whom DR.. HssloW sent to us,
we cooked nearly six hundred, rolled them
in white sugar, and were ready to retire
st eleven o'clock. This evening, more
poultry came, SO that our quota was in
creased to forty-fve chickens and six tur-
keys; the last arrival Of chickens we had
steWed. Thursday morning, having en-
listed Mrs. Captain Stuart in our cause
we srrsyed ourselves in working dresses
and white aprons, proceeded to the hospi-
tai, carrying with US the last allowance of
poultry, fifteen quarts of ersnberries
and "picklolilly." Now the work COM
menced in good earnest. Bycommon con-
sent Of all concerned Except myself, for l
did not know till we were through that all
were looking to me for orders they
seemed to have made me a sort Of General
pro TEN. Such beating Of eggs, stewing
Of crsnberries, filling msrangoes, basting
turkeys, rafting stove doors, setting
tables, preparing vegetables, running to
and fro flor you must know we had two
kitchens, one adjoining the dining room
and one across the street.) At twelve
O'Clock, ell being ready, the band Of the
18th Michigan volunteers, who at
the solicitations Of our ladies, had
kindly volunteered their services for the
occasion, to help enliVen the whole affair
by playing while the men we're st dinner,
took their position in front Of the hospi-
tai, and when the bell rang the dinner
hour, struck a cheerful, lively air, which
brought a smile to nearly every face, and
the exclamation, what does that mean
where did it come from as no one about
the establishment, excepting DIR. Harlow,
knew they we're coming. and for once
the ladies must have the credit Of Keeping
secret without help. As many Of the con-
valescents as could be seated at the table,
came down to the dining room; meeting
there the officers Of the hospital, who one
snd sll entered cheerfully into the work,
or rather 1 should say pleasure, Of max
ing our brave ''solger boys" feel that they
were kindly remembered on this our Ma
tionsl Thanksgiving day. After they had
all gotten under way at the tables, took
large pail, full Of dOughnuts, and by
permission Of the DR.. gave one to each
wounded man in the ten wards. One
man called out to me as passed, ~ guess
you are Yankee woman" Iowned up
to the guessing by prehxing Buckeye" to
it, The sick Of course, could not have
them. Every man who could not 60 to the
table had box Of poultry, oranberriss,
mashed potatoes, blsno-msnge, and Gus
tsrd, toasted rusk wet in butter dips, Jelly,
and tes or coffee. The Chaplain was in
attendance, and after returned thanks for
our manifold blessings, amid all our trials
passed around giving them words Of cheer
and comfort. After the first detachment
had returned t. their wards, the tables
were replenished in double quick the Sec
ond time, there was enough for all and to
spare. A table was prepared for the band. |
After psrtaking they gave a few more
tunes and thus ended the Thanksgiving
dinner, seemingly to the satisfaction Of |
all conc arned. The officers and attaches |
We'd with each other which should do the |
most to help on the good cheer. And last
But not least, DR.. Harlow, Surgeon in |
charge, gave us every facility for carry |
ing out whatever plans had Deen formed,
and encouraged us in our work by his |
presence and approval. He is very su-
perb man, kind and humane. To say it all |
in few words, he is all that good Sur |
geon should be. The other hospitals, 60
far as 1 can learn, had q good tire, with |
now and then an exception.
SANITARY FAIR.
As we are now entering upon prepsra-
tions for a grand Northern Ohio Sanitary
Fair in which we hope all our friends and
contributors will take an earnest interest
and an active part we extract from the
Reporter some portions of a brilliant let
ter written by lady in Illinois desorip-
live Of the late Fair at Chicago.
This will shcv the character of that en-
and the spirit with which it
was carried forward. We hope our own
Fair will be conducted with equal energy,
md bring forth like results.
The great Northwestern Fair is over,