Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-04-16
1ErTER OF oHAs. F. pUrLER. ESQ

The letter given below was written b.
Chas. Butler, Esq, Of Franklin, Butle
Co., o., a gentleman we'll and widely
known in the region in which he resides
as a man of large business experience
and conscientious and earnest christian
He went to Nashville, Chattanooga, anC
Knoxville, in behalf Of the Cincinnati
Branch Commission, to examine into thu
wants Of the army, and the character and
efficiency of our work.
CHATTANOOGA, TENN, Feb. % 1864.
Kr. Editorials promised, I write you
giving few items of the workings of the
Sanitary Commission, that the "home
folks" may be encouraged to SOoTE on in the
good cause, and particularly that they
may be assured that their efforts to
reach the suffering soldiers are successful
The great difficulty that the regiments
in the front have to contend with at
present is tendency to scurVyi and in
their utter inability to procure anything in
the shape Of vegetables there will be
seen the necessity Of sending snythin g
and every thing in that line to these men.
And they not only need such articles of
diet, but they greatly want them. One
colonel said, my men viii gladly pay
twenty-five cents for q potstoe, and ten
cents for an apple. The potatoes are
eaten raw, scrsped or sliced in vinegar,
and much relished by the men.
conversed with at least ten surgeons,
and the universal opinion WAS, that raw
onions and potatoes, served up as salad,
was the best preventstiVe known for
scurvy.
find almost all the regiments here and
around this place have lately received po
tatoes, onions, sour krout pickles, etc i,
that have been sent from the Cincinnati
Branch Sanitary Commission. Some 500
barrels have been sent to this place.
found one regiment that had received ten
bbls potatoes, six Of onions, two krout, and
two Of pickles. This regiment had thirty
cases marked scurVy, and upwards Of one
hundred with decided symptoms Of it. In
two weeks it had almost disappeared, and
the surgeons said il he could get one more
such supply his men would be we'll He
usei the vegetables raw.
Could the people at the North see the
soldiers as they receive their rations OF
vegetables, read the satisfaction in their
Gnu AOAADG AuC GhEb WIN
which they dispose Of say dozen pota-
toes, in choice place, eating one at q
meal, they would feel doubly paid for their
pains in sending to them these ltlzuries.
Itwss 8 matter of special interest TO
visit the Soldiers Home, and as the men
came in to their meals, see them reach out
and take two or three potatoes each, as
children often do. / have never heard
the Sanitary Commission lauded more than
on this trip.
Said one young man who had lost his
leg, Had 1t not been for the Sanitary
Commission I should have died. Said an
old man from Illinois, who was bringing
away his own son and the sons Of two
" have worked for the Santa
ry Commission always, but shall 20 home
and work with ten fold the energy have
done formerly. I see what good it has
done in ministering comfort to the sick
and wounded, and saving life"
Said one who had been in the hospital
three months, ave had supplies from the
Commission every day, and, but for that,
it seems to me the men would have starved,
being so weak and feeble we could not eat
the Government rations."
Wrote fine young man, who had Lost
one leg, | feel thst 1 cannot leave these
scenes that have so long surrounded me,
without expressing my gratitude to the
Sanitary Commission. had heard that
there was such an institution, but now I
feel it.; for believe It has been the means
Of saving my life. 1 am an oficer-Cap-
tain, Tooth Illinois Volunteers-and was !
In the same hospital IS the privstes, and !
We all alike received daily supplies from