New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-04-23


starvation But how do the poor, especially the poor
women with whom the city is thronged many Of them
soldiers wives and widows with large families to sup
port manage to pay these exorbitant prices Female
labor is in good demand it is true but it is miserably
compensated. A fair seamstress may work from day
light until midnght without earning enough to purchase
pound Of bacon half peck OF potatoes two pounds
Of bread; in other words without earning enough to
decently feed single person. Yet these poor women
ont Of their miserable pttance are obliged to feed them
selves and children and well to pay house rent, for
which the charges excessive as for other
sarios How, then, do the poor livei heard
one of them to whom this question were addressed
| by sympathizng Msryander, answer. We are not
living we are dying And so they are-dying victims
OF the Rebellion and starvation.
II astonishing how long some Of these women are
able TO endurc their privations. cannot refrain
counting melancholy ease that came under my own
observation in September ast which, while 1t shows
how little nonrshment person can for months exist
upon furnishes instance Of Rebel cruelty and bru
tally.
! A Mr. Phelps who resided near Stanton, Va, was
arrested for treason and confined in Castle Ihun
der The evidence Of bis guilt was 80 satisfactory that
without waiting for his trial and conviction the Sc
quesralon officers seized his farm and negroes elected
his famiy-conssting Of his wife and four children
from their home and left them wanderers in the streets
Mr.. Phelps took up his residence at the point named
only q few months before the war commenced hay
ing removed thiiher from Preston County Va,
where all his friends and relations as well those OF
his wife, resided.
Amer being expelled from her home, Mrs. Phelps be-
sought Gen Imboden who was in command in that dis
49,. to hos, 10 oh bfs lnaz
friends in Preston County; but the gallant General
fused assuring her that she could only obtain pass
from Cen winder or the Secretary of War, and thai
then she would be obliged to proceed North by flag Of
truce boat via City Point and Annapolis. Determined,
II possible to get out OF the Conederacy the unfortu
nate woman fastened with her CHILDREN and the little
baggage she was allowed to retain to Richmond and,
after al interview with her husband in his gloomy cell
for he was not permitted to be in large room with
other prisoncrs-appcd first to Gen. wndcr and then
To the Secretary Of War for the desired passport But
both Of these fuuctioBaries although they knew that
the poor woman and helpless children were without
friend within the Rebel lines and without the means Of
support, hoartossy refused 10 let them leave
when she called to solicit Mr.. Seldom for passport
was in tho main oihce She told me her business and
introduced her into his auditory. In few moments
she came out end / knew by her tears that she had
been disappointed. j saw 10 moro Of her until about
thqxIniddlc OF September when one day met her on
NAN street with little gin. each tagging bundle Of
Rebel uniforms wonder that recognized her her
appearance was N changed. when FIRST saw her, she
was boominga mstron as had ever seen-eTect end
robnst--a perfect picture Of health when next
her ,oing with the burden tho bloom had faded from
her checks. her eyes hal e. back in their sockets
"a A - Io,.r LOT
were tatteredin short she was picture Of distress
accosled her, and she told me that. finding IL mpos
sbe to reach her friends she hired garnet chamber In
Leigh street and cndeayorcd to earn livelihood by
sewing that though quito expert with the needle she
found il impossible to pay her rent and feed her family
by this means and had been obliged to sell nearly all
her wearing apparel and the few articles Of lewey she
possessed even the wedding ring; that the only food
herself and children had tasted for upwards Of two
months was beans and cokcs and that during this
time pint OF beans and pound and a half Of corn
meal was as much as they had oaen in any one day.
That evening / called the al,cati0n OF several ac-
quaintances Union mentor there are q few such In
Rchmond-to the history aud condition Of these suf.
fcring creatures and considerable sum 81 money was
contributed or their relief md a!imentary neccssaries
were Immediately sent them.
The second cvcning afcrward accompanied by al
friend l sought their abode and more wretched and
gloomy habita,ion has seldom been seon A bed, two
trunks, kind of furnace with pipe griddle skill
let lin cup two plates. two knives and three spoons
constituted the entire furniture The bed. II II de-
serves the name had been made by sewing together the
skirts OF several old dresses forming tick which
was half filed with straw On this miserable pallet we
found Mrs Phelps lying. very III. When the edbies
We had sent her two evenings before arrived and she
saw that she conld eat her ill without depriy ng her
children Of wbs; they needed much ~ herself the
furnishing could not restrain her appetite. She
ate until il appeesed with plenty; fever was the
consequence and week later she died. lie! Northern
men with plenty who grnmble because obliged to pay
the war taT; let laboTers who are every few weeks
striking for better wages and clerks who crying for
an increase Of salaries think upon this caseand it II
not an uncommon in Richmond-Of roman and
four children Hiring for ,1o months on pint Of bans AID
a pouad and AGD Of corn meal per dog.
A word moro in relation to this family viii more
fully expose the utter heartlessness OF the Rebel on
oials After Mrs. Phelpss death, application was made
10 Gen Windcr 10 allow her husband 10 attend her fu-
neral IN charge Of officer, but the incarnaie old
friend refused IL. The orphans were taken In charge
BY M Thomas and Mr.. West, the latter gentleman be-
ing one Of the propretors Of large publishing house.
who promised provide for them until they could be
for,yardcd 10 their friends In Preston County The
Secretary Of War aftorward requested by these
gentlemen 10 permit the children TO be sent North in
charge OF Mai. Mumford Union Agent for the ex-
ehanrc of prisoners but he refused declaring that he
would rather support them himself than allow them to
20 North and furnish the Abolition press food for more
lee
But Notwithstanding The high prices while The honest