The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-12-02
From ths AZ Y. Epening Post.l
THE SOLDIERS THANKSGIVING.
How sheridan's Army Enjoyed the Dinner
Letter from General Sheridan.

To the Editors Of the Euerin0 Post:
! A very large number of the contributors to
the Thanksgiving Dinner for the soldiers and
sailors, have expressed fear that their boun-
ty might not reach those for whom it was in
tended. The following report from our agent
| sent to the Shenandoah, with the accompany
| ing papers, will show how successfully the
wishes Of all have been carried out. NO lille
credit for this is due to the energy OF George
Z. Moves, ESQ.,, who, at few hours notice,
consented, when other arrangements mad iall-
ed, to take charge Of our supplies to the Shen-
andoah. While we learn briefly that our sup
niles for the other armies and for the fleet sue
cessfully reached their destination, though a
small portion was delayed after it left the
hands of our agents, we have as yet no full
reports. When received they will be publish
ed.
GEORGE BLISS, JR., Secretary.
New York, November 49, 1864.
NEW YORK, November 27, 1854.
Colonel George Bliss, Jr., Secretary of Neau
York Thanksgiving Committee:
Dear Sir: have great pleasure In report
ing that the Thanksgiving Dinner for General
Sheridan's army arrived safely, was received
with great enthusiasm. and that our mission
has been complete success. We reached
Winchester Tuesday evening, and the same
night tie twenty-five wagon loads Of poultry
came in under heavy escort, fair proportion
six thousand pounds-having been left be-
hind at Harper's Ferry and Martinsburg.
The next morning General Sheridan sent in
an aid and an ambulance to take us to his
headquarters, and during our two days stay
he proved, by his kindness to us, as your rep
resentatives, that he is not only distinguish
ed soldier but also most hospitable host and
courteous gentleman. He issued orders that
your gifts should be distributed only among
the enlisted men, and by Wednesday night
through the active exertions of Colonel Kel-
logg, chief commissary of his staff, and his
subOrdinates, the distribution was fully and
fairly made. To supply scouting parties and
to meet any complaint of short allowance in
any quarter, requested Colonel Kellogg to
retain few hundred pounds, so that all might
share your bounty. Thanks to the very cold
weather of Tuesday and Wednesday, we found
the turkeys in first rate condition. enclose
herewith Colonel Kellogg's receipt and state
ment of distribution.
The next ay-Thanksgiving day-we rode
over part of our lines and made personal in
quries and inspection as to the practical re-
suit OF our MISSION, Inc want OF proper ap-
Pliances compelled most of the men to broil
or stew their turkeys, but every one seemed
fully satisfied and appreciated the significance
of this sympathetic thank-offering from the
loyal North. One soldier ssid to me, "It isn't
the turkey, but the idea that we care fol" and
he thus struck the keynote of the whole tes-
tval Could the donors of this Thanksgiving
gift have been with us on this ride, they would
have felt satisfied that, whether as token of
grateful appreciation of past valor or as the
inspiration of future effort in the good cause,
1t had not been mqde In vain.
enclose herewith letter OF acknowledge
ment from General Sheridan, whose headquar-
tiers we left on Friday morning. In conclu-
sion, desire to tender my thanks to FL. w.
Domett, Esq, who accompanied and aided
me; to Mr.. Hening, agent Of Harnden & Co.'s
Express at Baltimore; to Colonel Newport,
Chief-Q -Quartermaster at that city; to Captain
Flagg, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS at Harper's
Ferry; to the members of General Sheridan's
staff, and to every officer whom it was my
privilege to meet in and beyond Winchester,
for kindness and attention which made my
trip 30 pleasant and satisfactory.
am, very respectfully, your ob't serv't,
GEORGE f, MOVES,