Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-03-10
The Freedmsn---TheIr DsStitutIOu, &c.

MENPHis, Tennessee, March L.
Could the people of the North witness some
of the scenes that fell under the observation
of those who are lsbOring among the freed
men, for their elevation, they would get an
idea Of destitutiOn and poverty, such as few
who have never seen anything Of poverty
but what may be seen in Northern Ohio, could
ever acquire. Could they have spent the
day with me yesterday, they would have got
ideas Of suffering that they would never for
get to their latest day. spent the day,
much of it, out in the rain, in distributing
clothing to the most destitute class Of persons
thatI ever saw. They had Just come in with
a cavalry expedition from Central Mississip-
pi. Hence they may be supposed to fairly
represent the destitution of that regions as
they had been no more than ten or twelve
days from theol plantation. Many Of the
boys, from twelve to sixteen, were entirely
bare-footed, though the ground was covered
with snCW and sleet Some Of them wept
bitterly when they came TO the fire and felt
the pain thstcomes from bringing extremely
cold hands or feet to tho Ere. Many were
bareheaded, and some had an old cloth seved
so that it would At the head, for cap, and
all Of them looked as though they had worn
the same clothing, unWashed, for months.
Their garments were, nearly all, made of q
coarse plantation cloth, thstis common at the
South, and in many cases they hung In rags
about them. Some of the shirts, when pulled
of and held up, hung in strings. Some Of
their legs, from the knees down, were bare,
only rag hanging on one sidel I do not think
II honF d. L
most Of them had no buttons on their clothes,
they used, instead, wooden pin whitfield
out with knife.
These were 3 part Of a company Of fifteen
hundred that have just come in with the re-
turning expedition Of Generals Smith and
Grierson, from Central Mississippi. And so
far as I know, they represented the whole
crowd. large portion Of the men immedi- |
ately enlisted. These did not see, but |
from what 1 have heard, their destitution |
was the same ss the class have described.
We have still much more to do to supply |
the remainder. Yesterday We we're not able |
to supply all with shoes, but to-day have |
made arrangements to get some, that were
sent down by the friends, and Tomorrow I |
hope to be able to give to each Of the needy |
q pair of shoes as we'll IS a coat, pantu and |
vest. I should also say that through the
friends of Philadelphia, we were able to give
TO each one blanket. And as they are all |
healthy and strong they can now 60 To work
at wages and soon make themselves comfort
able. 1t gives me great pleasure to know
that the friends at the North take SO lively
an interest in the great enterprise Of careine
for these poor people. We hope that soon
they viii be able to provide for their D ,ysi-
cal wants.
But We must still look after their mental,
moral and spiritual culture. We have here
q nation almost to be trained and educated.
In this work they must have help. We sre
now trying to build school house, that shall
also serve as church for worship, and We
want from 5000 to $500 to enable Us to do it.
And If any of your readers can help as, they
may do so by sending to L. 2. MeIien, Of the
arm Of Spencer 4 MslIon, Cleveland, Ohio.
4. D. o.