Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-07-02
Letter from Mrs.. Gage.

Sights In Matches amOnE ihs Vrsedmeu-.
Ihe Waut OF some agHtcm Of labor amoue
the Gontrabs Rds--ynIon RefaGsss.- TbsiT
C0udilt tOn--ArriVal Of a train from I-1asI
Sc. S--7A' sh''-o'ndi'i'n Of Hospitals
EDIroRs LEADEE;-I penned you 8 note
from Cairo, on my way down this long
river, in which believe 1 spoke of the
condition Of the Union Refugees at that
place. have been in Matches one week,
and have made myself as busy as possible
in looking into the condition Of the Freed
men and Refugees, (which is my missiOn)
aud sad sights, siOksning, pitiful sights
met me at every turn.
Men have come down into this depart.
ment and gone North reporting, a suf6oi-
enCy Of supplies for the contrsbands and
others. Such people take but partial or
or very superficial view Of the matter,
if they may not be charged with some.
thing more OulpabIe,
As yet no system Of labor safe end pro +.
itsbls has been devised by which the
more ignorant class Of blacks can improve
themselves. The abandoned plantations
stretching for hundrers of miles along the
Mississippi, stand in desOlets grandeur
their rude chimney stacks proclaiming to
the pssser by the fate Of the once lordly
pile that took lite place among the novels
provided for the slave. These lands ought
to make homes for the people, and will. by
and by, but not till our government can
with iron hand crush out the marsudinR
bands that now make it impossible to till
these fields in safety.
Next to the Guerillss, there must come
up plighting influence upon the speculs-
tor, who is he coming the pest Of sill these
regions. To make '.pile" to do it while
cotton is up, seems the object Of the session
The cOmpOrt Of the negro is about as much
subOrdibsted to the greed Of the lessee as
as 1t used to be to the old miser. There
are doubtless exceptiOns) No rule or
system Of discipline has been established
by which these people can be held to labor
and yet justly doubt it.
The printed order e gf gGsRAEA en- u Jbp88Aa 8B,
lars month, board and doctors bill-sey-
en- dollars are to-day not more than two
IN other days. Then, insoIenee, indoleuoe
or imposition, such feigning sick, or sb-
senting themselves, are oauses for with.
holding pay, snd few Of these more than
ignorant grown-up children will mass
through three or six montns without being
guilty Of some Of these crimes. II does
not take much to make impudenee frlma a
black man to white, and who can expeot
the old habits Of slavery to be forgotten in
q year.
There must be Freedmenis Buresu. and
the people, if they would be relieved Of this
fearful responsibility as well ss Of the
burtben Of supporting, these thousands OF
the dregs Of the sum Of sll villainiesD
must force the subject npon the powers
thst be at as early day as possible.
1he Union refugees demand immediate
There are laws for their
protection on the statute books. but no
laws to feed and olothe or comfort the
iiok that have not gained q residence;
his, for the hour, must be voluntary |
,hsrity, and msst Be 0iUsE.
The National Freedmen's Relief Associa-
ION, the Northwestern, the Western Relief
md Sanitary Commissions, the Home Mis-
ionsry and the United PresbvteF;an
hurches-sIl have 6 .ents and brothers in
hig aitv. uurabarinr h.1:.. s.
TX in all. They are all busy, soass doing
loble duty, and making every day bright.
y by their doing.
But ss yet there has been but little
ystemstised effort for the Union refugees.
esterdsy q caravan of six hundred ar
lVed g. the river from Louisiana, some Of
hem from near Alexandria. Scarce q
Foman had shoes and many had walked
nd carried babes under this boiling sun,
7eary, starved and tottering with fatigue
nd neat no language can portray them.
Ome had had no food for three dsvs. and
egged bits and crumbs, and we're ioyful
ndsr our protection where there will get
resd. The road side ell the way, is
treWn with their dead, and the hollow
yes have NO tears, and parohed lips no
losnings for the slespers in those shall
W graves. Oh God is not the retli-
zion Of this RsSgPllss gls Jgff foh deeper and
ore fearful retributi n.
The husbands and brothers, indeed,
eaFly oil the men, are behind, Some
their sons we're hung by the rebels,
me shot down in the defence Of their
'milies, others have been forced into the
sbel army, while many are reported as
the Union ranks. Others tell me their
lsbsnds are in the woods and sWsmps,
ding from the guerrillss and the blood
'unds, as the poor fugitive slave once hid
ON them and the buyers and sellers of
on. In my visit, will follow this mat :
q further.
FRAFCI5 D. GAGE.
P. s.-The hospitals of Matches seem to
|. in good condition and are comparative.
empty. hear Of no dsstitution at this !
lint. The weather is said TO be the
armest Of the year, absolutely hot. But
e military health regulation is some.
hst strict. Rumors Of yellow fever ter