Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-02-21
To the Friends Of the Freedmen.

AT the solicitation Of the Executive Commit
tee Of the National Freedmsn's Relief AssO.
citation IN New York, the undersigned has
come to Vermont To appeal to the friends OF thu
Freedmen in behalf Of the many thousands OIL
men, women aud children who are thrown upon
Us for our aid and sympathy, by this wonderful
and unparalleled National war.
This Association was organized on Washing
tons birth day 1862, under the eye and applo-
baton Of Secretary Chase. LIS officers are
among the most distinguished and influential in
New York Guy, such as DR.. lying, Francis &
SHAW, President OF the Association, and othelh
Of equal note ard ability, both elergymen aud
aymen Ii has done and is DOM u glorious
work for the Freedmen BY way Of clothing and
educating them More than one hundred and
fifty teachers are now IN It's emf 10y, who acs
aso as agents ia the distribution OF relief to these
destitute ones as they come among Us. These
are thronging 70 our lines by thousands At once,
and we may Judge something Of their necessities
when II 10 known that az rule they hsg1 had
no new clothes Inee the var began.
As long ago as last April, when they came
into yicksburg IN the train OF Sherman $ return.
ing expidltion, hundreds Of the children were
literally Naked The larger nuGber u the
women had dress OF some sort, but as 70 other
clothing il was not. These dresses were made
Of pieces Of old tents others Of the last remnants
of slaves wardrobe that had no. been replen-
lshed in three years. The men had clothing
made Of peices Of old carpeting, ragged borse
blankets, sackiDg for baillng cotton a.. Hats
caps and bonnets, were a curiosity 10 them
Boots and shoes had long been forgotten. Stock.
lngs there were none And these wretched
children OF Africa had 10 b. sent on to planta
tlons without even decent bed, and no, one 10
ten had a blanket 10 cover them.
When Gen Sherman reached the coast last
December more than fifteen thousand Of these
suffering ones followed hlm--iul half OF them
from Macon Atlanta and even from Chattanooga
They were all hitsrlV destitute Of 5idHhis, stock
ings or shoes, aud among seven hundred sent to
General Sixton on Chnstmas day at Beaufort,
there were not fifty articles IN tie shape Of pots
an kettles Or other utensils for cooking no
axes very few covering for many heads, and
the children were wrapped in the only article
not worn 10 some iorm BY the parents.
These were thrust upon the care Of our agent
there when be had but litte clothing to dsl ensc,
and be was assured that this number was TO be
followed in few days by from three to four
thousand more equally destitute ADd these
vera to DO followed ny thousands. Of other,
An appeal has been sent forth 10 all parts Of
The Uninn norIh to meet tis urgent d3m4ud
and the people are responding noby, uut NOR
usry much more, must be done. Tn,se iakca
onts must &c tAd-thv rick mus W mrdlcine
and the hungry fed for macy are ny, hon.
dreds viii iecesrarmlly DIE, before our ,heT,tu :
can ieson them, nut thousands can vet be save,
We resp1ud at nee. organ 10 tor instant d Il
nos waiting ioT tbe g.nt 10 co e-euO Ou.
committees TO gather upc tnln VI all SluJs
especially for women ana ohudtrn, and beddlus
-lGas--eJosng utensils, ana money.
Please do up The glit OF e4ca duror in a neat
package AMI write upon it ina COCO plain hand
ne name AID o,t Jtf1e Of the donor, aud for.
ward az once TO
RGv. A. Z. Ross, Burlington, VT.
Burlington, Feb, /, 1865