The Portland daily press., 1865-04-03
SP CIAk TIC IL y.
Relief for MAINE soldiers.

The Maine Soldiers Relief Association make APP
peal to the people of Maine for aid to the soldiers
our State in the hospitals in Washington. Wooden
stockings, drawers and flannel shirts are especially
wanted. In majority Of cases the soldiers in the
hospitals are without money with which to purchase
and without help to make known and supply their
wants.
Since the campaign of the Spring of 1864 opened
the supplies required and in great part furnished to
our soldiers through the Association have been very
large. These supplies are now exhausted Since
the battles of the wilderness the wounded and dis
abled soldiers of Maine regiments who have been re-
ported in the hospitals Of the District of Columbia
numbermore than six thousand. 0fthese majority,
directly through the members, have been supplied
with such articles as their immediate necessities de-
manded.
Connected, with the Association is the State
Agency and IN order that the people of the State
may form on intelligent notion of the labor Perform
ed by the united efforts of the Association and Agen-
cy the following summary is made:
Since the hrst year of the war the business to be
attended to for soldiers has new character. In
most cases our soldiers in seeking furongh or dis.
charge, or who have obtained the necessary papers
emitting them to furlough or discharge are helpless
to accomplish their object without assistance =
Claims for back pay are numerous and require strict
compliance with the regulations of the pay depart
ment before the amount due can be obtained The
soldier knows very little about these requisites and
necessary consequence ia obliged TO secure the
services OF persons acquainted with the business
Every help has been rendered these classes osoders
freely and without reward. The number SO assisted
during the year is between six and seven thousand
The constant labor Of two experienced persons is de-
voted to this branch
The number Of packages received for soldiers and
hospital purposes during the year is nine hundred
and sixty-seven. These have been distributed in the
army in the field andn the hospitals of Washington
and vicinity.
The hospitals in Washington are twelve in num-
Der and. with the exception of Armory square and
Judiciary Square, are situated from one to three
miles from the CITY. The hospital at Georgetown is
for officers exclusively. At Alexandria there are
three, and at Fairfax Seminary, two miles west from
Alexandria, one. Camp Distribution, situated three
miles from Washington, is the rendezvous for
camp at the present time, are nearly seven hundred
sick, wounded and convalescent. These men have
msny wants many errands, many requests to be
satisfied. Their friends and relations at home con-
tinnally manifest their anxiety and sympathy in
words and III ACTS ~ t2i ','ES n
of the sacrifice of our brave soldiers their friends
here will ever be mindful They therefore earnest
" and with confidence ask that the benifoent con-
tributons heretofore bestowed may now not be with
held while the war seems so near glorious termi.
nation
Contributions directed to the Agency 273 ssFn St.,
through the Agent of the State at Portland, GEO
the receipt innniediately Acknowledged. "''''' ~
officers erthe Mime Soldiers elief Association
President, L D. Moore. Treasurer Horatio King
Vice President John W Secretary, HenryA Wor-
Executive Committee. john W. Butteraeld, sP.
Morrill, T. d. Smart, Il. q. Stickne N. c.
Woodward
washington, D. c., March IL, 1866.
STATE OF MAINE, ExEoUr1yE DEPT,
Augusta, March 30 1865 I
commend this appeal to The ciizeus of Mare
SAMUEL CONY, Governor of Maine
uarQI aodQwA nv