The Portland daily press., 1865-02-06
COMMUNICATIONS.
State Agency at City Point.

ars IS 1OhI nEDdW1Ch, Jan. ~, 1opo.
From articles which appear in the papers
and from letters of enquiry have sometimes
received, am led to infer that our friends at
home are often at loss to determine which Of
the two general Societies now operating in
the field is most deserving of their patronage
mean the Sanitary and Christian Commits
sions. Both these societies have done and
are doing vast amount of good in alleyiAting
the condition ofthe sick and disabled soldiers,
and nearly the only rivalry between tn EN- at
front is, which shall accomplish the most In
certain degree they are cooperative, labor
ing to the same end, but in the distribution of
reading matter, the Christian Commission is
b purely sectarian, which feature is objections
able to some, and perhaps justly, for I be-
heye that reading of a more general charae-
ter is better adapted to the wants of the great
mass Of thesoldiers. & Each society commends
itself to the warmest support of the benevo-
lent public, 4stls
S But it is not necessary for our friends In
Maine, and particularly those who have rela-
eives or friends whom they wish to aid, to op-
crate through the medium of either Of the
above societies in order to accomplish their
object. For all practical purposes the MAINE
STATE AGENCY at City Point is the safest and
best medium through which contributions
from Maine TO this army can be furnished, and
from the able manner in which it is conduct
ed it is deserving of the highest consideration,
and our people should notsuffer its operations
to be impaired or retarded for lack of means
&C. HAYES attends to the forwarding of
and delivering of packages consi igned to par
ticular persons, and Mrs! Mayhem has charge
of articles designed for general distribution.
Mr.. Hayes goes to Washington almost weekly
=-and sees that all goods are promptly for
warded visits the army at intervals and looks
up the Maine soldiers in the field hospitals and
attends to their needs, and is indefatigable in
his efforts to extend the benefit of the Agency
to all entitled to them. ssseseeg ~
Mrs. Mayhem is equally efficient in her de-
partment. The agency is situated adjacent
to the hospitals at City Point. She is engaged
heart and soul in her benevolent and selfsacri-
ficing labor and possesses rare qualities for
the arduous position. 64s ~ Is
spent an hour at the Agency q few days
since and was surprised and delighted at the
promptness and ability with which its affairs
are managed. The ante-room was crowded
with applicants all the time. One needed
q shirt, another pair of socks or drawers, an
other quilt, another q little farina or corn-
starch-another wishes for tea or sugar. o.
"a casionally q surgeon from the front came In
for a supply to take to the sick In the field
hospitals Numbers Of pale convalescents
came in from the hospitals and after receiv-
ing a bowl of hot coffee or some other luxury
with afeW words of motherly encouragement,
retired looking, and doubtless feeling, many
per cent better than when they came in. Mrs.
Mayhew waited on all with promptness, had a
kind word for each, and besides kept up
rambling conversation with those OF us who
''w did not come for aid, but only dropped In 10
,.s We hear but little said about this Agency it
is neither assuming nor pretentious ;and yet in
its own quiet way believe Il il Of more real
benefit TO the Maine soldiers than ali the oth@
er societies together. But its means of doing
good are oftener limited for want of remit
tances from Maine. on which it solely relies
Mrs. Mayhem informed me that from several
entire counties in Maine she had never receiy-
ed anything, and yet soldiers from every por-
tioa Of the State shared equally in its bene-
fits. - Gassss A o4aadqfA fiaeqh
Maine has done nobly in the war both in
2 furnishing men and means, but this agency
does not receive the support to which 1t is
every way entitled. Certain localities have
done much; in others, nothing has been DONE
believe thai all who from condition or choice
remain at home, should contribute something
to alleviate the hardships of the soldiers, who
are nobly sacrificing the comforts OF the home
z circle for their sakes. If they would, though
the offering of each may be small, the aggre-
gate will be much. Hardly anything comes
Z amiss Shirts, drawers, mittens, socks, quilts,
comfort-bags with their contents of needles,
pins, thread and buttons-all are needful and
sought for. sr so,gasa f
'q Those who have nothing else to give can
contribute money. Money viii purchase many
things for the sick, such as canned meats and
fruits, condensed milk, farina, corn starch,
ETC., which cannot well be supplied in kind
from Maine. 3Lnet afel gailsi
Packages should be addressed to the Agen-
q cy, care of George r. Davis Portland.
II the generous and benevolent people Of
Maine will send their contributions through
this channel, they can rest assured that thew
will be impartially and judiciously distributed,
and that officers, which is too often the case.
will not be permitted to appropriate the lions
STARE. ,e - IS INDEX.