The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-02-16
An Appeal for White Refugees at Cairo.


Chaplain John W. Johnson of the 42nd
Wis Vols, sends out the following appeal
for aid for the White Refugees that ar being
constantly being landed at Cairo. The APP.
peal meets as it should, with liberal re
sponse everywhere. But the supply is still
unequal to the demand. Churches and be-
nevolent societies everywhere should take
hold of the matter at once and send along
their donations. Money contributions
should be sent by draft to ''Chapzain John
w. Johnson, Agent and Gen. Supervisor Of
White Refugees, Cairo, Ill. Clothing and
other contribution marked to the same ad-
dress:
''To answer many inquiries concerning
the condition of the refugees arriving in
Cairo from the South, we would respectfully
represent that. !.
With the triumphant march of our arm
les through sections of rebellion, Whole
communities have hocked to our lines for
protection against misrule they took no
part in establishing and a despotism they
| have been powerless to resist. XXX 4.
| The reign of terror which exists throuo out
the rebel states lying in and adjacent to the
Mississippi valley, has no parallel in the
most bsrbarous annals of any country
| Their able-bodied men have been COLI
scripted, or, fleeing to the weeds and swamps
have been hunted with bloodhounds and
shot like beasts.
Their granaries robbed. Their cotton
burned Their lands laid waste
Their crops have been destroyed. Their
cattle and teams driven off
Their houses sacked and seized. Childreu
interceeding, have been shot.
Women have been stripped of their cloth
ing and turned naked upon the world
Mothers imporing mercy have had their in
| fants stabbeh on their breasts
Sympathy with the Union has been made
| the sole occasion for atrocities unheard of in
intestine war Il.
Thus with cruel hand has rebellion min
gled a bitter cup for its unwilling subjects
and is now dealing out to them its drugs
1t has indeed given them for happiness,
misery; for liberty, tyranny; changed the
ioyi of their lives into the NORWOOD of an
intoIerable existence.
THEIR SITUATION IN CAIRO. a
They are sent here by the military author
tiles, on Government transports and steam
ers and land cd at our levee at all hours of
the night and day.
There they are left shelterless and penni-
less, their future an aimless blank.
More than two hundred have recently
been set on shore at a late hour of the night
and compelled to remain exposed to the in
clemencies of the weather until morning.
The average number per month has been
near two thousand.
Nine tenths of all are women and children
four fifths of the latter, children of tender
years. They arrive impoverished and ex-
hausted: they are often clad only in few
tattered garments, children come without
hats, shoes or stockings, and hundreds with
out change of clothing; they have no
bedding save few rags on the ground, and
they die daily of disease, exposure and
want
They come to u.s. not as enemies, but
sick and hungered, suffering and shelterless
Suoh are the particulars of their miseries.
During the last year, 90 600 of these ref
ugees from the tyranny of rebellion have
landed at the wharf in Cairo
! The Cairo Relief Association have done
all in their power to alleviate the suffering
Of these poor people. Daily appeals are
made in their behalf, to the citizens of Cairo
These appeals have been literally respond
ed to.
The work has grown upon our hands-the
means are now exhausted.
Should these private enterprises fail or
prove inadequate, as there is reason to ap-
prehend, the situation of new arrivals must
become heart, rending on despair
1t is not necessary to say that their indie
scribable condition demands the most
prompt and efficient measures for their re-
lief.
! What is done must be done quickly
they must die of cold and hunger this win
ter, unless immediate succor be obtained -
Shall not the cry of the children, as they
lie on the levee with innocent hands uplifted
for help, be heard? Never has helpless wo-
manhood appealed in vain for aid. We ap-
peal to all who have hearts to feel for human
misery-than which none greater exists on
the face of the earth we plead for liberal
contribution from every Christian Church in
your city on next Sabbath. We entreat ev-
cry pastor to give US his influence and aid
to this end. We appeal to the large hearted
men of your city to furnish us money We
appeal to the ladies of your city, God bless
them, to collect few barrels of clothing
especially for women and children. Nowant
no suffering exists in our land this day which
pleads with equal urgency for prompt and
generous relief. We beg that every pastor
in the city will read this circular next Sab
bath from the pulpits, and plead for a lib
eral contribution from the congregation.
CHAPLAIN JOHN w. JOHNSON,
Agent and Gen. Supervisor Of White
Refugees at Cairo.