New-York daily tribune., 1866-04-07
raiss Clara Barton and Vaer Work.

AN AMEEICAN 1RoSMAsTER.
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/ rziss Clara Barton ind Her Work.
The truly great work of this estimable
woman, deserving commendaton and aid, desire to
present her plans to the public that the people Of both
sections may contribute TO the completion Of her under
dertaking at early day its Importance demands
AS an officer Of the army it was my duty TO keep
perfect records Of all under my command. There was
also a sacred obligation to their friends to be able TO
inform them fully Of every one.
! 1t 80 happens however in army movements that 1t
is often impossible account for the absent and miss
ing. This is unavoidable raids forced marches,
scents and special expeditions by water and on land
attended unattended by skirmisbing. while the tide
Of battle frequently turns that the necessities OF
war and the orders Of superors, though keenly
painful compel the abandonment of the killed and
wounded upon the field. Many believed to have
died in Southern dwellings and been buried in their in
closures and many, know, by the roadside.
In short there are thousands of absent and missing
of whose fate officers have not and could not have.
either personal official information. or which is in
voved in doubt and uncertainty and tits right here the
records cease, and the work OF Miss Barton begins.
To encourage and facilitate this work the following
suggestions are submtted
l. The War Department las no authority 70 under
take il and could not attempt IL without law OF Con.
gress And it is better So as If that Department had
the information the people would not get the beneh of
IT, there being rule in that Department that no nfor-
nation shall be furnished on which claim might be
predicated which is virtual denial Of all Information
through that channel
IL Miss Barton's undertaking is entirely voluntary,
and expressly FOR the benefit Of friends of missing sol
diers. /! has grown from small beginnings into one o
vast magnitude. worthy OF the Government ana Ger
tainly of Government aid. From insignificant manu-
script lists OF missing prisoners prepared by Miss B,
and posted ONLY in the barracks where her time was de-
voted to the inmates the WORK has giaduay extended
itself to include all missing soldiers lists OF whom are
given printed rolls which are distributed throughout
the country in which she requires the aid OF several
clerks.
III These rolls are prepared from letters to her from
anxious friends Of missing dear ones.
These letters number from 30 10 IN daily The names
Of the missing thus acquired she publishes In these role
As fast fully accounted for their names are with
held from subsequent rolls
The following rules should be strictly observed:
Examine the Rolls carefully and II you know whs, bo
sny named have facts Of interest 20 surviving
friends communicate the to Miss Barton by letter as
III own name or that Of comraie he knows 10
living inform Ter lhst It may BE- withheld ron gtgTs ro
Let inquiry for missing soldiers should be bref-con
tanning the resmeIl company aud state 70 wLish ty
beongsd with the full sdd5e Of q, w,eI P1y ,.'I been
prisoners but will be made to ascertain the fate o. all
mis- Ing men Of the United States Amy during the war
M any letter Of inquiry fats 10 receive an answer wrie
again No apologies necessary and no letter will BE-
lcced Miss Barton keeps record Of al letters aud OF s
facts coming to her knowledge well a. OF all transactions o
"Sai &ddre... Ms. CLARA BAR1os wasblnston, D. C."
! " All over the South are the graves aud the re-
mairs OF our fallen and missing heroes numbering tens
il not hundreds Of thousands How are these 10 be sc
counted fori In the North Rebel prisoners ded
and were buried. Information OF these is anAousiy
scusht by their friends. 1t is proposed tai tue people
of both sections shl cooperate n ths apor OF !.te
communicating such facts they have OF the parties
TO Miss Barton by etlSr, observing carefully the rules
already suggested 81, IL,
heart and nober intellect in whom the friends OF miss
inc solders may place implicit faith. She is no ro'
msRtc enthusiast visionary adventures, with
selfish aims and spasmOdic efforts, Dut woman OF
MAD ooInbipng philauthrophy and business talent.
Indeed she seems TO have been raised upOy Provence
for this special work. and thousands shall call her
blessed At the breaking out OF the war, she was pui
suing the tenor Of her way in her own quiet nome.
Possessed Of small fortune OF about siOOOO she tATeS
her hole soul into the care ana comfort o SICK as
abed and wounded soldiers. Starting as simple huI So
sh soon enlarged her operations M her own expense e.
organizing "A miniature SANITARY and Christian Com
mission conducted by herself and sustained by her
own priyate purse. Win her own teams and drivers,
and aSistsnis Of her selection she was foremost
npoD every battlefield. often simultaneously wan tie
was the ercest fighting there was her place i' mere
Law the objects OF her and from thence 10 ths
field hospital where, though the strength oil tne sur
seous sometimes failed. she never gave OUT.
At the close OF hostities she began her Inquiries iO
missing prisoners posting manuscript ros III the oar
rscks IRON that simple and christian Kindness hei
resert Great work undesignedy opened itself before
her bnt only TO appal her, not merely because OF l
magnitude but because she was penness Tor she hae
expended her last dollar and shc was aOo' u apa"uo
her mission for the want Of means
The War Department had not Che authority 70 tax
I, mn She had become familiar with the SUBJECT an'
copd carry il on far more cheapy than Government
So long as her money lasted 1t was given freely 10 th
soldiers and their friends She asked no compensation
or recompense but without money sue couiu ~ III
, Congress nowstepped in unanimously approprlatin
, $1,000 thus returning tho money she Dad exPehue
and trne over 10 enable her to continue her seareu
The appea is made TO the people Of both sections OF h
frnion 10 give this work fresh impetus by readin
Miss Barton's Rolls and Circulars ana promptly ac'in
, on her suggestions ., ~. ..o ~ ,h
! I know from personal inspection that many OF IN
graves in the South be Identified and Their occu
6ants must remain unknown till the Last Great Day pu
what human effort guided by the c!earests instincts
and governed by the purest ca
do Miss Barton will accomplish. D. lAhbhLl;
, W. Late Brew Brig Gen Us Vols.
WoshingtOn, d. C.. March %, 1866.
NB-Pspers friendly the object stated are requested
publish the article entire In order to ehpeu'e 'ne ~0A
"a