Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-02-19

THE DESTITUTE OF NAsHvILLE-APPEAL
FOR AID.-The following letter was sent us
for perusal and publication. 1t shows the
restitution in Nashville, and makes an ap-
peal to the charitable people of this and
other Northern cities for succor:
M~URFREEsBoRo,, Tenn, Feb. 9Th, 1866.
DR.. Il. S. Ne0berry, Secretary. Western De-
PGrtnlcnt, u S. Sanitary Commission.
Mr.. DEAR SIR: Writing to you again from
Murfreesbero' | can scarcely realize the fact
that there is not an army eneamped around
the city, with its hospitals filled with sick
and wounded, while anxious friends at
home are busy devising practicable modes of
ministering TO their comfort. Reviving in
dustry,and business struggles are everywhere
occupying the fields on which hostile ar
mics prepared for the strife and cared for
their wounded. Yesterday l attended
church with a congregation of Union wor-
shippers, in a room which a few months
ago was the gangrene ward of the sur
cation occupied the place of the cots,
that formerly crowded the room. In place
of the nurses table, with its medicines and
cordials, there was now found a pulpit with
its Bible and hymn books, and instead Of
the groans and signs and an atmosphere
loaded with the fumes of Bromine, were
songs of praise, prayer and thanksgiving.
This is but an emblem of the changes
apparent everywhere, and, although l ex-
pected in going over the old ground TO find
here and there a place where special relief,
such as the people had been wont to extend
through the agency Of the Commission, was
still needed, there is in fact little left to be
done. Yet that little ought to be done, for
there are still places where the hands of
charity or the hands Of kindness can find
fitting work TO do.
At Nashville there is still a call for aid,
which must come, if it comes at all. from
Louisville Or from the cities further north.
The matters to which l wish to call your
attention, were brought to my notice by
General Whipple, Chief-of staff to Major
General Thomas, and he informs me that
help is still needed at Nashville in two diff
ferent directions. First, there are frequent
instances in which the wife, mother or sister
of deceased or missing soldiers, or of those
who are in prison for some crime or INSIDE
meanor, visit Nashville to gather up infor-
nation of the missing, or hoping by per-
sonal intercession with General Thomas to
obtain his interposition in behalf of
the soldiers in prison. 1t is true this
last is a useless task. All who are ac-
quainted with Gen. Thomas know that in his
administration of justice he miDgles largely
mercy with justice, and, although warm
hearted and sympathetic, is always too calm
and self possessed to act upon impulse alone;
while his kindness and the habit of thor
ough investigation will always lead him to
give as much consideration to a statement
in behalf of any one when communicated by
letter, as he would give if urged in person,
vehemently and with te rs. All do not
know this, and parties in INDECENT eircum-
stances frequently scrape together all the
ready means they can command and come
from distant parts to Nashville. They find
travelling more expensive han they ex-
pected, now that government transportation
Is not furnished and by the time they are
ready to return, their means are exhausted,
are penniless among unsYE4n-
o9idrers WIZ nave Ueeu discharged, and
sought employment here, failing "a it, or
failing to secure it, when thew eek to leave
the city and its vices are enable to do so
rom their inability to seSdre transportation;
hey give up in despair, float along for a
in the dregs of Nashville society, sink
beneath the surface and disappear.
Refugees also from different parts of the
south are frequently compelled to remain
lnwillingly in Nashville from the same
ause, and help in the end to FIJI the haunts
i vice and the abodes of misery.
The number of all those requiring aid is
lot large, yet q little money could be most
idiciouslv used for the most needy and
lost worthy.
General whipple's estimate of the amount
eeded for the purpose is from $50 to 500
month, which, if it could be furnished.
e would take charge Of discussing it care
lilly, and make full reports TO the society
r individuals furnishing it.
Wars seem often to be followed bv nesti-
nee, and even now through all this region !
smallpox prevails more extensively than
has ever prevailed before. The CITY of Z
ashville is full of it. 1t visits alike the i
and the poor, and is found almost the
ltlre length of the railroad. Destitute
oman and children, infected by the dis
Use, are taken to the government Pest
ouse; their clothing is burned they are l
'essed IN hospital suits, cared for and cured +
? the government, and when ready to be
scharged are absolutely naked. 1t is true, A
military authorities provide for them as I
r as possible, but Nashville humanity and ,
ashville Christianity does nothing for !
EN-. A short time ago the General pub- s
he'd q notice, calling the attention of the J
nevolent ladies of the city to this matter, /
ID asking for contributions of cast-off cloth
g suitable for those women and children
1t no response was ELECTED; not a single r
ticle was contributed. Does such a people
serve help? Certainly these destitute
men and children need something to
yer their ~nakedness, and these others.
lie to respond to such an appeal as that
lde by the General, need something to
their n~akedness; still more they need
, example of Christian benevolence and
ldness to know at least by observation, IL
t by practice, what it is to feed the hum
? and elothe the naked, as an act of
manity merely. A little effort in Louis
lie, in Cincinnati, in Cleveland, or in
would secure a few boxes of such
thing, all that is needed for this purpose
4 If forwarded to General Whippie, Head
lrters Military Division Nashville, Tenn. til
would be taken care of and distributed be
him. wi
Yours very truly. cu
NJ. C.. READ. BI
an,