The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-16
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
For Additional Local Items see Third Page. ]

THE AMERICAN UNION COMMISSION
The following extracts, taken from a letter
written by an estimable lady Of our own State
now serving the American Union ommis5ion
of Pennsylvania and New Jersey IN Georgia,
will be read with interest, and lead many pc
nevolent hearts TO contribute freely to the
good work In which they are engaged in pro-
Viding for the impoverished women aud chill.
dren of the South, and especially for the widows
and orphans OF loyal men who did all they
could to maintain the integrity OF the nation
against the assaults of its enemies -
ATLANTA, Ga October g. 1866 Since the
school, houses built by the Commission have been
completed and thoroughly furnished with SKIS,
books maps and every appliance, our teachers
have col ected around them five hundred Door de-
pendent children, taken from the tents; shantles,
the Injunction OF our blessed Saviour to care for the
little ones How tender was His sohcitude for
them when upon earth and how honorable their
distinction when he made them emb.ems of the re.
The majority of these children were deprived by
the war OF heir natural protectors and now de-
pendent upon the charity OF others: wish You
Their experence with sorrow and suffering. 1t is
enough to melt the healt OF stone TO listen as
IN Their arness way they tel, & 9I iatners Anxiety
how father kept himself hid away IN some daIk or
narrow place for DAYS. often weeks. and of his try
ing to escape from his enemies. Sometimes they
succeeded in getting away, and long time after in
a mysterious manner, they were reIoics to near
that father was safe, and in the Union army. The
next rews tod tn m he was wounded and In the
hospital and if he lived would be- cripple TOR life;
Another will say-My father tried to get away,
but was captured and brought back forced into the
army thrust into prison, and we had to leave our
home; the soldiers told US we must go. Many OF
these children tell OF scenes they witnessed that
would make you start back with horror They have
seen the midnight assassin. the consuming hIe, the
from home, and ITS att, ndant privations and many
sorrows. And why all thisf Because these were
assai our dear old flag. dAnd now the children OF
these heroic men (martYrs) are calling for help.
Win their nelghbors and enemies VINO persecuted
them aud deprived them O., their iather- sympathze
with them nowf No!-rhey tell them-You loved
the Yankees; your ather preferred to die for them;
now you also can go to the Yankees And shall we
refuse to care tor the offspring of brave and perse
cuted menr
understand that it was the truly loyal who suffered
mOst-and suffer stillf For their adhesion TO the
before the Federal army could reach and rescue
them. Hundreds OF them were murdered, and many
died from exposure, and their little ones are here
them in the schools. They appreciate Q the kindness
of the Commission, are very udlous, and improve
rapidly But the work has but just commenced, and
now let IT 60 on vigorously. Let us educate and
elevate their little ones This it is that puraes the
the man" This is laying the axe at the very root
of the tree This is building from the right source
The foundation is now lald BY Northern hands; let
US NOT grow weary; let not the work stop while the
building is in course OF erection, and prove stigma
Ii the citizens of Pennsylvania and New Jersey
will sustain their Commission one year lonper the
city nigntt proDaDlyI % aDIe IN lake care OF the
schools, but this coming year, we who are here
and know that they cannot do IL At present the
people are taxed 20 the utmost. aid still more Is
needed to buy bread for hundIeos of destitute
women and children The unprecedented drougnt of
the past season makes provisions scarce and nigh.
priced, and consequently heavy lax is required to
give each family bread.
am happy to inform you that our scholars are
almost entirely the children OF parents Who opposed
the war. i might fill sheets IN describing every daV
incidents and of and restitution, that
perhaps would seem almost incredible but that I
have made my letter so long already, will leave a
description of our thinly clad and barefooted call.
dren for my next letter.
Contributions to the Commission, in money or
clothing, will be gratefully received by Samuel
V. Merrlck President, William Siruthers, Trea-
surer, No, 1922 Market street, and Joseph Par
ker, Secretary, Tract House, No. 1910 Chesn Mt
street.