Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1867-03-22
CONFEDERATE ORPHANS.

OVNE VhI HAND
To The People Of Tennessee.
You are now appealed-to in behalf of the
destitute Orphans of the Confederate Sol
diers who enlisted from the State of Tennes-
See and offered up their lives for the Land
they loved so well.
There are two or three thousand of these
destitute children in the State-the sad heri-
tage of this cruel war. Their condition is
deplorable-they are the helpless victims of
the most abject suffering and want. Many
of them haze already found an Orphans
grave, and many more are rapidly approach
ing worse fate!
To just aud honorable people this is a
most shameful reproach. Shall we turn our
backs upon these helpless Orphsns--the off
spring of our noble Heroes, whose honored
death has made their names immortal p
the pleadings of those little ones must be
heard, and every true man will answer
Alright. Certainly no one will plead the great
ness of his losses in the presence of these
fatherIess Orphans, who have lost so much
Is not the land for which the Hero bleeds
pledged to give the Hero's Orphan a happy
home1
Will not generous and brave people ever
feel it to be their highest duty to provide for
the Destitute Orphans of their fallen Soldiers
There is no escape from this solemn duty
The Soldiers were assured again and again il
they would go forth and fight their Coun-
try's battles, their children would never suf-
fer. An honorable grave tells how gallant.
ly and bravely they have done their duty
and this whole People are solemnly bound to
provide for their fatherless children. A more
sacred pledge never bound the human heart
than binds the People Of this State to pro.
vide for the Destitute Orphans of their fallen
Soldiers. And no one who has the proud
breathing of man would even wish to re.
pudiate it. The solemn pledge is rs sacred
as the Soldiers grave! Defenders of the
precious dead, shall we not pour the earnes
pleadings Of these fatherless children upor
the public ear until these sacred pledges ar,
all redeemed, and our noble State can proud
ly point to her Orphans Home, lifting up it
splendid proportions on the fair banks Of tn,
Cumberland, the pride and glory Of ou
land.
Fair daughters of TENNESSEE 1t has eve
been your proud distinction to honor tn,
bravel Your delicate hand alone car
wreath the chaplet for the Soldiers brow J.
Your gentle voice alone could soothe when
the stout and brave were stricken down =
You softly wiped the cold sweat OF dealt
| from the heros brow--heard the last whis
perings Of his departing spirit, and closed bis
eyes for the gravel Noble Women of oul
State can you be Indifferent to the helpless
Orphans of these fallen Soldiers, that are now
begging for shelter and bread in the lane
that has been made immortal by the baptism
of their fathers blood In this day of dark
ness and distress, still be true to yourselves
Lay tribute upon all that is yours, ant
with noble offering push on the sacred en-
terprise that pleads so earnestly for your
help.
In deeds of charity your tongue, you
pen, your hands have never found an equal
Lend these wonderful energies TO this righte
Gus cause, and the helpless Orphan, now sink
ing to the grave, will yet live to bless 20,
with with its smiles OF love- And who car
tell, but that the grateful spirit of the de
parted Sire may often whisper in your ear
dreams as bright and fair as the visions O
the blest
Soldiers of the Confederate cause; | an
sure the pleadings of oar fallen comrades
helpless Orphans win not come before you il
vainl Your generous hearts and liberia
hands have counted upon in accomplish
ing tins good work Give me your energies
!, aud this grand enterprise can be made
splendid success. Help me with your tongu
and pen to plead this noble cause upon ever!
ear over many hard fought field. an
trials and su6erngs, we have struggled to
gether in cause alike dear 10 all: here lie
us strike heart and hand again-,he cause
as sacred as the grave-and never let us res
from our IaboF' until this grand en,erPris