The New York herald., 1870-01-21
TIE SOLDIERS RETREAT.

Good observation-disclosures Of Home for
Wounded Veterans ON Wards Island.
1t has been said that republics are ungraterul"
and saying Is not entirely devoid oil truth taking
into consideration the vast number OF manned
veterans OF the late war who are to-day wandering
through the streets Of various Northern cities beg
ging for the necessities OF life, mainly because the
government has failed to provide suitable prOvi-
sions for their maintenance New York has its full
quota or this class Of unfortunate humanity AT the
close OF tho war propositions to found soldiers
homes and asyums were made In profusion, ana Ii
the words OF would-be philanthropists could have
possibly come true. much OF the misery and degra-
dation TO be seen would have been obviated; but,
like the statue that was to have been erected in
Union square to the memory Of President Lincoln,
has been forgotten.
During the past year there was an effort made
by number Of humane ladies OF this city to estab-
llsh o home for crippled soldiers, but the project
fell through for the want Of sufficient amount Of
funds to carry out their scheme.
The Almshouse on BlacKwell's Island. was filed
with poverty stricken. one armed and one legged
soldiers as early as November PEI asl, ana 30 5 rapidly
the attention or the commissioners OF Charities and
Correction, who held special meeting on the 18th
of that month and caused to be issued the following
ORDER
Whereas numbers Of volunteer United States soldiers by
the hospitals and almshousos Of the department. 1t Is there
Ordered That the Warden Of the Almshouse
gous wards to be fitted for such shall have
Of honorable discharge, who HIS satisfaction, shall
show they honorsby discharged from tho
United States by reason OF having received W0hds
contracted disease while n M line duty ana that they
he hSsps from that o.
Immediately after the PRONUNCIATION OF this benevo
lent order the soldiers In the various pauper asyums
on Blackwell's Island were gathered together fur
nisned with warm, comfortable army clothing and
transferred to the Incurable Hospital, where they
were assigned wards eatirely separate from the
-ua patients until suitable apartments could be pro.
video elsewhere. The Commissioners In the month
of selected the east wing of the Inebrlate
Asylnm an Wn~ds Island as their future home and
after making Considerable alterations they were
transferred to that institution during Christmas
week where they are present under the charge Of
DR.. Fisher. .,
They number between 120 and $50, and have
every comfort Of a home The men are dvi
ded Off in messes Of ten and tweve-army
fashion-and are governed strictly BY military
regulations. They rise at five O'Clock i'll the morn.
ing, at the tap Of drum lat least those who can
manage to hObble along) file out by column, per-
form their ablutions, and march in The hall or dining
room to their breakfast, which consists OF all the
coffee they wish to drink. good, wholesome meal
twice week. After this meal has been finished
they are employed at little oddjobs around the build
ing until one O'Clock, when they partake OF SUBJ
stanta dinner, which consists OF salt beef and pork
vegetable soups bread and potatoes, and rice pud.
dlng every other day. For supper, mush and mOlas-
ses Dooms or wards are being fitted up sufncieni
to accommodate between 100 and 200 men, so that
destitute soldiers on the streets will be speedily de-
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