Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-12-24
The Last Ditch.

= nv S''"'ca' PllVatton suffered by The Con,
iedcfatcs, writes Southern LADY, az froa,
lack OF medicines. The Government at WssS4
layton made them conraband of war; 0oin;no
aud morphine were worth double, nay trebe'
theIr weight in gold, and when StoneWall JseI.'
son arm was amputated, the fact that be had
the aid OF chofoForm to sustain him under tba
operation was autographed as news througbon,
the Confederacy-neWs to be received Wink
thanktuluess by the waiting heart of the pconle
Federal prisoners cursed the Confederate sur'
gcons who refused them morphine and chl0ro.
form IN their agobies; but Coniederates AMI
Fedcras suffered alike; nothing was scarcer q,
more precious than such drugs, and not few
Southern hospitals had little Of the oac and
none OF the other in their stores.
An attempt was made to cultivate opium
ADD to that end the seed OF the red and vbi,n,
poppy was distributed through the couorv bv
the Government at Richmond. The plan va:
to prick the gum capsules OF the plaut ond
collect the gum which exuded from the wou5d.
thus madc; but the project met with 20 suc.c..
farther north than Southern Alabama apl
Mississippi, and even there was only partis.,
successful. believe that some SOFT Of dcc5,
ton, made from the green seed, STEPPED !,
brandy, was used as lotion ia cases O. aeu,p
neuralgia, but l am not sure.
Corr, wheat and other grains were 50 prc
cious as breadstufS that their distiIlaton ino ia
toXicalDg liquors WAS forbidden 10th Is the
Confederate Congress and by the various State
Legislatures. So that tluit brandies, run mad.
from the Juice of the Ciircsa sugar cane and
grape wines were the uniy Lawful strong drinks
Ct the cVuntry. III, $, Paid heavy tax.s hul
they also brought h,gh p!iets, aud large quaa
titles Of them were manufactured.
Victims OF neuralgia were forced to drink anu
forget their misery when hot pouIticcs failed to
bring relief, since opium was to be had only At
fancy prices. BGominc was uuattainable, aud
all anoadyues so wholly out Of reach that fsw
people even sighed for them.
The medical department sent botanizing par.
ties prospecing through the country 10 search
OF roofs and herbs which might be of medical
value, ADD appealed to the people of the Con.
tedcracy to collect and prepare such simplcs as
slippery elm. Sarsaparllla, black berry root, GIN
scng, cic. Herb teas were used 10 the hosp.
tails by surgeons who for years had rliiculed
them as old wives remedies, but who now
turned to them in necessity, for lack OF more
efficient medicines. Southern women trod oc
bare l,ors, cutting the carpets which had cor.
cred them into blankets for sick soldiers. l.,uen
sheets and undcrclolhDg we're torn into band
ages, and private stores were freely used for
the sick and dying O1cc, during the seven
days fighting around Richmond. pubic VOL
ship was suspended on Sunday and the mem
bcrS Of the churches worked all day long 10 their
lecture rooms, making sand bags for the lorl.
Gcations and loiliog bandages and scraplng lln'
for the wounded.
PROGRESS OF TIE COLoRED RACE.-At thu
=. Il. Church Of the Epiphany in Washington,
yesterday, the rather novel spectacle was Wit
messed Of colorcd clergyman participating In
the services aud afterwards addressing the con
grcgation from the desk. The Church OF H.,
Epiphany is one Of the most fashionable church,
cs Of Washington, and has an oveltiowlng ecu
rtgatioD. The c0lorcd minister who spoke 10.
day, the Rev. d.. CrummclI, cDllstcd the M
divided attention OF the whole congregation
from the beginning TO the end. lie is appar
emily between fifty and sixty years Of age, Of
good presence and with gray hair and beard
lie spoke huentIy and lorcibly, and the cuur'
ed and rcfned audience which he addressed
would not have found much food for criticism
had thcr! been any disposition to indulge in II.
liz skctchcd the religious progress of the AtrI
can race in America from the time that its req.
!
naked and pagans, down to the era Of cmancl-
patton, and the progress since that time. II:
stated that there are but two cities 10 the Unlon
where the coIored population is larger than 10
Washin1ton that they are attracted to this city
rs thu capital Of the nation; that here will b,
fouod the uinst enlightened and the most pro
grcssiec Of the race IL then dwcIt upon tn"
nt :Sslly lor The we'll being OF society that thl
mass Of people should be wcancd from the cmo
tional, or "plantaIi1n" religion, ~ he styles it,
f their fathers, aud from the tendency TO oG
deity, which he said VAS also becoming aupar
cnt lie believed that noble religion Of the
hnplcau Church was the best safeguard that
cou'I be thrown around his peopIe-that under
its humanizirg and Christlauzng iofiucntr.
they would and must improve, and become q
class acceptable, alike to God and man. Thr
Rev. DR.. Crummeli is the rector Of st. Mary.
L. II. Culorcd Church OF Washington, which Il
now 10 process Of erection, and his appeal wa
to his white brethren for aid The appeal I"
day was generally responded to. Wash. Cor.
Buh. ,Sm
GEN. BUTLER ON TIE SITUATION. C aucral
Butler made speech, 10 Boston, last Satur
day night, 10 which he predicted the passage
of the Bland Silver BILL and its repasSage over
a possible veto OF the President, and claims that
the result will be universal prosperity. lie
argued that up to the act of 1869 the United
States statutes allowed the payment of bonds
10 greenbacks and since 10 con, which word he
contends means gold and silver. 10 regard to
the tariff the General says there is a disposition
among the congressman from other sections to
legisatc against the East lie will vote against
taSiog tea and coffee, and against ncreaslog
duties on tobacco, Spirits etc. Gen. Butler de-
votes large portion OF his speech to criticism
of President Hayes Southern and civil service
policies. "Mr. Hayes" he says, must either
joi1 the democrats or republicans before irb
ruary. The republicans in Congress arc 3oIiI'
az ,cst him." The Gaueral said he did not
know what civil service reform meant. In
the phrase was only used 10 lest.
He ridiculcd the Presidents course 10 this re-
gard, as en- the matter OF Southern pacGcatlo9'
Wife and Child Shot.
MEMPHIS, Dec. 24.-Detcctivc William I.
Pride, while half asleep, carly this mornlng
Imagined he heard a burglar at the window
add 10 attempting to cock his pistol it was ds
charged, the ball passing through the bcdy OF hI5
five months old child, and also through the
hodo of his o irn c,u,inp II, death of both II