The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-23
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Tha soldiers, ..Homa,, at Daxton. q

The Soldiers "Home' at Dayton, O.
To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
The veteran of the late war who is driven,
by misfortune, to come to one of these mis-
named ''homes" for soldiers, will regret that he
did not seek sanctuary in his county poor-house
ere he placed himself under the rules and ar
ticles of war" With fine buildings grand sur
roundings, beautiful gardens, plenty to eat.
drink and wear. life is made burden to him by
petty tyranny and the multiplicity of orders is
sued by the cold crank" in charge of this
branch, who, arrayed in gorgeous uniform OF a
| major general, gallops around worrying every
one. under the impression that the war is still
going OH.
When new mambers are admitted, on Satur-
day the Governor draws them up in line and
sends to them the articles Of war, emphasizing
the punisbments. especially those when the of
fender has to be shot. Then he swears themIin
to obey those articles and be "loyaln to the home,
and winds up with peroration concludin G:
"You are now soldiers as much as il you were
in the regular army, but do not require you to
carry muskets."
Then the new man is sent under guard to the
quarantine, where he is instructed in tn orders.
Going out of the home without pass, bringing
in whisky going into certain saloons ostracised
by the Governor, failing to salute the command
ing officer, and some other things such as DISC
bedience of orders, are punished by long term
breaking stone in the quarry-without any shell
ter from the weather-with an armed guard
and to their meals under these guards, as
though they were convicts. Men are also pun
ished for going around the home without their
coats being buttoned up. for going around the
railroad depot, for talking to visitors and for
the least remark made back to policeman or
sergeant
Visitors are not allowed to 60 near the quarry
or to take alook in the guard-house where in the
covering wretches, manacled or handcuffed, 1t
would be hard to recognize the brave youth who
with heart aeow and patriotic fire in his bosom,
followed the glorious stars and stripes to vic
tory. And this change is wrought by one old
tyrant-undoubtedly out of his mind-who i'm
agnes that he is still provost marshal OF the
Army of the Potomac. and these broken-down
old warriors of Indiana, Ohio and Illinois are
bounty jumpers and scallawags. It is asked
why is he kent in charge Of such an institution
driving the wards of the Nation to death or in
sanity. The answer is given that he is brother
in-law to Franklin. the president of the board
of managers of Soldiers Homes.
If man Is punished without cause and he
protests or becomes 'ncorrigible," as they call
it, he is put in close confinement and the doctor
who is a tool of the Governors sent to ex-
injured in the head, if he has ever been in an
asylum, etc, and he is let know that he is con-
sidered to be crank, aid is examined with a
view to being sent to the Lunatic Asylum at
Washington. If he becomes excited, as is fire.
quently the case, this is put down as evidence
against him. He is confined, worried and ex
amined. until he either escapes at the first OPP
portunity they actually send him to
Washington. He has no appeal, and they have
got rid of man "disloyal" to the administration
of the home.
Visitors are not permitted to enter barracks or
stand on the porches, and the men have to meet
their relatives in the streets. No one, except
the officers, is allowed out of the home without
pass, and no permission is given to stay out
over night unless going distance away. The
guard-house is nearly always full of men for
trivial offenses and there. eaten by the vermin
with which it is infested, they remain until
their mock trial gives them work on the stone
pile or sweeping up the streets.
Read Report No 2676, House of Representa-
tives, Forty eighth Congress, second session,
which is to be found in nearly every public
library and you will see that I have not told
one-tenth of the ourrages ard annoyances