Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-01
BAND OF SOUTHERN WOMEN.
Something of the Work OF the
Auxiliary OF Lee Camp.

va tftt thfPs
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
While we are so interested in the Con-
federatc page Of the Dispatch. l thought
1t might not be out Of place to cay
few words about our Confederate women.
There is a small band Of these women,
known by very few. but the poor OF
Richmond. They constitute the Woman's
Auxiliary of II. L. Lee Camp, whose work
has been for the past five years to 70
daily among the sick and suffering WIFE,
widow. or child Of the Confederate soi-
der giving them such relief as their
small means VIII allow. Lee Camp (whO
have their own members 10 look ateD
supply Gs far az possible funds for this
purpose We have to turn away many
who are deserving because of our small
means. one came with her husbands en-
lisiment. furlough on account Of wounds.
and parole at close Of war framed. and
begged for help. Another. n widow and
children, with the book containing the
roll Of the company 70 which her husband
belonged. The book had been pierced
with bullet His life had been
saved, but he lost his arm.
She IS now widow trying 10 exc out
an existence by her needle. SIN another
worthy lady from the county comes anu
says: MY husband is at the Soldiers
Home. | and my children starving; Tor
Gods sake send me something 10 puy
bread" During the time OF the RENTER
ment OF our President. a gentleman from
Nississirpi. a general in the Confederate
army. who had not been here since the
war. asked me. DO you know II MIS-. -
Is living here now? Her home used 10
be headluarters for our soldiers, and she
always had something 10 eat for US
NV reply was: Yes, husband ana chill
dren dead and she an inmate Of one Of
our Church homes" Another one, who.
after the battle o. Manassas, having a
handsome home and being a woman OF
means. threw open her house as q hOspi-
tel. with her own hands attending the
wounded and closing the eyes OF the
diving. Now her homo IS IN tn. hearts
OF strangers. and she IS almost pennliess.
How many Of those she nursed back to
lie have given her n thought? None
tina, know OF. save a little Yankee boy.
who. when the Ninth New York Regi-
inent was stationed In the little town
where she lives. begged to BE- taken
I'm, He said he would die II sent to a
hospital She r'i take him in. and nursed
him as II he had been her own rebel
son. and not Yankee After the war
closed be wrote to a prominent lawyer
Of the place, asking II she was alive.
as he would Ike to send her handsome
piece of silver in token OF her kindness.
The answer was. 'If you have anything
to send, let II be something TO put bread
IN the mouths Of herself and her little
| girls" and In few days came a check
that kept them from want many days.
| could so on forever. but 1t sounds as II
thought our soldiers ungrateful. No.
there is not one OF them. at their reunions,
/ bGnquets. and Publications. who does not
| tell Of the noble women OF the South
land. and want to raise a monument 10
| them. We do not want monument.
Every soldiers monument In the land
| tells the story OF the mothers and wives
who sent to the war the best part Of
| thcms elves-their sons and husbands. But
| they want you 70 remember that there
| is an organization. whose work OF love
is TO help the widows. wives. and children
| of your comrades-in-arms who were not