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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 1913)
THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, SEPTEMBER 21, 1913. "HIT AND MISS" CHARITY NOT POLICY OF "VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA" BAND Cases of Destitute and Needy Taken and Followed Through to Definite Conclusion Where They Are Put Firmly "on Their Feet "Drunkards Hard3st to Deal With. Says Adjutant. r If I rAif - , y 4T j. ' ' ' few ft; r-i; i t lit J V ' " - W ).?! J x It? I emillcg straight into the hearts of little maids UKe me. Little maids whose mothers lie still and very white. Whose mothers' eyes are weeping where the other angels he. The moon Is filled, with mother love for every little mam. God suessed we would be lonely and would maybe be afraid At nlKht. when other children say their goodnight prayer. So all the stars- are mother eyes; he put them for us there. Another, in Kipling- style, touches upon the life or "another girl, it is entitled "Judy O'Grady." : Roughened hair, but a hint of curl. Her eyes are nara, ana her mourn is thin; That look In her face they call it sin After all, she's only another girl. or P&fanZeenr ofmercrai sir? JbrS3Tzcf'. BIT LOCISE BRYANT. WE ARE all conversant with the Volunteers of America In a hazy sort of way. Wo see the little groups of uniformed people sinking and preucbins; on the streets every evening with more or less of a crowd about them and we know that occasionally some of the uudlence "gets religion" or salvation or whatever it Is that makes some old down-and-outer swear to his Creator that what's left of him will obev tha frclden rule for time and eter nlty. But few of us know personally any of these earnest looking' men and women whose business it is to save ouls and who trudge bravely through the dlngry streets in the murkiest parts of our cities every day of every year fathering in their weaker brothers. Recently, I went to see Adjutant Jessie Stark s, who Is head of the Vol unteers of America in Portland, at the officers' headquarters at 6 Union ave nue. She Is a pleasant-faced, energ-etic woman, quick and observing, with just enough of the dreamer in her makeup to never grow weary or hopeless over her work. "Someone Haa To Do It." "Don't you ever feel discouraged or as if there Is so much to be done that there Isn't any use?" I asked her. She smiled brightly and said: "Oh, of course I feel that way, we all feel that way sometimes. We never really catch up, we never hope to; but some thing's got to be done and someone has to do it. We have so many things to do that We never stop to think why we do them. Just at first we wonder, but after that we Just work. "We don't believe in charity, I mean In giving alms," she went on, "we be lieve In giving our people a new start; to get thorn on their feet, then they can help themselves. Of course, there are people, old people mostly, . who can't live without being taken care of all the time. "For instance. w have one old fel low who has been an habitual drunk ard for years. He never touches a drop any more, but he is so old that he can't work hard. He sweeps out a hall every day and he gets a few dollars a week for that and we supply the rest. 72. JS . xSXr?s We'll have to take care of him right along, you see. "So many people believe In such a hit and miss sort of charity. To Illus trate my point we'll take the case of a woman with a boy 9 years old. She couldn't find work to do and was ex tremely destitute. When we came across her she had not eaten anything for two days and the boy had only had what he could find about the streets His shoes were worn through and his clothes in rags. Some philanthropic person or society had paid a week's lodgings for them at some cheap room lng house and forgotten them. Tou see, that does not go far enough. I think it is so much better to carry a few deserving cases right through than to give a little here and there and then leave the poor things as bad off the next day. We took this woman and her boy, we gave her a place in our relief department. She has proved a valuable help. Most always it Is that way with the mothers, they will do any kind of hard work to hung on to their babies, and we believe they ought to have them. "Last year we bought milk for ona babv and the mother, who had rheu matism, managed to earn the rest We got her a sewing machine and she took :n plain sewing. The majority of our cases are women, but at the mis sion, where we have services every evening, we get lots of men. It Is the only way most of them would ever be -reached. 'We hnd a flood sufferer recently at the mission. He was still a young man. hut was thoroughly discouraged and despondent. He had beaten his way here from Ohio, and had been looking for something to do. He told me that he Intended to commit suicide. We gave htm a place driving our wagon. Within a few weeks he secured a good position elsewhere. Drunkards Hardest Cases. 'The most disheartening cases are the drunkards. So few of us under stand how they should be treated, bu we save one once In a while, and that encourages us." "But tell me," I said, "do you only help those who come to the meetings and are 'saved' 7" "Xo, indeed!" exclaimed the Adju tant. "You understand, of course, that we are non-sectarian. We of tho Vol unteers are all Americans and Chris tlans, but we do not bar anyone. One of our best helpers is a Jew. He is a bright man, and we consider it an honor to have him work with us. He Is naturally more interested in the Jew lsli cases. A convict, a Jew, who re cently came from the penitentiary at Salem, where he had served a term for white slavery, he brought to us. To gether we fitted him out with clothes and a little money. The first thing the convict did was to send for the girl and marry her. He had brought her to this country from Russia before he was sent up. I don't know how that case will turn out, but we gave him a chance to get on his feet and start right." The pet benevolence of the Volun teers Is the Young Woman's Christian Home, at 12 Bast Seventh street. Here working girls can live cheaply and de cently, surrounded by a splendid en vlronment. The maximum charge Is $3 a week. To unsophisticated country girls this Is of Inestimable value. It is in charge of a fine matron, Lieu tenant A. Koeppa, and is within walk ing distance. Many poor people also find tho re lief department a boon. Wagons go out and collect clothing in all parts of the city. The clothes are cleaned and disinfected, and sold for a nominal sum; Just the price of operating the store. For example, a man can get a pair of shoes, newly soled by the Vol unteer cobbler for Zo cents, and a wo man can get a good, if not too stylish, hat or skirt for 10 or 15 cents. The energetic little band who carry on this tremendous work number 60. OREGON WOMEN WRITERS ISSUING YEAR BOOK FULL OF INFORMATION Club to Open Fall Season Meeting With Reporters' Evening, October 1 Miss Mary Davies, Whose Pen Is Pay ing Way Through College, Complimented by Fair Scrib es of Portland. BY EDITH KNIGHT HOIiMES. A BRIGHT and interesting little year book, replete with informa tion and attractive programmes. Is being issued by the State Woman's Press Club of Oregon. The first meet ing of the club for the Fall season will be held October 1 and will be set aside as reporters" evening. Mrs. L. F. Additon will speak on "Market Reports, Syndicates and Literary Agen cies." Miss Anne Shannon Monroe will tell how newspaper work is s. training for fiction writers- Officers of the club are: President, Mrs. Collsta M. Domling; vice-president. Mrs. Bertha Taylor Voorhorst; re cording secretary, Mrs. Frances Marion Hawkes; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Lucia Faxon Additon; treasurer, Mrs. Sarah I. Lyman. The various commit tees an dtheir chairmen are: Calendar, Mrs- Lucia F. Additon, Mrs. Bertha Taylor Voorhorst. Mrs. Carlln DeWltt Joslyn, Mrs. Edith Cunard Beale; so cial and courtesies, Mrs. Evelyn Allen Aitchison, Mrs. Carlin DeWltt Joslyn, Mrs. L. Bronson Salmon: press. Mrs. Bertha Taylor Voorhorst, Mrs. June McMillen Ordway. Miss Eleanor Bald win; review. Miss Eleanor Baldwin, Mrs. Clara C Ingham. Mrs. Blanche Rafalsky; literary Information, Miss Anne Shannon Monroe, Mrs. Martha Pullman French; literary extension, Mrs. Lucia F. Additon. Mrs. Frances Marion Hawkes, Miss Frances E. Got shall; dramatic. Mrs. Nathan Harris, Mrs. Bertha Taylor Voorhorst: music, Mrs. Carlin DeWltt Joslyn. Mrs. Dora Dean McCutcheon; short stories; Mrs. French. Mrs. Evelyn Allen Aitchison; poetry, Mrs. June McMillen Ordway; Mrs. Nora Armstrong, Mrs. L. A- Nash; Inspirational, Mrs. Ed lth Cunard Beale; membership. Mrs. M. L. T. Hidden. Mrs. Alice Weister, Mrs. Julia C LaBarre; resolutions. Mrs. L. B. Bartiett, Mrs. L. Bronson Salmon. Miss Sarah I. Lyman. The State Woman's Press Club of Oregon was organised in 1899 by Mrs. Lucia Faxon Additon, assisted by Miss Bessie May Guinean. The first meet ing was held at the Imperial Hotel, with 11 charter members, as follows: Mrs. Lucia Faxon Additon, president; Miss Bessie May Guinean. - recording scetary; Miss Edna Isabel Protzman, corresponding secretary; Miss Frances Eleanor Gotshall. treasurer; Mrs. Lucy Mallory. Mrs. L. A. Nash. Mrs. LIschen M. Miller, Miss Laura Jones, Mrs. Judge Plymale, Miss Gertrude Holmes, Mrs. Lucia Chase Bell. Mrs. Additon. at the time, was edit ing a reform paper, and was a mem ber of the State Press Association. Miss Gotshall was editing two maga zines, "Oregon White Ribbon." a W. C. T. U. organ, and "Pacific Empire." a suffrage publication, besides her gen eral publishing and printing work. Miss uotsnau also served as treasurer of the Oregon State Press Association for sev en years. Shortly after organization a delight ful Informal reception was held in the parlors of the Portland Hotel, with the women visitors and delegates to the convention of tho National Press Asso ciation. Another occasion of interest was a trip through the duId and Dater mills at Oregon City, as the) guests of Mrs. Eva Emery Dye. Substantial prizes have been won from time to time by members of the club. Mrs. L. A. Nash, Miss Anne Shan non Monroe and Mrs. Bessie Guinean Rousseau were among the successful contestants in the Commercial Club competition for Oregon publicity arti cles. Pea Is Buying Education. On Monday evening the State Wom an s- Press Club entertained at the home of Mrs. June McMillan Ordway In compliment to Miss Mary Davies, who has Just returned from a success ful year at Berkeley, where she more than paid her way by her pen, with enough margin to hie away to the tenter of the literary market, where she will contlnuo to ply her pen while pursuing her Journalistic studies at Columbia University. During the evening Miss Davies was prevailed upon to read some of the choice poems which helped to make up the winning set submitted in com petition for the J50 Irving prize at Berkeley. The first, "Expectant," is typical of the attitude of the really talented youthful writer: Here stand I. a little maid. I cannot guess what her life has been, what cruel spur, what brink, what chance: How swung the gate of her circumstance; How should I know, kept safe within The port of home? I look and see A-many things beyond my Ken. SlnT It may all be true, but then. She Is only another girl like me. And yet, the happy, bubbling spirit of youth breaks forth spontaneously in the descriptive verse entitled "My World": This is such a happy world, rusk and dawn and dew O, robin's song is sweet. And O, the sky Is blue! Nights a-dance wit scattered stars Days a-gleam with sun Can the world beyond the world Be a sweeter one? Versatile Mind la Shown. When one thinks of the gigantic task of framing up and polishing into per fection, all these and many other gems in but a single night, one can begin to realize the versatility of this one mind and brain. For It was less than 24 hours before the close of the contest when Miss Davies learned of the re quirements. So she sat down with her pen, while one of her classmates seized each sheet as It came from her hands and typed It for her. Then, at almost the last minute, away fled Miss Davies across the campus with her tlnished product. Weighted down with a heavy coat, she 'cast it aside upon a neighboring fence and finally bounded Into the sanctum, where the contest closed Just two minutes after her arrival. Included in the programme of Mon day evening was a variety of musical selections. Miss Beryl Cummins ren dered a number of piano solos, Misses Elizabeth and Josephine Hoben gave several vocal and whistling selections. Mrs. Carlin DeWltt Joslyn sang a 'hushaby" song, playing her own ac coropaniment, both words and music being her own composition. Mrs. Nora Armstrong recited one of her "household" poems and Mrs. E. H. Ing' ham read a number of poems written by Mrs. Ordway, among them being one particularly timely for the even ing of the first day of school: "Their School." They pass along with happy hearts Each one with book and slate: I call to them, with cheerful voice, Lest they should be too late. Ah! yes, I call with cheerful voice. Although my heart Is sad; For now I-think of other days When all the world seemed glad. Those "other days," so long since gone; I pause here, near the gate. And gaze with 'tear-dimmed eyes upon Each little book and slate. And mem'ry reaches far away To all those years so glad. And finds a mother waiting near With kiss for each dear lad. And oft at twilight she doth dream That they kept well each rule. And well she knows God safely keeps All in his own great school. Mrs. M. L. T. Hidden closed the pro gramme with a tribute to Miss Davies and a prediction that she would win Nation-wide fame during her sojourn in the East. The Parent-Teacher circles of Port land will meet at the new library build ing on Thursday afternoon. Plans will be made for the Fall work and club ex tension will be discussed. Mrs. F. S. Myers will preside. The Parent-Teacher circles have been the means of bringing about so many Improvements in the schools and have been so helpful In their splendid co operation with the school board that they have been acknowledged as great power in the modern system. At Irvington school on Wednesday evening the association of the school had a rally beeting at which announce ments were made of the plans to hold half-day sessions and open-air schools In Irvington. Superintendent Alder man, O. M. Plummer. R. L. Sabln. Rev. W. G. Eliot, A. B. Wastell, J. F. Carroll, Mrs Myers and several others gave in teresting talks. Mr. Plummer received a round of ap plause on his appearance on the nlat- form. Mrs. Myers' address was redete with wit and wisdom. She spoke of the co-operation necessary between teachers, parents, pupils and school boards. A collection was taken up for the purpose of establishing a fund for the introduction of basketry and clay moneiing for the youngsters. William F. Woodward was elected president of the Parent-Teacher Asso elation, which will hold meetings In the evenings. If last Wednesday's gathering is an Indication of the en thusiasm prevailing in Irvington, the ciuo is Douna to become a great factor. Mrs. J. W. Beggs, the vice-president. win preside at the afternoon meetings, which will be attended bv the mothers. Miss Heath will serve as secretary and -virs. tj. tobolns as treasurer. BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA DESCRIBED IN DETAIL IN LETTER BY J. W, NESMITH United States Senator From Oregon During Civil War Gives, in Account Written on Field, Story of Hardships of Union Forces and Inside Facts of Rosecrans' Campaign. Holding- up my empty cup. Waiting still, unafraid. For Life's hand to fill it up. Whatso Life shall bid me drink. That will I. and smile at him. Lips shall laugh, though heart may shrink. c-uii, xtiiv, oi io me nrimi remaps the choicest and most touching of the collection, one that by repeated request was read and re read, is "Mother Eyes." All the stars are mother eyes, looking down. luoaiiig uuwn, Straight Into the hearts of little maids like me. 'Little maids whose mothers' evea eta neither smile nor frown. Whose mothers' eyes are fastened, where the low white daisies be. The moon Is filled with mother love, so full as It can hold. The moon that Is of silver, as the sun is made of gold. The clouds. I think, are baby dreams, they are so shy and small: But all the stars are mother eyes, and they are beat of all. All the stars are mother eyes. In the night. in tn nigot. The annual convention of the Ore gon Congress of Mothers and Pareni leacner associations will be held In Portland October 22, 23 and 24. A live ly interest is being shown, in the can didacy for the office of president. Mrs. Robert H. Tate, who has led the des tinies of the organization for a long time, will probably be opposed by Mrs. Arlstine Felts, a capable and brilliant clubwoman and one thoroughly versed school matters and in civic affairs. Mrs. Tate has been a splendid officer, but those who are urging Mrs. Felts' candidacy say that they think long terms in office are always a mistake. n California and in many of the states the federated club presidents and of ficers of mothers' clubs are not per mitted to bold an office for more than two years. Mrs. Felts holds a position on the State Board of Control and was in- trumental In getting j.he training chool for women established In Ore gon. Tho present officers of the Con gress of Mothers are: President Mrs. Robert H. Tate, of Portland. Vice-presidents Mrs. A. King Wilson, Oswego; Mrs. C. J. Smith, Pendleton; Mrs. C. M. Collier, Eugene; Mrs. C. D. Hoyt, Hood River; Mrs. W. W. Ussher, Medford; Mrs. Hugh J. Fitzpatrlck, Hammond. Recording sec retary Mrs. George C Brownell, Con cord. Treasurer Mrs. L. B. Andrews, 514 Boulevard, City View Park, Port land. Corresponding secretary Mrs. H. L. Walter, 418 East Twenty-seventh street North, Portland. Librarian- Mrs. J. a Elliott King, 227 East Sixti eth street, Portland. Auditor Mrs. George T. Gerlinger, Da 11 Eft. Directors Mrs. Samuel Connell, Mrs. E. A. Ses sions, Mrs. L H. Amos, Mrs. C. T. Dick inson. Mrs. F. Langerman, Mrs. John Manning. Advisory council President, P. L. Campbell, Eugene; president, J. W. Kerr, Corvallis; Judge Earl C. Bronaugh, Rabbi Jonah B. Wise, Rev. Luther R- Dyott, D. D.; Rev. W. B. Hin- son, D. D.; Rev. .Benjamin Young, D. D.; Rev. H. J. McDevitt, Samuel Con nell, Dr. A. & Nichols, Mrs. L. W. Slt- ton. Mrs. Sarah A. Evans, Mrs. Jessie M. Honeyman. Mrs. Clara H. Waldo. The Portland Shakespeare Study Club will meet October 7. "Othello" will be the first play studied and later The Winter s Tale and "As You Like It" will be read. Mrs. Allen Todd Is president of the club. Several plays will be given during the season by the members. - N view of the Grand Army re union at Chattanooga, a letter writ ten by the late J. W. Nesmith, Unit ed States Senator from Oregon dur. ing the Civil War. shortly after the memorable battle at Chlckamauga, to the Salem Statesman, is of especial In terest. Few Oregonians of this day know that Senator Nesmith was chairman of the committee on the conduct of the war, probably the most important com mittee of the Senate in the Civil War. He was. appointed a member of this committee soon after he went to the Senate and soon thereafter became Its chairman. He made it his business to keep in close touch with the various Army movements and this necessitated his presence it or near the scenes of a number of important battles. Senator Nesmith had been on a tour of inspection of the armies of the West Just prior to Chickamauga and was with General George II. Thomas on the day of the fight. Senator Nesmith was a loyal supporter of the Union and, a though he differed politically with President Lincoln, he " supported the President's war policies staunchly and the two were intimate friends. His term in the Senate extended from March 4, . 1861, to March 3, 1867. He was also a member of the Forty-third Congress. , The letter follows: "Nashville, Tenn.. Sept. 23, '63. Ed itor Statesman: Having spent some time with the Army of the Cumber land, under the command of General Rosecrans, In the northern portions of Georgia and Alabama, I have thought that it would not be wholly uninter esting to your readers to know what is transpiring in that portion of Dixie. Weeds Supplant Crops. "Leaving this city about two weeks ago in company with the chief quar termaster of this department, we went as far as Bridgeport, Ala., by railroad. The rebels under Bragg, in their hasty retreat from this state In search of the 'last ditch,' destroyed the most mag nificent bridge across the Tennessee at that point, which now leaves Bridge port the Southern terminus of railroad communications, in the rear of Rose crans army. The road from nere to Bridgeport passes over a once fertile and productive region, which has been entirely desolated by the retreating rebels under Bragg and the partisan guerrillas which Infest his wake. For miles there is not a sign of a fence or habitation and the onljf things which give evidence that the country was ever Inhabited is the luxuriant growth of weeds upon now abandoned but once well-cultivated fields. The frequency of solitary chimneys or blackened walls mark the former residences of a once happy and prosperous people, who have been either murdered or rendered houseless by the acts of devils in hu man form in their mad career to de stroy a most beneficent Government. Arson is a fit companion for treason and tho two have walked hand In hand over the State of Tennessee. Graves Mark Battlefield. In our route, we passed over the battlefield Stone River, near Murfrees- boro. There is little, however, to indi cate the sanguinary struggle wnicn took place here on the last of Decem ber and January 1 ana 2 last, except the havoc caused by artillery upon the narrow skirts or timDer wnicn inter sperse the plain, and the mounds which mark the spots where sleep tne neroes who offered up their lives in defense of the Constitution and the Union. The most interesting spot upon the field is the point upon our left at the bank.oi the river, where, on the morning Tr January 2, Breckenridge massed his traitors in a final effort to retrieve the fortunes of the field, and where the most of them were swept from exist ence by the concentrated fire of Rose crans' artillery. "The railroad from Tennesse through Nashville to Bridgeport, is th only route by which supplies cari, at this season of the year, De ODtainea io our advancing army. It is guarded 1 its entire length across the states of Kentucky and Tennessee wltn tne most sedulous care. At eacn bridge a small stockade is erected and occupied by Dicket of our troops. Such defense are admirably 'calculated to resist in fantry or cavalry attacks; and as the guerrillas are mere bands of Southern thieves who are too lazy to laoor, ana too cowardly to Join the rebel army, and whose sole object Is to burn bridges or throw trains off the track for tn purpose of plundering passengers, they have no artillery, consequently the stockades hold the roads tolerably se cure. . "Chivalry" "Gets I'p and Dnrti." "After Braersr's defeat at Stone River he fell back to Tuliahoma, and strongly fortified the place; but as Kosecran advanced, he maneuvered with an in tention to turn his position, when th chivalrv. as the soldiers say, again ske daddled, or got up and dusted, across the Tennessee, destroyed tne Drioge and took position at Chattanooga, Just upon the line between Tennessee and Georgia. During tne present montn TinRvnranft aarain advanced and Brags abandoned Chattanooga, and fell back In the direction of Rome, Ga. Ro crans follower; him up and advanced to Crawfish Serines. 15 miles beyond Chattanooga, ttc which place I found tho Union Army encamped on the evening of Thursday, tha 17th instant. Owine- to the destruction of tne ran road bridge across the Tennessee River, Rosecrans army had to be supplied by wacon transportation over a distance of nearly 50 miles, through as moun tainous country, nearly, as any portion of Oreeron which is traversed by roads The Union Army being thus widely separated from its base, and greatly reduced In numbers by reason of the necessity of making heavy details to protect the line of communication, was c-roatlv weakened, its entire force in front of the enemy probably not ex ceeding 50,000 men. In the meantime Braeer had been heavily reinforced oy the flower of the army In front of Richmond, as well as by Johnston's armv from Mississippi, increasing his force probably to 100,000 men. vviin this overwhelming force he ventured o advance in order to resist our troops entering the heart of Georgia. During the whole of Friday, the 15th, skirmish ing was kept up along the lines. In the evening it became manifest that the enemy lntenaea to attain a position which would enable him to turn to our left, and thus place himself between our army and Chattanooga. The whole f Tuesday night was occupied by our forces in moving to our left, in order to counteract the intended movement of the enemy. . Prisoner Gives Information. "Our position was taken In a densely timbered bottom Just along the banks of the Chlckamauga Creek. As both armies were in a level timbered valley, with only here and there a cleared field. It was exceedingly difficult for one to know anything about the ex act position of the other. At 4 o'clock on Saturday morning, the 19th. the sharp, reveille aroused us from our slumbers and everybody was under arms. In half an hour breakfast was eaten, and by sunrise -the tents were struck and all the baggage sent to the rear. "The morning was chilly and frosty. At headquarters we sat upon the ground or stood In groups around the smouldering embers of the campflre, un til nearly 8 o clock, when half a dozen dragoons dashed in from the front with a nrisnnpr mntintpd llnnn n atout mnfl. I tang-looking horse, Rosecrans put a Jt fti ?1L. : r The Late James W. Nesmith. few direct questions to him, which re sulted In a dialogue nearly as follows: "General What is your name? "Prisoner John Hoffman. "General To what regiment do you belorg? "Prisoner First Louisiana Infantry, but I am on duty as orderly to General Bragg, and was captured by your pickets while carrying ao, order from the commanding General to one of Longstreet's division. General Where are General Bragg s forces this morning? - "Prisoner In your front and to the left, crossing the creek about three miles below here. "These few direct answers, particu larly the last, conveyed valuable In formation, and in less than two minutes Rosecrans and his staff were mounted and galloped to the point indicated by the prisoner as Bragg's crossing. Lieutenant-Colonel Hodges, formerly of the Fourth Infantry, stationed at Van couver, having furnished me with a horse. I mounted and proceeded with the General's staff to Glenn's house, where headquarters were established for the day. Battle of Chickamauga Opens. "At about 9 o'clock the battle opened on our left, where Thomas' corps had been stationed to foil Bragg's advance and prevent him from turning our left. At that point we had probably 20,000 men stationed, while It was thought that the enomy precipitated 40,000 against them. The continual and incessant roar of 60,000 muskets was terrific, but nothing in comparison with the roar of musketry and artillery at 11 o'clock, when the action raged all along our front. The position of head quarters at Glenn's house afforded the best position in the neighborhood for overlooking the field, but even from that position but little could be seen. except down the gradual slope of some cornfields in our front. Rosecrans had his army well In hand and managed it splendidly. As aids and couriers would come dashing up to headquar ters from different portions of the field informing Rosecrans at what points we were the hardest pushed, he would give his orders in a quiet, sententious manner, for such and such brigades or divisions to repair to tha weak points. Sheridan Little Phil, who used to be stationed at Fort Yamhill as a Lieutenant, Fourth United States Infantry, and who won Immortal hon ors and the start of a Major-General at Shiloh, Corinth and Murfreesbo was there, and carried his division into action in the most splendid and gallant manner. Phil looked dark, thin and wiry. His modesty was only equalled by his courage. He was loved by the Army and known as the 'Little Corporal.' Hazen. who was also sta tioned at Yamhill in 1856-7 as a Lieutenant, was also upon the ground, and, as usual, did splendid fighting. Fighting Is Sanguinary. "I must refer you to the papers for a detailed account of the battle of Sat urday and Sunday. During the first day we lost 3000 m wounded, while our killed was estimated at 600 or 700. Our troops were well handled and fought with the most persistent cour age. We took about 300 prisoners and some seven or eight pieces of artillery. As our troops merely acted upon the defensive and held their position against overwhelming numbers hurled against thum, it is conceded that the losses of the enemy were much greater than our own. During the night of Saturday our forces changed position a little more to the left and with the right drawn a little back. On Sunday morning our forces were all in positon, and the fight opened up on left, Bragg se ming deter mined to reach our rear In that direc tion, but Thomas was ready for him there, as upon the previous day, and gave him the most terrible repulses. Crittenden's and McCook's corps being in the center and upon the left were greatly reduced In numbers by reason of heavy reinforcements to assist Thomas on ,the left. The enemy were in such Immense numbers as to be able to mass large bodies of troops upon our right at the time mat iney were pressing Thomas. The attack was made upon the right at 12 o'clock. I hap pened to be standing near a couple of batteries posted upon a lightly elevated ridge, at our right, when the grand at tack commenced. About half a mile In front of these batteries extended an old field at the termination of which was narrow cornfield along the edge of the woods. Retreat Tells of Rebels. The first intimation that we had of an attack In that quarter was our troops flying through the cornfield pur sued bv immense masses of rebel troops. Twenty pieces of artillery opened at once upon the advancing host of rebels and mowed them down with great slaughter, but their numbers were such as to ename mem to mi up mo gaps, and advancing upon the battery upon the crest of the ridge took it with but little opposition, as it naa Deen deprived of its supports in order to reinforce the left. At the time these batteries were taken, the weakened right being pierced gave way in confusion and retreated to Rdssville, a distance of about six miles, where it was reorganized. About the time" that the right gave way, General Gordon Granger (who once served in Oregon as a Lieutenant in the mounted rifles) came up on the left and center and turned the tide of battle, driving the enemy back with great slaughter. During Sunday night our army fell back to Rossville, which is some five six miles In front of Chattanooga, and took up a strong position, . from which Bragg, with all his forces, has been unable to dislodge him. Durinir the two days' fight our losses were estimated at about 10.000 in killed and wounded. About 5000 of our men fell into tho hands of the en emy. They were mostly, however, wounded. We took about 2500 prison ers. Our loss In artillery has been considerable. Yet it is admitted that the rebels lost much more heavily In men than we did. Their long list of killed and wounded, general officers attest to the severity of their punish ment. Condition of People Destitute. "Nearly all of the aole-bodled men along the Tennessee River and In Northern Georgia ana Alabama have been conscripted by the rebels, while the women and children are left in the most abject destitution. Many of those conscripted are daily deserting the rebel ranks and joining the Union army. These people of the mountain tain districts are poor, but an honest and Industrious race. They own few or no negroes and had no interest In se cession. Yet they have been subjected to tne most rigorous horrors of a des olating civil war. Volumes might be filled with the revolting stories of the barbarous treatment which they have experienced at the hands of the 'high minded, honorable chivalry of the South.' If rosecrans is able to hold his position In Georgia and Burnslde In East Tennessee, as I tnlnk they will, a powerful nucleus will bo formed around which loyal inhabitants of that great mountain region will rally for their own protection. A new base of opera tions will also be formed there from which the great heart of rebeldora may easily be reached. Rebel Chiefs Assailed. ,"As I have referred to Hodges, Gran ger and Sheridan, who once served Ore gon, perhaps some of your readers would like to hear something of otnor distinguished officers who have served upon this , coast. First, as a distin guished thief, I will mention Captain Thomas Jordan, once Quartermaster at The 'Dalles, and editor of a paper there. He is and has been for a long time chief of Peter Gustaf Toutant de Beau regard's staff and has rendered him self quite as ridiculous in his general orders and proclamations as he did when he played the 'gentleman of con dition' and contributed his 'notes of reading' to the Standard. Several other 'notes' which he gave to persons in Oregon when he got them to sign vouchers which he took up In his ac counts, without payments, still remain as mementos of his literary labors and are quite as interesting reading as his 'beauty and duty' proclamation. His booty consists of about $50,000, for which he is a defaulter to the Govern ment which educated and fed him and which he Is now exerting his slender abilities to destroy. "Old Gabriel Rains, once In command at Vancouver and The Dalles, as Major in the. Fourth Infantry, is now manu facturer-general of torpedoes for the conthieveracy and plants his infernal projectiles wherever he thinks un hon est man may chance to tread. It is to be hoped that the old fool will some day be hoisted with his own petard. Withers, Mallory, Pickett, Wlckllff, Frazler, Winder, Garnett and several others of the Fourth snd Ninth whose names I have forgotten went Into the rebel service. Garnett and Winder havo been killed and Frazier was captured the other day by Burnside at the Cum berland Gap. I will turn from this festering mass of dishonesty and trea son and refer to some honorable names now serving our country. Captain Rufus Ingalls, formerly quartermaster at Vancouver, and a member of the commissions to audit our war claims, is now wearing the well-earned star of a Brigadier-General, and has for mors than two years been chief quarter master of the Army of the Potomac He has done much hard labor and ren dered more efficient service to the Government than any man of his rank in the Army. He Is talked of as the rising man for Quartermaster-General of the Army, and deserves the position. 'Captain A. J. Smith, of the First Dragoons, long In command of Fort Lane, Is now a Brigadier-General and chief of cavalry In Grant's army. Frutszen, of the same regiment, is a Colonel in the Army of the Potomac. "Captain Auger, once In command of Fort Hoskins, and Captain A. Grover, a brother of Hon. Lafayette Grover, who crossed the plains In Governor Stevens' expedition, are both Generals and are among the best soldiers In the Army. They furnished the brains and did the fighting for the Army of the Gulf, under Banks. "Captain Dennis Russell, of the Fourth Infantry, is a Brigadier-General In the Army of the Potomac. "Ord is a Major-General with Grant and among the best. "Judah, of the Fourth Infantry, and Tyler, of the Artillery, are also Brigadier-Generals. Many other meritorious officers who served on our coast, and who are now doing good service in our Army, might be mentioned. I will re fer to them In a subsequent letter. "J. W. NESMITH." DANCING LISTJS TO BE CUT State Functions at Buckingham Pal ace Will Be Smaller. LONDON, Sept. 20. (Special.) The middle of September finds the fash ionable 400 on this side of the At lantic parting reluctantly from the scene of tangoes and Bostons which , have made Scotland for them the most enjoyable place on the social round during the past few months. Seldom has a night gone by without its danc ing feature for the young people, and the "small and early" gatherings have often developed Into lengthy func tions with a special breakfast at day light. Hostesses who were broughfback to town early for the wedding of Prince Arthur of Cannaught to the Duchess of Fife, and who undobtedly will re main for the Winter season, are look-; lng forward with no anxiety to the entertainments which are made easy now for them by the lists of men who are nbt only willing but eager to dance. Meanwhile, .however, gossip is busy over the news that the Lord Chamber lain's department is engaged In a dras tic revision of the lists of persons en titled to receive an Invitation to state functions, with a view to preventing a recurrence of the recent overcrowd ing at court balls. This means that all state functions at Buckingham Palace will be much smaller than has been the case of recent years. LABOR DEBATE PLANNED Berlin to Study Method of Giving Work to Unemployed. BERLIN, Sept. 20. (Special.) The Berlin municipality is to- have a full- dress debate on unemployment. An ur gent motion will be brought forward asking the city authorities to arrange that all buildings, drainage and garden works, for which money has been sanc tioned, shall be lken In hand at once and work accelerated during the com ing Winter. Care is to be taken not only to give employment to unskilled, but to skilled labor as well. It is further arranged that the com mittee which has been considering the question of unemployment Insurance shall be asked to make definite pro posals based on investigations which they have been pursuing for some time. The Kaiser has given his hearty ap proval to the importation of mutton from Australia.