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.