CHAPTER III.

THE FREEDMEN; THE REFUGEES; THE DESTITUTE SOUTH.

The first Movement in regard to the Freedmen. Contributions to relieve the suffering and loyal People of East Tennessee. - The Sailor's Home. Boston sends Aid to Savannah. Aid for Missouri. - Woman's Work.

HE earliest association formed to take care of the liberated

of the Old South, Boston, Feb. 7, 1862. Mr. E. L. Pierce, UnitedStates agent for emancipated negroes of Port Royal, had made an effective appeal; and, in the quiet gathering at the parsonage, the desired result was attained in the organization of the NewEngland Freedmen's Aid Society; his Excellency John A. Andrew, president. The call for patient and faithful teachers to go among the unlettered, docile, and multiplying thousands whose manacles the unsparing hand of Mars had shivered, was answered by the sons and daughters of New England with enthu siasm; and soon many of them were surrounded by the eager learners, who, but a few days before, were chattels. Of the money and goods which the society contributed in two years, whose val uation was nearly a hundred and thirty-six thousand dollars, almost the entire sum was from New England, and three-quarters of it from Massachusetts alone. For the freedmen of the Southwest, through Chaplains Fiske and Fisher, New England gave forty thousand dollars more. Boston added nine thousand dollars to the funds of the Roanoke Colony.

Massachusetts furnished the Thanksgiving dinner in 1864 for all the soldiers in the Washington hospitals (seventeen thousand), besides supplying the forts in Boston Harbor and other military stations, and sharing in the New-York army-subscription. When, early in 1864, the touching appeal in behalf of loyal and outraged East Tennessee was made by Col. Taylor, Boston was the first to act. Feb. 10, 1864, a public meeting was held in Faneuil Hall, of which Edward Everett was president; and Gov. Andrew, Mayor Lincoln, and others, vice-presidents. Mr. Everett, upon taking the chair, made one of his happiest efforts on such occasions.

Whoever heard him will not forget his eloquent descriptions of the rivers, valleys, and the summits crowned with cultivation to their tops, the resources and health-breathing climate, of East Tennessee, closing with this paraphrase of a German poet:

"On the mountains is freedom: the breath of the vales

Rises not up to the pure mountain gales."

Though no call was made upon individual benevolence, several notes with remittances were received, effectively demonstrating practical sympathy, which we are compelled to exclude from these pages. The Second Church in Dorchester transmitted three hundred and twenty-five dollars through the hands of the pastor, Rev. James A. Means. Mr. T. P. Allen's school of New Bedford sent sixty-seven dollars. Mr. George F. Bartlett of the same city sent six sovereigns, the only thing saved from the whaleship "Lafayette," burned by "The Alabama," April 15, 1863, off Fernando de Noronlea. Capt. Lewis had this gold with him on shore to purchase stores; when Semmes steamed around the island, and burned his ship. Mr. Bartlett alluded touchingly to the immortal Lafayette in his note. A very interesting note, enclosing fortyfive dollars from three school-misses of Chelsea, was also received. This sum was collected by them from house to house, after their school-hours, in small sums. A poor old woman gave her all, seven cents, with an earnest wish that it were more. The handsome donation of a hundred and thirty-two dollars was sent by the Eliot-church Sabbath School of Newton. The scholars were stimulated to give liberally by the offer of the teachers to double the amount they gave. A noble warrior, who had fought by the side of East Tennesseeans, forwarded five hundred dollars, modestly signing himself "Anonymous." Miss Anne Wigglesworth accompanied her second donation of a hundred dollars with expressions worthy a true woman's loyalty.

The naval heroes in the service of the Union were well-nigh overlooked in their isolation, because the people had for many years left all sailors to such care as benevolent societies in time of peace might give them.

And yet what could the nation have done without the mariners of "The Congress," "The Cumberland," "The Monitor," the Porter and the Farragut fleet, and the men of a thousand or more floating leviathans, which, in battle and blockade, held or ravaged the enemy?

To Boston belongs the honor of the first popular demonstration in their behalf.

The National Sailors' Fair, to secure a Sailor's Home, opened in Boston, Nov. 9, 1864. It was a "Boston notion," adopted cordially by the Commonwealth, and cherished by many friends abroad. The objects in view to be attained by means of this fair were forcibly and clearly set forth by the distinguished committee. Alexander H. Rice and Mrs. John A. Bates were chairmen of the Managing Committee; Thomas Russell, vice-chairman; John A. Bates, paymaster U.S.N., treasurer; and Mrs. S. T. Hooper, secretary. The Hon. Edward Everett made the opening address in his usual eloquent and attractive manner. He pleaded impressively for "poor Jack.”

Monitor Hall was a department of the splendid display, unsurpassed in interest. The mimic battles, and the narrative of Capt. Worden, who was introduced by Mr. Everett, are fresh in the memory of those who enjoyed the novel exhibition.

The miniature monitor built by Mr. Joseph Kay earned for the fair ten thousand dollars.

Among the distinguished contributions was the mammoth ox from President Lincoln, to whom it was presented, which brought into the treasury three thousand dollars. The whole proceeds of the magnificent affair amounted to $282,370.90.

The most striking and suggestive offer of aid during the war was that of Boston to Savannah in January, 1865.

Aug. 10, 1774, at a mass meeting of Georgians held in Savannah, a committee was chosen "to receive subscriptions for the suffering poor of Boston."

The Port Bill in the latter city, like the blockade along the Southern coast in regard to the former, had reduced the popu lation to very meagre supplies of daily food. The sales of rice contributed amounted to two hundred and sixteen pounds, and was forwarded to the Boston Committee.

The citizens of Boston reciprocated the relief in 1865. The amount raised by that city, New York, and Philadelphia, was not far from a hundred thousand dollars.

The grateful acknowledgments which came back after the good ship of supplies had reached Savannah were worthy of both the donors and the beneficiaries.

A writer in "The North-American Review" made an interesting statement with regard to the relation of the Western Sanitary Commission to Boston.

He says,

MUNIFICENCE OF COUNT SCHWABE.

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Boston alone has sent over two hundred thousand dollars; New England, five hundred thousand. The golden rule, to do as you would be done by, thus practised, will bind the East and West together in bonds that no secession or rebellion will ever disturb again. At this moment, no two cities are nearer each other than St. Louis and Boston; no two States, than Missouri and Massachusetts.

Count L. Bennet Schwabe, a native of Germany, and a gentleman of great wealth, is perhaps the most remarkable and munificent donor called into the field of benevolent activity by the national cause.

The family of the count (who, with republican simplicity and modesty, insists upon being called Mr. Schwabe), for several generations, held large possessions in South Carolina. He was in the war with Algiers, and in the Danish war of 1848. After vainly using his influence to keep the home of secession in the Union, he came North at the opening of the civil conflict, while his brother Gustavus cast in his lot with the rebels.

While at Middletown, Conn., visiting his old friends, Gen. Mansfield, U.S.A., and Com. Tatnall, the First Connecticut Infantry answered the call for three-months' men. To these troops

he gave a full supply of hospital-stores, his first contribution to the wants of the army. Since then, like the dew of heaven on the battle-fields, his beneficence has fallen upon every camp, and almost every hospital-cot, in the vast arena of the Union arms.

The great Commissions recognize him as the most liberal and careful contributor.

Fifty thousand dollars would not be a high estimate of the cost of his donations; his express-charges alone reaching five thousand dollars. He has received more than thirty thousand letters of acknowledgment from men in the highest official positions and in the ranks. Whole libraries have been constantly forwarded to the hospitals and soldiers' homes.

His character and motives have been misjudged by some, apparently on account of the peculiarities and originalities of his manner. All sorts of things have been said about his designs; but he has not taken the time to correct false impressions. He is, we believe, a true man in his love of liberty, and humane devotion to the country of his adoption. We find in the columns of the periodical press, before the war, the warmest expressions of gratitude for his benevolent aid in establishing mission-schools, and donations to the needy.

Upon the return of peace, Count Schwabe wrote to the Governor of the State, congratulating the country upon its victorious struggle, and announcing his retirement from the office of the State House to private life. But he carried his undying interest in the Republic with him. Taking rooms in the City Hall, he devoted his labor to his gallery of portraits of fallen heroes, on which he is lavishing another fortune.

Nov. 4, 1864, a grand entertainment was given, at a private residence in Beacon Street, in compliment to Count Schwabe, the "soldier's friend." The city, army and navy, were well represented on the occasion.

A delegation of the Dale United-States Hospital of ex-invalid soldiers, Worcester, presented a fine painting by the count to the library there, which bears the name of Lieut. Putnam, Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment.

The officers of the army and navy gave him an elegant silver dressing-case. From Readville Hospital was sent a valuable breast-pin, to express the appreciation, by officers and inmates, of the generous gift of a good library.

HOSPITALS AND SOLDIERS' HOMES.

Pemberton-square United-States Army Hospital was the first one established in Boston, with Dr. William Townsend, jun., as surgeon in charge. Under his care, the hospital was a model. Mr. Schwabe, who was from the first to the last a constant visitor, presented to the inmates the first Christmas and New-Year's suppers; the Hon. Robert C. Winthrop giving the dinners. The hospital is at present in Summer Street, under the name of "The Soldier's Rest," and still in charge of Surgeon Townsend, who has won the confidence of those under his care and of the Government.

Readville United-States Hospital was laid under the skilful management of Dr. John Stearns, surgeon in charge, in the summer of 1864, who with his successor, Dr. Gross, was a gentleman fitted for the work; and thousands of grateful soldiers enjoyed not alone their kind attentions, but shared largely their private means. The fine library was the gift of Count Schwabe, and named by him the "Kearney Library."

The Dale United-States Hospital, Worcester, was opened, under the charge of Dr. Chamberlain, in November, 1864. It was a supe rior building, with a pleasant chapel, and a large library, the gift