The Daily Dispatch: November 19, 1862., [Electronic resource]

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Wants of the soldiers.

We place the following communication in a prominent position, with the view of attracting especial attention to it. It comes from an officer high in rank, who enjoys a great degree of confidence and respect, both as a gentleman and a soldier. He has been in the hardest fought fields of the war and always acquitted himself with distinction. We hope that his appear and his suggestions may receive the attention they deserve:

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Army of Northern Virginia,
Nov. 11th, 1862.

You will perform a good service if you will conspicuously and earnestly call attention to the great need of blankets among our soldiers. Besides the last that many of those in use by the army last winter have been worn out and lost, there are many more of our brave follows in the field than there were at this season last year. So that the supply of severing to render them at all comfortable during the winter in greatly inadequate.

Meantime, the parole matrons of the South have the and, thank heaven, the spirit, to contribute largely toward the remedying of this deficiency as soon as a proper way is opened to them. There are thousands of families that can, and will more than cheerfully, furnish one or more blankets for the use of soldiers in the field, substituting at home, it necessary, covering for themselves out of window, curtains, surplus carpeting, &c. Let it be proposed, then that organizations be formed in every State of the Confederacy, and in every county, and neighborhood, for collecting blankets to be thus contributed for conveying them to the Quartermaster General in Richmond, with a due record of their number, value, and the names of the donors, and for whatever other measure may be requisite towards a right application of patriotic generosity to relieve so pressing a want.

What is done on the subject ought to be done promptly and with vigor. The Yankee, as malignant as he is false, despairing of subjugating us in honorable arms, gloats over the idea of ruining us by sold, starvation, and servile butchery. Let us, with united heart and energy alike ready and enduring, show him what a noble people, relying on the end of truth, can do, under all disadvantages, in resisting aggression and defending their honor and their homes. To this and one of the very first conditions in a blanket or two for each gallant Southerner who will have to lie out this winter, guarding his country against threatened destruction.

The case in the envious to need many words. It is therefore committed, with this brief suggestion, to your friendly endorsement in some conspicuous column of your paper, and to the considerate attention and generous action of the people.

Defenders.

All other papers approving the proposal are requested to give currency to this appeal, with such additional remarks as they may think best.