History

OF

THE NATIONAL HOME

FOR

Disabled Volunteer Soldiers:

WITH A

COMPLETE GUIDE-BOOK TO THE CENTRAL HOME,

AT

DAYTON, OHIO.

WRITTEN AND COMPILED

By a Veteran of the Home.

DAYTON, OHIO :

UNITED BEETHREN PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT.

1875.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1875,

BY CHAPLAIN WM. EARNSHAW.

In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.

THE

United Brethren Publishing House,

DAYTON, OHIO.

INTRODUCTION.

        In placing before the public a history of the National Home for disabled Volunteer Soldiers, it is proper to state that much of the matter is compiled

from articles written by correspondents of leading newspapers, especially those of Dayton and Cincinnati, Ohio. From the organization of the Home in

March, 1867, these articles were carefully preserved, with many other data, and eventually placed in the hands of Mr. J. C. Gobrecht, a veteran of the late war, who was employed to prepare the work for the press.

        In publishing this book one of the most prominent objects of the "Historical and Monumental Society," organized three years since, has been attained, and

the profits of the sales will be devoted to the completion of the beautiful monument described in this book.

        I do not hesitate to say that this history may be relied upon as truthful, and that the illustrations impart a favorable impression of some of the principal buildings and localities of the Home. During the eight years since the organization over two hundred thousand persons have visited this great national institution, many hundreds of whom have regretted on leaving that they could not take with them a reliable description or history of the place; and those who have heard these regrets have in turn many times regretted that they had not the power to meet this want. Assured that the case has been fully met, the history is now submitted to the public, with the hope that it may be pleasing to the many earnest friends of the nation's defenders.

WM. EARNSHAW,