GIFT OF THOMAS RUTHERFORD BACON
AL LIBRARY
/ S" . ' •
Our Acre
Its Harvest
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY
NORTHERN OHIO.
ffltwfamd JpncH of the |jnittd .States .Sjanitarn | ommission.
"An arm of aid to the weak,
A friendly hand to the friendless. Kind words, so short to speak,
But whose echo is endless. The world is wide — these things are small. They may be nothing, hut they are all."
CLEVELAND:
FAIRBANKS, BENEDICT & CO., PRINTERS, HERALD OFFICE. 1869.
e
Entered according to Act of Conjrress, in the year 1869, by MARY CLARK BRAYTON ANT> ELLEN F. TERRY.
In the Clfrk's Office of Hie Diptrict Court of the United States for the Northern District of Ohio.
THE AID SOCIETIES
OF NORTHERN OHIO.
BRANCHES OF THE VINE
WHOSE PLANTING, CULTURE, GROWTH AND FRUITAGE
ARE HERE RECORDED,
THIS VOLUME IS INSCRIBED
*~\ f~\ m i -v _
PART I.
GENERAL HISTORY,
MARY CLARK B R A Y T O N .
PART II.
SPECIAL RELIEF,
ELLEN F . TERRY.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Page. FRONTISPIECE, PART I, THE CLEVELAND AID ROOMS, EXTERIOR.
MAP OF OHIO, - ..__---,-_- 57
HOSPITAL, CAMP CLEVELAND, - 97
FLORAL HALL, SANITARY FAIR, lfc'1
MONUMENT PARK, CLEVELAND, - - x45
FRONTISPIECE, PART II, SOLDIERS' HOME, CLEVELAND, EXTERIOR.
THE WARD, - ... siy
THE DINING ROOM. - ....... 353
RECEIVING A REGIMENT, - .... 375
CON T E N T 8 .
A R T I .
GENERAL HISTORY
CHAPTER I .
The First Call. The Preliminary Organization. The Blanket Raid. Coats for the Soldier Boys. Shirts and Havelocks. The First Shipment. The Permanent Organization. Committees. Circular No. 1. Headquarters Established. Branch Aid Societies. Co-operation Secured. Other Circulars. Enlarging the Borders. Amateur Patriotic Concert. Cleveland Branch Sanitary Commission. System of Disbursement. Railroad Speed. Vexatious Rumors. Handing in " the Bill." L'.
CHAPTER II.
Favors of Transportation. The First Report, Change of Title. The Winter's Work. Systematic Contribution. Battle of Fort Donelson. An Autograph Testimonial. A Trip to the Front. Sanitary Depot, Nashville. Battle of Pitts- burg Landing. The Excitement in Cleveland. Hospital Transport Work. The Steamer Lancaster. The Depot Hospital. To Pittsburg Landing— on board the Lancaster. General Shipments. Sanitary Agency. Leavenworth 37—55
CHAPTER III.
Geographical Limits. Cultivating the Field. Relations with Branch Societies. Duties of the Officers. Aid Room Committees. Marked Articles. Canned Fruit and Jellies. Storekeeping Perplexities. Currant Juice and Toast, Con centrated Chicken. Office Duties. " Leader Articles." Document Committees. Picture of the Aid Rooms. Committees at Work. The Aid Room Office. Varied Experience. Lights and Shadows. 56—74
CHAPTER IV.
A Visit to Washington. Ohio Relief Association. Battle of Perryville. Painful Rumors. A Trip to Perryville. The Soup House. Central Office, Louisville. Manner of Forwarding. Private Packages. Special Shipments. More Trans portation Favors 75—86
X CONTENTS.
CHAP T E R V .
Circular Xo. 10. Hard Timer?. Financiering. Ways and Means. Earnest Con sultations. The California Fund. Second Thoughts. Review of the Work. Camp Cleveland Hospital. An Incident. Home Charity. A Christmas Dinner. S7--99
CHAPTER VI.
The Siege of Vicksbtirg. The Steamer Dunleith. Music and Tableaux. Mur doch's Readings. Change of Vice Presidents. Committees. An Insidious Foe. Campaign against Scurvy. The Vegetable Raid. Canvassing and Lectur ing. Purchasing Vegetables. Special Cars. Another Journey. Traveling in Dixie. Sight-seeing. A Cheering Report .100—110
CHAPTER VII.
The "Onion"" League. The Sanitary Reporter. Mailing Documents. Good News. Sanitary Gardens— A Description. A Picnic Dinner. A Glorious " Fourth." Timely Supplies. A Thank-oftering. Returning Heroes. A Fore shadowing. A New Project. Cleveland Soldiers' Home. The Summer's Work. Giving out Material. Sustaining the Home 117—134
CHAPTER VIII.
Sanitary Fairs. Following the Example. An Embarrassment. Conflicting In terests. A Compromise. An opportune Legacy. Northern Ohio Sanitary Fair. Committees for the Fair. Issuing Circulars. Appointing Delegates. Planning. Thorough Canvassing. Ladies at Work. The Proposed Building. An Ominous Silence. Tormenting Doubts. Snow versus Carpenters. Plan of the Building. Decorating the Halls. Evergreens and Banners. Last Preparations. Enter taining the Delegates. The Ticket System. 135—158
CHAPTER IX.
The Opening Day. The Inaugural Ode. Ceremonies of the Day. The Ladies' Bazaar. The Booths— their decorations. Pennsylvania's Share. The American Booth. Lake County and Russia. "Erin go Bragh." The Restaurant. Daughters of Molly Stark. German Liberality. Senoritas and Buckeye Girls. England and Yankee Land. The Post Office. The Newspaper. A Formidable Battery. The Bower of Rest. The " Cra/y Bedquilt." .15C— 17'J
CHAPTER X.
Floral Hall. Arbors and Cottages. The Wigwam. The " Wayside Inn." Rustic Work. Mechanics' Hall— Its contributions. Refreshment Hall. Good Cheer. Mysterious Precincts. Fine Art Hall. The Museum— Its Treasures. Memorials. 18C— 194
CHAPTER XI.
Evening Entertainments. Continental Tea-Party. Manners of the Old School. Old Folks' Concert. Sons of Malta. The Dramatic Club. The Attendance. The Draft-wheel. Closing Scenes. Sale of the Building. Success of the Fair. Cash Receipts. A "twice blessed " Charity. __ 19"— 1
CONTENTS. XI
CHAPTER XII.
After the Fair. The Reaction. Special Calls. The Fair Fund. Increased Ex penditure. Issuing Material. Selling at Cost. The Salesroom. The Work Department. 208—217
CHAPTER XIII.
Army Movements. A Memorable Record. Official Bulletins. Cleveland Army Committee— Its Plans and Purposes. Work of the Delegates. Sympathy. Let ters and Inquiries. The Hospital Directory. " One Inquiry, One Answer,11— Au Extract. Hospital Cars. " On a Hospital Train,11— A Description 21&— 238
CHAPTER XIV.
The Printing Office. "Aid Society Print." Canvassing and Forwarding. Help for Prisoners. Change of Vice Presidents. Review of the Year. Expenses of Distribution. New Quarters. A Consecration 234—243
CHAPTER XV.
A Memorable Day. Welcome Home. Questions and Answers. Continuing Sup plies. A state of Siege. kt Comfort Bags." No place to Stop. The Employ ment Agency — Its Management. A Significant Record. An Abstract 2-14—255
CHAPTER XVI.
Close of the Supply Work. Breaking up the Aid Rooms. Ohio State Soldiers' Home. Transferring Soldiers. Closing up. The Free Claim Agency — Its Management. Last Days. Summary. Conclusion. 256 — 2t>tf
P A II T IT.
SPECIAL RELIEF
MARINE HOSPITAL, ARMY DEPARTMENT. Early Camp Life. Ward Committees. Marine Hospital ..'273--271
THE'DEPOT HOSPITAL.
Pittsburg Landing. Hospital Steamers. The Depot Hospital. Its Menage. Capacities and Resources. A Drawback. Returning Regiments. Stirring Appeals. The Port Hudson Regiments. New Duties. Cleveland Hospitality. Care of the Sick. Friendly Messages. Pleasant Duties. Life and Death. Limited Quarters. Successful Canvassing. The Invalid Corps. Sundry Petitions. Hopeless Quests. Difficult Commissions. A Handful of Letters. Letters Continued. L'nion Prisoners. Hospital Inquiry. Sanitary Issues. Fruitless Journeys. A Sad History. Aid Room Guests. Sanitary Treasures... 278— 301
THE SOLDIERS' HOME.
Diagram. The Reception Room. The Early Outfit. The First Prize. The Home Prospectus. Means of support. Flexible Rules. Aim of the Institution. Its Administration. An Old Friend. An Apparition. The First Death. Veteran Regiments. Occasional Grievances. Wounded in the Wilderness. Two Patients. Domestic News. Enlarging the Home. Ohio National Guards. The Children's Gifts. Home from the War. Bringing Home the Dead. Arti ficial Limbs. Acknowledgments. Army Letters. Contributing Societies. Winter Quarters. Refugees and Deserters. Tommy. Entertainments. One Day at the Home. Feeding- the Convalescents. Varied Wants. Appeals for Aid. Prisoners' Letters. Hunger and Cold. Exchange of Prisoners. Rebel Mercy. Starved to Death. A Mothers Letter. Veteran Reserves. Welcome to Ohio Soldiers. An Early Breakfast. The New Dining Room. Rival Attrac tions. A Bill of Fare. The Reserve Force. Generous Railroad Companies. Entertaining a Brigade. A midnight Meal. Open Air Toilets. Progress of the Feast. Invalid Diet, Johnny comes marching home. Departure. The Hos pital Department. A Submissive Patient. Crippled Correspondents. The Wounded of the 103d Ohio Volunteers. A Sad Return. A Dinner Party. The Cruel War is Over. Mustered Out. Eloquent Guests. Raiders and Malcon tents. Fourth of July Banquet. The Little Sailor. The Prodigal Son. The Hospital Legacy. A Flourishing Business. Wanted, Employment. An Afflict ing Endorsement. A Colored Regiment. A Perilous Journey. The Homeward
CONTENTS. Xlll
March. Thanks from Minnesota. A Permanent Home. A Happy New Year. The National Asylum. The Winters Work. In the Sick Ward. Faithful Mourners. Grown up Scholars. A Disabled Man's Future. Unclaimed. Resi dent Pensioners. Final Duties. The Home Dismantled. The School Girl's Fete. 308—307
THE CLAIM AGENCY.
Collection of War Claims. The Cleveland Agency. New Laws. A Flood of Applications. " Not Entitled.1' Additional Bounty Act. Increase of Pension. Indignant Epistles. Remonstrances. Destitute Clients. Change of Agent. Satisfactory Results. The Agency's Reward. A Service Accomplished. Special Relief Record. The Home Army. An Ample Recompense 398 — 414
A r P E N D I X .
APPENDIX A.— Cash and Supply Report. 41.S-4.31
APPENDIX B.— Special Relief Report 434— 441
APPENDIX C.— Claim Agency Report. 444
APPENDIX D.— Names of Members 446 — 449
APPENDIX PL— Committees 452—460
APPENDIX F.— Branch Societies.... ...462—511
PART I.
GENERAL HISTORY.
GENERAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER I.
TIIK CLEVELAND LADIES'.— Tho ladies of Cleveland, ready and anxious to take their full share in the exertions and privations, if need be, imposed by the public perils, are promptly moving with a view to such an organization as may be most useful and effective. They propose also to offer their assistance to the committee of citizens to be appointed for the purpose of making provision for the wives and children of the brave men who have left, and arc leaving, our city to fight the battles of our country.
A meeting of the ladies will be held for this purpose to-morrow, Saturday, at 3 o'clock, at Chapin Hail. — Extract from CLEVELAND HERALD. April \Wh, 1801.
Ix response to this call, at the appointed hour on Saturday, April 20th, 1861 — only five days after Pres ident Lincoln's first call for troops to suppress the great rebellion — Chapin Hall was filled with ladies who came together to inquire how the charity of wo man could best serve her country in its impending peril.
There were flushed faces, aglow with exalted feel ing, troubled brows, shaded by vague apprehension, grave countenances, pale with nameless forebodings,— eyes that sparkled with excitement, and eyes with a startled outlook or dim with gathering tears.
What this strange cloud, suddenly threatening the far off borders of the land, might portend, happily no prophetic tongue was loosed to tell ; no vision of the future rose to appal the assembly that met that day with the earnest purpose to do with their might what soever a woman's hand should find to do.
1 7
18 THE PRELIMINARY ORGANIZATION.
The busy note of martial preparation was heard upon the streets. From every spire and house-top the stars arid stripes were flung out. Every woman and child knotted the red, white and blue into necktie, shoulder- ribbon or sash; every man wore, with pride, a tri- colored favor — the badge of national honor. Scarcely twenty-four hours before, two companies of city mili tary — Cleveland's first offering towards the first call for seventy-five thousand troops — had marched away, hastily exchanging the trappings of holiday parade for the equipments of the field.
That these stout-hearted soldiers, now far on their way to the defense of the National Capital, needed present aid was impossible, that they would ever need the hand of relief was a haunting thought, scarcely formed into words, but put away with a shudder of dimly defined dread. Now all sympathy turned to wards the wives and children of the volunteers who had~ just gone, several ladies at the meeting mention ing cases of severe sickness or destitution among them.
A preliminary organization was formed by calling Mrs. B. ROUSE to the chair, appointing Mrs. S. B. PAGE secretary, and MARY CLARK BRAYTON treasurer.
Mrs. GEORGE A. BENEDICT, Mrs. C. D. BRAYTON, Mrs. II. L. WHITMAN, Mrs. C. A. TERRY and Mrs. J. A. HAR RIS were made a special committee to confer with and aid the ward committees of gentlemen in disbursing a large fund that had been raised by subscription from citizens for the benefit of soldiers' families. At this moment two gold dollars, carefully wrapped in silver- tissue paper, were put into the treasurer's hand, sent by an aged unknown man to be given to the family
THE BLAXKKT RAID. 11)
most needing aid. This suggested an impromptu col lection, and twenty-two dollars were added to the first golden offering. The most of this little sum was given
O O O
to the ladies of the special committee to meet peculiar cases. The meeting then adjourned to April 23d, when, by request, a medical man gave an informal lecture upon making and adjusting bandages and dressings, and the work of preparing lint and bandage began. This recalled the carefully banished thought of what Avar might bring, and a tearful audience he had.
T\vo days later, while busy though unskilful hands were plying this sad task, a gentleman from the camp of instruction just opened near the city, begged to in terrupt. Mounting the platform, he announced that one thousand volunteers from towns adjoining were at that moment marching into camp, and that, expecting- in the pardonable ignorance of our citizen soldiery at that early day — to be fully equipped on reaching this rendezvous, many of these men had brought no blank ets, and had now the prospect of passing a sharp April night uncovered on the ground.
This unexpected occasion was eagerly seized. Two ladies hastened to engage carriages, while the others rapidly districted the city. In a few minutes eight hacks were at the door, and two young ladies in each, with route marked out, were despatched to represent to the matrons of the town this desperate case.
At 3 o'clock this novel expedition set off. All the afternoon the carriages rolled rapidly through the streets. Bright faces glowed with excitement, grave eyes gave back an answering gleam of generous sym. pathy. A word of explanation sufficed to bring out
20 COATS FOll THE SOLDIER BOYS.
delicate rose blankets, chintz quilts, thick counterpanes, and by nightfall seven hundred and twenty -nine blank ets were carried into camp. Next morning the work was resumed, and before another night every volunteer in Camp Taylor had been provided for.
While this " blanket raid " was ^oino; on, the ladies
O O /
at the meeting, startled by the sound of fife and drum, hurried to the door just in time to see a company of recruits, mostly farmer lads, march down the street towards the new camp. These had " left the plow in the furrow," and imagining that the enlistment-roll would transform them at once into Uncle Sam's blue- coated soldier boys, they had inarched away from home in the clothes that they were wearing when the call first reached them.
Before they turned the corner, motherly watchful ness had discovered that some had no coats, that others wore thin linen blouses, and that the clothing of all
- O
was insufficient for the exposure of the scarcely enclosed camp. On this discovery the bandage meeting at once broke up, and the ladies hurried home to gather up the clothing of their own boys for the comfort of these young patriots. Two carriages heaped with half-worn clothing drove into camp at sundown. This work was repeated many times at Camp Taylor, and in the later years of the war it was made a specialty of the Society to supply second-hand clothing for tem porary use of soldiers.
Awakened to the necessities of the fast gathering troops, the ladies applied to the commandant of the post, and received from him. a quantity of army flannel to make up. The merchant tailors gave patterns and
siiiijTs AND "HAVELOCKS."
the services of tlieir cutters, the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association were offered as a depot, and there the packages of work were distributed. The Grover <fc Baker and Wheeler & Wilson sewing ma chine rooms were thrown open and were soon crowded with industrious dames, some cutting, some basting, and others guiding the fast fly ing machines. In two days one thousand army shirts were cut, given out, finished and returned to camp.
While feverishly anxious to be doing, and sadly needing guidance, from the East there came a sugges tion that " Havelocks " were the first necessity of field service, and. for weeks much superfluous enthusiasm was worked into these grotesque head-pieces. The stiff linen was cut by many aching fingers, and given out in parcels to ladies who returned the finished articles in a fabulously short time. Thus an ample supply was soon furnished to each Northern Ohio regiment. Following this was a spasmodic effort to introduce the French pocket tent, and then came a period when the Society languished, not from lack of interest in the work, but because utter ignorance of its nature pre vented the anticipation of those needs which the cam paign would develop.
Meantime, the committees appointed to visit the families of volunteers had districted the city and were systematizing their work, laying the foundation for the " Ward Belief Committees " that existed in Cleveland throughout the war. When the Aid Society entered a more extended field of duty, these ward associations formed a distinct organization, recognized and aided by the city authorities and well supported by contribution.
THE FIKST SHIPMENT.
Sickness liad now appeared at Camp Taylor. Fever and epidemic measles were spreading rapidly through the ranks. The little regimental hospital established there May 2d, and a post hospital opened shortly after, were almost wholly furnished by the ladies, who visit ed them daily, and never empty-handed, Especially did those ladies who lived near devote their time and means to the care and comfort of the inmates. Mrs. Dr. LONG, Mrs. LEWIS SEVERANCE, Mrs. PIIILO SCOVILL and Mrs. E. F. GAYLOKD were prominent in this work.
While thus employed it was impossible to believe — ^ hat Avas constantly asserted by men experienced in regular army affairs, — that no volunteer hospital aid was needed. The mind would run forward to the regi ments lately marched away, and it seemed certain that similar comforts would be doubly welcome to the sick among them. Visitors returning from Camp Dennison confirmed this growing belief, and letters of inquiry brought grateful acceptance of the proffered aid.
Following the suggestions so gladly received, two or three members of the Society prepare the first shipment of hospital stores. As the small fund raised on organ ising was long ago exhausted, this must be done by pri vate contribution. From house to house goes the little foraging party, confiscating the comfortable dressing- gown and easy-going slippers of the astonished but non- resisting master, the soft towels and handkerchiefs of the smiling mistress, searching the library for pleasant books and amusing pictorials, levying upon the pantry for a stock of dainties, and beguiling from the shop keeper a generous supply of toilet comforts, dozens of palm-leaf fans and sundry packages of writing mate-
PERMANENT ORGANIZATION. 23
rial. Returning, the parlor is transformed into a store-room, great dry-goods boxes receive the spoils, deftly stowed away — sufficient for the sick of two regi ments — and with these go carefully packed baskets of jellies, wines and lemons. No more hearty offering ever called down a blessing upon the cheerful giver.
A courteous acknowledgment duly received encour aged further venture, and letters offering hospital sup plies and begging instruction in preparing them, were despatched to the surgeon of every Northern Ohio regi ment. Eagerly catching at every grain of information that floated homeward from hospital and camp, and in creasing this scanty stock by vigorous correspondence, the ladies found that each day unfolded new occasion for the beneficence of the Society. Now presented it self the idea of centralizing the work of Northern Ohio, with a view to its greater efficiency. A permanent organization was effected by the election of the follow- in or officers :
o
PRESIDENT,
MRS. B. ROUSE.
VICE-PRESIDENTS,
MRS. JOHN SHELLEY, MRS. WILLIAM MELHINCH.
SECRETARY,
MARY CLARK BRAYTON.
TREASURER,
ELLEN F. TERRY.
Business meetings were appointed for the first Tues day in each month and the following standing com mittees formed for receiving supplies and for cutting and directing the wrork :
24 COMMITTEES.
On Hospital Clothing — Mrs. JOSEPH PERKINS, Mrs. CHARLES HICKOX, Mrs. JOSEPH LYMAN, Mrs. M. C. YOUNG LOVE.
On, Hospital Slippers — Mrs. D. HOWE.
On Bedding — Mrs. J. A. HARRIS.
On Lint — Mrs. HIRAM GRISWOLD.
On Bandages and Compresses — Mrs. I). CITTTTENDEN, Mrs. J. H. CHASE.
0)i Fruit and Groceries — Mrs. 8. BELDEN, Mrs. PETER THATCHER,
Of the receiving and packing committees, which were appointed at each business meeting for the ensuing month, it is regretted that no complete record has been preserved. The following are the names of some of the ladies who served in these committees in the early days of the Society, or who acted as alternates to the standing committees mentioned above :
Mrs. THOMAS M. KEI,LEYI Mrs. L. M. HUBBY, Mrs. S. WILLIAMSON, Mrs. CHARLES "A. TERRY, Mrs. JOHN C.RO- \VELL, Mrs. WILLIAM T. SMITH, Mrs. WILLIAM COLLINS, Mrs. HIRAM IDDINGS, Mrs. BOLIVAR BUTTS, Mrs. JOSEPH HAYWARD, Mrs. W. H. HAYWARD, Mrs. CHARLES M. GIBING s, Mrs. J. H. WADE, Mrs. A. B. STONE, Mrs. J. H. SARGEANT, Mrs. WILLIAM E. STANDART, Mrs. THOMAS BOLTON, Mrs. WILLIAM MITTLEBERGER, Mrs. JOHN COON? Mrs. AUGUSTUS E. FOOTE, Miss BIXBY, Mrs. WILLIAM J. BOARDMAN, Mrs. HENRY G. ABBEY.
A membership fee of twenty-five cents monthly was fixed, and contribution boxes labeled "AiD EOR OUR SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS," were conspicuously posted in banks, hotels, railroad station and post-office, constitution or by-laws were suggested^ and be-
CIRCULAR tfO. 1. ;>
yond the monthly fee and a verbal pledge to work while the war should last, no form of membership was ever adopted. No written word held the Society together, even to its latest days.
June 20th, Circular No. 1 was prepared, announcing that " the Ladies' Aid Society of Cleveland, having re ceived direct information of the articles needed, now invites the co-operation of the patriotic ladies of other towns in supplying the pressing necessities of our vol unteers in camp and on the march."
This circular w^as first mailed to the postmaster of each town in Ohio, with a personal note, begging him u to put it into the hand of some active, benevolent wo man, asking her to correspond with the Society." He was further requested to send back the names of six women whom he judged would best help forward a branch aid society, and to these six, in due course of mail, the cir cular was despatched with a letter urging them to form a local organization. To the clergy of every denomi nation throughout the State a copy was sent, with a written request that it might be read from the pulpit. It was published in every newspaper of Northern Ohio, and industriously sent far and wride wherever an ad dress could be obtained. Many were the ingenious devices for throwing it into every nook and corner of the State. Market gardeners carried it home in their baskets, farmers found it thrust into their pockets. At mere hearsay of a possible correspondent, little memo randum books would creep from the pockets of the Aid Society officers, — advertisements were carefully copied, county organizations noted, and hotel registers consult- ed. The worthy farmer whose name appeared one day
2f> HEAD-QtTAKTERS ESTABLISHED.
among the hotel arrivals in the city, and whose wife, by next mail, received in her quiet country home the ubiquitous circular of the " Ladies' Aid Society," would have been sadly puzzled to trace effect back to first cause.
The necessity for a depot was now apparent, and July 1st a part of the store No. 95 Bank street was obtained at a trifling rent. A great room it seemed,— gloomy indeed to these incipient store-keepers on first entrance, and forbidding enough, till the festooning cobwebs were swept away, the stained walls and dusty windows made, by housewifely skill, to wear a more tidy look, and an old counter drawn across the room, midway down, to form the boundary of the dim regions where quaint rubbish was heaped up. Here the "Am SOCIETY," with an empty treasury, but with great ex pectations, established head-quarters. A sign above the door announced the benevolent purposes of the in stitution. A rude desk was improvised, crowned with an official ink stand, a table and half a dozen unpainted chairs borrowed, and the long empty shelves labeled in anticipation of the stores that must come. The rooms were opened from 10 to 12 A. M., daily, and volunteer committees, two ladies in turn, sat hopefully through the long hours for many a weary day, with very little to reward their patience save an occasional visit from a patriotic lady with her offering of a bowl of jelly for the sick, or a shy child bringing its little pack* age of lint. Contributions from the city insensibly but steadily increased, each household adding to the stock* Gradually the nearest towns were represented in these gifts,— the leaven had begun to work. Letters of in-
AID SOCIETIES. *27
quiry poured in, all abounding in patriotic sentiment, some enthusiastic, others cautious, at first, and often fol lowed by visits from the writers, who represented their neighborhood as alive to the appeal, anxious to gain in struction, grateful for this new avenue to friends in the army, and beginning to realize that concert of action was necessary to the success of a work in which much desultory labor was now expended, and not always with satisfactory results. The president of the Society frequently visited Camp Taylor, and invited friends who came from the country to see the soldiers in the new camp, to call at the Aid Rooms. Here plans were discussed, opinions interchanged, and such light as the ladies had gained from their own short experience was imparted to the visitor, who invariably turned home ward strengthened in purpose, nor wras the interview less cheering to the ladies of the Society.
Aid Societies were daily springing up, and their officers, as reported, were entered as correspondents. Inquiry was invited, letters were carefully answered, and patterns furnished. Home mission societies, church sociables, sewing circles, and various benevolent or ganizations were converted into Soldiers' Aid Societies
o
without change of organization. A vote of the mem bers to work for sick and wounded soldiers while the war should last, was all the formality necessary. This enabled them to enter at once upon their new duties.
The prevalent fear of assuming duties which legiti mately belonged to the Government, and which might enrich the commissariat without benefitting the soldier, threatened to become a serious obstacle, by checking
CO-OPERATION SECURED.
that enthusiastic co-operation so important to success. It seemed necessary to explain the fact that, in a war so suddenly thrust upon a nation, there is, unavoidably, a hiatus between the ability of Government and the demand of hospital and camp, which can only be filled by the efforts of benevolent associations.
To meet and overcome this difficulty, the president of the Society stepped from her life of quiet and unob trusive charities, visited families and villages, and by personal explanation and appeal, secured the hearty and enthusiastic support of all who listened to her arguments.
The terrible reverse at Bull Kun intensified the growing interest in city and country. Three large cases of bandages and dressings were immediately de spatched to the Surgeon General, and for many days after the news of the battle the rooms were thronged with women bringing their offerings for the wounded. Two gentlemen, Messrs. WILLIAM EDWARDS ^nd JOHN M. STERLING, Jr., volunteered to collect material from the dry-goods merchants, and the results of their ap peal kept the work committees fully employed for many busy weeks.
Meantime the search for truth continued. Vigorous correspondence was kept up with the surgeons of all western regiments that could be reached by letter from this point, and earnest efforts were made to learn the state of the hospitals of Western Virginia and Missouri. Acting upon the scanty knowledge thus obtained, supplies were sent from time to time, as the small means of the Society would allow. Letters to Miss DTX brought kind reply and valuable suggestions. In
OTHER CIRCULARS. !><)
the East the UNITED STATES SANITARY COMMISSION was rapidly unfolding its noble purposes, and from its rep resentative in the West, Dr. J. S. NEWBEBBT, the Society early received advice and direction. At his suggestion small shipments were made to St. Louis, Cairo, and the regimental hospitals of "Western Virginia. These went forward in charge of an agent of the Sanitary Com mission whose report of their distribution was highly satisfactory. Letters from the recipients soon followed and these were industriously circulated among the country societies.
September 1st, Circular No. 2 was issued, containing definite measurements for hospital garments and direc tions for preparing surgeons' supplies. This circular was endorsed by Dr. NEWBERRY on behalf of the Sani tary Commission.
September 5th, appeared Circular No. 3, addressed to the little girls, bespeaking their handiwork in making lint, bandages and eyeshades. This was en thusiastically received, and every school house and each playroom became a busy workshop where nimble fin gers plied the needle and bright eyes flashed with newly awakened patriotism.
September 9th, Circular No. 4 informed the women of Northern Ohio that " the Society organized for col- u lecting and transmitting to the sick and wounded of " the Federal army such hospital stores as the Govern- " ment fails to provide, — having secured reduced rates " of transportation to the Ohio River, where an agent u of the Sanitary Commission will receive and forward " all such packages to destination, — now ensures to " auxiliary societies the most reliable transmission of " their goods to the hospitals of Western Virginia."
30 ENLARGING THE BORDERS.
The personal interests of Northern Ohio women then centered in Western Virginia, and this announcement, with the letters of acknowledgment from hospitals, embodied in Circular No. 5, issued September 17th, evoked ready response.
As box after box came in, the ladies found their modicum of space too small, and from this time they occupied the whole floor of " 95," arranging a double row of hinged receiving-cases along the wall for con- venience of the unpacking committee, and now first re signing hammer and marking-brush into the hands of a porter.
The three hours of daily business lengthened into six ; a pleasant office in the rear was fitted up by con- tribution, one gentleman furnishing a carpet, another a desk, a third volunteering instruction in book-keep ing and invoicing, a fourth sending his drayman on shipping days, and all showing a deep interest in this amateur storekeeping, now beginning to assume the proportions of a veritable business establishment.
The finances of the Society were the subject of much anxious thought. Membership fees aggregating twen ty dollars per month and occasional gifts of money in small sums were its only sources of revenue, and its ex panding purposes were now in danger of being checked by the lack of funds.
In this emergency, several young ladies for the first time offered to the public their fine musical talents, in an "Amateur Patriotic Concert," given September 24th. They were assisted by gentlemen of well knoAvn musi cal ability, whose services were also volunteered for the good cause. (See Appendix E.) The use of the
AMATKnt PATRIOTIC COXCKRT. 81
Academy of Music was given by the lessee, and the generosity of every one who had a part in the arrange ments reduced the expenses to a trifling sum. This charming entertainment was well patronized, and the sum of five hundred and six dollars realized to the Society, — more than two-thirds of its whole income during the first three months of organization.
Unwilling that their rooms should be merely a depot for the contributions of others, the ladies strove to do their share in preparing hospital supplies. A large part of the concert fund was immediately expended for material which was cut out by the indefatigable committees and taken home to be made up.
The disbursements of the Society kept steady pace with the receipts. The first stock of the supply depot, opened October 8th by the Sanitary Commission, in Wheeling, Va., was wholly furnished from Cleveland, and many comforts which the Society now had means to purchase were sent to the hospitals of Western Virginia and the Kanawha. A delightful stimulus
o o
was imparted by the late Prof. PECK, of Oberlin, O., in an informal lecture given upon returning from the hos pitals of the Kanawha Valley where he had seen some traces of the comfort afforded by this distribution.
As the location of hospitals became more remote, transportation more hazardous and communication by letter with the army more uncertain, the officers of the Society deeply felt the burden and responsibility of dispensing, with prudence, impartiality and wisdom the precious fruits of so much patient and loving toil ; and on October 9th, 1861, the Soldiers' Aid Society of Cleveland was formally offered as a BRANCH to the
32 CLEVELAND BRANCH SANITARY COMMISSION.
UNITED STATES SANITARY COMMISSION. The following is the reply to that proposal :
U. S. SANITARY COMMISSION, )
TREASURY BUILDINGS, WASHINGTON, D. C.,f October IGtli, 1801. \
Miw. B. ROUSE,
President Soldiers' Aid Society, Cleveland, Ohio.
MADAM : I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 9th inst., by your secretary, in which you do this Commission the honor to propose the " Soldiers' Aid Society," of Cleveland, Ohio, as one of its co-operative branches. It gives me great satisfaction to inform you that at the first meeting of the Sixth Session of the Commission, held here yesterday, it was unanimously
llcsolved, That the " Soldiers' Aid Society," of Cleveland, Ohio, is hereby constituted a Corresponding Branch of the Sanitary Commission ; and that the secretary notify that Society of the action of the Commission, with an expression of the sense entertained by the Commission of the importance and value of its services.
In accordance with the above resolution, I cordially invite the correspond ence and co-operation of your Society with this Commission, through its fellow-member, Dr. J. S. XEWBERRY, of your City, who is the Associate Secretary of the Commission for your Department.
I am, Madam, with great respect, your obedient servant,
FRED. LAW OLMSTED, General Secretary U. S. San. Com.
The advice and aid of Dr. NEWBERRY had been sought, and rendered with unvarying kindness, long before this reference to his department gave the Socie ty any claim to them. At this time all eyes were turned and all hopes centered upon the forces that were gathered around Washington, and the care of Eastern benevolent associations was largely bestowed upon the troops lying immediately within reach of their aid. The destitution in the military hospitals of the Great West, and especially of Western Virginia, called loudly for relief, and the Cleveland Branch gladly followed the advice received from the General
SYSTEM OF DISBURSEMENT. 33
Secretary, and devoted its labors to the armies of the West.
Now fully in rapport with the Sanitary Commission, the Society sought to give some return for the advan tages accruing from the connection. All articles issued from the Cleveland Aid Rooms were from this time stamped with the name of the Sanitary Commission, its documents were faithfully distributed, its purposes and modus operand! minutely explained, and every effort was made to bring all tributary societies into this new relation.
Orders from Sanitary field-agents were promptly filled, and a system of disbursement adopted which proved so successful as to merit a passing notice.
The Sanitary Inspector was furnished with printed blanks containing a list of hospital supplies. This, after observing the needs of a hospital, he was expected to fill out, sign, and return by mail. The Society was pledged to honor such drafts, and supplies were shipped directly to the designated point. A dupli cate invoice was sent to the Sanitary agent in charge of the department, and an acknowledgment was required from the surgeon of the hospital, w^hich on receipt was carefully filed. The letters from sur geons and soldiers, that often accompanied these receipts, were of great value in keeping up the interest of tributaries. These were always published in the city papers and mailed to Branch Societies, or repro duced in circulars that were issued to them.
The treasury, which had again received a benefit of one hundred and sixty dollars, was soon drained by an order received from the Sanitary agent in Western
34 RAILROAD SPEED.
Virginia. The spirit with which such demands were answered is shown in these extracts from Cleveland papers :
WORK FOR LADIES.— (Nov. 7th, 1861.)—" Five hundred sick men will be in Wheeling hospital on Saturday night. Will the ladies of Cleveland pro vide for the comfort of these sick and wounded soldiers ? Three hundred bed-sacks are cut out by the Aid Society, and must be made before to-morrow night. Call at Aid Rooms and take the work ! "
RAILROAD SPEED.— (Nov. 8th, 1861.)— "The three hundred bed-sacks ordered by telegram yesterday morning for the hospital at Wheeling are finished, and go down this afternoon on the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Rail road 2.50 passenger train, free of transportation charge."
The president of the Society, by written request of General (then Colonel) Rosecrans, accompanied this shipment to Wheeling, and gave her personal assist ance in fitting the new hospital for reception of the sick and wounded, who were brought in Government trans ports up the Ohio river from the battle-fields and fever haunted districts of the Kanawha Valley.
On this occasion, three women engaged as Govern ment nurses were sent under the patronage of the Society to Wheeling hospital. The experiment not proving successful was never repeated, and all subse quent applications from women desiring to become army nurses, were referred at once to Miss Dix.
Certain vexatious rumors had from time to time disturbed the Aid Room circle, but had not been thought worthy of notice till now. A story that the officers of the Aid Society were receiving large salaries and " making money out of the charities of the people," had been thoughtlessly or maliciously started. This falsehood, nimble-footed, was now making the rounds
VEXATIOUS RUMORS. 35
of the country societies, creating some degree of sus picion and threatening to check contribution.
To stop this mischief-maker, Truth drew on his boots and followed hard after, in circular No. 6, issued October loth, which announced that the Cleveland Soldiers' Aid Society was conducted and supported entirely by voluntary effort, and that not one cent was paid for the services of any one connected with its management or membership.
The drayman and porter were, at this time, the only paid attaches of the establishment.
To this was added a detailed exposition of the business system of the Society and the Sanitary Com mission, and an invitation to all whom it might concern to call and inspect the books, and to form their opinions from actual acquaintance with the work. This circular was strongly endorsed by the city clergy, and contain ed excellent testimonials from the field.
After this plain statement of the truth, no further attempt was ever made to battle with rumors of this kind. It may be suggested here that the generous and unflagging support which the Cleveland Aid Society received throughout the war, is the best evidence that the public had confidence in the honesty of its manage ment.
It was sometimes annoying to the Aid Room corps to discover that their work was misunderstood or evil spoken of, and that the wildest rumors seemed to find some credulous ears.
Several amusing instances of this are recalled.
" Here, girls," said a cheery-faced farmer to the busy group around the office table, " I've just been leaving
36 HANDING IN "THE BILL."
fifty weight or so of maple sugar in the other room for the soldiers, and if you are half as smart as I think you are, you'll eat these anyway, as soon as I'm gone, so I'll give them to you now," and he held out a dozen little cakes of fresh sugar, almost tempting enough to justify the suspicion !
One donor who was very generous to the soldiers, but had a chronic distrust of agencies, always included in his box a pat of butter, a wedge of cheese or a few apples, marked " expressly to the ladies of the Aid Society, for their own use," evidently intending this as a bribe to insure the honest forwarding of his bounty.
One day a sharp-eyed contributor came in with a trifling gift. The package was received by one of the ladies in attendance, who took note of its contents, and proceeded, as usual, to enter them in the ledger that lay open on the desk. The donor watched her move ments with ill-concealed anger, and at last broke out with, " Well ! they told me you wrote every thing down in a book, but I said I ~knew it wasn't so ! I wouldn't believe a word of it till this very minute ! They say you write it all down so that at the end of the war you can hand in your bill, and make government pay you for all that the people have given you to send to the soldiers !"
The astonished official sought to allay the suspicions of her visitor by explaining the real reason for her careful book-keeping.
Though much softened, and professing to be satisfied, she departed with an air which showed some lingering apprehension that " the bill" might yet be honored at the United States Treasury !
CHAPTER II.
KENTUCKY, redeemed from rebel rule, opened a new field to the Sanitary Commission.
The organization of the Louisville Branch and of a thorough system of sanitary inspection, subjected the Cleveland Society to frequent orders from the supply depots of Louisville, Lexington, Bardstown and Camp Nelson.
There were also direct calls from surgeons in the field, who, having received aid from this source on first going out, were not slow in bringing to notice the later w^ants of their sick.
These shipments were all made with the approval of the Sanitary Commission, and receipts carefully taken. The letters of acknowledgment, published and widely circulated, greatly stimulated contribution.
November 2d, the Chicago Branch Sanitary Com mission received an appeal from the regimental hospital of the 18th Illinois Volunteers, stationed at Cairo. The Chicago Branch not being yet in working order, this call was referred by its officers to the Cleveland Branch, and thence answered by an immediate shipment.
These stores were sent as an earnest of the friendly feeling of the Cleveland Society towards other branches, and as an evidence of the national character
37
38 FAVORS OF TRANSPORTATION.
of its work. State lines were ever scrupulously ig nored, and, from its first to its latest days, the Society, true to the principles of the U. S. SANITARY COMMISSION, recognized only the suffering need of a loyal brother, whether his enlistment roll were signed in the forests of Maine or on the prairies of Minnesota.
Cash contributions increased as the efficiency of the Society was demonstrated, and Thanksgiving eve was celebrated by a " Soldiers' Aid Ball," tendered by citi zens for the benefit of the treasury.
The ever-increasing distance between the supply-base and the army, made it advisable to forward in bulk to the storehouses of the Sanitary Commission nearer the front, and the shipments carried free or at half-rates by the American, United States and Union Line Express Companies, now became too large for this mode of conveyance, except upon very urgent occasions.
Free freights were offered to the Society by the Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Wheeling ; Cleveland, Co lumbus and Cincinnati ; Cleveland and Toledo ; and Michigan Southern railroads, and were obtained by correspondence from the Pennsylvania Central railroad.
The Baltimore and Ohio railroad company, con stantly sustaining losses of property by the fortunes of war, felt unable to do as liberally as other roads, but cordially granted half-rates.
The personal efforts of L. M. HUBBY, Esq., President of the Cleveland and Columbus railroad, and always the firm friend of the Society, secured free freights from the Little Miami ; Covington and Lexington ; Bellefontaine ; Terre Haute, Alton and St. Louis ; Illinois Central ; and Louisville and Nashville railroads.
THE FIRST REPORT. 39
These favors were never withdrawn, although the subsequent business of the Society taxed these roads, — especially the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincin nati — to an extent almost unparalleled.
The Western Union Telegraph was the willing and unpaid messenger for the almost daily business of the Society for more than five years. The columns of the City Press were ever freely open to the appeals of the Society and the Sanitary Commission, and its voice always raised in commendation and encouragement.
Eight months from date of organization, a detailed report of the Cleveland Soldiers' Aid Society was pre sented through Dr. NEWBERRY, to the President of the Sanitary Commission, prefaced by the following letter :
CLEVELAND, December 1, 1861. H. W. BELLOWS, D. D.,
President U. S. Sanitary Commission :
Dear Sir: — I have the honor to present, herewith,
the Report of the SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY of Cleveland, Ohio, which, as you are aware, is one of the most efficient auxiliaries of our Commission.
Through my reports, you have learned, from time to time, something of the operations of this Society, but from an intimate acquaintance with the growth and workings of its system, and the results it has accomplished, I have thought them worthy of more full and public exposition than has yet been given ; not only that the value of the services rendered by this Society might be more widely known and generally recognized, but that others, seeing how simply and how quietly so much good has been done, by those enjoying no unusual resources or opportunities, might be stimulated to like efforts, with like results.
A few warm-hearted, patriotic women originated the Society, and, almost unaided, have since managed its rapidly extending business with a degree of skill and wisdom of which their success is but a just exponent. Seeking neither honor nor reward, they have given their time, their energies and their thoughts to the work, with a self-devotion, which, while it has taxed their strength and periled their health, has cheered, comforted, and saved from death, many a suffering soldier in the distant camps of our Western and Southern frontiers ; has enlisted the sympathy and active co-operation of thousands of the loyal women of Northern Ohio ; and by its direct and
40 CHANGE OF TITLE.
reflex influence, has given a more fervent glow to the patriotism of the entire West. In this fallen world of ours, such instances of self-consecration are not so common as to be undeserving of record when found. I would therefore request that this report, prepared at my suggestion, may be printed and circulated as one of the documents of our Commission.
Very Respectfully,
J. S. NEWBERRY.
The tables of this report show total cash receipts of seventeen hundred dollars, more than two-thirds of which had been invested in material for hospital cloth ing and bedding, — over four thousand articles having been made by the Society. Thirty-eight thousand articles and nearly three thousand pounds of hospital supplies had been disbursed to nineteen post and regimental hospitals, eighteen camps, and five Sani tary supply-stations in Ohio, Western Virginia, Ken tucky and Missouri.
Contributions had been received from two hundred and forty-three towns, of which one hundred and twenty had perfected branch organizations.
This report was accepted and printed as Document No. 87 of the Sanitary Commission series.
At a special meeting of the Cleveland Soldiers' Aid Society, Saturday, November 30th, when the above statement was submitted, the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted :
WHEREAS : The period has arrived at which the " Soldiers' Aid Society," of Cleveland, embraces within its limits the whole of Northern Ohio, it is deemed an act of generosity, as well as justice, to signify by the name of said Society the extent of its organization : Therefore,
Resolved, That hereafter the Cleveland " Soldiers' Aid Society" be known as the " SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY OF NORTHERN OHIO ;" and that all goods sent to this Society, before being transmitted to hospital destinations, be appropriately marked with the name of the Society, in full.
THE WINTER'S WORK. 41
Resolved, That its Auxiliaries be permitted to use the names of their respective Branches in their own stamp, before sending goods to the depot of the Society at Cleveland.
The Society faithfully strove to infuse the spirit of these resolutions into its every action. The name of Cleveland was expunged from the stamp even of those articles that were purchased or made at the Cleveland Aid Rooms, and everything was henceforth issued as an exponent of the benevolence of Northern Ohio. This successfully extinguished sectional jealousies, and its wisdom was soon apparent in the rapid increase of territory and contribution.
As autumn gave place to winter, scissors began to snip at great bolts of warm flannel, quilting parties assembled, knitting-circles drew around the fire-side, and flying fingers fashioned the shapely sock, or essayed the intricacies of the one-fingered mitten.
Companies marching away from country towns were surprised by presentations of socks and mittens, re cruits newly arrived in the city were furnished with blankets by the Aid Society, and scarcely a soldier left the rooms without the gift of something that would modify the discomforts of camp life.
A part of the U. S. Marine Hospital, Cleveland, opened to the few discharged soldiers who claimed aid at that early day, was almost wholly furnished by the Society. The details of this home charity are given in the accompanying Special Relief Report.
The approaching holiday season suggested many festivities in aid of this good cause. Dime parties were formed, concerts rehearsed, tableaux projected, and there was scarcely a Christmas tree but bore golden fruit for some local treasury.
42 SYSTEMATIC CONTRIBUTION.
Hopes of a speedy termination of the war now faded before the gathering storm in Tennessee, and by advice from head-quarters a ware-room was engaged, and a reserve stock of battle-stores diligently gathered. It was evident that months or even years might develop yet more urgent duties for the army of home- workers, and that spasmodic charity would in time fail to meet the ever-increasing drafts.
Circular No. 7, issued January 8th, to Branch Soci eties, set forth "the positive necessity for a system of steady contribution, such as would distress no one, yet leave it in the power of all to aid, — a course that by ensuring a permanent revenue to each society, would enable it to prepare a stated number of hos pital garments each month, so long as the war shall last"
Blank subscription lists were appended to this circular, to be signed by every citizen, old and young, pledging a sum not greater than five cents weekly.
To prove how little was the duration of the war, or the extent of their labors, foreseen by those who had put their hands to the plow, it is worthy of note that these lists pledged the subscriber to payment " until May 1st, 1862, if the war shall last so long ! "
The suggestions of this circular were adopted by many societies and carried out till the end of the war, with excellent results.
The shock of arms at Fort Donelson fully proved the wisdom of laying up a reserve stock of hospital stores, a policy that had been deprecated by many, in their eagerness to push everything forward to the army. An extract from the CLEVELAND HERALD illustrates the
BATTLE OF FORT DOKELSOX. 43
action of the Society towards the wounded of that terrible battle, and the general direction of its ship ments at that period.
EXTRACT. — (Feb., 1862.) — " The Soldiers' Aid Society of Northern Ohio is doing a noble work. In anticipation of the results of bloodshed at Fort Donelson, twenty-two boxes containing lint and bandages were despatched to Cairo on Monday. In response to a telegram from Dr. NEWBERRY, one thousand sets of clothing, etc., were sent the next day, besides a dozen barrels of stores. Since Monday, over one hundred and sixty boxes of supplies have been expressed to Cairo for Fort Donelson sufferers. Added to these is a large amount of hospital comforts sent to Lebanon, Ky., in care of Dr. A. X. READ, Sanitary Inspector ; to the new Brigade Hospital at Ashland, Ky. ; and to Cumberland, Md. Paducah has received its share as well as the 9th Indiana Volunteers, at Fetterman, Va., and the 13th Indiana Volunteers at Camp North Branch Bridge, Va. The 3rd Ohio Cavalry, too, was remembered. The Society is to-day filling an order from Bardstown, Ky., and despatching supplies to the 60th Ohio Volunteers at Gallipolis, Ohio."
By these drafts the supplies of the depot were exhausted, and the amount in the treasury was reduced to a nominal sum. A single call through the city papers met a response worthy to be recorded to the credit of the citizens of Cleveland to all time. Hos pital stores filled the empty shelves, and money unsolicited flowed into the treasury. In addition to individual gifts, the contributions of churches, societies, clubs, lodges and schools were poured in. The em ployes of foundries, car-shops and boiler-shops gave up the great national holiday of February 22d, and devoted the wages of that day to their suffering brothers in hospital.
In the illumination of the city on the evening of February 22d, over this first great victory in the West, the Society, thus encouraged, gladly took part, and its windows shone with transparencies typical of
44 AN AUTOGRAPH TESTIMONIAL.
the succor that the people were bringing to their wounded.
Before the week ended, two hundred and sixty boxes had been shipped to Cairo and Louisville, where the wounded of this dear-bought triumph were now gath ering. The president of the Society accompanied these stores to Louisville, and by the kindness of the Louisville Branch Sanitary Commission gained access to the crowded hospitals, giving her personal attention to the sufferers, and making the acquaintance of several loyal women of that city, who were then organizing ward committees for visiting and relieving the wounded.
By request of these ladies, an informal meeting was held, when the working system of Northern Ohio aid societies was fully explained to them.
The aid of the Cleveland Branch was cordially offered, and for many succeeding weeks the delicacies sent from the North found their way to the Fort Donelson wounded, through the hands of these Louis ville ward committees.
To provide this special hospital diet, a direct appeal was made, April 2d, in Circular No. 8, to the farmers of the vicinity. Butter, eggs, cheese, chickens, dried apples and pickles were earnestly solicited, and were sent in such quantity as to make a sensible improve ment in Louisville hospitals.
Though many were the appreciative messages returned to the zealous workers of the Society, none so stirred their hearts as an autograph testimonial of two hundred and ninety-two of the Fort Donelson wounded, who, in Hospital No. 5, Louisville, had
A TRIP TO THE FRONT. 45
received the gifts of the Soldiers1 Aid Society of Northern Ohio.
This direct cornmunication with hospitals where hundreds, dear to Northern hearts, were lying desperately wounded, gave to many their first vivid picture of the sufferings of the battle-field, and deep ened their interest in all measures for relief.
At the Aid Rooms, voices sank low as surgeon's supplies were discussed, the fleecy lint was tenderly handled, the soft linen almost reverently folded, and little groups from the country watched with new and tearful interest the mysteries of bandage rolling.
3
None of the corps of Aid Room workers at that day will ever forget the passionate burst of tears that greeted the old father who came feebly in to ask for a pair of crutches for his forever-crippled son, one of the first to make the painful journey back to his Ohio home.
By the fall of Fort Donelson, Nashville was opened to the North, and here the Sanitary Commission early sought to enter.
April 1st, the secretary of the Cleveland Society accompanied Dr. NEWBERRY and Dr. READ to Nash ville, to see some results of Sanitary work at the front, and to aid in establishing a supply depot in that city, now an important base of Sanitary operation.
The following extract is from a letter written during that visit to the South-west :
46 SANITARY DEPOT, NASHVILLE.
ST. CLOUD HOTEL, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, } April 4th, 1862. f
" DEAR MKS. ROUSE AND LADIES OF '95 BANK STREET,'
What do you think of my coming down here and opening a store ? an opposition establishment ? and doing a brisk business, too !
Yet so it is, and could you look into our new Sanitary depot here, it would geem to you like nothing in the world so much as our dear 95 Bank street translated into Dixie. For here are our boxes and shelves and labels, all after the fashion of that thriving institution, and closer view reveals a certain familiar stamp (S. A. S., Northern Ohio,) upon various articles of clothing and bedding that are already piled upon the shelves, while many a can of dainties or bottle of domestic wine bears on its label the name of some Northern Ohio matron.
This depot of the Sanitary Commission, just opened, is well located in the central part of the city, and already three hundred boxes have arrived from the North. The stores that we shipped by express the day I left home have come on from Louisville, and we have been busily at work unpacking and arranging the supplies. It seemed like old times to be handling hospital stores, and it did my soul good when, after a hard day's work, we could look at the well filled shelves and think how near our goods now are to the place where they are so much needed.
The store is arranged very much like our own, and we have been busy again this morning, writing labels and unpacking more boxes.
A pale and feeble soldier has just been in to ask for a towel. He was a Michigan man, just discharged from hospital, and waiting for his pay in order to go home. I had the pleasure of giving him some towels, a hand kerchief, a handful of soft crackers and a bottle of currant wine, made by some good Ohio housekeeper.
You can scarcely imagine what importance our work assumes at this point. To see a surgeon come in and draw a stock of clothing and bedding and to visit his hospital next day and notice those very articles covering and comforting the sick, is to find cause and effect in truly gratifying proximity.
These stores tell a wonderful tale of the great benevolent heart of the North, and of the union in good works that pervades our land. The women of New England have sent their offerings, Cincinnati has done gener ously, the Louisville ladies have added their share, and our own Society is liberally represented.
The surgeons are coming in almost hourly to make requisitions, and under the careful eye of Dr. READ the wants of each hospital are being relieved."
While thus engaged at Nashville, there came the news of the battle of Pittsburg Landing, and the party
BATTLE OF P1TTSBURG- LANDING. 47
at once went by government transport down the Cumberland and up the Tennessee, carrying with them hospital supplies, and meeting at Paducah and merging into the wave of practical sympathy now fully in motion towards the scene of suffering. To meet the necessities of that terrible conflict, the quick impulses of a generous people promptly devised a noble plan of succor. Scarcely had the vague rumors of the long expected battle deepened into certainty, when the floating palaces that in happier days glided over our western rivers, obedient to the interests of commerce or the calls of pleasure, now freighted with stores of comfort and thronged with sympathizing hearts, became the swift-winged messengers of mercy to the victims of the deadly struggle. The various branches of the Sanitary Commission and the authori ties of different States vied with each other in this benevolent work, and the women of the North poured out the abundant fruit of their patriotism, richly rewarded by the tribute of gratitude sent up from the pale and trembling lips of hundreds thus rescued from distant and lonely graves.
The withdrawal of the Union forces from the posts so long occupied in Kentucky, and their concentration upon the head waters of the Tennessee, had been watched with breathless anxiety. The general position of the opposing forces was known, and the battle of Pittsburg Landing had been long expected, yet the final announcement of the victory and its terrible price, kindled an excitement that no previous event of the war had called forth in the West.
Had a shell from the rebel batteries burst upon
48 THE EXCITEMENT IK CLEVELAND.
every hearth-stone, the consternation and dismay throughout Northern Ohio could scarcely have been greater. Nearly every regiment of the Western Re serve had been engaged, — our own dead covered the fatal field, our own dear wounded were languishing in that distant and desolated region. Over every household hung the pall of a great bereavement, or the scarcely less dense cloud of a heart-breaking sus pense.
The record of these exciting days in Cleveland, is best given in a letter from the treasurer of the Aid Society to the absent secretary.
"CLEVELAND AlD ROOMS, 95 BANK STREET, )
April 20th, 1862. f
" On the first news of the battle, a meeting of the citizens of Cleveland was at once called, and a committee appointed to go the same night to Pittsburg Landing with such supplies as could be collected in the meantime . The Soldiers' Aid Society Rooms seemed the natural point where the tide of excitement culminated, and from morning till night the doors were thrown open, and like a great wave, the throng of people ebbed and flowed — coming and going — to bring their contributions — to learn the latest intelligence — or to offer their services in preparing the shipment to be made before night. When we entered the Aid Rooms that morning, the whole space was filled with a sea of people, carrying boxes, baskets, parcels, pails and jars. The street in front was crowded with drays loaded with heavier packages, con taining clothing, bedding, dressings, wine and fruit — the best which every house afforded.
Long hoarded treasures of fine linen spun by grandmothers, and relics of revolutionary times, which had been reserved in all previous emergencies, now came to light and were freely offered. All our efforts were in vain to weigh or register these gifts with any accuracy. One courageous disciple of order stood at the high desk, with day-book and pen, and an avenue was opened to the scales, but the attempt signally failed. The tide of unregu lated benevolence swept over and obliterated this feeble resistance. While one package of old linen was being recorded, twenty more valuable gifts were set quietly down by their owners, who went away in full assurance that the same would be discovered, recognized and credited in the weekly acknowledgments. A failure to do this was in course of time duly reported at the Aid Rooms. All our ordinary corps of workers were at their posts,
HOSPITAL TRANSPORT WORK. 49
and scores of others, who were consigned to that sinking fund of patriotic fervor, the rag-box, and these rolled bandages, folded compresses, packed the stores of all kinds, working steadily far into the evening. Then there were others — a great number — who had a deeper interest in the lists of dead and wounded that came in so slowly. Men, women and children waited hours for later despatches, and many a brave woman whose happi ness was at stake, worked all day with colorless face but undaunted courage, preparing comforts which might save some soldier, if her own were beyond aid. Here, a little girl who had stood with eyes filled with tears, listening to the confused conversation, asked anxiously if ' Charley was killed,' and there, an old man, in faded and worn clothing, begged pardon of the ladies for crying, while he asked after his boy James — his youngest son, and the only one left — who was in the battle, and who must have been killed, for ' he was always a good one to write.' Of course, for a day or two nothing could be heard from James, Charley, or thousands of others, but a week or two later the old father came one morning, radiant with happiness, and accompanied by James — his arm in a sling, but delighted in the possession of a thirty days' furlough. The ' Missus' sent by them a jar of pickles to the soldiers, as a thank offering.
The citizens' committee was to leave on the 10 r. M. train, and by night fall a re-enforcement of gentlemen came to help nail, pack and despatch the one hundred boxes that were promptly ready at that hour."
A self-constituted committee of the friends of the Aid Society collected in one day and a half more than three thousand dollars, which was devoted to the purchase of material, and later to the expenses of hospital transports. Day after day the stream of gifts flowed in, soon swollen by a generous tide from the country societies, and continuing for weeks unabated. The impetus thus gained carried the Society through many prosperous months.
The car-load of stores sent down the first day in care of the Cleveland citizens' committee, was imme diately followed by an equally large shipment to the Magnolia, a steamer fitted out by the Ohio State authorities, and in charge of the Surgeon General of the State.
50 THE STEAMER LANCASTER.
From the retrospect of those dark days, it is pleasant to single out one bright memory. AVhen the Magnolia lay by the crowded river-side at Pittsburg Landing, taking in her precious freight of suffering humanity, the secretary of the Cleveland Aid Society, passing down the long cabin between rows of freshly spread cots, saw on each sheet and pillow and bed garment, the well-known stamp of Northern Ohio benevolence.
The Glendale and the Tycoon, despatched soon after by the Governor on the same errand of mercy, were also generously supplied, and consignments were made to agents of the Sanitary Commission in Cincinnati, for transfer to hospital steamers. The "Lancaster No. 4,' held in charter by the Sanitary Commission, and run ning between Cincinnati and Pittsburg Landing, was at once " adopted " by the Cleveland Society, and one thousand dollars were voted from the treasury to aid in her outfit of cots, table and bed furniture, lemons, ice, fresh vegetables, etc., purchased by Dr. NEWBERRY in Cincinnati. The Society was further represented by Mrs. B. O. WILCOX and Mrs. STANLEY NOBLE, of the Painesville Branch, who accompanied the Lancaster, giving valuable assistance to the officials, in their care of the sick and wounded. The Lancaster was em ployed throughout the summer by the Sanitary Commission as a floating depot, supply steamer and hospital ; plying between the army on the Tennessee and the Mississippi, and the hospitals and markets on the Ohio; carrying down a full cargo of stores for distribution, and bringing back the sick and wounded to Northern hospitals, or on furlough to their homes.
THE DEPOT HOSPITAL. 5]
For these feeble travelers a resting place was opened by the Society, April 17th, 1862, in the Cleveland Union Depot. To this, on the arrival of each train, the soldier was directed by a faithful nurse, and here he found a comfortable bed and good cheer, and was furnished with transportation, if necessary. The establishment of this DEPOT HOSPITAL is detailed in the accompanying Special Relief Report.
The Cleveland Society stood pledged to add to the cargo of the Lancaster, upon her touching at Cincin nati. Due notice of her approach was telegraphed from Paducah, and this was made the basis of an appeal to the ever-willing auxiliaries. Every Branch Society redoubled its zeal, and at the Aid Rooms in Cleveland the busy preparation for " steamer-day " emulated the bustling activity of a foreign shippino- house.
The president and several members of the Society accompanied Dr. NEWBERRY to Pittsburg Landing, upon the second trip of the Lancaster.
From a letter of one of these ladies the following extracts are made :
"JUNE 20th, 1863.
" DEAR LADIES OF THE AID SOCIETY, CLEVELAND :
The evening of June 5th, 1862, saw us on board the Lancaster No. 4, bound for Pittsburg Landing. Our party comprised six physicians — Dr. NEWBERRY with his coadjutor, Dr. PRENTICE, at their head, a clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal Church, six male nurses, and five ladies who claimed the privilege of acting in any capacity the necessities of the sick might demand, either as nurses or cooks, willing that the yellow flag should cover the broad ground of woman's sphere wherever a Christian humanity should direct it.
Our boat was richly freighted with hospital stores to be dispensed as the exigencies of the boat or hospitals might demand. We embarked with the pleasant appliances of a pleasure excursion — agreeable officers, well fur-
52 TO PITTSBUKG LANDING.
nislied saloon and state rooms ; and in genial society and the surroundings of beautiful scenery, we drank in vigor and courage for the accomplishment of our mission, which was to bring home such sick and wounded as could with safety be removed from the Tennessee hospitals. We were to take men irrespective of the State to which they belonged, and gather under the folds of the United States flag all who had in common fought for the honor of that flag, for surely all such were brothers. * * *
On the morning of June 10th we arrived at Pittsburg Landing. Such a busy scene as there presented itself! *
As it was determined that we were to ship our sick from Hamburg, six miles south of the landing, we proceeded there the following day, and then commenced our earnest work. The saloon of the Lancaster was stripped of its carpets, lounges, etc., floors thoroughly washed, and a triple row of cots ranged lengthwise through the saloon. Every available space on the guards and lower deck was occupied by cots, and all hands put in requisition to prepare for the reception of the invalid soldiers. Blessings on the Aid Societies were invoked when the stores of sheets and comfortable quilts were brought from their hiding place, and the cots made, one after another, by their cleanliness and comfort, as inviting as those of a fine hotel. Bless ings, too, for the liberal supply of pillows for the aching heads that had slept for so many weary weeks on the knapsack. Our preparations com pleted, we waited until the morning of Friday, the 12th inst., for our precious freight.
On the morning of that day our patients — two hundred and twenty-five in number — appeared on the hill above our landing, brought thither from a hospital in that vicinity. We watched with intense interest their progress to the boat. Of the whole number, not one descend ed the hill with the step of health. Bent and broken, either by the scourge of fever or wounds, some on litters, some in half military dress, with the loose sleeve proclaiming a terrible wound, others in dressing-gowns, sitting down, as exhausted nature required, after a few steps. We at last mustered our forces. The boat was divided into wards, each physician taking one as his special care — the six nurses acting for all. After the men fell into their comfortable quarters, the operation of bathing and dressing began. Soiled clothing was removed, and your generous store of shirts and drawers furnish ed each poor fellow with comforts which spoke in their happy faces of a moral elevation, since cleanliness is akin to godliness. Now all these sheets, shirts, drawers, etc., bore the unmistakable mark of the Northern Ohio Aid Society, and prompted the question, what would become of these sick men if there was no such organization V Again, when the nice supper appeared with its modicum to each man of sweet bread, butter and fruit, with tea or coffee, as his taste directed, the same question was mentally propounded, and gratefully we acknowledged the benevolence that had filled up the awful hiatus between the necessities of our sick and wounded brothers and
ON BOARD THE LANCASTER. 53
the supplies which the best Government can afford. There was untold satisfaction, too, in the ocular demonstration this trip afforded, that the Sanitary Commission, with its authorized agents, goes to the spot and directly applies its aid. There is no doubt tormenting the mind of the des tination of stores thus entrusted, for they are met in the very face of the demand. It is not a box carefully marked by loving hands and entrusted to steamboats and railways, but stores made available by the donors themselves, through their own appointed agents, where the failure to meet their desti nation is the exception, never the rule.
Our kind clergyman, with his words of comfort, contributed materially to the good we were dispensing. Three of our party were returning with heavy hearts, having gone in quest of relatives whom they found "sleeping the sleep that knows no waking." To these bruised spirits all administered. One of the mourners — an octogenarian — was bearing to his home on the banks of the Ohio the tidings of his son's death, but nothing daunted in his patriotism by his calamity, he was willing to try his own hand in the fight for his country's honor, if a call should be made for the grey haired, when the younger men were exhausted.
On Sunday two services were held by the Rev. Dr. STARKEY, one in the cabin for the convalescents, and a second one in the evening, in the open air, on the bow of the steamer, to an audience most of whom were unable to rise from their cots. It was a lovely summer night which witnessed this solemn service to men prostrated by disease, on the lonely waters of the Tennessee, and hard must have been the heart that did not respond to the fervent petitions of that hour.
Surely, the Lancaster on her homeward wray, was an angel of mercy, dis pensing to hospitals at Savannah, Monterey and Hamburg, of the good things with which she was freighted — giving, without stint, of fruits, wines and clothing, gladdening the hearts of those, who, far from home and the sympathy which surrounds it, recognize in the stamp of yours and kindred societies, the tender and loving ministrations of woman and the bright chain of living and practical benevolence which unites them with home and all its endearing associations. *****
Very truly, Yours, J.
The interest of this journey was heightened by the confidence gained in the ability and faithfulness of the agents of the Sanitary Commission. The results of these observations were given to the Branch Societies in a letter from the president, issued July loth, as Circular No. 9. For further evidence of the usefulness of hospital steamers, and interesting details of their
54 GENERAL SHIPMENTS.
management, the reader is referred to a document of the Sanitary Commission series, entitled " Brief Keports," written by Dr. J. S. NEWBEBBY, under whose charge the trip of the Lancaster was made.
Though hospital transport work was a specialty through this summer, the books of the Society show that shipments had been made to over one hundred geographical points in Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee, and that the hospitals of Kansas had been added to the list of beneficiaries.
The destitution in Kansas hospitals was first brought to notice in March, 1802, by the report of J, II. BROWN, Esq., who was then traveling through that State, by authority of the Sanitary Commission, to learn what hospital stores not provided by Govern ment could be supplied by benevolence. Guided by the advice and information of Mr. BROWN, the Society despatched stores to Post Hospital, Kansas City. This was its first shipment to that department, with excep tion of a few boxes that had answered special calls from Northern Ohio regiments on duty there. Mr. BROWN brought back from these regiments a hearty and cheering acknowledgment of the gifts that they had received. His report included an account of the destitution among refugee Indians in Kansas, and this was relieved to some extent by boxes of half- worn clothing and bedding, collected from households in and near Cleveland.
The claims of Kansas hospitals were henceforth readily acknowledged by the Cleveland Branch, and in the later establishment of a Sanitary Commission
SANITABY AGENCY, LEAVEN WORTH. 55
supply depot at Leavenworth, the repeated drafts of Mr. BROWN upon the Cleveland storehouse were answered with a promptness intended to show the confidence felt in this very faithful Sanitary agent and truly excellent man.
CHAPTER III.
FROM a pamphlet report of the Society, published July 1st, 1862, it appears that total cash receipts to that date were nearly seventy-six hundred dollars. Two-thirds of this sum had been expended in furnish ing hospital steamers and in purchase of materials from which eleven thousand articles of clothing and bedding had been made by the central society. Ninety six thousand articles and one hundred and twenty-one thousand pounds of hospital comforts had been- received at the Cleveland Aid Rooms, — the contribu tion of Northern Ohio.
Three hundred and twenty-one organized societies had been entered as corresponding and supply Branches of the Cleveland Sanitary Commission. The most cordial relations existed between these associations and the central organization. Many of these Branches possessed the elements of self-susten ance, but to maintain the life and vigor of others, much fostering care was required. It was a constant study to promote the interests of the tributaries, and such effort invariably brought rich reward.
Through the first six or eight months of its existence, the Cleveland Aid Society had a hard struggle for life. So much desultory work was done by the people
districttributarytottie Cleveland Branch Sanitary Gommissionjn Shade".
GEOGRAPHICAL LIMITS. 5
directly to their friends in the army, that it was only by much persistence that Sanitary labors were centralized. The Society does not profess to have engrossed all the relief work of its district, — it only claims to have gathered it into form, given it direction, and made it more effective.
The people of Northern Ohio were constantly showing their interest in the soldiers by sending boxes to individuals in the army, Christmas and Thanks giving gifts to friends in camp, — presenting socks and mittens to regiments on marching away, — despatching messengers with boxes of home dainties down to " the front." (See I. Samuel, 17th Chap., 17th and 18th verses.)
This outside work is entered upon no record of Sanitary effort, but it is certain that the aid societies were the " head centers " of all communication between the home and the army, and that by their being kept in vigorous condition an impetus was given to all such work, whether done strictly within their limits or not.
The territory from which supplies were drawn was extremely limited, not exceeding eighteen counties in the north-eastern part of Ohio. A few towns in southern Michigan, western New York and north western Pennsylvania were tributary to Cleveland during the first years of the war, but later these were naturally withdrawn to the agencies established at Detroit, Buffalo and Pittsburgh. Meadville, Pa., was the only considerable town outside of the State of Ohio in which a Branch of the Cleveland Sanitary Commission was maintained to the end of the war.
The north-western part of Ohio, having direct rail-
CULTIVATING THE FIELD.
road communication with Cincinnati, sent its hospital contributions generally to that supply center.
Columbus had its own agency, which drew its support from the central part of the State.
The geographical position of Cleveland limited the territory of its Aid Society, since it could not be expected that towns in the central or southern part of the State would send stores northward, knowing they would be at once re-shipped to the south, over the same line of transportation.
This small field was carefully cultivated, and in it a constituency was built up, of branch societies num bering at the close of the war five hundred and
o
twenty -five.
There was scarcely a town, village or hamlet in this district that had not its "Aid Society " or " Soldiers' Relief Association." Even the children were inspired by zeal unto good works to organize in school-house and play-room their " Busy Bee," " Wide Awake" or " X. Y. Z." societies.
It is believed that no other arm of the UNITED STATES SANITAKY COMMISSION had so intimate com munication with its tributaries, or drew from so small a district greater results.
The officers of each local organization were noted on the books at the Cleveland Aid Rooms with accurate post-office address. At stated intervals, blanks were issued to each Branch, to be filled and returned, showing what changes of officers had taken place, by election or otherwise. The secretary's books were cor rected to agree with these reports. Personal letters were addressed at least once a month to the secretary
RELATIONS WITH BRANCH SOCIETIES. 59
of each society, besides the receipts and letters that were always sent in acknowledgment of boxes, and the frequent answers to inquiries concerning work, and many other matters of business that were constantly referred by the local societies to the central rooms.
No attempt was made to divert contributions out of the direct channel towards the army. Towns were always advised to send to the Sanitary agency nearest the point of demand.
The relation of the Branches to the Cleveland Society was purely one of self-interest, and could be broken at any moment if they so desired. No pledge of union was exacted from them, nor was there any attempt to say what proportion of their goods should be forwarded through this agency.
With the Cleveland Society rested the duty of binding the Branches to itself by making it clearly for their interest to continue the relation. It had also the burden and responsibility of establishing and conduct ing arrangements with transportation agencies and the general Commission, whereby goods could be safely conveyed and wisely distributed. The Branches had only to prepare their shipments and despatch them to Cleveland. Once arrived there, their responsibility might be considered at an end.
The aid societies of Northern Ohio were a power for loyalty. The hands of Union men at home were as surely held up by this little band of workers in every town and village, as were the hearts of the soldiers in the field cheered by the knowledge that friends at home were busy for their comfort. The Union element in a town was sure to crystallize around
OFFICERS.
60 bllTIES OF
its Aid Society. The " Union" or " Peace " proclivities of a man were clearly indicated by his good- will and generosity towards "the Sanitary," or his open or covert attacks upon it.
The work undertaken for sweet charity only, soon became an exponent of political sentiment. This was sharply brought out in the latter years of the war, and union conventions and loyal leagues recognized the value of the aid societies by making frequent con tributions to their support.
The Cleveland Aid Rooms in these days presented a busy scene indeed. The business of influencing, receiving and disbursing money and stores, and the practical details of purchasing, invoicing and shipping were managed by the officers, there being no finance, advisory or auditing board of gentlemen, as was usual elsewhere in similar institutions.
Throughout the entire existence of the Society, its officers were happily able to give their whole time to a work in which they w^ere interested heart and soul. No salary was ever asked or received by any one of them, and not one cent was ever drawn from the treasury for their traveling or other expenses, even when they were absent on the necessary business of the Society.
The officers were effectively aided by volunteer committees, appointed at each business meeting for the ensuing month. Besides those whose names have been given on page 24, as forming the committees at the organization of the Society, the following ladies shoiild have honorable mention :
AID ROOM COMMITTEES. 61
Mrs. Dr. MERRITT, Mrs. R, C. YATES, Mrs. J. M. RICHARDS, Mrs. S. W. CRITTENDEN, Mrs. LAUDERDALE, Mrs. HENRY DEWBERRY, Mrs. E. F. GAYLORD, Mrs. JAMES BARNETT, Miss ANNETTE BARNETT, Mrs. ALBERT M. HARMON, Mrs. C. D. BRAYTON, Mrs. LEPPER, Mrs. E. S. ISOM, Mrs. S. A. JEWETT, Mrs. CHARLES WHEELER, Mrs. THOMAS BURNHAM, Mrs. L. ALCOTT, Mrs. H. B. HFRLBURT, Mrs. BEVERLIN, Mrs. G. A. HYDE, Mrs. A. FULLER, Mrs. H. H. LITTLE, Mrs. I. T. STEVENS, Mrs. L. BURTON, Mrs. O. B. SKINNER, Mrs. Dr. HOPKINS, Mrs. STANLEY NOBLE, Mrs. Dr. THAYER, Mrs. EDWIN THAYER, Mrs. GEO. B. ELY, Miss BELLE CARTER, Miss LILY WALTON.
Many ladies of these committees continued month after month in the discharge of their self-imposed duties, greatly overtaxing their strength by a degree of manual labor that woman is seldom called to perform.
The unpacking, assorting and repacking of goods required many busy hands, besides those that were engaged in cutting, giving out and receiving back the garments made from material furnished.
There was also the stamping of each article with the name of the Society and of the Sanitary Commission, adopted as a precaution against fraudulent appropria tion, and as a proof to the soldier that such articles were not furnished by Government, and could neither be sold to him nor their price held back from his
Pay- Many articles of bedding received at the Aid Rooms
had been drawn from household stores, and still bore the quaint sampler- stitch initial or written name of the donor.
62 MARKED ARTICLES.
"Album quilts" were a favorite conceit of sewing circles, where each lady would contribute a patchwork square made from scraps of her own dresses, writing upon it her name and a patriotic sentiment or cheering couplet.
Instances were not few when the soldier in far-off hospital was cheered by sight of some such familiar sign on sheet or counterpane, or gladly rested his weary head upon a pillow that bore a dear and well- known name.
Socks went to the soldiers with such good wishes as the following:
" Brave sentry, on your lonely beat,
May these blue stockings warm your feet, And when from wars and camps you part, May some fair knitter warm your heart."
A bit of paper bearing a few words of kindness and sympathy was often found pinned into the sleeve of a new garment, which thus became doubly the mes senger of good- will from home to hospital.
Who can estimate the value of such a gift to one who, for months separated from friends and bearing a soldier's burdens in a distant region, is thus made to feel that gentle hands still hold the lengthening chain that binds him to his home !
The unpacking committee often found in a box from the country a garment having the Aid Room stamp, that had been worn home from hospital by a soldier and was now returned to do a second mission of comfort.
There were other gifts that were more tenderly handled, with such labels as these :
CANNED FRUIT AND JELLIES. 63
"A pillow and sheet on which my wounded son was brought home from Cross Lanes."
" Three pairs of socks, sent home in the knapsack of a dear brother who fell at Antietam."
The duties of the Aid Room committees did not end with a general attention to the stock. There was also special care to be given to a class of stores that, through too hasty preparation or packing, often came to the Aid Rooms in a state unfit for direct forwarding. Corks were to be secured, labels adjusted, lids cemented, leaks detected and their damages repaired.
What genius of mischief first proposed canned fruit as an article of sick diet, or why army surgeons and hospital nurses should be supposed to subsist exclu sively upon that luxury, are mysteries beyond solution in this volume. Certain it is, that no other supplies gave so much trouble in preparation, were so ill fitted to bear transportation and change of temperature, or were so damaging to the honest name of surgeon, nurse, and Sanitary Commission.
A great discouragement was the constant cry that " the soldiers don't get the things," and " the surgeons and nurses eat up everything." " Everything " was invariably acknowledged to mean the canned fruit and jellies, yet it was in vain to advise against sending these, or to set forth that other stores could be prepared at less cost, were more safely forwarded, and offered less temptation to dishonest fingers.
It was not in the hearts of Northern Ohio women to withhold from the soldiers any luxury that they themselves enjoyed. To the very last, canned fruit crowded Aid Room shelves and perplexed Aid Room committees.
64 STOREKEEPER PERPLEXITIES.
It was hard for the thrifty matron, in her well-or dered home, to remember the difference between an army surgeon's menage and her own careful house keeping. Sometimes a jar of pickles would come to the Aid Rooms labeled with directions to the surgeon of the hospital to "pour off the brine, throw on scalding vinegar, and keep them in a cool place,11 - - or a little package of roots and herbs, with a careful recipe for steeping them in certain proportions, to make " a very good cough mixture,"" or " a wash for sore mouth."
It was hard, too, to comprehend the wreck and ruin of war, to admit that among its attendant evils wastefulness is conspicuous and inevitable, and that in this waste — with the best that can be done to pre vent it — the supplies of benevolent associations, as well as the furnishings of Government, must share.
There arose in Aid Room storekeeping three sea sons of special perplexity, that, however, well illus trate the promptness and enthusiasm of Northern Ohio benevolence.
In an unlucky hour, some patriotic soul, with more zeal than knowledge, proposed bottled currant-juice -without sugar — as the appropriate "offering of a grateful people to their suffering defenders." This hint, going the rounds of the country press, was eagerly caught up and instantly acted upon. Box after box was unloaded at the Aid Rooms, filled with bottles of this bright translucent liquid. Torpedoes from Dixie could scarcely have produced greater con sternation. Its short history was one of uneasy bubble, internal ferment and outbursting rebellion.
CURE ANT- JUICE AND TOAST. 65
Corks flew, glass shivered, and committee-women broke ranks and fled in dismay before the enfilading fire of this novel battery. Certain sanguineous stains on the floor and mysterious tracery on walls and ceil ing were long the significant reminders of this "cur rant-juice cannonade."
Again, there crept into the newspapers a sugges tion that slices of dry toast should be packed into barrels and sent to hospitals. Before experience could report upon the value of this advice, dray loads of barreled toast had been deposited at the Aid Room door. If the bread had been carefully toasted and made perfectly dry, the rough handling of the barrel by railroad porters or the jolting over country roads reduced the slices to minute crumbs; but if, as was most likely, it had been hastily packed, only half dry, the whole became a sour and mouldy mass, only fit to be cast out wherever dumping ground could be found for it. The Aid Room committees from be neath a mountain of mouldering crusts sent forth their reiterated outcry against this waste. Even letters and printed protests were slow in convincing the zealous workers that their labor was worse than vain. Week after week the process of toasting bread went on as though the fires of Northern Ohio patri otism had been kindled solely for that purpose.
But these annoyances were as nothing to the trials of the " concentrated chicken era," in the spring of 1862. This was specially vexatious because the advice which proved so unlucky had been sent out from the Aid Rooms.
From the East there had come a recipe, strongly
66 CONCENTRATED CHICKEN.
endorsed, for stewing down chicken, condensing the broth and sealing the whole in tin cans. This recipe was circulated by the Aid Society among its tributa ries, who were enjoined to enter at once upon the preparation of "this invaluable article of hospital diet."
The aid societies threw themselves into this work in their own generous way. Chicken had been pre, scribed for their soldier boys, — chicken they should have ! Poultry-yard and chicken-coop yielded up the victims of this new decree. The " murder of the inno cents " went on with unsparing hand. " Bees " assem bled in every kitchen, the steaming kettle sent up a savory odor from every fireside.
The first shipments reached the Cleveland Aid Rooms in apparent good order, and were immediately and with great satisfaction forwarded to hospitals. A few boxes are known to have borne transportation well and to have been a welcome treat to the sick soldiers. But either the process was defective, the haste in packing too great, or it may have been that the zeal infused into the preparation induced fermen tation in the cans ! Soon, " bouquet de concentrated chicken" began to pervade the atmosphere of Aid Rooms and to exhale in overpowering effluvia from every box that came in. An ominous " chipper " and bubble arose among the cans on the shelf, followed by a gaseous explosion, — after which, decidedly stronger "bouquet."
Words cannot do justice to this new perfume, — • memory once saturated with it can never be purged of the experience !
OFFICE DUTIES. 67
Committee- women, sick and faint, longed for retire ment and a camphor-bottle. Some, more resolute, with cologne-drenched handkerchief and face averted, ven tured to open and explore the boxes, dragging out the contents thoroughly impregnated with the nause ous odor or soaked and ruined by the bursting of a single can. Business meetings were conducted with great gravity, each member holding a saucer of disin fectants under her devoted nose.
Surgeons politely acknowledged to the Aid Soci ety the receipt of a box, " presumed by the odor, to contain condensed chicken." Sanitary agents at Nashville despairingly cried, " Stay ! the Cumberland river is already blockaded with cans of con — founded chicken ! "
Neighbors voted the establishment a nuisance, doc tors denounced it, and cholera threatened it. Chloride of lime at last carried the day !
In the office of the Aid Kooms a careful system of book-keeping and invoicing had been early adopted. A list of every article contributed, with name of donor, was published weekly in the CLEVELAND HEEALD. Each box from the country was further acknowledged by a personal letter aiming to convey advice, informa tion and encouragement. The limits of the day were all too short for these duties, and the correspondence and preparation for the press were often carried far into the night.
. Though frequent circulars had been issued, sani tary publications scattered and constant appeals made through the press, it now seemed important to have
68 LEADER ARTICLES.
some stated means of advancing the interests of the Sanitary Commission throughout Northern Ohio and of communicating with the tributaries of the Cleve land Branch more fully than could be done "by letter only.
While this was in discussion by the ladies in their little office, many suggestions being made only to be rejected, Mr. E. COWLES, of the CLEVELAND LEADER, offered two columns per week of that paper to the Society.
The ladies gladly accepted this invitation to join the corps editorial. Thursday evening was hereafter known, in Aid Society parlance, as " LEADER night," when a stirring appeal was to be written, a digest of the week's business prepared, letters from the front condensed, sanitary news summed up, home relief re ported, prejudices and rumors dissipated and flagging enthusiasm galvanized.
The " wee sma' hours " often found the tyro in her sanctum, deep in the mysteries of scissors and quill, aglow with the excitement of composition, or nervously dreading the call for " more copy."
For more than two years, and until other plans made their continuance unnecessary, the Soldiers Aid Society articles filled and often overran the space assigned them in the Saturday morning issue of the CLEVELAND LEADER.
The mailing of circulars and other papers, which became later a work that required a constant round of really wearying labor, was no small task even at this early day. For more than three years, Miss CARRIE P. YOTJNGLOVE, a much valued member of the Aid Room
DOCUMENT COMMITTEES. 69
corps, had charge of this department, performing her volunteer duties as Document Clerk with untiling perseverance and much ability.
The ladies who assisted in this department at differ ent times during the earlier years of the war were :— Miss MAKY SHELLEY, Miss CARRIE GRANT, Miss GEORGIA GORDON, Miss HELEN LESTER, Miss NELLIE RUSSELL, Miss CLARA WOOLSON, Miss NETTIE BRAYTON, Mrs. GEO. S. MYGATT and Mrs. FRANK W. PARSONS.
The invoicing and registering; had now become too
o o o
important to be left to the changing hands of volun teer committees, however able and zealous these might be.
Miss SARA MAHAN, whose valuable services had for some months been given, was from this time- August 1st, 1862 — employed as office assistant. Now fully identified with the Society, her well trained mind and fine business abilities were faithfully devoted to its interests. This engagement was continued till the close of the supply work in October, 1865.
A PICTURE OF THE CLEVELAND AID ROOMS.
At 8 o'clock the Rooms are open and the ladies assemble for the business of the day.
The boxes unloaded by the drayman upon the pavement, after receiving their entry numbers, are trundled through the wide door and the lids skilfully removed by the porter or energetically pried off by some impatient member of the unpacking committee, whose duties now begin.
Cautiously she peeps under the layers, not without
70 PICTURE OF THE AID EOOMS.
fear that some mischievous cork, false to its trust, may have spread liquid ruin among the soft folds.
Shirts and drawers, as they come forth, are duly counted, examined and noted. If zealous haste has despatched them minus a button or a string, the defi ciency is supplied by some careful matron who sits near. The garment is then thrown with the others upon a high counter, behind which is enthroned a third committee- woman with stencil-plate and brush.
The labels and mottoes which she may find nestling in the pocket of a dressing-gown or hidden in the soldier's thread-case, she does not remove. Steadily she works there, affixing the indelible stamp,
S.A.S.
and each article passes from her hand into its appointed place in one or another of the great hinged receiving-cases that form a row down the long room.
Books and pamphlets receive the same stamp and are then piled upon their allotted shelf, where some soldier from the city camp may often be seen turning over the leaves, with free permission to choose.
Bags of dried fruit are tumbled in a heap upon the scales. Bottles and jugs as they appear are closely inspected, the sound carefully re-packed in sawdust, the defective cemented anew or, if too far gone for that, set aside for the Home, the city hospital or the sick soldier not many squares off.
At a table in the middle of the room a bandage
COMMITTEES AT WORK. 71
machine is whirling, under a hand grown dextrous by much practice in these sad days. Before the old-linen box stands an embodiment of patience, vainly toiling to bring order out of the ever uprising mass.
Just behind is the busy packing committee, upon whose skilfulness rests the good name of the Society with the army. Bending over their work, they fold and smooth and crowd down each article with its kind, until there is space only for the invoice-sheet at top, and the box awaits the porter's hammer and its tally number, before being consigned to the store house.
The long table at the end of the room is occupied by the work committee. Here bed-sacks and sheets are torn off with an electrifying report, and two pairs of savage shears are cutting their vigorous way through a bolt of " army blue " flannel. The pattern is not now on the giant scale prescribed in the early days by the Sanitary Commission " powers that be ; " a specimen of which, saucy sarcasm has nailed in " spread eagle " fashion to the wall yonder. Economy and womanly sense have reduced the dimensions to the proportions of ordinary humanity.
The cut garments, duly rolled and ticketed, are stowed away in the " work-box," to be given out to ladies of the city or sent in packages to bridge over a financial gap in some country society.
Two or three ladies, delegates from some neighboring Branch, are narrowly watching this busy scene while receiving, from highest official sources, suggestions and sympathy, if need be. Under the same hospitable guidance they make a tour of inspection through the great room and into the little office in the rear,
THE AID ROOM OFFICE.
wliicli is separated from the main apartment only by a glazed partition.
Here, some tokens of feminity have crept in, despite the evident determination to give it a severe business air. A modest carpet covers the floor, the big box of documents in the corner, cunningly cushioned, takes ambitious rank as a sofa, some kind body has sent in a rocking chair, sometimes a bouquet graces the table, and two or three pictures have found their way upon the wall among railroad time-tables and shipping guides. But the latest war bulletin hangs with them there, and all these amenities fail to disguise the character of the room or to draw attention from the duties of the hour.
Here, at her desk, sits one whom fate and the re sponsibilities of office have called to " carry the bag " and to make the neatest of figures in the largest of ledgers. There stands another, knitting her brows over the complications of a country invoice or a " short " shipping bill. A third is perpetually flitting between her entry-desk in the outer room and the office table, where two bright-eyed girls are folding circulars. A fourth drops her plethoric file of " un answered letters," to read proof for the printer's boy at her elbow or to note down, for future use, the sanitary news as it falls fresh from the lips of an agent who has called in, en route from the front, to give a cordial hand to the ladies.
The above may be called an instantaneous view of the Aid Rooms in their every-day estate, but the varying phases of experience there were like the ever- shifting combinations of a kaleidoscope.
VARIED EXPERIENCE. 73
There were the shipping days, when committees fled to shelter while the porter rent the air with shrieking saw and resounding hammer, and draymen blockaded passage with a mountain of boxes and barrels that were tallied off by some half-distracted woman perched in a corner with check-book and pencil.
To these succeeded grand cleaning and scrubbing seasons, when a deluge overwhelmed this little world and Babel with its confusion of tongues seemed to have arisen in the midst.
There were unlucky days, when a soldier fresh from the field would come in to ask some trifling aid, because he ahad never had anything from the Sanitary,"- - when desponding visitors reported that their Aid Society, disheartened by a similar experi ence, was failing in numbers and interest, — - and when cautious correspondents detailed stories of waste and fraud, too vague to be traced out and disproved or remedied, yet plausible enough to plant an uncomfort able sting.
There were rare days, when the hive stopped its busy hum, as the honored and lamented FOOTE spoke a few memorable words to the listening group,— or the gallant HOOKER, the modest SIGEL, or some lesser luminary of the military firmament, came in to give a soldier's frank and hearty greeting, — or the Governor and State officials offered a word of cheer, — or the officers of another Branch in some distant city made a friendly call, — or the chief representatives of the U. S. SANITARY COMMISSION appeared on a so- called "inspection," which they by subtile courtesy tiirned into a visit of compliment and approval.
74 LIGHTS AND SHADOWS.
Some strange occasions there were, as when a "bril liant Zouave soldier in full uniform, with knapsack and gun, was discovered to be an adventurous maiden in disguise, — and a suspicious looking woman who entered the Aid Room doors claiming charity turned out to be a young deserter and spy, and was indig nantly handed over to the swift justice of the Provost Marshal !
There were dark days, when Union reverses fell heavily upon the heart, — when wives and mothers with blanched faces thronged the Rooms, — when suffering lifted up its voice in some new quarter, from neglected field or ill-appointed hospital.
But the bright days ! — rich in golden opportunities ! when a grateful word from a passing soldier proved that these busy hands had woven at least one gleam ing thread into the web of some clouded life, — when a friendly word, fitly spoken, put to flight all discourage ments, — when a letter of acknowledgment from some distant hospital became full payment for all the toils of Aid Room life, — when the stirring notes of vic tory brought hope that the day of peace was not far off!
CHAPTER IV.
LIKE most of the other ^Northern States, Ohio had its Kelief Association, organized by Ohioans in gov ernment offices at Washington, on behalf of soldiers from their own State who were lying in hospital there. This association naturally received the endorsement and protection of the Governor and the influence of the State authorities and prominent politicians.
The officers of the OHIO RELIEF ASSOCIATION were earnest in purpose and zealous in their attentions to Ohio men, visiting them daily by committees, supply ing them with comforts, and reporting their condition to friends at home.
July 22d, 1862, the Cleveland Aid Society received from the Ohio Relief Association a request for a lim ited supply of hospital stores. Four boxes of choice stores were immediately sent on by Express. A vote of thanks was duly returned, with the assurance that these were ample for present distribution. A second appeal three Aveeks later was answered by eighteen boxes. These received like acknowledgment and assurance.
September 17th, 1862, the secretary and treasurer of the Cleveland Aid Society arrived in Washington while the battle of Antietam was raging. They
75
76 A VISIT TO WASHINGTON.
deeply shared the universal anxiety, and participated in the satisfaction with which President Lincoln's emancipation proclamation was received five days later.
The journey to Washington, which included a series of hospital visits, had been made with a hope of check ing a strong diversion lately attempted among the Northern Ohio aid societies by ladies in Washington who, independently of any organization, were carry ing on desultory and injudicious work in hospitals around the capital. In this object it was wholly successful.
The visit had a further purpose in the endeavor to establish friendly relations between the Sanitary Com mission and the Ohio Relief Association.
Obedient to the instructions received upon affiliating with the Sanitary Commission, the Cleveland Branch had hitherto worked almost exclusively within the Western Department. The wider area of military occupation at the West, the constant service of the Western armies and their greater distance from the supply base, were obvious reasons for doing so, and for leaving to the central office of the Sanitary Com mission in Washington, and its prosperous Branches in the East, the care of the forces so long lying in " masterly inactivity " upon the Potomac. Economy of time and money were further arguments for this division of labor. Convinced of this, the Society had sent supplies to the Ohio Relief Association rather from sympathy with any call for aid than as a measure of wisdom, and with a protest against the narrow policy that limited their benefits to Ohio men.
OHIO BELIEF ASSOCIATION. 77
An attempt was now made to present the officers of the Ohio Relief Association at headquarters of the Sanitary Commission in Washington, and to gain for them the promise of supplies from that storehouse. The gentlemen of the Sanitary Commission courteously agreed to the suggestion and for a time it was followed out, but the principles of the associations were antag- onistic and this effort to reconcile them was only temporarily successful.
Enrolled under the broad banner of a national Commission, the Cleveland Aid Society could not cor dially fraternize with a charity bounded by State lines. Its tributary societies throughout Northern Ohio, thoroughly loyal, were never drawn from their alle giance, though later in the war attempts were made by those high in State authority, to engage them in the exclusive interest of Ohio soldiers.
A great deal of outside work was done by many Branch societies in aid of the State association. This was perfectly well understood at the Aid Rooms and no objection was made to it. Supplies designated for the Ohio Relief Association were constantly arriving at the Cleveland Aid Rooms, and were always for warded without charge to donors or to the Association.
Every direct appeal of the Ohio Relief Association to the Cleveland Aid Society was answered by a ship ment as liberal as the urgency of the call seemed to require, and the officers of the Aid Society were well satisfied that such stores were distributed faithfully to Ohio men.
The personal services of several members of the Ohio Relief Association among the wounded at
78 BATTLE OF PERRY VILLE.
Acquia Creek and Belle Plain, in later years of the war, ought not to go unrecorded. It is hoped that some detailed report of that work will yet be made public.
The condition of the wounded after the battle of Perryville, Ky., — fought October 8th, 1862, — was a sad commentary upon the meagre transportation at that time afforded to the Medical Department.
Carelessness, inhumanity or the secrecy demanded by military exigencies, kept the medical authorities too loDg ignorant of the point where surgeons' stores would be required, and when the time of need came no adequate conveyance was provided for them.
With characteristic energy the Sanitary Commission immediately pushed forward from Louisville three wagons and twenty ambulances loaded with hospital stores, and its agents were the first to bring relief when help was needed more than tongue can tell.
The news of this distressing state of things, tele graphed northward to the sources of supply, was immediately answered by the Cleveland Aid Society with a shipment of six hundred sets of hospital clothing, four hundred bed-sacks and minor articles in proportion. Two hundred sets of clothing w^ere for warded a few days later on request of the Governor, to be distributed by the Ohio State Kelief agent.
This brought the Society again to empty shelves and an exhausted purse, at a time when it was im portant to forestal the rapidly rising prices of cotton and woolen goods by immediate purchase.
In this emergency, Dr. NEWBERRY advanced five
PAINFUL RUMORS. 79
hundred dollars from the general treasury of the Sanitary Commission. This was the same day in vested in material for hospital clothing. A strong appeal was made for money, and subscription books were opened at the Aid Rooms where gentlemen were invited to call and enroll themselves as members for one year, by payment of one dollar monthly. Two ladies of the Society, Mrs. GEO. A. BENEDICT and Mrs. WM. MITTLEBERGER, took upon themselves the laborious task of canvassing the city for these honor ary memberships.
Meantime, heart-rending stories of neglect and want in Perryville hospitals flew homeward on the wings of the wind, while reports of the relief-work done there traveled but slowly or came not at all from the sufferers to their distracted friends. Ignorant of the real cause of so much needless suffering and knowing not where to cast the blame, scores of earnest laborers in the Sanitary Commission now found their faith in its efficiency sorely tried.
Into the Cleveland Aid Rooms was poured a tor rent of excited inquiry and indignant protest, which burst all bounds when an aged mother appeared, crushing in her trembling hand the letter that told a heart-breaking tale of her youngest and best- loved boy dying in one of those ill-conditioned hos pitals, unfriended and uncared for. Frenzied with grief, she would not be comforted, but announced the desperate purpose of pushing her way to his bedside alone.
The ladies of the Society, deeply moved by this piteous scene and feeling it imperative to fathom the
80 A TRIP TO PERRYVILLE.
flood of painful rumors that threatened the very life of their work, took an instant resolution to bring eye-witness testimony against this unreasoning excite ment.
Three hours later, the president and secretary were on their way to Perryville, taking as their only lug gage a trunk stowed with oysters, soup-stock and stimulants. During a few hours' accidental detention at Cincinnati, they visited the Sanitary Commission offices, the Soldiers' Home and the city military hos pitals.
At Louisville, stringent rules against the passage of women to the army had just been promulgated by highest authorities. A personal interview with General BOYLE, who was then post commandant, supported by credentials from the Sanitary Commis sion, soon removed this barrier, and the travelers were fortunate in having the escort of Dr. A. N. EEAD, chief Inspector of the Sanitary Commission for that department. The party was further pleasantly en larged by Rev. B. W. CHIDLAW, the truly " Christian agent" from Cincinnati, and JOSEPH SHIPPED, Esq., then Pennsylvania State Relief Commissioner, but later engaged in the service of the Sanitary Commis sion. At Perryville the dying boy was at once sought out, his last hours soothed, and his sorrowing mother in some degree comforted by knowing that her son had not died unfriended. The report of a week spent in the hospitals of Louisville, Lebanon, Perryville and Danville, was made to the Branch societies by letter. This afforded satisfactory evidence of the energy and faithfulness with which the agents
THE SOUP HOUSE. 81
of the Sanitary Commission pursued their relief work, and entirely vindicated the action of the Commission towards the Perryville wounded. An interesting letter of Dr. READ, concerning this work, may he found in Document No. 55 of the Sanitary Commis sion series.
The concentrated beef-tea manufactured in Cleve land by the Sanitary Commission was first tested in Perryville hospitals.
The SOUP HOUSE was opened November 1st, 1862, on Merwin street, in charge of Mr. HENRY NEW- BERRY. The preparations were watched with much interest by the ladies of the Aid Society. At their solicitation the proprietors of city packing-houses gave daily an ample supply of fresh beef, and farmers brought in potatoes, onions and carrots, which were the principal ingredients. Empty oyster cans, in which the beef-tea was at first sealed up for transportation, were assiduously collected. Even the spices were fur nished from the Aid Rooms, and scarcely a day passed but business, real or fancied, pushed some curious woman towards the soup house, to peep into the steaming cauldrons and pass judgment upon the savory mixture. This was continued for several months, and until the soup house outgrew the pro portions of a charitable enterprise and passed into other hands.
The product of this manufactory was mainly con sumed by the Sanitary Commission, to which it formed a valuable auxiliary, supplying an article in constant demand, of excellent quality and at a cost of about
82 CENTRAL OFFICE, LOUISVILLE.
half what it was sold for in eastern markets. Up to the end of the war, when the Cleveland soup house was closed, one hundred and fifty-five thousand pounds of condensed beef-soup had been supplied from this source through the agency of the Sanitary Commis sion, in battle-field and hospital relief.
October 1st, 1862, Dr. NEWBERRY having finished the work of organizing Branch Commissions and dis tricting the broad field which had been confided to his care, as General Secretary of the Western Depart ment, and finding Cleveland — his home and until now his business headquarters — too far from the center of operations, removed his office to Louisville, Ky.
Louisville wras then becoming, as it continued throughout the war to be, the most important mili tary and sanitary center at the west, being practically equi-distant from the home field at the north and the field of service at the south. This change of base proved to be in every way favorable to the interests of the Sanitary Commission.
By this removal of the western Central Office to Louisville, the Cleveland Aid Society was deprived of no advantage which the uniform kindness and watch ful interest of Dr. NEWBERRY could afford. The officers were constantly indebted to him for counsel and aid, and it is a pleasure to acknowledge here that his judicious advice and assistance were potent means of the success of the work wrhich is detailed in this volume.
For a history of five years of tinintermitting and faithful labor in the service of the Sanitary Commis-
BANNER OF FORWARDING. S3
sion, during which Dr. NEWBEKKY administered the affairs of the Western Department with remarkable vigor and ability, the reader is referred to a work lately issued by the Historical Bureau of the Sanitary Commission entitled "Report on the operations of the U. S. SANITARY COMMISSION in the Valley of the Mississippi during the War of the Rebellion."
The supplies of the Cleveland Branch were from this time mainly directed to Louisville. Sent by car load to Cincinnati, they were met there and trans ferred to the mail boat by an agent who accompanied them to Louisville. Their destination was there deter mined. The reports of their distribution, gleaned from letters of agents and inspectors, were communicated to the Branch societies.
This careful manner of forwarding stores Avon the confidence of tributary societies and gradually weak ened their disposition to send independently to individuals in the army. It was necessary to act very cautiously against this desire, which in early days had caused no small perplexity and had always proved injudicious and hazardous.
For every package that failed to find its way alone from the home to the army, the Sanitary Commission was unjustly considered responsible. Every such box, stranded on the passage, was brought forward as evidence against the Sanitary Commission shipping system.
When a pile of these waifs, — dragged to light from the recesses of a railroad or river warehouse,— fell under the auctioneer's hammer, great arose the
84 PRIVATE PACKAGES.
cry that the officers of the Sanitary Commission were making fortunes from the charities of the public and that sanitary stores never reached the soldiers. No amount of argument would dissipate this impres sion. The people were slow to learn that the channel which they often mistrusted and studiously avoided actually led most directly to their own soldier boys.
The Cleveland Aid Society never assumed the right to restrict the independent shipments of its tributary societies, correctly judging that experience would lead them to abandon such ventures. The sending of private boxes was always discouraged and the objec tions were frankly stated, but it seemed impolitic and unkind to make an inflexible rule against it. If these were brought to the Aid Rooms the ladies sought to ensure their safe carriage, often paying express charges to remote points, but invariably prefacing this favor with a chapter of warning and advice. Now, how ever, on the establishment of Sanitary headquarters so near the front as Louisville, the time had come when some rule might be adopted. It was therefore announced that " hereafter the Aid Society will not be responsible for the conveyance of private packages beyond the Sanitary depot nearest their point of destination. If not called for there within a reason able time, the contents will be distributed for the general good."
The feeling that moved the people to send indi vidual gifts to the army was always respected by the officers of the Cleveland Society, who from its pioneer days had themselves been constantly looking a-field, keenly watching the ever- varying demand and keeping
SPECIAL SHIPMENTS. 8&
their own sympathies aglow by direct communication with the front. Letters and appeals coming to them from the army were carefully considered, and either referred to headquarters of the Sanitary Commission or answered by boxes packed at the Aid Rooms with special reference to the demand. Such boxes were consigned to the Sanitary agent nearest the point of need, to be delivered by him if his inspection proved that the appeal was a proper one. A duplicate invoice of these shipments was always sent to the central office of the Sanitary Commission at Louisville, and a written receipt was required of the surgeon by whom the call was made.
The Branch societies, in their turn, often had special appeals from their correspondents in the army. These appeals were usually referred to the central rooms, They were encouraged to gather supplies in response and to forward them to the Cleveland Aid Rooms, Here, such supplies were often supplemented from the general stock and every facility of transportation was afforded. Even the messengers despatched to the army by Branch aid societies were furnished at the Cleveland Rooms with credentials that made them the authorized agents of the Sanitary Commission while distributing their supplies to the regiments which they visited. The object of this policy was to inculcate loyalty to the Sanitary Commission without incurring the danger of weakening the enthusiasm of the people, — a danger that would certainly have been great, had the aid societies of Northern Ohio been suffered to become merely the collecting and shipping agents of a great national charity.
86 MORE TRANSPORTATION FAVORS.
The work of gathering and disbursing steadily increased throughout the fall and was without mate rial change.
The usual supplies were pleasantly varied by a large quantity of grapes, fresh from the vineyards of Kelley Island, — the gift of the Aid Society estab lished there. Several boxes of these were distributed in the hospitals of Georgetown, D. C., by the Rev. F. T. BROWN, formerly a Cleveland pastor, and the remainder divided between the hospital train of the Louisville and Nashville railroad and Louisville hos pitals.
A canvassing agent was at this time making the tour of Ashtabula, Geauga and Lake counties. With the aid of the township military committees he was successful in securing a bountiful supply of apples and vegetables. These supplies were duly credited to the local societies and by them forwarded to Cleve land.
The favors of transportation granted to the Aid Society in forwarding stores to the front, have been mentioned on page 88.
From this time,— October 28th, 1862,— all the railroads running into the city granted free carriage of packages consigned by country societies to the Cleveland Aid Rooms. Any advance charges that might have accrued were paid by the Cleveland Society. Thus all freight expenses were saved to the shippers and a heavy burden was lifted from the feebler Branches.
CHAPTER V.
THE winter of 1862-3 found the Society rich in enthusiasm and the loyal support of more than four hundred Branches.
Gifts of money were however few and small. The war had begun to pinch the pockets of many who were the firmest friends of the Sanitary Commission.
The rapid depreciation of the currency and the ever-recurring calls for means to raise new regiments and to equip them for the field, were beginning to make even the rich feel poor and to develop the necessity for a prudence that was new to the citizens and farmers of the Western Reserve.
Stores were coming in freely, though these were now less valuable in kind. The small field had been thoroughly worked for more than eighteen months. The surplus accumulation of clothing and bedding, the pride of every thrifty housewife, which had been freely and even lavishly given at the call of local aid socie ties, was now exhausted. The high prices of cotton and woolen fabrics made it impossible for these little societies to buy enough to keep their fingers busy in making new garments. Boxes from the Branches contained at this time a greater proportion of edibles and farm products.
88 CIRCULAR NO. 10.
But these facts were 110 discouragement. A vigor ous campaign was to be the policy of the forces in the field, and right zealously did the army of home- workers enter upon the duties entailed by the increase and activity of the army at the front. Taught by a year's experience, they well knew the probable neces sities of the troops during the coming winter months. Like them, they were eager to push forward while there was work to do.
To the aid societies that disbursed their charities through the Cleveland Branch Commission, Circular 'No. 10 was addressed, December 1st, urging increased activity and containing accurate directions for w^ork to suit the season, with some carefully prepared measure ments and suggestions upon economy in cutting the material which war prices had now made doubly precious. Published reports of the condition of hos pitals in Perry ville and Danville, Ky., and some urgent letters of agents who were at work among the sick at Nashville and on the line of the Louisville and Nashville railroad, lately re-opened, gave point to this appeal and it was not unheeded.
The faithful few to be found in every little society bent earnestly to its interests, and great industry and persistent canvassing brought due reward. The season favored their plans and holiday pleasures again took on the garb of charity.
While creating and guiding the machinery of the Society, its officers had also the anxiety of financiering for its support. In most other like organizations the duty of raising funds was assumed by some outside
HARD TIMES. 89
committee, but the officers of the Cleveland Aid Society had no such relief.
Their very success in evoking the activity of so many tributaries was at once a stimulus and a per plexity, so large was now the sum required merely for the current expenses of the Society in its character of receiving and shipping agent for these smaller organi zations.
Though often sorely pressed for means, no money was ever solicited from Branch societies nor was it accepted from them, though frequently offered. Sums of money thus sent in were invested in material at wholesale prices and in that form returned. It was thought to be unwise and unjust to cripple these weaker organizations by taking money from their treasuries.
With the constant call upon its charities it cannot be supposed that the Society had ever been able or willing to accumulate supplies or to hoard its re sources.
The present winter was a time of peculiar embar rassment.
The flow of money into the treasury was small though continuous, and was perhaps as great as could be expected in the stringency of the times and the many other calls upon benevolence.
There was no loss of friends nor withdrawal of public confidence.
Besides individual contributions, there had been a lecture by ARTEMUS WARD, a lecture by ELIHU BFRRITT, tendered by the Cleveland Commercial Col lege, a thanksgiving offering from the city churches,
90 FIN ANCIE RING.
some collections made by Sunday school children, a benefit by an amateur dramatic club, and many other gifts that showed the estimation in which the work at the Aid Rooms was held by the citizens.
But the Society had now assumed business relations and responsibilities that must seek more stable foun dation than the shifting sands of popular charity.
By the plan of honorary memberships, projected in November, it had been hoped to obtain a permanent revenue sufficient to support the DEPOT HOSPITAL mentioned on page 51, and to meet current expenses. For this, a sum not less than two hundred dollars per month was required. Secure from the entanglement of debt, the ladies would then rely upon chance con tribution, lectures, concerts and other entertainments for means to purchase material and for extending their plans as might be desired.
The honorary memberships were necessarily slow in reporting, while the needs of soldiers were imme diately pressing. The heavy monthly expenditure could not be curtailed without breaking faith with the auxiliaries and giving a fatal shock to the interests of the Society.
It had been hard indeed to see cotton and woolen goods rise daily higher and higher in price and yet to be unable to lay in a stock for the winter's work. Some advance purchases had been ventured on with much hesitation, and the time for payment was ex tended by the kindness of the merchants. Every dollar that could be spared was applied to reduce this debt by instalments of fifty dollars, yet at the close of the year a large balance remained unpaid. With
WAYS AND MEANS. 91
closest economy the resources of the Society were barely sufficient to cover current expenses.
It must not be supposed that these embarrassments were allowed continually to annoy and weary the public. It was well known that the Aid Society was to the highest degree receptive, that its resources were always far below its needs and that every dollar added to the treasury was a thrice welcome gift. These facts inculcated and established, the officers endeavored to keep the Society on an independent basis, so far as an institution drawing support from public benevolence could be considered independent, and to make it an honor to the community, not a constant bore to the citizens.
The Cleveland Aid Society early dropped its mendicant character and took rank as a business establishment. Its business credit w7as always good. If an article was needed, it was bargained for and purchased by the officers, not begged. Whenever it was known what reduction the merchant made from his usual prices, this was entered and credited as his contribution.
Frequent and stirring appeals through the press there certainly were, and persistent efforts to keep the wants of the soldiers before the public. Friends in the city often joined in self-constituted committees to add money to the treasury or goods to the store-room, but personal solicitation of money by the officers was studiously avoided and was never resorted to, save in the application for honorary memberships, made at this time, and later for the specific object of building a Soldiers' Home.
92 EARNEST CONSULTATIONS.
Knowing that popular sympathy goes with success and that worth is generally measured by the same rule, the ladies strove to prove the efficiency of the Society as almoner of the people's charity and thus to attract towards it a deserved support. Business men, glad to have the credit of the city for philanthropy sustained and the immediate burden of responsibility and care lifted from their own shoulders, willingly made the Aid Society a channel for their benefactions to the army.
In times of its financial prosperity, the Society grate fully made public acknowledgment of the support that was generously and cheerfully given. When pecu niary embarrassments weighed heavily, all forebodings were confined within the little office where the ladies met in daily consultation upon ways and means.
Just now these consultations were especially ear nest.
It was not possible to enter at once upon any great scheme for raising money by entertainments, for the reason that a bazaar in the interest of the Cleveland Protestant Orphan Asylum had bespoken public favor months before and was still in preparation. To bring the claims of the Sanitary Commission prominently forward at this time would endanger the success of this bazaar, and the ladies of the Aid Society thought it ungenerous to divert attention from so worthy an object. The city was too small to sustain a second grand charitable scheme immediately succeeding the bazaar. This could be attempted only at great risk of failure. Some plans were laid that promised well for the future, but for the present it seemed almost
THE CALIFORNIA FUND. 93
hopeless to attempt to repair the fortunes of the Aid Society, and its managers were bearing a heavy burden of anxiety.
At this crisis came " good news from a far conn- try."
California, too distant to furnish troops yet too loyal to shrink from the burdens of the war and too humane to neglect its sufferers, had sent, in October, 1862, one hundred thousand dollars to the general treasury of the Sanitary Commission, and fourteen days later another one hundred thousand, stipulating that one half of this last remittance should be given to the WESTERN SANITARY COMMISSION — an independ ent organization having its headquarters in St. Louis -and the other half used in the interests of the UNITED STATES SANITARY COMMISSION, through its western Branches.
The partition of this gift had been long in discus- sion by the Executive Committee of the Sanitary Commission, in New York, and w^as now decided. By its provisions the Cincinnati Branch was to receive fifteen thousand dollars, Chicago ten thousand, Louis ville ten thousand, Columbus five thousand and Cleveland ten thousand.
The ladies of the Cleveland Branch could scarcely believe that ten thousand dollars actually lay in New York subject to their draft. This was indeed a dazzling ray of golden sunlight into their darkest day ! How much prosperity to their Society, how much comfort to the soldiers, were represented by that great sum!
94 SECOND THOUGHTS.
After the first moment of joyful excitement, sober second thought weighed carefully the real value of the gift.
Though often carrying a light purse, the Society had never been actually crippled by lack of money. Poverty had been its great capital, the rallying-cry by which its friends were summoned, and there now seemed to be a lurking danger in this sudden accession to fortune. The sum looked fabulously large ; in the event of an early close of the Avar it might be more than sufficient; but who dared hope that the war would end this year, or the next, or the next ?
By making public acceptance of the gift it seemed certain that popular sympathy would be withdrawn and the zeal of the tributaries weakened. The Society could better afford to relinquish all share in the California fund than to hazard the disbanding of that noble constituency which had been so carefully built up and was now the very life of its work.
Between the just pride that their own dear Society should receive its proportion with other Branches of the Sanitary Commission, the tempting thought of what comfort that great sum of money would ensure to the disabled soldiers, and the imminent risk of paralyzing the vigorous auxiliaries by accepting it the ladies were sorely troubled and almost at their wits' end.
They at last decided to be governed by the same rule that they applied to their own Branch societies and to accept the gift in instalments, as a helping hand, devoting it exclusively to purchase of stores and material, but resolving still to provide for current
REVIEW OE THE WORK. 95
expenses and to spare no pains to keep up an inde pendent treasury.
With this understanding, they received from Dr. NEWBERRY one thousand dollars on account of the California fund, cancelled the debt for material the same day, made further purchases of cotton and flannel, continued to canvass for memberships and projected a series of entertainments to be given in the early spring.
Through all this financial perplexity, noAv happily ended, the regular duties of the Society had been uninterrupted.
The books at the close of 1862 showed receipts of two hundred and twenty-four thousand articles of bed ding and clothing, thirty-three thousand pounds and twenty-seven thousand articles of surgeons' supplies and hospital furnishings, one hundred and thirty-six thousand pounds of fruit and groceries, twenty thousand cans and bottles of jellies, wines, etc., seven thousand dozens of eggs, five hundred bushels of vegetables, three hundred kegs of pickles and forty thousand unclassified articles.
These stores had been sent to points in Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas, besides small supplies to the army of the Potomac. They had reached fifty-seven camps, regi mental hospitals and recruiting stations, forty general and post hospitals, and eighteen established or tem porary depots of the Sanitary Commission, besides the floating hospitals and store boats of the Commis sion. These disbursements had been submitted to the Sanitary Commission for approval, and nine-tenths
96 CAMP CLEVELAND HOSPITAL.
of all the shipments had been made upon direct requisition of its agents in the field.
The Society had already established a business reputation at the front. Under date of December 26th, an agent wrote from Memphis, Tenn., to the Cleveland Aid Rooms : " I have learned to expect your goods every month as regularly as I look for the rising sun."
While aiming to send comforts to distant hospitals, home charities had not been neglected. Blankets had been given to recruits on application, returned soldiers had received a share of aid and comfort, missing men had been looked up, the condition of sick or wounded ascertained for benefit of friends, and in the DEPOT HOSPITAL nearly one thousand men had been fed, lodged, clothed and attended.
Nor had the Society been unmindful of those in regiments temporarily encamped near the city, who suffered from diseases engendered by a sudden change from the comforts of home to the exposure of camp life. The officers and surgeons of the city camps and hospital had always been made welcome to draw upon the Aid Society for any supplemental stores that their sick required.
An incident in the history of Camp Cleveland Military Hospital shows that, even at the North, the Sanitary Commission sometimes found occasion to bridge a gap between government supplies and the soldiers.
January 1st, 1863, a new surgeon was assigned to charge of the post hospital at Camp Cleveland with orders to open it on the 10th as a General Military
AN INCIDENT. 97
Hospital. Thorough repairs and a large addition to the building were necessary to this change,
On the 20th, ten days after the opening, the surgeon made his appearance at the Aid Rooms in great per plexity. His government bedding had not arrived. It must surely have been shipped but it was strangely delayed, and all his writing and telegraphing had failed to hurry it forward. Meanwhile, the medical director at Cincinnati, calmly confident that the hospital w^as ready to open because it had been ordered to open, had sent on a large squad of sick who were to arrive by train that very night. What was to be done! The kind-hearted surgeon could not bear to lay these sick men into empty bunks, yet the bedding of the old hospital was not half sufficient for them. In this dilemma he applied to the Aid Society for a loan of bedding till government furnishings should come.
The stock at the Aid Rooms was at that moment lo\v, as a large shipment had just been made, but the will to help was not lacking. Two hundred sheets and fifty bed-sacks were counted out for the hospital. These were enough for the present emergency. The ladies further offered to make up a bale of army linen, and before another night this had been converted into three hundred sheets and sent to the hospital. This prompt help in time of need made the good surgeon a fast friend to the Sanitary Commission.
The communication between the Aid Society and the military hospital at Camp Cleveland was almost constant.
Convalescents allowed to spend the morning in town would always drop in at the Aid Rooms, sure of
98 HOME CHARITY.
a welcome, a peep at the morning papers, a pleasant book, a sheet of letter-paper " please ma'am," a needle and thread for repairs, a clean towel and piece of sweet-scented soap, a pocket comb, a new spring- crutch, a fresh handkerchief or — best of all — a plug of tobacco !
A certain drawer in the Aid Rooms was kept full of these comforts for such distribution. On written order of the surgeon or chaplain, clothing was given in cases which could not be reached by government issues.
The above comes within the limits of the special relief department and will be found in detail in the accompanying Special Relief Report.
The library of Camp Cleveland hospital was in great part furnished and several times replenished by the Aid Society.
The hospital ambulance was ordered to call at the Aid Rooms every day. All delicacies too perishable to bear shipment to the front and many country dainties were sent by it to the special care of the matron.
Many holiday occasions were made pleasant to the soldiers at Camp Cleveland. One of these is de scribed in the following extract from Cleveland papers of 1862 :
CHRISTMAS AT CAMP CLEVELAND HOSPITAL. — Thanks to the generosity of the ladies of this city, the impromptu dinner at the hospital was a perfect success. Christmas, despite the inauspicious clouds and weeping skies, was made a " red-letter day " both to the inmates of the hospital and to those who superintended the entertainment.
Early on Christmas morning the abundant gifts that had been sent into the Rooms of the Aid Society were loaded into a large furniture van, and, with a dray-load of apples and vegetables and a barrel of cider, were sent
A CHRISTMAS DINNER. 99
to the hospital by direction of the committee, Mrs. B. ROUSE, Mrs. WM. MELHINCH, Mrs. D. CHITTENDEN and Mrs. P. THATCHER, who cheerfully gave up their own Christmas festivities in order to secure to the sick men the full enjoyment of the feast.
The surgeons of the hospital having previously given cordial assent to the plans of the ladies, now welcomed them heartily, introduced them into the wards and zealously seconded their arrangements throughout the day.
When this " surprise party " unfolded its benevolent designs to the invalid soldiers, pale faces flushed with eager expectation and dim eyes brightened with the thought that kind hearts had been moved to bring a tithe of Christmas pleasures into this abode of weariness and pain.
The first step in the day's programme was to care for those who were too ill to sit at table. At twelve o'clock each sick man received a bowl of nourishing chicken soup or oyster broth, a delicate bit of chicken (if allowed to eat it), a roasted apple, a fresh biscuit spread with jelly or canned peaches, and a glass of custard by way of dessert. That there might be no " slip 'twixt cup and lip," these delicacies were carried to each bedside by the ladies themselves, who had the great satisfaction of seeing how keenly they were relished. The erysipelas ward and even the small-pox hospital, set apart on the slope of the hill, were visited by the ladies, who braved the danger of infection in their zeal for the Christmas pleasures of the sick men.
When the sick had been thus provided for, the convalescents were invited into the dining room. There, oyster-soup, plump chickens and turkeys, juicy ham and tongues, tender biscuits, crisp doughnuts, Indian puddings, apple, pumpkin and cranberry pies were set out with an abundance that Cleveland housewives well know how to furnish, and to which the guests on the present occasion proved themselves able to do full justice. Here the ladies again presided, and saw each man plentifully served with everything that the bountiful board supplied. After all had gone away satisfied, the employes of the hospital received their share.
As there still remained enough and to spare, the soldiers of the guard were called in from their wet and weary round to partake of the feast until more than eight hundred men had taken their turns at table. The barrel of cider was then tapped, and doughnuts, apples and cider were distri buted through the camp to the groups of soldiers gathered about their fires.
When the festivities of the day were over at the hospital, there still remained choice provisions enough for a generous dinner-party. These were gathered up and carried to the quarters of the paroled prisoners who were requested to take them for their Christmas supper. The " boys " were no way loth to accept the bounty that " Santa Glaus " seemed to have showered down upon them and the ladies drove away amid their shouts of delight and gratitude, M.
CHAPTER VI.
THE probability of a general engagement below Nashville had caused the field-agents of the Sanitary Commission in Tennessee to make urgent advance demands for stores.
Their anticipations were realized by the battle of Stone River, fought at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, De cember 31st, 1862, and new year's day of 1863. Eight thousand of ROSECKANS' splendid army of the Cumber land were disabled by this terrible battle, and for months the hospitals of Louisville, Nashville and Murfreesboro were filled with the wounded.
The Sanitary Commission had the approval and published endorsement of General ROSECKANS, and by his orders all possible facilities were afforded its agents in their care of the wounded. The record of the preventive and relief service rendered in hospital and camp to the army of the Cumberland forms one of the brightest chapters in the history of the Sanitary Commission.
February brought the opening of the campaign against Vicksburg, and all eyes watched with intense interest the movements of the fleet that was descend ing the Mississippi river.
Under the indomitable leadership of General
THE SIEGE OF VICKSBFRG. 101
GRANT, the army of the Tennessee again laid patient and persistent siege to the rebel stronghold that had twice been the object of unsuccessful and disastrous assault. It was not now to yield without a desperate resistance, and until its defenders were unearthed, like rats, from their burrows.
The depressing influences of climate and the unfa vorable location of camps soon developed in the Union army diseases of an exhaustive and malignant nature, more fatal than the casualties of battle. The sick, received into rude hospitals from which they were often driven by the rising waters of the Missis sippi, or placed on board transports where their surroundings were still more unfortunate, suffered severely from lack of food, medicines and clothing.
Government, with its ponderous machinery and heavy burdens, could not supply these wants with necessary promptness. The resources of the sur rounding region were exhausted, and if they had been abundant would have been beyond the reach of loyal men.
Scurvy began to show itself in hospital and camp. Every mail brought some new tale of suffering, some pleading call for help from the Sanitary agents who were working nobly there and finding a broad field of labor.
Telegrams from Louisville announced the fitting out of a supply-steamer by the Sanitary Commission. To add to her cargo, the Cleveland Branch pushed forward the same day by passenger train seven hun dred sets of hospital clothing and bedding, a large quantity of groceries and vegetables, with stimulants,
102 THE STEAMER DUNLEITII.
surgeons' supplies and minor comforts. These stores were increased by succeeding shipments, and the steamer Dunleith left Louisville for Vicksburg, Feb ruary 2 8 tli, having in her cargo five hundred boxes from the Cleveland Branch. A few days later a car load was sent to replenish the Nashville store-rooms, now nearly empty again, and then every effort was turned towards preparing stores to meet the steamer on her return. The condition of the river hospitals was described in terms as strong as prudence would allow, and the country societies were called upon to arouse as never before and to redouble their contri butions.
This seemed to be a favorable time to raise money for the Society. An engagement with JOHN B. GOTJGII, shortly before, had brought two hundred dollars into the treasury, which was the only benefit that had been received for several months. A plan long projected now took shape in the announcement of a " Grand Amateur Entertainment of Music and Tableaux Vivants," to be given March 3rd and 5th, at the Academy of Music. This exhibition was given to the Aid Society by the tableau committee of the Orphan Asylum Bazaar and consisted in part of some of the most beautiful of the tableaux that had been shown at the bazaar early in the winter. Extracts from letters of that date will best show the character of the entertainment and the interest with which it was undertaken by the citizens :
CLEVELAND AID ROOMS, March 4, 1863.
EXTRACT. — In tlie midst of the hurry and confusion of our "grand amateur performance," I snatch a few moments to report upon matters and
MUSIC AND TABLEAUX. 103
things here in 95 Bank street, all of which, however, resolve themselves into angels, fairies, Indian princesses and suicidal lovers, as I try to review the past week.
The tableau committee met again at our Rooms yesterday and we are delighted with the progress of things so far. Our citizens are taking this up in their own noble way and we are confident of a grand success.
We struggled hard to keep out of the vortex and to mind sanitary things only, but as at the last minute several angels were found minus wings and two or three kings and fairy queens were discovered to be crownless, we were forced to throw ourselves into the breach, and for two entire days our little office has been transformed into a workshop where gauze and tinsel quite overshadow inkstand and pencil. One more day, however, will end this usurpation. Then we can puff away the cloudy tissue, shake ourselves free from the glittering spangles and return to duty again, with the great satisfaction of picking up about a thousand dollars as the result of three days voyaging in fairy land !
We have already had one evening's entertainment, to everybody's supreme delight, and our ticket sales have reached six hundred and twelve dollars. We must'wake a thousand !
The entertainment is a charming one to the public, and will be so to us in proportion to the patronage it receives. You will see we look at it with a purely mercenary eye.
March 7th.
My last letter was a confused medley of giants, fairies, kings and queens, from which it might be inferred that we had all migrated to some distant sphere and left the earth and its inhabitants to their wars and rumors of wars without interference.
The tableaux were a sad innovation upon our business ways. Xow that the beautiful vision has passed, it does seem as though we had dropped down out of the clouds, and it will need a deal of fidgetting before we can settle quietly into our office chairs again.
It was really charming to see how the people worked to get up the entertainment and then how they applauded and encored their own schemes ! The two evenings netted for us ten hundred and ninety-eight dollars, — even better than we had hoped.
Very few know, as we do, how much need there is for this money and for our work now. We dare not publish the letters which we are receiving from agents in the Mississippi fleet, they are so discouraging, so truly appalling. It would be a great stimulus, of course, and just what our people need to stir their sympathies afresh, but we are afraid it would not be right.
These sad, sad letters have lain heavily upon our hearts these days, and the scenes they describe were constantly flitting between our eyes and the bright visions spread for our admiration, so that you will not wonder we could not thoroughly enjoy the tableaux just now.
104 MURDOCH'S READINGS.
Two weeks after these entertainments, JAMES E. MURDOCH, the well known tragedian, offered the Society an evening of Patriotic Readings ; one of a series of readings begun in the Senate Chamber at Washington, January 10th, and continued in most of the eastern and western cities, the entire proceeds being given by Mr. MURDOCH to associations for relief of the sick and wounded of the Union army.
The patriotism of Mr. MURDOCH and his signal services to our sick and wounded and to loyalty, should have more than a passing notice.
When the rebellion broke out, Mr. MURDOCH, who had been for many years one of the leaders of Ameri can drama, was pursuing a brilliant career upon the stage. Aglow with patriotic fervor he at once threw up his dramatic engagements, resolving never to resume the profession till peace should return to his country. With his two sons he volunteered into the Union army. Finding his own health unequal to the duties of the field, he formed the idea of consecrating his fine talents to the service of the sick and wounded, whose sufferings he had witnessed in actual campaigns.
In this resolution there was another object not less patriotic. It was that of stimulating the loyalty of the people by bringing to bear upon them such poetry and incidents as, when narrated with dramatic power, would best illustrate and arouse that noble sentiment.
In all ages poetry has been the language of the higher emotions, the immortalizer of heroism, uncom promising in its scorn of ignoble deeds, and its divine character is never better exemplified than in the thrilling tones it has for patriotism and the terrible
CHANGE OF VICE-PRESIDENTS. 105
invectives it utters against treason. This power MURDOCH laid hold of with a master hand. Words of fervid eloquence burned and glowed as they fell from his lips and kindled into active life the fires of true patriotism in every heart.
Throughout the entire period of the war, his earn estness and devotion to the part he had thus assumed were unfailing as aids to patriotism and were nation ally conspicuous in their pecuniary results.
Mr. MURDOCH'S offer to the Cleveland Aid Society was gladly accepted, and the Academy of Music was again filled March 19th. The enthusiasm of the audience, the tasteful decoration of the stage with the flags of the Union, the inspiring music of the band, the cause and object of the Readings and the power with which they were rendered, conspired to form a scene which will not soon be forgotten.
This entertainment netted three hundred dollars to the Society.
Towards the last of March the canvassing commit tee reported one hundred and eighty-six gentlemen enrolled as honorary members, by a pledge of one dollar monthly. These subscriptions were for the year ending November, 1863. The committee ap pointed to canvass among the ladies had also obtained many new names to the twenty-five cent monthly subscription list.
At a regular monthly meeting, April 7th, 1863, Mrs. WM. MELHIXCH was confirmed first vice-president, Mrs. JOHN SHELLEY having resigned that office some months before on occasion of removal from the city.
100 COMMITTEES.
Mrs. LEWIS BURTON was appointed second vice- president to fill the vacancy.
This was the first change that occurred among the officers.
To the lists of volunteer committees that have been given on pages 24 and 61, should here be added the names of Mrs. SOUTHWORTII, Mrs. Dr. ARTER, Mrs. HUNT, Miss MARY MAIIAN, Miss RUTH KELLOGG, Miss JULIA KELLOGG, Miss MATILDA PICKANDS and Mrs. MARY BRADFORD, who were faithful attendants at the Aid Rooms during this period and later in the history of the Society.
The removal of so great a proportion of the troops from West Virginia and the centering of general interest upon military operations in the south-west, had to a great degree excluded from public attention the hospitals in the Kanawha Valley and at the posts maintained along the line of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.
The vicinity of Wheeling had been too heavily taxed to yield further supplies to the depot of the Sanitary Commission in that city, which was the base of relief work for West Virginia. The stores of that depot were at this time drawn almost wholly from the Rooms of the Soldiers' Aid Society of Northern Ohio. In no case had a request from that department been refused.
Requisitions from the Sanitary agency at Leaven- worth, Kansas, came in from time to time and were answered by frequent shipments.
These issues, however, formed only a small part of
AN INSIDIOUS FOE. 107
the disbursements of the Society; nearly everything being turned southward for the benefit of the two great armies of the Cumberland and the Tennessee.
The army of the Cumberland, resting upon the hard-earned field at Murfreesboro, was strengthening its lines for an advance upon the rebel host that lay entrenched about forty miles below, at Tullahoma, ready to dispute its progress.
The morale of our army was excellent and the issues of food and clothing were abundant. The con dition of the troops could hardly have been raised, except in one respect.
From being long confined to rations of salt pork, men in nearly every regiment were beginning to show unmistakable signs of scurvy.
This evil was slow of discovery even by the sur geons. The sick, brought to their notice at morning call, were sent to hospital, where slight variations in diet and the supplies of vegetables drawn from Sanitary stores checked the symptoms of this much- dreaded disease before they became really apparent. It was among the men in camp, those calling them selves well, that this foe was making its insidious
o
way. When its presence was detected it had already seriously threatened the effective force of the entire army.
The medical authorities made strong representation of this fact, and government supplies of onions and potatoes were ordered, but these issues were insuffi cient. The chief medical inspectors and directors of the department sent urgent request, by mail and telegraph to Dr. NEWBERRY, for the aid of the Sani-
108 CAMPAIGN AGAINST SCURVY.
taiy Commission in battling this new and formidable enemy.
The answer to these appeals was a steamer load of vegetables despatched at once to Nashville and a promise on the part of the Sanitary Commission to send down, from its headquarters at Louisville, to the army of the Cumberland, one hundred barrels of onions and potatoes daily throughout the summer. This was to be a special issue to the men in camp, with direct reference to the war against scurvy, and an addition to the regular supplies furnished by the Commission to hospitals.
For these daily shipments of vegetables and for all the supplies of the Sanitary Commission, the General Commanding furnished ample transportation. The officers of the department seconded this relief work with great cordiality.
To fulfil its promise to the army of the Cumber- land, the Sanitary Commission was obliged to make purchases of vegetables, to invoke the § strenuous efforts of the supply Branches and to send canvassing agents through the rich farming districts of the north-west.
The Branches of the Western Department quickly apprehended the importance of this new movement and entered with enthusiasm upon their duties. The honorable record of Detroit, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Chicago is to be found elsewhere. The present report will touch only upon the action of the Cleveland Branch in the grand campaign against scurvy.
On receiving from the Central office at Louisville
THE VEGETABLE RAID. 109
despatches announcing the urgency of the case and the prompt measures taken by the Sanitary Commis sion, the Cleveland Branch pledged itself to forward to Louisville one car load of vegetables per week, throughout the summer, in addition to its regular shipments in the same direction.
In giving this pledge, the Society stepped over the bounds of recognized duty in the supply department, which had not until now extended beyond the for warding of hospital stores. Regiments on duty or in camp had been left to the care of quartermaster and commissary, and all interference with these officials was scrupulously avoided. Even the vegetables hith erto sent to the front had been designed exclusively for hospital use.
But it seemed clearly within the sphere of army relief to furnish the " ounce of prevention " which proverbially outweighs even the " pound of cure.11
NOAV began what was known among the aid societies of Northern Ohio as the " grand vegetable raid " of the Sanitary Commission.
Published appeals, circulars and personal letters wakened the generosity of the public and prepared the way for the canvassing committees that were sent out through every township by the officers of each little society. The members of county military committees often assumed this duty of canvassing. Nearly every school district could furnish some active, earnest man whose love for his country or his own soldier-boy impelled him to aid in collecting. In several instances, the good women of a feeble Aid Society took this work into their own hands. Driving
110 CANVASSING AND LECTURING.
their horse from door to door, they persistently assailed their neighbors, shaming into wonderful generosity even the grudging giver.
Towns and villages vied with each other in the amount of supplies furnished. A cross-roads settle ment sent as one instalment twenty-eight barrels of potatoes. One little village forwarded sixty barrels. Every town within shipping distance of Cleveland sent again and again its offering.
Three agents employed by the Sanitary Commission, Rev. WM. C. TUKNEK, Rev. N. P. BAILEY and Dr. H. C. COATES, wrere acting in Northern Ohio as the apos tles of its cause, their lecturing tour marked out by the ladies of the Cleveland Branch.
Wherever a feeble society gave signs of decay, or prejudicial rumors or internal dissensions threatened the disintegration of a valuable auxiliary, one of these agents was desired to go, to strengthen the hands of the faithful and to bring his own personal knowledge of Sanitary work at the front against ignorance or mischievous hearsay.
These lectures were under the immediate superin tendence of the Aid Society of the town where they were given, and were free to the public unless the local society chose to fix an entrance fee for the benefit of its own treasury. All personal expenses of these agents were paid by the general Commission. Their railroad fare was usually reduced to half rates by the kindness of railroad officials. The ladies of country societies often lessened the expenses by enter taining the agents at their own houses, and in all cases treated them with great cordiality and gladly accepted their aid.
PURCHASING VEGETABLES. Ill
These home agents were instructed to give special weight to their appeals for vegetables, pickles and all farm and dairy products.
At the close of the lecture the agent would some times telegraph to the Cleveland Aid Rooms, stating the number of bushels pledged. Empty barrels and sacks would then be sent from Cleveland to secure the supplies which the farmers brought to the nearest railroad station in bulk. Thus every effort was made to ensure the co-operation of the farming community.
The Cleveland, Painesville and Ashtabula railroad company on several occasions furnished cars to be loaded at way stations with vegetables consigned to the Cleveland Aid Rooms. For these and many other favors the Society is indebted to the kindness of Mr. H. NOTTINGHAM, superintendent of that road.
The Cleveland Branch used freely of its means to purchase potatoes and onions, and became the agent of the general Sanitary Commission in making very heavy purchases of vegetables and in forwarding large lots that were bought in northern New York. These purchased vegetables were delivered in Cleveland by the car or boat-load in bulk. The barreling and shipping were superintended by the ladies of the Society.
The purchasing of vegetables was done very quietly and through a third party, lest, should it become known that the Sanitary Commission had entered the market as a buyer, the price of these products might rise, and some prudent holders be disposed to sell what otherwise they would willingly have given away.
112 SPECIAL CARS.
The pledge of the Cleveland Society to the Sanitary Commission was more than fulfilled throughout this summer.
Unlimited favors of transportation Avere afforded by the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati railroad company, both to contributed and purchased supplies. Special cars were always furnished to the Society. These were run off upon a side track at the depot and could there be loaded at leisure. Attached to freight or passenger trains, they Avere hurried forward, and any accidental detention was promptly remedied by the ever courteous officials of the road. Cars secured by the Aid Society padlock received especial attention and seemed to have the right of way before all others. For these favors the Aid Society would make grateful acknowledgment to Messrs. L. M. HUBBY, president, E. S. FLINT, superintendent, and A. HILLS, general freight agent of the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati railroad.
If the Sanitary Commission had built a railroad of its own through Ohio it could scarcely have been more independent in matters of transportation.
Accompanied by a shipping agent of the Sanitary Commission, the stores sent down from Cleveland were transferred at Cincinnati to the mail boat and consigned to the Central office at Louisville. When they arrived there, the responsibility of the Cleveland Branch ended.
At Louisville, supplies were divided into two great streams of beneficence, — one flowing southward over the Louisville and Nashville railroad towards the army of the Cumberland, the other following the
ANOTHER JOURNEY. 113
course of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to the army of the Tennessee, still thundering at the gates of Vicksburg. Here the supply work of the WESTERN and the UNITED STATES Sanitary Commissions was in full and splendid operation. Their agents were dis pensing with so liberal a hand as almost to justify the saying, some months later, " potatoes and onions captured Vicksburg ! "
May 5th, the secretary of the Cleveland Aid Society left home for Louisville, Nashville and Murfreesboro, which was still " the front " of the army of the Cumberland. This trip embraced three weeks of sight-seeing and hospital visiting, and was undertaken with the double purpose of recreation from office duties and of gaining accurate and vivid ideas of relief-work in the field that might be used to advan tage in stimulating supplies at home.
Two ladies of the Norwalk Branch were of the party, which enjoyed the escort of Dr. A. N. READ, chief Inspector of the Sanitary Commission in that department.
At Cincinnati and Louisville, visits were paid to the Soldiers' Homes, the hospitals, the offices and warehouses of the Sanitary Commission and to many places which war had invested with new interest.
Leaving Louisville for Nashville, the luggage of the travelers was inspected by the proper officer who, after satisfying himself that the ladies were not carry ing to the enemy any " aid or comfort " in the shape of morphine, quinine or ammunition, placed across each key-hole a little strip of white muslin, duly
114 TRAVELING IN DIXIE.
fastened above and below with an ostentatious bit of red wax upon which was set the seal of Uncle Sam's approval. Provided with military passes, in w^hich name, age, weight, height, color of eyes and hair, and undoubted loyalty were conspicuously recorded, the party was admitted to seats in the cars of the Louis ville and Nashville railroad.
Bardstown, Lebanon Junction, Elizabethtown, No- lin, Bacon Creek and Munfordsville were all passed, in turn. It was difficult to associate these places with the former visit or to realize that the red waves of war had only one year before rolled over hills now covered with verdure and fields now rich with ripen ing grain.
But after dashing through the tunnels, creeping over the bridges and curving around the angles of the Muldraugh hills, the train moved more cautiously. The guard retired into stockade cars and with cocked rifles kept a sharp watch upon the hillsides ; throw ing suspicious glances — and an occasional pistol shot -into the clumps of brushwood, for here was a stronghold of guerilla rule. The passengers were instructed to throw themselves upon the floor of the car at the first volley of musketry, receiving the comforting assurance that if they were to be " gobbled up " anywhere on the road, that interesting ceremony would take place at this stage of the journey !
Thanks to the vigilance of the brave soldiers who guarded every bridge and patrolled every cross-road, the guerillas were restrained from paying their com pliments to this train. A sharp skirmish-fire, seen from the car window at the distance of half a mile, gave excitement, without danger, to the journey.
SIGHT- SEEING. 115
At Nashville the travelers became the guests of the Sanitary Commission household. Establishing head quarters there, they spent day after day in visiting the hospitals, the camps lying out upon the hillsides, the fortifications, the convalescent quarters, with their blooming and fruitful gardens, the Sanitary Commis sion supply depot and warehouses, and the Soldiers1 Home.
They further tempted fate by trips to Franklin and Murfreesboro, which were the outposts of two branches of the main army, encountering, however, nothing more hazardous than a railroad break-down and detention in a guerilla-haunted forest.
During a stay of some days at Murfreesboro the party had unusual opportunities for seeing the army in camp and hospital, through the kindness of M. C. READ, Esq., agent of the Sanitary Commission, in charge there, and the courteousness of General ROSE- CRANS and staff, who gave every facility of transporta tion and escort.
The fortifications, then considered a triumph of military engineering, the signal stations and the ordnance and commissary depots were visited, and the battle-field of Stone River, — still strewn with the wreck of war and furrowed with countless graves.
For months the Sanitary Commission had been felt as a power for good in that army, and its agents and their work were in cordial favor with officers and men. It was pleasant indeed to the visitors, as they passed from tent to tent of the evergreen-shaded camps, to hear this acknowledged and to see that it was true,
116 A CHEERING REPORT.
Hospitals, convalescent camps, Sanitary gardens and the hospital train upon which they journeyed back to Nashville, told the same tale, so cheering to carry home to the faithful laborers in Ohio.
It was the endeavor upon returning from this trip to the front, as on all similar occasions, to stir afresh the sympathies of the army of home-workers and to evoke their increased activity by representing to the Branch Societies, through published articles and per sonal letters, the impressions that had been gained from observation of Sanitary work in the army.
CHAPTER VII.
To the zealous workers in the home field there soon came the joyful news that liberal contributions and prompt shipment of vegetables had already stayed the progress of the much dreaded disease. In the same breath they were warned that it was of the last importance to continue these supplies so long as the season would, allow, in order to confirm the health of the army and strengthen it for the trials which a sudden and severe engagement would involve.
So the good work went on, and when planting time came, farmers and gardeners were exhorted to lay out a " soldiers' acre." Even children were encouraged to turn their little garden spots into an onion bed, and this was very generally done. One Sunday school on the borders of Pennsylvania formed itself into a " Union Garden Aid Society " and cultivated a large piece of ground which yielded well to the soldiers.
At that time local political organizations called the Union League were springing up all over the State. The children soon parodied this in their Onion leagues, formed in many country towns. The sign '* Onion League," painted on a fluttering flag or bit of board, was often conspicuous over a patch of ground where these patriotic little gardeners might have been seen
l 17
118 THE " ONION " LEAGUE.
pulling the weeds and impatiently waiting for the reward of their industry.
The assemblies of the Union League, mentioned above, and of the military mass meetings and loyal conventions often proved a harvest to the aid socie ties of the towns where they were held. At the close of such a meeting some one would propose "three cheers for the soldiers and a collection for the sick and wounded," or the ladies of the local society would lay a net for these unwary leaguers by spreading a tempting supper-table or opening a " dining-tent " during the session of the convention.
The officers of the Cleveland Society, on hearing of one or two ventures of this kind, issued, June 15th, Circular No. 11, advising their auxiliaries to seize similar occasions whenever presented, reminding them that strawberry season is the witching time for fairs, festivals and moonlight picnics, and that the approach ing " fourth " offered great inducements for entertain ments.
The suggestions of this circular were followed by nearly every branch society and always with success. A picnic or festival under the auspices of an aid society was sure to be well patronized.
The little girls caught this spirit of charitable merry-making and devoted their play hours to hold ing mimic bazaars and fairs, bringing with great pride their gains to the Aid Rooms.
So lively was the interest of the people of Northern Ohio in the welfare of their soldier friends and broth ers, that it was only necessary to suggest the wants of a hospital in order to ensure quick and hearty aid in any proposed measure of relief.
THE SANITARY REPORTER. 119
The tributary societies naturally looked to the Cleveland Aid Rooms for instruction, and it was the endeavor to engage this enthusiastic co-operation and turn it in the right direction by issuing frequent circulars, by preparing articles weekly for the city and country papers and by reporting fully upon the pro gress of relief- work at the front,
A much valued agency for this purpose was the " Sanitary Reporter " which appeared in June of this year.
The SANITARY REPORTER was a semi-monthly news paper established by the Secretary of the Western Department, and was issued from the Central office at Louisville. It was published, as its prospectus announced, u for gratuitous distribution among the soldiers' aid societies and that portion of the people of the loyal states who care to be informed of the objects and work of the Sanitary Commission and who desire information as to the state of the army, its necessities and the best way to supply them."
Seven hundred and fifty copies of each issue of the Sanitary Reporter were mailed by the Cleveland Branch to its auxiliary societies and to its friends in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
The interesting letters and reports which this little paper contained were read aloud at the sewing meet ings of many of the aid societies, nor did its mission end here. It was afterwards circulated through the neighborhood, that new friends might be gained to the Sanitary Commission in those who read this record of its efficiency.
The mailing of the Sanitary Reporter and of the
120 MAILING DOCUMENTS.
Sanitary Bulletin, — a semi-monthly pamphlet estab lished in November, 1863, by the Eastern Department of the Commission, — added greatly to the duties of the document committee.
The total number of Reporters, Bulletins and docu ments of the general Commission issued by the Cleveland Branch is seventy-four thousand seven hundred and seventy-five. This, added to twenty- nine thousand five hundred and twenty-five copies of the Society's own publications, makes the total issue from the Document Committee at Cleveland reach one hundred and four thousand three hundred. This estimate is exclusive of minor circulars, blanks, cards and directions for work, and of several thousand copies of loyal league publications.
It is a pleasure to recall and to acknowledge here the services of Mrs. GEO. WILLEY, Mrs. JOHN M. STERLING, Jr., Miss VAUGHAN, Miss STEWAKT, Miss ANNA BALD- WIN and Miss ANNIE CARTER, members of the Docu ment Committee during a period of more than two years of its heaviest duties. The names of other ladies who served on this committee earlier in the war are given on page 69.
All mail matter issued from the Cleveland Aid Rooms was post free, through an informal arrange ment effected with the Post Office Department by some friends of the Society. This favor was enjoyed from March, 1862, till April, 1865, and it enabled the Society to distribute its own documents and those of the Sanitary Commission more widely than the heavy expense of postage would have justified.
Besides circulating Sanitary documents, the Society
OOOD ttE\vs. 121
distributed in the army several thousand pamphlets of the Union League and Loyal Publication houses of Philadelphia, New York and Boston. It seemed to the ladies as clearly their duty to confirm the moral and political health of the soldier as to minister to his physical welfare. Therefore, every publication that gave out the ring of true loyalty was assidu ously circulated in hospital and camp.
Direct advices from Nashville and Murfreesboro, in June of this year, gave a cheering view of the sanitary condition of the army of the Cumberland.
The Nashville hospitals were nearly all cleared of inmates and all the hospitals in the town of Murfrees- boro were closed, the few sick or unfit for duty being sent to the field hospital or convalescent camp.
The hospital cars of the Sanitary Commission had been constantly transporting sick and discharged soldiers from Murfreesboro to Nashville, where, after the needful rest in the Soldiers' Home, they were again forwarded by hospital train to Louisville, thence to be sent to the hospitals nearest their homes, in accordance with late orders of the Surgeon General.
The agents of the Sanitary Commission were still issuing vegetables to men in camp, and the sick were well supplied from the hospital gardens, which now began to prove their value.
These gardens had been established at Nashville and Murfreesboro on suggestion of the Sanitary Commission, upon ground confiscated for the purpose by order of General ROSECRANS, who showed much interest in the project. The seeds and garden imple-
122 SANITAKY GAKDENS.
ments were furnished by the Commission. Conva lescent soldiers were detailed to do the garden work, planting and weeding a few hours each day as strength would permit.
So much pride had many of them in this work that they transplanted wild flowers from the woods to ornament the borders and pathways.
Hearing of this attempt at horticulture and desirous to encourage it, one of the young ladies of the Cleveland Branch solicited from the green-houses of
O
her friends more than a hundred pots of choice roses, geraniums, verbenas and other bedding-out plants and also obtained from the seedsmen large packages of flower seeds. The Aid Society added to this gift by purchasing a barrel of dahlia bulbs. All were forwarded to the hospital gardens by the American Express company, free of charge, and were soon grow ing finely.
The following description of the Sanitary Gardens at Chattanooga was written a year later by the young lady whose efforts to beautify the soldiers' flower-beds have just been mentioned :
" Chattanooga, situated in the midst of the valley, on the banks of the Tennessee, and surrounded by an amphitheatre of hills, was once noted for its beauty. Shady, carefully kept groves of ancient trees covered the hills and plains, and the houses were surrounded by gardens that bloomed with the most exquisite flowers. The plains around the houses were dotted with fine plantations where were raised the magnificent crops for which East Tennessee is so celebrated. Now the plains are swept literally bare, so that guns on Fort Wood can command the whole valley from Mission Ridge around to Cameron Hill, and the town itself is reduced to an army post, hot, dusty, and swarming with soldiers. A walk in any direction brings you into a deserted camp, and you stumble over old shoes, ragged, torn coats and rusty canteens, telling of where our soldiers lived, before, following the universal custom of Yankees on the first of May, they "moved "
A DESCRIPTION. 1.23
in search of better quarters. But one thing redeems this sad picture of the havoc that war has made at Chattanooga, and that is the Sanitary Gardens, consisting of a hundred and fifty acres, given by the General Commanding to the United States Sanitary Commission, to be cultivated for the benefit of the sick and wounded soldiers. These gardens lie along the banks of the Tennessee, about three-quarters of a mile from the town, up the river. The only approach to them is across a narrow bridge over a little creek, and should you attempt to enter, an imperative " halt " from the sentry with leveled bayonet disagreeably reminds you that passes, anywhere and everywhere and for all sorts of reasons, are the most essential things in Dixie. Once through that barrier, you find yourself upon a level plain, with long rows of onions, beets, turnips, parsnips, etc., stretching away from you on either hand. In one corner of the field you notice a detach ment of Uncle Sam's " unbleached American " children in their neat blue uniforms, hoeing away for dear life at the potatoes, as they never hoed before at " de cotton and de corn." The hundred and fifty acres do not lie together, but are separated by a creek or arm of the river into different fields, so that Mr. WILLS, the head gardener, has been able to separate his crops, taking one entire field for potatoes, another for corn, and still another for onions, etc, The whole garden is now planted. Nearly in the center of the garden is an Indian mound, so elevated above the plain that, stand ing on its top, you can at a glance take in the whole magnificent scenery. At your left lies the blue Tennessee, glittering out from beyond Mission Ridge and winding through the valley to the base of Lookout, tangling the hills in a silver braid ; opposite, on the Eidge, is that fatal cornfield where Sherman fought so long and so well, and the heights our brave men stormed and won, and further on towards the right stands old Lookout, a great sentinel, visible for miles away. The sides of this beautiful mound are now green with lettuce, radishes, mustard, etc., but when these are gone the mound will be a fragrant bouquet of flowers from foot to summit. In the center of the level space on the top is a tent with rustic seats around, and the Sanitary Commission proposes to give Cleveland the honor of placing a Union flag over the tent, an emblem of the benevolence as well as the patriotism of the loyal Xorth. Xear the mound are the tents and accommodations for the workmen and teams. Besides a large force perma nently employed, Mr. M. C. READ, of Hudson, O., the Agent of the Commis sion, to whom the success of the gardens is chiefly due, has obtained from the Government one company to be stationed there as guards, and also a company from one of the colored regiments to assist in cultivating. He employs from twenty to thirty horses and mules in plowing and teaming. Every day ambulances from the various hospitals are sent to the gardens, and these return laden with the bounties that nature so readily yields to a willing, industrious hand. Already hundreds of bushels of lettuce and other greens have been given to the hospitals at Chattanooga and on
124 A PIC- NIC DINNER.
Lookout, and should the abundant harvests that are now promised grow to a reality, there will be vegetables enough to supply all the hospitals at that point during the coming summer and fall. Early in April Mr. BEAD discovered four fine vineyards along the line of the railroad beyond Mission Ridge, and on application to Gen. THOMAS they were placed under his control. The vines are cultivated on short poles, and when I saw them a few weeks ago the grapes were set in large quantities. How refreshing to our suffering soldiers, who have lain for nearly three months in crowded wards under the burning Southern sun, will be this delicious fruit next fall ! For, sad to say, it takes months for a wound to heal, and the patience of a soldier must be even greater than his bravery.
C.
An occasion for giving a little pleasure to the soldiers in the city camp was presented in the approaching fourth of July, and the ladies of the Aid Society arranged a picnic dinner for the four hundred inmates of Camp Cleveland military hospital.
The Aid Rooms on Bank street and a branch depot on the west side of the city were the appointed receiving-stations for viands of every description. So liberal were the supplies that an abundant feast was spread not only for the patients and all inmates of the hospital but also for the eight hundred recruits in camp.
Besides these contributions in kind, from the ladies of the city and vicinity, there were many gifts of money from gentlemen, on behalf of the soldiers' dinner.
The Aid Society at this time received several " ben efits" of which it may be proper to make special mention.
From the finance committee of the Union Mass Convention held in the city came the welcome gift of three hundred dollars, being the surplus of an amount collected from citizens to defray the expenses
A GLOKIOUS "FOURTH. 125
of that assembly. The young people of Ash tabula sent in one hundred and fourteen dollars, the avails of a successful amateur concert. The scholars of Mrs. DAY'S school held a pleasant bazaar by which seventy- five dollars were raised for the soldiers. Four little girls on St. Clair street planned a school-room fair and sent in twenty-nine dollars as the result, and there were many other little fairs among the children. One very little girl brought to the Aid Rooms a dollar which had been sent to her by her soldier brother to be spent in fire works for her amusement on the fourth of July.
The " glorious fourth " dawned and was duly cele brated in the Northern States, while prayers for our brave armies breathed from each loyal heart and tempered yet intensified every patriotic utterance.
All day long the electric wires trembled with the distant mutterings of battle, and before another day had ended a shout of triumph and thanksgiving pealed through the North.
Glad tidings of victory had burst upon us from the West, only to be caught up and re-echoed by the exult ant armies of the East.
Vicksburg, the Gibraltar of the enemy, had fallen before its gallant besiegers, and in the East the hordes that had overrun and devastated a portion of one of our fairest northern states, and proudly threatened to bring the horrors of war to our very doors, had been met at Gettysburg and driven back in confusion and defeat.
126 TIMELY SUPPLIES.
The brilliant generalship and heroic deeds of these battle-fields absorbed the first glad moments of triumph.
Soon, the heart-sickening details of the struggle ; the names of those who were, but are not ; and of those who with maimed and shattered limbs had been gathered into the temporary shelter of improvised hospitals, began to reach the eye and to fall like a death-stroke upon the heart of many a Rachel, be wailing her dead or mourning with yet keener anguish for him whose fate is shrouded in the dread uncer tainty that hangs over the unrecorded history of the battle-field.
While watching with intense anxiety the progress of the siege of Vicksburg, it had been a joy to know that the sufferers in our army were not to wait the tardy coming of supplies gathered and sent forward after the news of battle had reached the ears of their northern friends.
Into the general storehouses of the Sanitary Com- mission at Louisville and Cairo had flowed the contributions of all the northern Branches, and these supplies were thus concentrated only to be distributed among the sub-depots still nearer the army. Thanks to the well organized system of supply-steamers that for months had been running upon the Ohio and Mississippi, the Sanitary stations at the front now contained stores suited to the exigencies of the situa tion. These were soon largely increased by the cargoes of several steamers that had been sent in anticipation of this special need and were far on their way down the river when the victory was announced.
A THANK-OFFERING. 127
The capture of Vieksburg opened the Mississippi river as a broad channel into which to pour the gifts of a people grateful from the depths of their loyal hearts for the repossession of the great commercial highway that secession had so long usurped.
The Sanitary supply-steamers followed closely in the wake of our victorious gunboats and our reviving river trade, and it was the ambition of every northern Branch to send them laden with a thank-offering to the brave men who had taken part in the struggle that resulted so gloriously to our cause.
The eastern Branches of the Sanitary Commission were nobly at work among the wounded at Gettys burg. The value of the principal Sanitary supplies given out upon that field during the four weeks after the battle, is estimated at seventy-five thousand dollars.
In compliance with suggestions received from the Central office, the Cleveland Branch Commission held its stores ready for any need that might arise at Gettysburg, but no call was made for them, and the forwarding of a few boxes of surgeons' supplies, on special request of the Pittsburgh Branch, was the extent of its work in Gettysburg hospitals.
The relief that the Cleveland Branch gave to the wounded of Gettysburg was confined to the hospitali ties rendered to those of them who, returning: on
' O
furlough to their homes in the West, sought rest and refreshment in the Depot Hospital.
The DEPOT HOSPITAL, from its establishment in April, 1862 — see page 51 — had been a haven of rest to many a worn and broken traveler. No part of the relief-work recorded in this volume was more
128 RETURNING HEROES.
successful or brought more cheering returns than that which was done within its walls.
Not a day passed but some waif from the ebb-tide of war's crimson river was casfc within reach, and when the flood-gates of battle were opened, the capacity of this little wayside-inn was often tested to the utmost.
In August of this year, the return through Cleve land of fourteen regiments of New England soldiers, heroes of Port Hudson, gave occasion for offering personal care to the many feeble and disabled and refreshment to all.
In these offices of hospitality the Society recognized no new duties, no stepping aside from the purposes of its organization. It was only that the objects of care had come nearer, had been brought to the very door, so that with outstretched hand they could reach the comforts that until now had been sent by trusty agents and through well known channels to the far-off regions of trial and suffering from which they had just been released.
The presence of these regiments wakened an enthu- siastic benevolence that is an honor to the citizens of Cleveland.
The response to the calls of the Aid Society for table supplies or delicacies for the sick was unflagging and most generous. Wines and other stimulants were even lavishly given and were of the choicest quality. Fruits and vegetables were plentiful, soup and broth and delicate morsels of sick diet were sent to tempt the feeble appetite. Everything that gener osity could provide or the skill of the housewife prepare was offered in abundance.
A FORESHADOWING. 129
The sympathy of many was shown by their constant personal attendance upon the sick in the DEPOT HOS PITAL, where the gravest cases were carried on the arrival of each train.
The details of this work are properly embraced in the special relief service of the Society. A sketch of the reception of these Port Hudson regiments will be found in the accompanying Special Relief Report.
This experience in the entertainment of returning regiments was only a foreshadowing of the duties that later months of the war would develop.
The accommodations of the little DEPOT HOSPITAL were barely sufficient for invalid soldiers coming singly or in small squads, and care could be better and more conveniently given to these under other arrangements. For the reception of any considerable number of sick and certainly for offering hospitality to a regiment, more space and greater facilities were indispensable.
The time had come when these were needed, and the darling project of building a Soldiers' Home became an all-absorbing subject of consultation at the Aid Rooms.
How to raise the money for this, was the first and most important question. The current expenses of the Society were daily becoming heavier as its supply work steadily increased. It was clear that nothing could be spared from the monthly receipts. The California fund was held sacred to the purchase of material and hospital stores and it was not thought right to divert any portion of it to this new enterprise. The Soldiers' Homes in most other Northern cities
130 A NEW PROJECT.
were local institutions built by contributions of citi zens.
After much deliberation it was resolved to apply directly to the business men of the city for money to erect the building, and trust to some plan of evening entertainments for the support of the Home when once it was opened.
This was decided with great hesitation since it had always been the pride of the officers to avoid personal solicitation of money. There seemed, however, a peculiar propriety in asking from the citizens of Cleveland a direct contribution for this specific object. It was believed that every man who invested his money in such a building would at the same time take stock of interest and good will in the work to which it was devoted, and would feel a citizen's pride in sustaining a local charity which he had helped to establish.
When this method of raising money was decided upon, the first vice-president and treasurer and one member of the Society sacrificed their distaste to the requirements of this new duty and, with the escort of two gentlemen who cordially favored the plan, called upon the business men, presented the need of a Soldiers' Home and asked for the means to build it.
In two days of this canvassing, seventeen hundred dollars were collected. Later contributions increased this amount to two thousand dollars, more than suffi cient to erect the proposed building. This includes the estimates of lumber secured from lumber dealers by solicitation of the president of the Society.
A building spot was given by the Cleveland and
CLEVELAND SOLDIERS HOME. 131
Columbus railroad company, adjoining the Union railroad depot and well located for the purpose. Plans and specifications of the Louisville Home were furnished by Dr. NEWBERRY. These were submitted to Mr. KAXDALL CRAWFORD, who volunteered to modify and adapt them, to purchase materials and to engage and superintend the workmen. The work was pushed forward rapidly enough to satisfy even the ladies of the Society, who watched its progress with eager impatience.
December 12th, 1863, the Cleveland SOLDIERS' HOME was opened and dedicated to the special relief work which is detailed in the accompanying report. It will there be seen that the building, at first twenty- two feet wide and two hundred feet long, was increased by subsequent additions to an area of sixty-three hundred and eighty square feet ; that fifty- seven thousand six hundred and nine soldiers found temporary shelter there, to whom one hundred and eleven thousand nine hundred and one meals, and twenty-nine thousand nine hundred and seventy-four lodgings were given; and that its hospitable doors were never closed till long after the happy return of peace.
As summer advanced and the heavier labors of harvest season were over, all friends in the country were enjoined to begin a vigorous work in their aid societies, that winter weather might not cause suffer ing from lack of comforts that might have been furnished.
Dried fruits, pickles, krout and vegetable* were
132 THE SUMMER'S WORK.
placed prominently upon the list of much needed supplies. Housekeepers were admonished to remem ber the sick soldier as they prepared the winter's stock of dried fruit and pickles for their own families. Blackberries in wine, cordial, jam, or simply dried were sought for by those in charge of hospitals. This fruit had medicinal virtues peculiarly suited to check the diseases then prevalent in our army.
The many boys and girls who were daily asking "What can we do for the soldiers ? " were soon called upon to form a volunteer regiment to pick the berries which the ladies of the country societies would then prepare for hospital use.
Societies were urged to replenish their funds by subscription or solicitation in order to furnish material for the weekly meetings through the autumn. The young ladies of each town were invited to take upon themselves the work of collection and to make it their duty to supply funds for the local aid society.
August Gth, appointed by President LINCOLN as a day of national thanksgiving for the success of the Union armies, seemed an appropriate time for a thank- offering to wounded soldiers. A request was made to the pastors of the city churches to take up a collec tion at the close of religious services upon that day. Clergymen throughout Northern Ohio were desired to influence the gifts of their churches toward the sup port of the local aid societies.
It was not known, at the time of making this sug gestion, that the Christian Commission had just sent a similar request to each loyal pulpit in behalf of its own relief work in army and navy. As soon as this
6UT MATERIAL 133
was discovered no further action was taken in the matter by the Aid Society. The contributions of several city churches were handed in, aggregating two hundred and twenty-five dollars. Some country aid societies received the collections made in their churches, but the money contributed on that day was mostly sent to the treasury of the Christian Commis sion at Philadelphia.
No other attempt was made this summer to raise money, except the special collection for building the Soldiers' Home, which has been mentioned.
The California fund had been freely drawn upon in purchasing vegetables for the warfare against scurvy and in keeping the work committee supplied with material.
All material furnished to Branch societies was cut at the Aid Rooms by economical and experienced hands, and sent out in packages of ten, twrenty or thirty garments. Each package was charged against the society to which it was sent and the finished garments were credited and acknowledged in print as " returned work."
Promise of such aid was never given until other means of maintaining the vigor of a society had been faithfully tried, and then this was offered as a temporary support, to be withdrawn so soon as independent standing was regained.
As the nature of hospital supplies changed from this time and now represented a greater money value but less amount of time in preparation, it was neces sary to give the officers of Branch societies more support, in furnishing work by which they could
134 SUSTAINING THE HOME.
sustain their sewing meetings and prevent the falling off of members while vegetables, pickles and krout were being gathered for the army.
The supply- work of the Society had been heavy this summer and its responsibilities in sustaining its feebler Branches and in supplying the Soldiers' Home were increasing and requiring more liberal outlay.
It was designed to sustain the Home by raising a fund especially for that purpose and quite independ ent of the resources of the supply department.
CHAPTER VIII.
Ix August of this year the managers of the Chicago Branch Sanitary Conimision had announced a " Sani tary Fair," to be held in that city during the coming October. Vast preparations had been going forward through the summer, and, with an enthusiasm that was regarded chimerical, the Chicago ladies had de clared their belief that twenty-five thousand dollars would be cleared by this project.
The president, vice-president and treasurer of the Cleveland Branch accepted an invitation to attend the Chicago fair and spent three days in that whirlpool of enthusiastic charity, where the flood of benevo lence swelled the hoped-for sum of twenty-five thousand to a real benefit of seventy-eight thousand dollars.
The spirit of emulation excited by the wonderful success of the Chicago Fair gave rise, in other cities, to a series of Sanitary fairs, — the most splendid exhibitions of charity that the world has ever known, - which opened a new era in the history of benevo lent effort. In these magnificent fairs, all that taste, skill, energy, loyalty, humanity and national or sectional pride could accomplish was laid under tribute. Their aggregate cash receipts were millions
SANITARY
of dollars. Their indirect results in the momentum given to patriotism and philanthropy, through this war and to all time, are beyond estimate.
The officers of the Cleveland Aid Society had visited the Chicago Fair with a somewhat vague pur pose of gaining ideas for the benefit of their own work and especially with a view to some effort for the support of their Soldiers' Home.
Their plans had not extended beyond a series of evening amusements, a picture gallery, or a three days' bazaar. They returned home with enlarged views, aglow with the enthusiasm of the hour, and resolved to launch their own little boat upon the wave of prosperity.
November 24th, they were fully committed to this venture by the following circular, which was No. 1 2 of the series:
ROOMS SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY, No. 95 BANK STREET, \ CLEVELAND, O., November 24, 1803. j"
To the People of Northern Ohio :
We propose holding a Grand Festival, commencing on the 22d of Febru" ary, for the benefit of our sick and wounded soldiers. The necessity for some effort of this kind is pressing. The loyal people of our State have given freely and often ; yet the present year, while it promises no abatement in the wants of our army, finds us limited by means totally insufficient to meet the demand made upon us. Our expenses are also necessarily increased by the higher rates of material, and to meet this emergency we propose to the women of Northern Ohio to imitate the example of our sisters of the northwest who, by their recent splendid effort, have given a new impetus to Sanitary work in that department.
The first step in this enterprise must be to secure the co-operation of those friends whose warm sympathies and liberal benefactions have hereto fore carried us on so successfully in our work. From each member of the Branch Societies and from all who have contributed to this cause we ask assistance to enable us to prosecute our labors with renewed energy. We feel satisfied that the project can be succcessful without imposing upon any individual a heavy tax or in any way retarding our daily labor by drawing from the current supplies.
FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE. 187
Aside from the pecuniary benefit which we promise ourselves in this undertaking, an opportunity will be offered to extend a cordial personal greeting to many with whom we are connected in a common cause. To them is due no small share of the honor which has made the Soldiers' Aid Society of Northern Ohio a strong arm of the Commission, known and recognized no less on the bloody battle-field than in many a hospital which the soldier has consecrated by sickness and suffering, through the length and breadth of the West.
We call upon our friends to join us, that we may work with new zeal and a more ardent patriotism in an undertaking whose scope and aims cannot be over-estimated. This early appeal is set forth that the attention of every town and society may be secured. We shall hope to receive from each according to its ability. We propose to devote a separate portion of the hall to the respective contributions of each Branch.
It is impossible at this early day to furnish a definite programme of the festival. Xo effort will spared to render it in the highest degree profitable and attractive. The plan pursued will be similar to that of the Chicago Fair, and will comprise the sale of every variety of fancy and useful articles. During the continuance of the Fair a daily dinner will be furnished, and we must look to our friends in the country to assist us with contributions of milk, cream, butter, eggs, vegetables and poultry.
A series of attractive entertainments will be presented. Further particu lars and information will be furnished as the occasion demands.
We would suggest that each society convene its members and lay this circular before them, that we may secure their immediate and prompt action. Arrangements will be made with the various Railroad Companies by which an opportunity will be afforded of coming to Cleveland and returning the same day.
We ask of those who have never failed to respond to our appeals, with firm faith in their continued well-doing.
MKS. B. ROUSE, President. MRS. WM. MELHINCH, ) MRS. L. BURTON, )' V.Pres't*.
MARY CLARK BRAYTOX, Secretary. ELLEN F. TERRY, Treasurer.
The opening day of the fair, February 22d, was chosen as being far enough distant to allow ample time for maturing the yet half-formed plan and because, from being a national holiday, it was most likely to arrest public attention and be retained in memory.
A few clays after the announcement of this contem plated Sanitary Fair, the managers of the Cleveland
138 AN EMBARRASSMENT.
Protestant Orphan Asylum gave public notice of an intention to hold their third annual Bazaar about the middle of January; proposing to unite with this bazaar some effort for relief of destitute soldiers' families living in the city.
The reasons given for bringing forward the soldiers' families in connection with this bazaar were that the Orphan Asylum, having received from two previous annual bazaars large sums that had been funded at interest, was now in need only of money enough for the current expenses of the winter, — less than would probably be raised by a bazaar, — and the managers of the Asylum, sympathizing with the charities which the accident of war had developed, were willing to accept only a specified sum and to relinquish the remainder to the ward committees that were organ ized for the care of soldiers' families.
With all cordial feeling for the Orphan Asylum and for soldiers' families, the officers of the Aid Society saw at a glance that the proposed bazaar would be fatal to the success of their Sanitary Fair.
It would be dangerous enough to have a bazaar in whatever interest, on so large a scale as was proposed, in preparation all winter and opened four weeks in advance of the fair ; but when, added to this, the pa triotic element was to be evoked, through this effort for soldiers' families, it was certain that this sentiment would not so soon respond again, and that the fair would fall to the ground, a dead failure, or be at best only a partial success that might prove equally dam aging to the interests of the Sanitary Commission.
The fair had not been proposed as a means of
CONFLICTING INTERESTS. 139
raising money for any temporary emergency, nor for the work of one winter only, nor even of one year. It was rather to take advantage of this mania of generosity, this wonderful epidemic charity, that was breaking out in Sanitary fairs, east and west, and that might soon disappear with paralyzing reaction.
So vast and exhaustive an undertaking must be made to bear proportionate results and to place the Society in a condition of absolute financial security to the end of its existence.
With these convictions the officers of the Aid Society felt that the orphan and soldiers' families bazaar was a positive barrier to their own plans.
This was talked over in friendly council and several business meetings were called to consider it. A pro posal was made to hasten preparations for the bazaar, and to open it early in December, thus removing it farther from the time of holding the fair. This seemed likely to conflict with some other charitable schemes that were going forward then, and was not thought possible.
The ladies of the Orphan Asylum claimed that having originated in Cleveland the system of holding bazaars they were by courtesy entitled to the exclusive privilege of raising money by that means, and that they were at liberty to introduce any element that promised to ensure success.
The ladies of the Aid Society urged that to hold a bazaar for the benefit of soldiers' families as well as for the orphans — and this so near the opening of the Sanitary Fair — would necessarily embarrass their ope rations and virtually destroy the fair.
140 A COMPROMISE.
Both entertainments liad been announced to the public and preparations to some extent had already been made for each. A compromise must be effected and these conflicting interests harmonized in the spirit of good will that had always prevailed in the public charities of Cleveland.
The committee to which the matter was referred, — representing jointly the Aid Society, the Orphan Asylum and the soldiers' families, — reported in favor of holding a grand Union Bazaar which should re present the interests of both Orphan Asylum and Aid Society; three thousand dollars of the net receipts to be pledged to the Orphan Asylum and the balance given to the Aid Society.
This committee deemed it prudent to drop the sol diers' families from the project, since a third of the sum raised by a bazaar would be but a fraction of the amount required for their support during the winter and it seemed certain that the promise of this tempo rary resource would check the activity and embarrass the canvassing system of the ward committees having these families in charge, and thus do an injury out weighing any advantage that would accrue to them from an incorporation with the bazaar.
When it is remembered that the receipts of chari table entertainments in Cleveland had heretofore been counted by hundreds only, and never — save in the two Orphan Asylum bazaars, which had been called bril liant in result — could be estimated by thousands, it is not strange that the ward relief-committees declined to accept a third of a bazaar that was yet in embryo, or that the three thousand dollars that were to be
AN OPPORTUNE LEGACY. 141
ensured to the Orphan Asylum seemed like the lion's share of the possible proceeds.
The high hopes with which the ladies of the Aid Society had returned from the Chicago Fair were sud denly dashed by this unexpected entanglement.
Besides the discouraging prospect of receiving only a fractioD of the avails in event of success, there was another view of the case that made the Union Bazaar still more distasteful to them.
For the Sanitary Fair, the aid of all Northern Ohio and of adjoining States had been solicited. The co operation of the branch aid societies was indispensable to success. But it could not be hoped to secure this when it became known that the proceeds of the fair were to be divided with a strictly local charity.
Though sincerely in sympathy with the benevolent purposes of the Orphan Asylum, the officers of the Aid Society felt that this proposed Union Bazaar was very unfortunate for the cause they represented, and no doubt the managers of the Asylum were equally annoyed by it.
Both parties, however, acquiesced in the decision of the committee, and a special meeting was called to make preliminary arrangements.
Into that meeting the news was brought that a
o o
citizen just deceased had bequeathed to the Protestant Orphan Asylum of Cleveland the sum of forty thou sand dollars. This munificent legacy relieved the Asylum most opportunely from business perplexity, and the managers relinquished all claim to the pro ceeds of the projected bazaar. This left to the Aid Society a free field of operation and liberty to pursue the designs announced in the preliminary circular.
142 NORTHERN OHIO SANITARY FAIR.
So auspicious was the inception of the Northern Ohio Sanitary Fair !
The committee that had been formed to conduct the now abandoned Union Bazaar increased its numbers and became the Executive Committee of the Fair. The following were the honorary officers and Execu tive Committee of the Fair Association :
NORTHERN OHIO SANITARY FAIR
HONORARY OFFICERS.
Governor JOHN BROUGH, Ex-Governor DAVID TOD,
Hon. SALMON P. CHASE, Hon. BENJ. F. WADE,
Hon. JOHN SHERMAN, Maj.-Gen'l J. A. GARFTELD,
Mavor IRVINE U. MASTERS.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. T. P. HANDY, Mrs. B. ROUSE,
II. M. CHAPIN, Mrs. WM. MELHINCH,
Dr. J. S. NEWBERRY, Mrs. L. BURTON,
AMASA STONE, Jr., MARY CLARK BRAYTON,
STILLMAN WITT, ELLEN F. TERRY,
WM. B. CASTLE, Mrs. JOHN SHELLEY,
SAMUEL L. MATHER, Mrs. J. A. HARRIS,
JOSEPH PERKINS, Mrs. CHAS. A. TERRY,
GEO. B. SENTER, Mrs. S. WILLIAMSON,
PETER THATCHER, Jr., Mrs. GEO. A. BENEDICT,
Mrs. L. M. HUBBY,
Mrs. WM. B. CASTLE,
T. P. HANDY, Chairman. H. M. CHAPIN, ^
MARY CLARK BRAYTON, j- Secretaries. ELLEN F. TERRY, J
Headquarters were established at the Aid Society Rooms, No. 95 Bank street, and an office was rented in the same building for the use of the secretaries and the registration committee. Daily meetings of the Executive Committee were held at 4 o'clock, P. M.
COMMITTEES FOR THE FAIR. 148
The circulars, notices and reports of the Sanitary Fairs of Chicago, Boston and Cincinnati were collected and filed for consultation and a general programme was formed from these precedents.
This embraced a Ladies' Bazaar, Refreshment Hall, Exhibition of Machinery, Manufactures and Produce, Fine Art Gallery, Floral Hall, Museum of Curiosities and War Relics and a series of Evening Entertain ments.
The Executive Committee appointed the chairmen of twenty-one special committees, as follows :
PETER THATCHER, Jr., on Building* and Halls. I. U. MASTERS, on Reception. T. X. BOND, on Decorations. J. G. HUSSEY, on Produce. M. C. YOUNGLOYE, on Machinery. WM. BINGHAM, on Merchandise. J. V. X. YATES, on Wood and Coal. Mrs. FAYETTE BROWN, on Booths and Fancy Tables. Mrs. A. G. COL WELL, on Fancy Articles. Mrs. Dr. E. STERLING, on Floral Hall.
WM. EDWARDS and Mrs. M. C. YOUNGLOVE, on Tables and Table Furniture.
Mrs. T. BURNHAM, on Refreshments.
H. F. BRAYTON, on Memorials and Curiosities.
WM. J. BOARDMAN, on Fine Art Hall.
T. P. HANDY, on Musical Entertainments.
GEO. WILLEY, on Tableaux.
D. P. EELLS, on Lectures.
JOHN F. WARNER, on Registration.
A. W. FAIRBANKS, on Printing and Stationery.
Col. W. H. HAYWARD, on Military.
JOHN X. FRAZEE, on Police.
These chairmen formed their own committees, which were enlarged and subdivided in later meetings at discretion. Prominent business men and manufac turers throughout Ohio and Western Pennsylvania
144 ISSUING CIRCULARS.
were created associate members of tliese committees and their personal influence was thus secured. (For a full list of the fair committees see appendix E.)
The first duty of most of the committees was to prepare a special appeal to the public. Eleven sub- circulars were issued and each committee undertook to send to friends and business acquaintances far and near a certain number of the circulars of its own and every other department.
A general circular was published in the newspapers of Northern Ohio with the request that every one who read it would send for a package of special circulars or furnish the names of persons to whom these might be mailed. Notice was given to citizens to send in the names of relatives and friends w^ho lived in the country, that circulars might be sent to them. All the ingenuity that had evoked the first response, in the early days of the Society, was repeated in behalf of the fair, aided by the machinery which nearly three years' experience had nicely adjusted to this purpose.
All circulars were mailed from the Aid Rooms under the franking privilege enjoyed by the Society.
To secure the aid of the Branches was a matter of vital moment, and to do this without disturbing or checking the routine of their duties, was equally important.
With all their desire to excite an interest in the approaching fair, the officers of the Cleveland Aid Society were very solicitous lest preparations for it might encroach upon their own regular business or that of their tributaries. They would not advise any
APPOINTING DELEGATES. 145
Branch to draw on its treasury to purchase materials for fancy articles, nor to suffer the regular sewing meetings to give place to assemblies on behalf of the fair. The aim was to help the cause, which surely would not be attained by exhausting the sources from which the very life of the work flowed.
It was rather the design to use the influence of these Branches in securing and forwarding such arti cles, solicited by an outside committee, as would not naturally come into the list of their receipts ; so that contributions to the fair might be additions to the usual supplies, not an interference with them.
The secretary and treasurer of the Aid Society, as associate secretaries of the fair, assumed the specific duty of engaging the interest and co-operation of the Branches.
A personal letter was written to the president of each of these Branch societies, with, notice of her appointment as delegate to the fair and soliciting her services and influence in the preparations. Upon notice of acceptance, the delegate was furnished with a package of circulars containing, first, a general appeal in which each department was briefly described and appropriate gifts suggested, with a summary of the attractions promised to visitors ; second, the special circulars of the mercantile, manufactures, machinery, produce, fine arts, floral hall, museum, fancy work and refreshment committees, each fully explaining itself; third, a large sheet-invoice to be filled out and re turned with the aggregate results of the township canvassing, and some smaller invoice-blanks to accom pany individual gifts.
146 PLANNING,
On receipt of these documents, the delegate was to lay them before her society and to distribute them as would best promote an interest in the fair.
It was advised that a committee of two really active, earnest men should be appointed in each town ship to solicit contributions in conjunction with the local society and, if necessary, to go about with teams from farm to farm and gather up everything that could be secured.
The military committees of each county were sup plied with circulars and requested to act as " head centers" in collecting and forwarding. When pre- ferred, these appointments were authorized by com- missions sent from the officers of the fair association.
It was necessary to rouse Northern Ohio thoroughly and to make the appeals specially pointed and search ing, for the reason that Cincinnati had just opened a fair that had drawn heavily upon the whole State. Its circulars and appeals had been freely distributed in Cleveland and vicinity, and had been responded to with much liberality. Many towns from which great things were hoped had given largely to Cincinnati and it was feared these were scarcely ready to repeat their generosity.
But sectional pride soon came in to help on the work. It was determined that Cleveland should have a fair commensurate with the resources of the Reserve and the patriotism of its people.
In furtherance of this resolution the circulars of each committee were issued till the corpulent mail- bags grew to positive obesity. The office of post master could have been no sinecure in Ohio during these preliminary days of the fair.
THOROUGH CANVASSING. 147
To this proclamation period succeeded the canvass ing era.
Committee-men with memorandum book and pencil were making the round of the city, each eager to secure for his own department the pledge of his neighbor. Few waited for such solicitation, but by this thorough canvassing no one escaped. The gift of one thousand dollars each from several city insurance and manufacturing companies encouraged the can vassers at the outset, and from day to day the city papers helped on their work by mentioning various valuable articles of machinery or merchandise that had rewarded the labor of solicitation.
It was urged that as an industrial exposition the fair would promote the interests of the community, an object which wras thought proper to be mentioned as a stimulus to contribution. Facilities were promised to manufacturers and inventors for the display of fabrics and machines which they wished to introduce to the public, — the business card of the donor to be attached to each article.
All classes, trades and professions were to be en listed in this cause. Soliciting committees were reminded that there was nothing in the range of known possessions, having money value or historic interest, but would find a place and a welcome at the fair. At each one's hand lay his own appropriate offering. The mechanic could give the product of his skill, the merchant his wares, the manufacturer his finished article or the material from which it was made, the laborer a portion of his wages, the farmer his grain, the storage of his cellars, the wood from his
148 LADIES AT WORK.
broad acres or the stock from his pastures. The hor ticulturist or gardener could add to the decorations of Floral Hall or the supplies of the restaurant, the antiquarian or curiosity-hunter might give or lend his time-honored relics and his wonders to the Museum, the skilful workwoman could find space for her handicraft in the Bazaar, and the good things of the housewife would supply the tables of the Dining Hall.
The ladies of the city ceased to be recognized as individuals and existed only as committee- women and priestesses of bazaar, floral hall and restaurant.
The infection of this great charity pervaded every parlor and school room, where pretty usefuls in needle work, marvels of embroidery, delicate conceits in fancy work and airy trifles in crotchet grew rapidly under fingers winged with patriotism and humanity.
The ladies of the refreshment committee were plan ning a system of continuous contribution to the dining hall, in order to ensure stated supplies of provisions for each day of the fair. The city was districted and the written pledge of each household taken for the kind and quantity which it would furnish upon a specified day. Towns upon the lines of railroad cen tering in the city were notified of the days when boxes of good things should be shipped, and general rules were laid down to equalize the supplies sent in by railroad and team. Country dainties of pantry, dairy and poultry yard were especially levied upon. The notable matrons of the Western Reserve were besought to deal out to their households sparingly and to contribute liberally, till the opening of the,
THE PROPOSED BUILDING. 149
great dining hall should give opportunity to their husbands, sons and brothers to avenge their wrongs by an attack upon its abundant tables.
The committee on buildings and halls, charged with the duty of providing suitable accommodations for the fair, had decided at once that no public build ing in Cleveland was spacious enough to contain all the departments, and that to scatter these through the city in different halls would destroy the unity and the attractions of the fair and endanger the results.
The success of Sanitary fairs in other cities had been limited only by the capacity of the buildings in which they were held. The building committee took warning from this experience and resolved that no want of space should check the progress of the Cleve land fair.
After due deliberation in nightly session, they advised the erection in the Public Square of a tem porary structure that should give ample room for all departments. This situation, from its central position and accessibility, was unsurpassed and the building was designed to present in itself a peculiar attraction of the fair.
The proposed building covered an area of sixty-four thousand square feet and the estimated cost was ten thousand dollars.
No charitable enterprise ever projected in Cleveland had afforded gross receipts of more than eight thou sand dollars. Great as were the hopes of success in the present scheme, few had ventured to hint at more than twenty thousand dollars as the possible gross
150 AN OMINOUS SILENCE.
results. To appropriate half the imaginary proceeds to the one item of a building in which to hold the fair was a proposal that could not be accepted without some misgivings. But the counsels of the building committee prevailed, and time proved that they were founded on wisdom.
As soon as their plans were adopted, an elevation of the proposed structure was engraved and used as heading for the circulars and stationery employed in the business of the fair. Even so small a thing as this was not without good results in awakening an interest in the preparations.
Between the issue of circulars and their material results there was a period of suspense and anxiety that was positively appalling, — especially to the secre taries, who, in their dismal little office, shut out from contact with the enthusiasm that was spreading through the city, had been exhausting their wits on personal letters, circulars and newspaper appeals. An ominous silence seemed to have taken possession of their correspondents, broken only by a significant line such as one good clergyman wrote, " I was speak ing to the farmers of my church about your fair to-day, and I find they have been thinking about it." An occasional item would creep into the city papers, showing that the ladies of a certain township had met and laid out their plans. Festivals and concerts were heard of, in adjoining towns, for the benefit of bazaar committees. Schools and lyceums were turning their holiday exercises into exhibitions for swelling the receipts. The silence of correspondents was indeed ominous, but it boded only good. The people were too busy in performance to have time for promises.
TORMENTING DOUBTS. 151
Faith, born of experience, forbade the officers of the Aid Society to fear that Northern Ohio would fail to respond to any call of patriotism or philanthropy. But, would these generous givers realize the vastness of the requirements ? — did they know how much it would take to fill the rising structure whose sixty-four thousand square feet of extent seemed so boundless a storehouse ?
These tormenting doubts brooded with fateful wing over the anxious hearts of those who were vitally in terested in the cause, and were only put to flight when the opening day saw the great building stocked and even crowded, while gifts continued to come up to the very close of the fair.
The secret of this long silence and late response was in the fact that as the societies in county seats acted as centers of collection, townships and minor societies reported to them and not directly to the fair association, and thus the offerings of each county were brought up as a unit to the fair. This plan, though most systematic and efficacious, was embarrassing to the managers and especially to the bazaar committee, making it impossible for them to judge of the space that would be required by any one county.
When, just before the opening, the representatives of societies and counties came in, bringing to the bazaar their wealth of contribution, the space as signed to many of them was far too small. Some could not display half their goods at the opening. The delegations from two counties that had reported their inability to fill any space in the bazaar, came in at the eleventh hour loaded with fancy articles and
152 SKOW VERSUS CARPENTERS.
were unavoidably crowded together into one booth with very small opportunity for exhibiting their treasures.
The gift of ten thousand feet of lumber from one citizen, with the use of his men and teams ; of a large quantity of nails and hardware from manufacturers ; a generous discount on all purchases, and the volun teered services of master builder and many workmen, somewhat lessened the estimated cost of the building and certainly lightened the hearts of the committee.
Four weeks before the opening day, the materials were on the spot and the energetic building commit tee might have been seen on the Public Square, pacing off the ground and planting certain significant little stakes at sundry corners. These inexplicable movements were watched with open-mouthed curiosity by a crowd of juveniles and idlers, " and still they gazed, and still the wonder grew," when, next morn ing, a small army of workmen invaded the Square and began to fashion timbers and lay beams upon some evidently preconcerted plan.
A blinding whirl of sleet and snow had half en wrapped these mysterious proceedings and soon entirely concealed them under a fieecy mantle that lay in drifted heaps, while the furiously roaring storm held high carnival above the abandoned work.
For nearly a week the elements conspired against committee and carpenters, but at last the sun showed his smiling face in a clear wintry sky.
The commandant of Camp Cleveland detailed a company of the sixth Ohio cavalry, who worked
PLAN OF THE BUILDING. 153
away cheerily with shovel and snow-plow, exhuming buried lumber and searching for lost land-marks.
The sturdy blows of adze and hammer, wielded by many skilful and willing hands, rapidly developed the mystery.
As the great structure rose to view and progressed to completion, doubt gave way to faith and interest deepened to enthusiasm, in every one who beheld this indisputable evidence that the Northern Ohio Sanitary Fair was no longer an idea, but a fact.
The plan adopted was of a group of halls in the form of a Greek cross, the center rising in a dome to an elevation of sixty-five feet and enclosing the statue of Commodore PERRY.
The central hall was an octagon, seventy-five feet in diameter, and was ornamented as a Floral Hall.
On the west was the Ladies' Bazaar, one hundred and seventy-six feet long by ninety-three feet wide and twenty-five feet high. On the east an Audience Room, for evening entertainments, two hundred and eight by ninety-three feet and twenty-five feet high. This was fitted with a large stage and anterooms and with rising seats for two thousand persons. On the south, at right angles with audience room and bazaar, was the hall for Machinery, Manufactures and Pro duce, one hundred and eighty-four feet long by fifty-one feet wide arid twenty feet high. On the north was the Dining Hall, one hundred and ninety feet long, fifty-one feet wide and twenty feet high. The right-angle corners where Floral Hall joined the other buildings were divided into offices and commit tee rooms. Messrs. J. M. BLACKBURN and S. C. BROOKS
154 DECORATING THE HALLS.
were the architect and master builder, having offered their services in behalf of the fair.
The Picture Gallery and Museum were opened in the Court House, at the northwest corner of the Square, where the valuable collection of loaned arti cles could be secure from fire.
The Sanitary fair building, though hastily con structed for temporary use and without pretension to architectural beauty, was symmetrical in its propor tions and well adapted to the purposes of the fair.
It had been carefully planned for the convenience of committees and the pleasure of visitors, and was well ventilated, lighted and warmed, and made secure against storms.
There was no attempt to ornament the exterior walls, but the ever-beautiful stars and stripes threw out their broad folds from its dome and floated above every roof peak, while hundreds of smaller flags fluttered at angle and archway.
The tasteful artifices of the decorating committee conspired to transform the unhewn rafters and rough siding of the spacious halls into graceful flower- wreathed arches and gaily bannered walls. This was not effected without much cunning contrivance, confusion of tongues, hard labor and adventurous climbing, crowded into the few days that intervened between the completion of the building and the open ing of the fair.
Flags of all sizes were borrowed from far and near and many clever devices in tarleton, tissue paper and tinsel were employed to embellish the LADIES' BAZAAR.
Of the booths and stalls designed for the display
EVERGREENS AND BANNERS. 155
and sale of fancy articles, one half were to be occupied by saleswomen in the costume of different nations, and the other half by delegates from Branch societies, classed in counties, one booth being assigned to each county. The costume booths alternated with the county booths, down each side of the long bazaar hall.
The young ladies who were to occupy the costume booths decorated these with much taste. Many representatives of counties came up a few days before the opening and worked busily in fitting up the spaces assigned to them. A laudable rivalry between the proprietors of different booths, and the endeavor to excel in elegance and appropriateness of decoration, resulted in many exhibitions of remarkable beauty and taste.
Farm wagons and railroad cars came in loaded with evergreens for decoration, bearing, too, a more precious freight of village youths and maidens who came, at the almost despairing call of the over-burdened com mittee, to develop the beautiful floral designs.
Under the deft workmanship of many hands the embowering shades and odorous freshness of FLORAL HALL rivaled the sylvan beauty of some fairy-haunted dell of the " merrie greenwood."
The DINING HALL was festooned with flags and garlands, and hung with portraits of our victorious generals. Scores of pretty girls in grisette apron and jaunty coiffure were duly marshalled and drilled to act as table waiters. Before their preparations were fully made, these amateur waitresses had occasion to practice their newly acquired art, in serving two re-
156 LAST PREPARATIONS.
turned regiments that were feasted in the half finished dining hall.
In MECHANICS' HALL the useful predominated over the beautiful. A few flags and wreaths were the only decorations attempted. The great space was fast fill ing up with articles of more or less bulk and value. Barrels of produce were rolling in. Anxious exhibi tors jostled each other in their eagerness to secure a favorable place for their inventions.
In the ART HALL and MUSEUM, gay with hangings of tri-color, another phase of preparation prevailed. Easels and standards were being constructed and screens arranged to temper and convey the light to the paintings that were fast covering the walls. In numerable articles of antiquity or curious interest, exhumed from the obscurity of private collections, already crowded the cases. Great boxes of war relics were arriving from the front, unclassified fossils cum bered the corners, masses of mineral blockaded the passages and hopelessly embarrassed the task of organizing this wealth of wonders.
Tableau committees and dramatic clubs were in daily, semi-daily and nightly session ; rallying their forces for rehearsal or desperately raiding for cos tumes. Two hundred old-fashioned singers, who had been summoned from town and country, were tuning their voices and reviving the toilettes and the manners of other days, in anticipation of an Old Folks' Concert in the grand AUDIENCE ROOM.
All the busy activity that for weeks and months had been working out the splendid success of the enterprise, seemed concentrated in these last days of
ENTERTAINING THE DELEGATES. 157
preparation. None but the largest faith could foresee that order would ever come out of the Babel of tongues and chaos of matter that distracted and over whelmed the devoted committee-men and women in the last twenty-four hours of indescribable hurry and bustle before the curtain rose upon the great fair.
The committe on reception had canvassed the city to provide lodging places for the delegates and representatives of Branch societies who were already beginning to arrive. No provision more ample was made in other cities on similar occasions. Though it is impossible to give the number of strangers that were entertained, it is safe to say that several thous and enjoyed the hospitality of the citizens during the progress of the fair. The cordiality with which houses were opened and guests welcomed, through this busy time, when Cleveland ladies were already overburdened with the cares and responsibilities of committee-work and daily attendance in various de partments, must not be allowed to pass without a tribute of grateful recognition.
The officers of the Aid Society had each spent a day or two, in turn, visiting the Cincinnati Sanitary fair, which opened in December. By the kindness of the Cincinnati committees they learned much of the practical details which they afterwards found valuable in arranging their own fair.
The ticket system adopted was based upon the experience of the Cincinnati managers, and it proved convenient and satisfactory. A single ticket at twen ty-five cents gave one admission to either hall. Tickets were also sold in packages of five for one
158 THE TICKET SYSTEM.
dollar and twenty for three dollars. For the conven- ience of persons coming in from the country, these tickets were on sale at each way-station of all railroads centering in the city. By the generosity of the railroad companies, return transportation was given to every one who purchased, with his railway ticket to Cleveland, one dollar's worth of fair tickets.
No free admissions were granted to committees, delegates or exhibitors. By the payment of one dol lar, these were furnished with an " assistant's check," which served as a season ticket of admission, and was not transferable. These checks were returned to the Executive Committee if a delegate left the city before the fair closed, and any person who came up to relieve the delegate by taking her place in the booth was required to purchase her own admission check.
The dining hall had a distinct ticket system. Din ner cost fifty cents, supper or lunch in the restaurant twenty-five cents, oysters and crackers thirty cents, coffee ten cents, tea five cents.
Single tickets for evening entertainments were fifty cents. No variation was allowed from these prices and no season tickets were issued for audience room or dining hall.
All packages consigned to the fair were exempt from freight charges over the railroads running into Cleveland. Light and valuable packages were carried by any of the express companies, without charge.
CHAPTER IX.
MONDAY, February 22d, 1864, the anniversary of the birthday of WASHINGTON, and henceforth to be remembered by Clevelanders as the inaugural day of the great SANITARY FAIR, opened inauspiciously with clouds and rain. But by nine o'clock the sun peered through the clouds, the sky cleared, the morning air was balmy and spring-like, and nature smiled in hap piest mood.
Above the fair building, around and in which the workers still clustered, thickly and busily as bees, floated the flag of the Union, and from housetops and flagstaffs throughout the city the stars and stripes were flung out. The streets were thronged with citizens and strangers. The crowd was especially great at the ticket offices for the fair, which were located at the halls of the great building and in the principal music and bookstores.
It had been announced that the Governor and staff, the State Legislature and other invited guests from abroad wrould arrive on the morning train from Columbus, and due preparations were made to receive and escort them. The various companies of the 29th Ohio National Guard mustered in full regalia, and
1 60 THE OPENING DAY.
after a brilliant parade marched into the Sanitary fair dining hall, where a bounteous dinner had been spread for them.
At two o'clock the lines re-formed upon Bank street headed by LELAND'S band, breathing melodious and patriotic strains. Next followed the " 29th," the mayor and city council, city officers, Major Generals HEINTZELMAN and GARFIELD, the Lieutenant Governor and staff, State officers, and the Ohio Legislature. A detachment of soldiers closed up the rear.
The procession swept up Superior street around the south side of the Square to the custom house and into the Square, entering the audience room of the fair building at its east end and appearing upon the plat form, whence the Legislature passed to seats in the body of the hall. The stage was occupied by many distinguished guests and the great hall filled with a brilliant assembly.
At three o'clock the audience was called to order by Mayor MASTERS and the exercises were opened by prayer from the venerable Dr. AIKEN, of the First Presbyterian Church. The band then gave " Home again," and Lieutenant Governor ANDERSON held the audience enchained during a brief address of exquisite beauty of word-painting.
The following dedication ode, prepared for the occasion, was sung by a glee club, the audience join ing in chorus :
THE INAUGURAL ODE. 161
I.
O ! hallowed the day vvlien our Chieftain was born, The Hero, the Patriot, who with form e'er commanding, 'Mid the sunshine of peace or in battle's thick storm, The Ship of State guided and kept it from stranding. For the Flag that waved o'er him, the stars and the blue, Had been caught down from heaven by brave men and true.
CHORUS.
O ! say, does the Star Spangled Banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave ?
II.
Again by the tempest our Country was rocked,
Till it labored and reeled like a ship in mid ocean,
Our flag it was taunted, our Union was mocked,
When up sprang to vengeance, thank God ! a great iiation
Past the graves of their fathers the serried ranks sweef^
And the lanterns of battle swing out o'er the deep.
CHORUS.
That the Star Spangled Banner in triumph might wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
111.
0 ! the red fields ot battle, the hospital tent,
Where our brave ones lie bleeding, or in stranger hands languish Up the heights, crowned with glory, we cheered their ascent, Who would dare to pass by them when hurled back in anguish ? All honor to true hearts who, brave amid tears, Follow close on our armies with blessings and prayers.
CHORUS.
That the Star Spangled Banner in triumph may wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
IV.
O ! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved homes and the war's desolation. Blessed with victory and peace, may the heaven rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just, And this be our motto, " In God is our trust."
CHORUS.
And the Star Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
162 CEREMONIES OF THE DAY.
Mayor MASTERS then introduced General JAMES A. GARFIELD, who was received with enthusiastic cheers, and who spoke for an hour and a half in his own earnest, eloquent and logical manner, fre quently interrupted by rounds of applause.
Speaker HUBBELL was next presented. In a few words, spoken on behalf of the Ohio Legislature, he expressed an interest in the occasion and an acknowl edgment of the courtesies that had been extended.
The formalities of the day were now over and the fair duly inaugurated. The audience dispersed with ringing cheers for GARFIELD, the soldier-statesman, for the army in the field, and the SANITARY FAIR.
THE BAZAAK.
The LADIES' BAZAAR was thrown open at 7 o'clock in the evening and was filled with an eager, admiring throng of visitors, to whom the brilliant display seemed like one of the bright-hued visions of oriental enchantment.
The roof and its supporting pillars are canopied with flags and wreathed with evergreens. Soft dra peries of rainbow tint float from arch and column. Garlands twine around or alternate with the waving tri-color. The light streams down upon rich stuffs and costly wares and is flashed back from countless mirrors.
From booth to booth the eye falls upon gay demoi selles of France, yellow-haired frauleins of Germany, dark-eyed senoritas of Spain, bewitching houris of Turkey, Italians graceful signorinas, bonnie lassies of Scotland, rosy maidens of England, frank and merry
THE LADIES' BAZAAR. 163
daughters of Erin, Russian damsels in furs, belles of the Celestial empire, America's blooming beauties and wide-awake Yankee girls.
It is difficult to fix the attention upon the details that make up this kaleidoscope view, but the scene, so bewildering as a whole, will on closer inspection reveal new charms. Every booth in the Bazaar is a beautiful picture set in a worthy frame and well merits a more minute description.
The visitor, delivering his ticket at the door of the Bazaar, is ushered in by the blue-coated police and emerges from the vestibule into the grand hall, pass ing under the decorated gallery where a band is discoursing sweet music.
First on the right stands the BOOK STALL, where periodicals, stationery, bound volumes, engravings and photographs are offered.
ASHLAND and GEAUGA counties unite in a booth which occupies the corner beyond. The names of these counties are enclosed in an evergreen wreath over the front, and on the wall hangs a portrait of LINCOLN. Articles of needlework, useful and fanciful, are piled upon the tables and suspended from the ceiling. Silk patchwork quilting of elaborate fashion, woolwork, pin cushions and cobweb knitting tempt the purses of buyers.
The blue and yellow drapery of the Celestials is conspicuous in the next booth. Chinese lanterns with their grotesque imagery, silken flags and embroidered scarfs ornament the walls, and a huge Chinese um brella canopies the whole. Large mirrors reflect the gay and varying scene. A bevy of little-footed beau-
164 THE BOOTHS.
ties in the rich and quaint costume of the flowery land, with wondrously conceived pagoda hats edged with tinkling bells, dispense tiny cups of fragrant tea and offer curious, rare and valuable articles, veritable importations from China and Japan. Vases of trans parent porcelain, sandalwood boxes and fans that perfume the air, portfolios, lacquered ware, ivory puzzles, hammocks, delicate cups and saucers that would delight the heart of a collector of old china, nodding mandarins, pungent scents and spices, chests of tea and curious carvings, are piled up wherever space can be found.
The ladies of LORALN county occupy the third booth and a large stand directly in front, both of which are crowded with a variety of beautiful and useful arti cles. With thoughtfulness for the little folks, these ladies have for sale dolls' houses of every size and style, dolls' beds, daintily furnished, and toys for dolly's young mamma. An exquisitely embroidered chair, a fine set of IRVING' s works, some rich dressing- gowns, curious husk work, and an Oberlin scholarship are the most noticeable among the countless treasures displayed in this attractive booth. Here hangs the magnificent afghan, the central glory of this part of the bazaar, which is always surrounded by an admir ing crowd.
The land of song and story, of WALLACE, SCOTT and BURNS, is well represented by a group of High land lassies in the traditional tartan of their hills, looped with the thistle and crowned with the heron's plume. The plaid also decorates the walls, and above is the national banner, bearing the thistle with its
THEIR rJECOKATIOXS. 165
defiant motto, "Nemo me impune l-acessit" On one pillar are Scottish shields, and on the other hangs a portrait of CAMPBELL of Argyle. This booth is well supplied with hair and cone work, papier raache trinkets in tartan, fancy needlework and toilet articles. A beautiful model of a steam-tug, and a miniature bit of winter scenery representing a portion of Niagara Falls, and made of minerals from all parts of the world, finished with twigs and mosses from the graves of the fallen heroes of the Ohio seventh regiment, are worthy of special mention among the treasures of the SCOTCH booth.
SUMMIT county occupies the next booth. Lace cur tains looped and trimmed with evergreens form a graceful decoration, and a basket of crystal work depends from the arch above. The side walls are hung with mirrors and pictures. The words " SUMMIT COUNTY," in gilt letters wreathed with flowers, gleam from the rear. On the counters are heaped fancy work of every variety, silverware, statuettes, dolls and dolls' furniture. The stand directly in front is also filled by this county, and here the great attraction is a splendid stuffed eagle. From his beak float ribbons with the name of the county inscribed upon them. Here too is a doll's house inside which a whole family is arranged, even to the baby in the cradle, the dog on the mat, and the parrot in the cage.
A step and we are in sunny ITALY. A beautiful statuette of the " Flower Girl " is the central decora* tion of this booth, with " ITALY " worked in evergreen under a golden harp. Painting and sculpture are typified by pallette and brush and the marbles and
166 PENNSYLVANIA'S SHARE.
bronzes that are set in every niche. The warblings of caged birds symbolize the musical tastes of the classic land of song. Here alabaster clocks, statuettes, silverware, bronze ornaments, sheet music and musical instruments are offered to the purchaser by ladies in the picturesque costume of the nation.
MEADVILLE, with her tributary towns in western Pennsylvania, is nobly represented in the bazaar, find ing an entire booth scarcely spacious enough for the beautiful and valuable contributions. Over this booth is a framework of evergreens enclosing the words "MEADVILLE, PA." Other frames bear these inscriptions : " Home responses to our boys in the field," " We labor while we wait," " For our Heroes, from the girls they left behind them," "From the Keystone and Hearthstone to the Camp," " Belles versus re-bels." This booth is very attractive with its draperies of lace curtains, crystal hangings, mir rors, pictures, profusion of skilful needlework, wax flowers, babies' garments, gorgeous smoking caps, afghans and brioche cushions. An ingenious little fortune-telling doll here discloses the secrets of the future and takes in the cash of the present.
In front of the Meadville booth is a stand filled by the industry of the Rockport ladies. Much ingenuity is shown in some of these articles. There are in the ROCKPOKT booth tasteful and curious moss baskets, cases of stuffed birds, wax dolls, children's garments and embroidered slippers. Here is also a log cottage with its chimney of interlacing sticks. The woman of the house sits on the doorstep and a man is perched on the rail fence with his violin. In one
THE AMERICAN BOOTtf. 167
corner of the little yard is a tiny wood pile and the lilliputian farmer has evidently done some chopping on one of the logs. This little cottage, intended to represent a scene in the " Arkansas Traveler," is the work of the inmates of the West Pennsylvania Insane Ketreat at Dixmont near Pittsburgh, who have sent to the fair contributions of fancy articles to the value of one hundred and fifty dollars. The tarleton drapery of this stand is studded with silver stars.
The booth midway down this side of the hall is of double size and displays the American flag. High above the entrance is a golden eagle resting on a globe. From his beak stream red, white and blue ribbons looped back with rich laces. Upon the wall is inscribed in evergreen letters, " AMERICA, stripes for her foes, stars for her defenders." In the evening a series of gas jets forms the word " Excelsior." Below this is a niche in which stands a bust of WASHINGTON. The walls are covered with pictures illustrative of American history, portraits of her heroes, and military trophies and insignia. Crouched in one corner under a forest tree is a large deer, squirrels and birds are perched on the twigs, Indian trappings hang from the branches.
The Genius of America is personated by the central figure of the group of attendants, costumed in the red, white and blue, decked with a galaxy of stars, and bearing the national insignia. An Indian maiden stands near, and with her jetty hair, deerskin robe, and barbaric trinkets of beads and tinkling bells, looks the dark eyed Pocahontas to the very life. Just behind is a matron in the costume of " '76," while the
168 LAKE COUNTY AND KUSSIA.
spirit of the present day is symbolized by the semi-mili tary cap on the head of a lady robed in army blue, with military buttons, chevrons and corps badge. Indian curiosities, bouquets, trinkets in nameless variety, rich silks, laces, embroidered cloaks and many articles of elegant and tasteful workmanship are dis played here.
The decorations of LAKE county booth, which is next in order, are peculiarly elaborate and tasteful. Interlacing branches form the entrance arch, above which is a semi-circle of stars that encloses an eagle bearing a banner inscribed with the name of the
o
county. From the starry semi-circle is festooned a scroll with this motto, " Offerings of a grateful peo ple to their brave and suffering defenders." On the branches that form the arch are the names of the battles in which the soldiers of Lake county have borne a part. An Indian club, shield, bow and quiver, with mirrors and pictures, make up the orna mentation of this booth. A stand in front has also been pre-empted by Lake county and both are filled with beautiful needlework, designs in cones and mosses, models, toys and embroideries.
Siberian snows, sledges and reindeer, ice palaces - all the characteristics of the arctic empire under autocratic sway, seem by magical ingenuity to find representation in the RUSSIAN booth.
The incidental decorations are all appropriate. Over the front is a young bear, breaking his way through snow-laden fir branches. Stag horns and deer heads appear in the background, snow birds, minks and an arctic owl perch aloft. The booth is tapestried and
"ERIN GO BKAGH." 1G9
carpeted with soft and costly skins. Pretty maidens in fur-edged garments of the latest Muscovite fashion invite the visitor to select from their loaded counters anything that will make a Siberian winter comforta ble or add to the pleasures of the skating season.
The ERIE county booth is conspicuous for its motto, u We work and pray for our defenders." Lace cur tains, flowers and hanging baskets ornament the entrance, and beautiful shell, bead, and hair designs, cone frames, and usefuls in needlework are heaped upon the tables and suspended from the walls.
IRELAND, the gem of the sea, has a booth well filled with fancy wares arranged with much taste. Lace draperies are surmounted by a green banner on which is the harp of Erin, with the national motto. The curtains are trimmed with shamrocks, the dark glossy leaves making a pretty effect against the white lace. The booth is roofed with evergreen arches and filled
o
with mirrors, crucifixes and relics. A picture of CHRIST blessing little children hangs here, and the motto " Erin go bragh " is worked in shamrock leaves upon the inner wall.
Merry lasses in rich brogue seduce money from the pockets of visitors, while Biddy McCoy, in exagger ated cap-border, harangues the crowd with native eloquence and irresistible wit.
The ladies of COLUMBIANA county have the next booth, which they have fitted up tastefully with wreaths and floral designs. The name of the county is in gilt letters over the entrance, with the motto " Columbiana repudiates her traitor son." The sup ply of articles on sale is large, varied and choice.
170 THE RESTAURANT.
The stand in front, occupied by the townships of SOLON and CHAGRIN FALLS, is gaily festooned with tarle- ton and well filled with clever devices of needle, wool, and leather work, and useful articles of children's wear. Among the noticeable things here is a military coat into the lining of which is stitched the inscrip tion, " None but the brave will I enfold."
The visitor has now reached the west end of the hall, where the RESTAURANT, gay with its canopy of flags, its mirrors, pictures and curtains, and redolent of appetizing odors, tempts one to accept the hospi talities of the notable housewives who are dispensing hot oysters, fragrant coffee, sandwiches, jellies, cakes and ices, over the long counter.
After a refection in this pleasant nook, where smiles are served with every dish, one turns to the south west corner where MEDINA county has opened a booth and filled it with domestic handicraft and fancy de signs that heap the tables and load down the branches of an evergreen tree that stands in the background. A fine steel engraving of HENRY CLAY is the central decoration here and other pictures ornament the walls.
The FRENCH booth is thoroughly characteristic. The fluted canopy within is of softest lace and gauze, showing the tri-color in the purity of rainbow hues. Delicate embroideries and rich cashmeres form the hangings everywhere. A portrait of the first NAPO LEON overhangs the entrance. Innumerable articles of bijouterie adorn the walls.
Sevres vases and ornaments, glove boxes, handker chief cases and toilette nicknacks, perfumeries and lingerie are offered by demoiselles in toilettes of
DAUGHTERS OF MOLLY STARK. 171
Parisian elegance, coquettish grisette costume or Nor mandy peasant dress.
MAIIOXIXG county booth is designated by a large eagle, ingeniously made of dried leaves, which spreads its broad wings over the front. Damask curtains form a drapery below. Among goods of every variety are beautiful afghans and rugs, leaf and cone work, and elaborate pen-drawing. One of the ladies in charge here appears every evening in genuine Chinese cos tume of the present year.
TURKISH pipes, slippers, vases, pictures, cheroots, camel's hair shawls and scarfs are displayed in the next booth, which is hung with red and green in costly stuffs, glittering with golden crescents. The attendants here appear in oriental costume, splendid with " barbaric pearls and gold."
The ladies of STARK county have done nobly in contributions. Their booth is tastefully ornamented and bears the inscription, " Loyal Daughters of MOLLY STARK, enlisted for the war." Fancy work is here in endless diversity, and an ample stock of ladies' and children's wear, besides patriotic pictures and a lithograph copy of the Emancipation proclamation. The abundance of Stark county has overflowed into the prettily decorated stand in front, where dainty needlework, woolwork, afghans, skeleton bouquets, and many other beautiful things are heaped up in bewildering confusion. The Massillon ladies have the immediate charge of this stand, its contents being mostly of their preparation. They have shrewdly con trived to make their contributions do double duty in the good cause, for they displayed at home the articles
172 GERMAN LIBERALITY.
prepared for the fair and cleared one hundred and sixty dollars by the exhibition !
The GERMAN booth is one of double size, and the taste of the German ladies of Cleveland is displayed in every detail. A flag used in the revolution of '48, tasseled and faced with gold and intertwined with the stars and stripes, a bust of SCHILLER crowned with bays, the statuettes of two knights clad in armor, one reposing on his shield and the other in the attitude of attack, are skilfully arranged in decoration. The German motto—
" O, walle liin du Opferbrand Hin liber Land und Meer Und scliling ein edles Bruder band Urn alle Volker her,"
is inscribed upon the inner wall.
The well-known industry and skill of the Germans are shown in the endowment of their booth. They have a costly tapestry rug, mats and cushions in ber- lin-work, marvels of knitting and crotchet, glittering tinsel and bead- work, exquisite paintings on satin and velvet, an easy chair of million-stitched embroidery, Bohemian glassware, laces, jewelry, quaint china, meerschaums and pouches. There are for the little folks Christmas trees in full bearing and a curious mechanical picture.
The ladies attending here are all native Germans, from the stately " damen " of the court to the high- capped peasantry with their wooden shoes and knitting work. One gay little fraulein is dressed as a dashing young German soldier, in uniform of scarlet and gold.
ASHTABULA county has the next booth, hung with
SENORITAS AND BUCKEYE GIRLS. 173
laces and evergreens, above which is a drapery in blue, spangled with golden stars and eiiwreathing a bust of LINCOLN. " ASHTABULA," in gilt lettering upon a rustic arch of hemlock twis;s, flashes in the rear.
o /
Several fine engravings adorn the walls, autographs of LINCOLN are for sale here, and useful and fancy goods of every variety.
NE \VBURGH township has a stand in front of Ashta- bula. This is tastefully decked with gauze and garlands and filled to overflow with ingenious devices in every material and substantial for household use.
The orange and red colors of SPAIN prevail in the next booth. " Querida Hispania," in letters of gold, is the motto here. Two guitars are crossed above the entrance, and a warbling canary in a gilded cage is suspended beneath them.
This booth is arranged with much taste and filled with characteristic wares, among which are parasols, fans, veils, coiffure ornaments, tortoise-shell trinkets, cigarettes, and Cuban curiosities.
Dark eyed senoritas and bewitching peasant girls fitly represent this land of enchantment.
PORTAGE county booth is draped with laces and decorated with flags and festooning garlands. Pic tures and brackets cover the walls of the interior, and everywhere are displayed beautiful specimens of handiwork, breakfast shawls of gossamer texture and brilliant hues, cone and shell frames, photographs, embroidered baskets and innumerable articles of orna ment or service.
The townships of BROOKLYN, ROYALTON, BRIGHTON and DOVER unite in the next stand. This is distin-
174 ENGLAND AND YANKEE LAND.
guished by a pair of enormous antlers that surmount it, and abounds in treasures of industry and skill.
The royal arms of Great Britain designate the ENGLISH booth, which is elaborately draped and gar- landed with flowers. A lion peeps out from his covert, and the flag of the nation floats proudly over the whole. Portraits of VICTORIA and ALBERT, a fox hunting scene, a cricket match and other distinctively national embellishments are seen within.
Two ladies attend here costumed as the aristocracy and the third is as rosy a country lass as ever tripped over the downs. Children's suits handsomely trim med, embroidered handkerchiefs, engravings, rich and tasteful articles of all kinds make up the valuable stock.
Some modern king ARTHUR has made a genuine English pudding, "and stuffed it all with plums." This is served hot, at evening, in this booth.
TRUMBULL county is represented in the next booth, and the ladies have crowded every corner and piled the tables with things of beauty and utility. " Old Trumbull, slow but sure," is the motto, and beneath this are hangings of tinted gauze, festooned and trimmed with evergreens. Scarfs, sontags, children's clothing, shawls, canvas embroidery and fancy knit ting are to be found here.
A constant crowd, shouts of laughter and the high- pitched nasal twang of the genuine " down-easter " are unmistakable guides to the YANKEE booth, which in essence and spirit is Yankee land itself in carica ture.
An eagle, the national flag and Union Jack and an
THE POST OFFICE. 175
arch of colored globes, form the entrance to this New England kitchen. Here the hospitable mistress, with scant gown, high comb, and huge feather fan, bustles about, sets a straight-backed wooden chair for her customer, dispenses doughnuts, cider, chewing gum, patent liniment and a host of notions, drives a shrewd bargain, launches a sharp joke, and gives her orders to the pert " gals " who assist her.
HOLMES county and the ST. CLAIR ROAD SOCIETY share together a booth in the southeast corner of the hall. " HOLMES " encircled with evergreens designates this booth, which is draped in the national colors. A little goddess of liberty, in full regalia, stands on the counter. Quilting and piecework, frames of moss, cone and leather, knitted usefuls and pretty oddities fill up the tables here.
Now, the sound of a post horn announces that " the mail is in," and the crowd surges towards the POST OFFICE. Every applicant is sure of a letter by bal loon mail from any part of the world, without a moment's detention. The rates of postage may be high, but the news is always good and so fresh that the wafer has scarcely dried above it. St. VALENTINE has kindly consented to postpone his anniversary, for this occasion only, and has thrown his entire business into the hands of the obliging clerks whose bright eyes peep out from the curtained apertures of the Sanitary Fair post office. Business letters, marked " official," " immediate," and " important," are handed out with great despatch. That open sheet, which its possessor has just read with so much delight, contains good news from the agent of his Spanish estates.
176 THE NEWSPAPER.
This one gives notice of the fortunate completion of his castles in the air. A third bears the tidings of a legacy left by an orange-colored uncle in the East Indies. Here, a brave soldier is astonished by receiv ing orders to report immediately to the War Depart ment to take command of the army of the Potomac ; and there, a citizen of doubtful political complexion is confounded with a voluminous document of greeting from his friends over the line and a commission as Major General in the rebel army !
Photographs, postage stamps and autographs are on sale here, and a pretty juvenile book, called " Main- ma's talks with Charlie," which is dedicated to the fair and published expressly for it.
Having made the tour of the booths that are ranged around the bazaar hall, one turns to look down the center, where a large platform stand is occupied as the office of the SANITARY FAIR GAZETTE. Here the matter for that spicy little sheet is set up and printed. One corner is the " sanctum " Avhere two young ladies are scissoring and scribbling with edi torial dignity, taking instantaneous pen-and-ink views of the panorama below, and eagerly accepting the communications of contributors.
At their elbow a compositor is putting these hasty notes into type, and in the other corner of this tiny establishment a two-power press is throwing off the semi-daily issue, which is folded and sold through the halls by a corps of little girls, enrolled and badged as carriers.
Telegraph wires link the Gazette office with Floral Hall and the Museum, and lively messages are con-
A FORMIDABLE BATTERY. 177
stantly flying over them. Communication has been established, too, with the associated press. The latest war despatches are to be found in the columns of this little paper, and this gives it ready sale.
Evidently, the amateur editors of the Gazette are prepared to defend or enforce their opinions, for an array of gleaming artillery shows its inch-scale pro portions over the parapet of the little office. This formidable battery consists of four miniature guns from the celebrated Fort Pitt works, models of the monster fifteen and twenty inch Dahlgren and Kod- man guns.
Under the shadow of these guns sits an armless soldier, soliciting from passers the money to buy arti ficial arms. An enthusiastic woman has established her desk near and is obtaining names to a loyal league association.
In the rear of the Gazette office and quite in the center of the hall, four cashiers are enthroned under a starry canopy. Their practised fingers are scarcely nimble enough to answer the demands for " change " and " cash " that come in from every quarter. Over their desk hangs a large nugget of California gold, suspended by a chain carved by a miner from a solid piece of wood. Near by is a little stand dis playing the American and English colors and fancifully decked with balls of colored glass. On the supporting columns, snow-owls and wood duck are perched. An aquarium filled with fish and two cases of stuffed birds stand in front. Within, a glass blower is work ing his enchantments, creating beautiful and endlessly varied figures that are sold to the delighted spectators.
178 THE BOWER OF KEST.
Glass is spun fine as a hair, tied into skeins and sold. Microscopes and lenses are to be found here.
In a hollow square formed by four tables covered with an attractive display of sweet things and brightly decorated, a group of young misses have opened a candy store to the great temptation of the little folks.
A circular pavilion fitted up with sofas, easy chairs and piano, is called the " bower of rest." Here the tired visitor may secure half an hour's sitting, with a sightly outlook upon the whole scene. The young ladies in charge here are pleasant and cordial hostesses.
Pianos, melodeons, sewing machines and a sideboard are gathered into this part of the room, and later in the progress of the fair the bower of rest is perverted from its hospitable uses and filled by a billiard table too large to find room elsewhere.
Every available space upon the columns is occupied by fancy clocks, pictures and brackets, for which no place could be found in the booths. One column is devoted to a collection of battlefield memorials of the unknown dead, — photographs, trinkets and letters,— placed here with the hope of identification by some friend.
A little stand near the exit door, in which sits a policeman who takes charge of lost articles, is the only one that remains to be noticed.
Two rooms on either side of the entrance are de voted to the use of committees. That on the right is the office of the Executive Committee, the registra tion committee and the secretaries, and is general business headquarters.
Above the grim surroundings of this busy corner
THE " CRAZY BEDQUILT." 179
hangs the " crazy bedquilt," a grotesque piece of news paper patchwork, which is sold by lot every day, with the express condition that the unlucky possessor is not obliged to keep it, but will be allowed to present it to the fair. A considerable sum of money and a great deal of fun are realized by this transaction which takes place every noon just as the clock strikes twelve.
The room on the left is given up to the ladies of the fancy-work committees who receive here all arti cles contributed to the bazaar, and appraise and ticket them before distributing them upon the tables of the booths.
Two store rooms are in the rear of the committee rooms.
CHAPTER X.
FLORAL HALL.
THE crowning beauty of the fair and the feature that will be longest remembered by the visitor is the FLORAL HALL.
Here, well skilled art, taking its text from nature, has created bowers fit for the garden of a king ; grottoes that might have been fairy homes ; waterfalls, rocky hillsides and tangled copses that vie with na ture itself.
The hall is an octagon, seventy-five feet in diameter, standing in the center of the Square. The rotunda rises sixty-five feet, enclosing the statue of Commo dore PERKY, a central object, to which all parts of the general design are subordinate.
High above, a fluted canopy of the American colors breaks the effect of the evergreen-thatched walls, and the light from the dome throws forest shadows across winding paths and mossy banks.
Rising around the pedestal of the statue are 'designs which merit a detailed description.
That on the south is a natural hillside of the Alleghanies, rocky and precipitous, with rhododen drons, cedars, kalmias, sumach and other wild moun tain growth, struggling out between huge boulders.
FLORAL HALL. 181
On the north side is a deep grotto of lichen covered rocks, old tree trunks and fungi, and carpeted with spongy rnoss. Within the grotto is a marble figure, illuminated by a concealed light from above.
The west side represents a forest nook, a wild tan gle of ferns, roots and weeds. From the rocky summit a cascade shoots down over the spreading roots of a fallen tree. A lonely bittern is perched on the old stump. Further down, the stream widens into a sedgy pool and on its slimy edge an alligator expands his bristling jaws.
On the east face of the mound is a master-piece of patience, taste and skill. The design is of a scene on the upper Khine, and the elaborate details will bear the closest scrutiny while the general effect is perfect,
A picturesque castle crowns the summit of precip itous rocks. Tower and donjon are boldly presented above the highest pinnacle. Down the steep moun tain winds the road communicating with the estates below. A cascade leaps forth from the rocks and turns the wheel of a mill that is grinding the wheat for the baron and his vassals. Lower down is a cot tage full of busy life. Here is a beautiful rural scene. Children, peasants, a cow, pet lambs, dogs and poultry are grouped in the little farm-yard. Cattle and goats are browsing on the hillsides, a shepherd tends his flock on the plateau. At the base is a pond, its banks overgrown with ferns and water plants. A fountain in the center sends up a grateful stream. An angler on a point of rock just below is struggling to land his fish. On the mountain road are tiny figures of peasantry going to and from the castle, — the farmer's
182 ARBORS AND COTTAGES.
boy on his patient donkey, the miller's cart loaded with sacks of grain, the laborer carrying home his grist, peasant girls gracefully balancing their heavy burdens.
The rotunda is supported by eight pillars covered with laurel and hemlock to simulate forest trees. Evergreen arches extend from pillar to pillar and fes toons of rare flowers hang from every arch. Rustic vases and statuettes peep out from niches in the leaf- covered walls, birds' nests are cunningly hidden in the branches, rabbits and wood-mice burrow in the mossy hummocks.
In the corners of the hall, outside the circle of columns, are arbors and cottages of rustic work.
The first on the right, as one enters the hall from the south, is a picturesque structure of logs and rough bark in three compartments. One is occupied as an office for the sale of fruit trees, plants, shrubs and vines, on commission from the city nurseries. The middle division is a fruit store where apples, grapes, nuts, canned fruits, cordials and native wines are sold by a bevy of young ladies. The third room of this little building contains a telegraph station whence messages are sent to the other halls or to any part of the country, the wires being in connection with the general Telegraph office. Here, also, is a stand for the sale of books on farming or horticulture and for subscriptions to agricultural magazines and news papers.
In the northeast corner is a beautiful summer-house consisting of sections of two octagonal buildings con nected by an ornamental trellis. The whole is of
THE WIGWAM. 183
open rustic work, wreathed with ivy and trailing plants and covered by a latticed vine-shaded roof.
The right wing of this bower is devoted to the sale of cone work. Elegant specimens in every variety decorate the front and hang in profusion within. The central part is in charge of flower girls in costume, who offer blooming plants, wax flowers and exquisite bouquets. The left wing is roofed with fragrant pine and hemlock boughs and filled with rustic brackets, vases, frames and carvings. The attendants here are in the fanciful dress of Swiss peasants.
A pyramid of flowering plants separates this bower from the structure that occupies the center of the north side. This structure was designed for a gothic cottage, the general outline being in that style. It has, however, been forcibly seized by a tribe of Indians who have converted it into a wigwam, put their big bark canoe away for the winter on the thatched roof, hung up their snow-shoes and bows and arrows over the door, placed a great grey owl, a white coon and a huge pair of antlers on the gable peak, as trophies of the chase, huDg up the skins, taken in many a hunt, in the interior of the wigwam, and folded a couple of birch-bark tents away in a corner.
The " big Injun " has buried the hatchet and sits in the doorway, in all the glory of wampum and feathers, smoking a peaceful pipe. The squaws and dark eyed maidens who dwell in the tent of this
mighty redskin, resplendent in all the trinketry of beads and quill embroidery, are silently plying their arts or in pantomime offering for sale their moccasins, fans, bead work and mococks.
184 THE "WAYSIDE INN.
Another stand of flowers intervenes between the wigwam and a rustic pagoda covered with thatch and trellised.
The right wing of this building is an ice cream stand assiduously tended day and evening by ladies who find ready sale for the dainties they spread. The other wing is charmingly fitted up as a tea garden, where quaint old china is filled with tea or coffee for the refreshment of the weary visitor. The obliging mistress of this little nook has tea by the chest or pound, Chinese fans, trinkets and puzzles, to tempt the passers.
The main portion of this building, connecting the two wings, is a vine- wreathed verandah enclosed by a rustic paling whose wicket gate stands hospitably open. Over the porch swings the sign, " Wayside Inn." The sweet notes of a music-box, choice engrav ings, capacious garden chairs and the smiles of fair hostesses invite entrance here, to rest awhile, served with refreshments from the ice cream booth or the tea garden on either side, which connect by lattices with this little hostelry.
In the southwest corner, near the exit door, is a modest cottage. Its time-stained roof is covered with moss, and creeping plants climb over the gnarled trunks that support its overhanging porch. Here some artificial-flower makers seem to have fixed their humble abode, and the bouquets and wreaths they sell almost rival nature's floral beauties.
Two wild eyed gipsies are inviting passers to cross their swarthy hands with silver and learn the mys teries of fate. By the shouts of laughter that issue
RUSTIC WOKK. 185
from their tent in the edge of the forest yonder, it may be inferred that the star of happy fortune directs their prophesies.
Between the entrance and exit doors is an aviary. Sweet- voiced canaries fill the air with song, a mocking bird pipes his shrill notes, and stuffed birds of bright plumage are perched upon the shrubbery.
In front is an enclosure where stuffed beasts are grouped in a copse of forest underwood, with marble figures, beautiful flowers, grottoes and a plashing foun tain. This little spot is called the Garden of Eden.
On each side of the paths that run their winding course through the hall are fancy stands, garden chairs, flowering plants, jets, and countless designs in rustic work.
A moss-grown stump forming a pedestal for the sup port of a globe of gold fish, a flower stand curiously inlaid with pebbles and shells, a tree trunk and its branches fashioned into a garden ornament and bear ing a number of hanging baskets, a cottage of pebbles and another of moss, a fountain falling into a marble basin, a cottage contrived from ears of corn, a gothic church built of pebbles and glass, a curious figure of an officer on horseback, wholly constructed from moss and lichens, a model farm house furnished throughout, a forest stump glossy with mistletoe, a Christmas tree well laden, an azalia tree with three thousand blossoms, a temple of beauty, and a model for a monument to the defenders of the Union, are a few of these.
Floral Hall is heated to the temperature of summer by steam furnaces concealed beneath the floor. The
186 MECHANICS' HALL.
warm moist atmosphere adds to the illusion under which one wanders through this wilderness of forest and fountain.
All the halls of the fair open at 10 A. M. and close at 10 P. M. Four nights in each week a dance is announced in Floral Hall immediately after the for mal closing. An extra admission of one dollar a couple is charged to the dancers. The green in front of the Wayside Inn gives space for twenty quadrille sets. The novelty of dancing in this fairy dell and the fancy costumes of many of the dancers complete the enchantment of the scene.
MECHANICS' HALL.
MECHANICS' HALL is now well filled with machinery, merchandise and produce. From such a variety of contributions it is impossible to single out those most worthy of record. The stove manufacturers and dealers have almost blockaded passage by their nu merous patents in parlor and cook stoves, which are ticketed with a list of wonderful achievements per formed with fabulous economy of fuel. All are warranted " to save half the wood," and some will save the whole — by burning coal ! A row of patent spring-beds, looking like an array of gigantic steel traps, leads through a forest of hay-forks, cradliog- scythes, step-ladders, hoes and axe handles.
One emerges from these into a labyrinth of monster machines for field and farm house. Hay elevators, reapers and mowers, plows, fanning mills, corn plant ers, cultivators, clover hullers, cider presses, straw cutters, seed drills and self-opening gates succeed to
ITS CONTRIBUTIONS. 187
cheese vats, churns, water drawers, clothes wringers, patent drying horses and grinding mills. Sewing machines, chairs, lounges and other cabinet ware, melodeons, pianos and a billiard table, properly classed in this hall, have been removed to the Bazaar as a more appropriate place of exhibition.
Cutters, wagons, harness, bridles, saddles, platform scales, sheets of boiler plate, steel bars, all sorts of stoneware, coal oil lamps, casks of glassware, grind stones, willow cabs, wheelbarrows, patent wheel chairs, patent wagon gear, patent oil barrels, a brass oil pump, a steamboat gong of beautiful finish, a set of blank books, marble mantle and grate, rolls of oil cloth and bales of oakum catch the eye in a hasty survey of the long room.
Each article is ticketed with the business card of the donor, and exhibitors are here to press the merits of their inventions.
In the center of the hall a little steam engine is puffing out its hot breath in an honest endeavor to supply motive power to nail-making, shoe-pegging and knitting machines that are working busily away for the amusement of bystanders and giving the product of their labor to swell the receipts of the fair.
Near by is a model of a patent reversible oscilla ting engine, so tiny that a man may cover it with his hat, yet so plucky as to try a brisk race with the larger engine.
Two sleek setter dogs, coupled together, are tugging at their chain, in ineffectual leaps toward some fancy fowls that are uncomfortably cooped up, a pig pokes his nose through the bars of a little enclosure, a
188 REFRESHMENT HALL.
grey wolf looks greedily from his kennel at some sheep that are panting in their narrow pen. Two horses stand at the rear door, ticketed to attract pur chasers.
Groceries in packages, cheeses, jars and kegs of butter and eggs, firkins of apple-butter, poultry, hams, sacks and barrels of flour, grain, apples and vegetables are heaped up in the rear end of the hall, which is the province of the produce committee.
Here, at the open door, a grocery and produce shop has been established and trade is invited from the crowd outside. Poultry and dairy stores are sent to replenish the supplies of the dining hall, if need arises there, and the unsold barrels of vegetables are despatched to the Aid Rooms and from thence, with other Sanitary stores, to the army.
Loads of wood are sold at auction every day from the rear door, and the pledges of coal dealers, for delivery of coal from the mines in the coming fall.
REFRESHMENT HALL.
The stentorian announcement of " dinner," enforced by the deafening uproar of a gong, draws a crowd of hungry sight-seers towards the Drama HALL.
When the great double doors are thrown open, they disclose a wreathed and bannered room, long and spacious. Two tables run the entire length of the hall and shorter ones are ranged on either side at right angles with the wall. All are bouquet-bedecked, spread with glittering neatness, and furnished in abundance with the best that town and country can supply.
GOOD CHEER. 189
The presiding genii, grouped near the entrance, smile a cordial welcome and consign each guest to the assiduous care of some one of the host of pretty girls who, in tidy chintz, with coquettish apron, bewitch ing cap, and symbolic waiter and napkin, are flitting, nimble-footed, through the hall.
Comfortably seated at one of the tables, — which is numbered to correspond with the figures stamped upon the badge of the attendant Hebe, — there ensues a feast of fat things that abides with savory memory even unto this day.
No niggardly restaurant meal is this, with infinitesi mal dishes placed and removed in clatter and confusion by waiters whose tardy steps are winged only by a fee. It is a generously appointed board, where one may linger long, served with a grace that would con vert a life-long ascetic to the pleasures of the table.
The ambition of each attendant for the supply of her table often tempts an audacious raid into the store room, or a sly poaching upon a neighbor's domain for the coveted chicken pie which is a popular and leading dish in the Sanitary fair dining room. The gallant skirmishing that follows no doubt sharpens the relish for these stolen fruits and adds not a little to the amusement of those who profit thereby.
Everybody dines here, for Cleveland housekeepers would deem it treason to the good cause to spread any rival attractions at home.
All the guests are enthusiastic over the good cheer and every body leaves the dining hall on the best of terms with himself and all the world, first buying his post-prandial cigar of the Turkish beauty who sits near the exit door.
100 MYSTERIOUS PRECINCTS.
Fur be it from the purposes of thin report to net an intrusive foot within the kitchens beyond, where hot and worried committee women give orders arid counter orders to a throng of cooks and scullions, enveloped in the Htearn of seething, boiling and endless dislnvashing ; or into the, store rooms and larder, where other digni taries, in their role of caterers to this great eating house, measure out the provisions and weigh the probabilities of to-morrow's demand.
If anxieties arose in these mysterious precincts they were bravely wrestled with and cast out. It is enough to say, in praise of the generosity of donors and the efficiency of managers, that during the sixteen days' continuance of the fair one thousand persons were entertained here daily, without sensible depletion of the plethora of good things.
Dinner was served from 12 o'clock till 2£ P.M., tea from 6 o'clock till 7^ and supper at the close of the evening entertainments, and all at a charge that ran in dangerous competition with modern hotel prices.
FINE ART HALL.
Leaving the varied attractions of the fair building and passing to the Court House at the northwest corner of the park, a new pleasure awaits the visitor.
Jud^e, jury and counsel have resigned their seats at the demand of philanthropy. The great Court room has been converted into a gallery where the art treasures collected by the wealth and taste of citizens, or brought from the artist's studio, are exhibited for the benefit of the fair. The number of paintings is small, — about one hundred and fifty, — but the selec-
FINE ART HALL. 101
tion has been careful un<l some of the best modern artists are represented here.
The eopies from old musters are ;i line Aurora, the Transfiguration, the Nativity, the Madonna (Contem plating the crown of thorns, Judith and Ilolofernes, and a head of St. Paid. Among the best of the, originals are a portrait of Mary Queen of Scots by Holbein, a Magdalen by (Juercino, a fine head of King Lear, Autumn on the White Mountains by Win. Hart, a New England scene by James Hart, two of I 'card's studies of animals, a poultry yard by Lemrncns, M\Lr not's sunset on the White Mountains, a head by Kauf man, a drinking scene by Teniers, a bit of sandy beach by Brown, a storm on the moor and landscape, and cattle by Van Stalkenberg, a scene on the Kanawha and the hunter's lunch by Soritag, a landscape by Paul Weber, Swiss mountain scenery by Mil Her, De Berg's Giant of the Alps, a Dutch interior by Manzoni, Washington and Lafayette at Mount Verrion by Rossiter and Mignot, several landscape and cattle, pieces by Weir, some bold scenery in Oregon and New Mexico by Wyant, a number of landscapes by dough, several winter views of merit, still life studies, the, Courtship of Miles Standish, two figure pieces by Lily Spencer, two striking water colors by Hamilton, and a gem of finished painting called the "Nameless Rill."
A cast of Canova's Ecce Homo, a number of fine bronzes, busts of statesmen, medallion heads and figures skilfully arranged on black velvet, a collect ion of Rogers' statuette groups, and some choice engravings add to the attractions of the room. Many pictures in water colors, oil and pencil, contributed by amateur- or
192 THE MUSEUM.
professed artists, were sold by auction at the close of the fair and the proceeds placed to the credit of the the Art Gallery.
MUSEUM.
Four rooms adjoining Fine Art Hall are filled with curiosities, relics and trophies, composing the MUSEUM. Here, to prevent a confused passing and repassing in the narrow ways between cabinets of heaped-up wonders, a labyrinthine walk has been contrived, forming a continuous circuit from entrance to exit.
The guiding hand-rail is twined with tri-color and all the decorations of the rooms are appropriate arid effective. Ladies and gentlemen of the committee are here to point out or explain the curiosities and to superintend the sale of such as have been given to the fair.
The first room contains minerals, ores and the wonders of geology, zoology and ornithology. Insects from foreign lands, rare, curious, repulsive or beautiful, are impaled here in great numbers. This collection is thought to be unusually good.
Relics of the pre-historic inhabitants of the State are seen, — stone axes, mauls, skids, and pieces of wood marked with axes wielded fifteen centuries ago.
The collection of weapons and missiles is large,— from the cruel implements of savage destruction to the latest inventions of modern warfare. Guns from Austria, Russia, Germany, Spain and England are among these, and there are many relics and trophies of the Revolution, the war of 1812, the Mexican war and the great rebellion. There is a fine collection of
ITS TREASURES. 193
specimens of all the arms ever used in the wars of America down to the present time.
Almost every battle-field of this war is represented by guns that did loyal service or were dishonored by rebel hands, while the flags they defended and the flags they captured hang their scarred and tattered folds above them. There are all varieties of shells and balls, canister, solid and spherical case-shot. Here is a pistol that PUTNAM pulled at the red coats in the gallant days of '76, pistols taken at Bunker Hill, at the Kedan? at Lookout and Shiloh.
Side by side with trophies of later wars are memen toes of our earliest national history, — swords of the revolution, and more graceful heirlooms in the shape of colonial documents and worm eaten title deeds, bearing the signatures of great and noble names.
Countless autographs of men brave, wise and good, in every degree of illegibility, one thousand rare coins of every date and nation, Chinese curiosities and pictures, collections from the Holy Land, speci mens of ancient Jewish caligraphy, Sandwich Island calabash, mats, and catamaran boats, old English manuscript, exquisitely beautiful Roman mosiac-work, bright colored blankets from New Mexico, broken stocks and fetters from a Charleston slave pen, a palmetto tree from Hilton Head, relics from the May flower, the original ordinance of secession of Louisiana, a walrus-skin coat from Siberia, a wedding dress one hundred years old, South Sea Island war clubs, rail road torpedoes from rebeldom, a mummy shawl, Arab and Nubian costume, carvings from chamois horn, ancient Venetian vases, and Theban idols, — in this
194 MEMORIALS.
thesaurus of things rare, curious and antique, these are only a few of the most striking. Two fine stereo scopes, Avell supplied with choice views, have been fitted up here for the entertainment of visitors.
The fourth room of the MUSEUM is filled with arti cles that have been given to the fair an^ are to be sold for its benefit. Among these are photographs and autographs of leading generals, and a large variety of shell ornaments, skilfully cut, brooches, necklaces, rings and pins, elaborately carved pipes, curious frames and many trinkets, the work of the soldier's leisure hours in camp, willingly offered to the Sanitary fair. Ruder in execution are the memorials of prison life,— carvings of wood and bone, done to charm away hun ger and heartache.
Sadder relics still are the trinkets gathered from the unknown dead of many a battle-field. The most of these were collected by a detail of soldiers, who, about a month before the fair opened, visited the fields of Chickamauga, Lookout, Ringgold and Mission Ridge to cover the yet unburied bodies of the Union dead. From all upon whom any scrap of paper, en velope, picture, trinket or name could be found, these were taken, constituting a collection of aboiit one hundred articles. These memorials have been sent to the fair for possible identification. Lists of these are published daily in the Gazette. A number of them have been delivered to friends, their only souvenir of the lost.
Towards the close of the fair, daily auctions were held of the museum property not disposed of by pri vate sale.
CHAPTER XL
EVENING ENTERTAINMENTS.
APART from the attractions of the fair proper were evening entertainments of interesting and varied char acter, given in the Audience Room and at the Academy of Music.
These opened with tableaux vivants and music, so enthusiastically received and so well meriting favor that again and again, on succeeding evenings, a repeti tion was demanded. No entertainments ever offered in Cleveland were more deservedly popular and none contributed so largely, with so insignificant outlay, to the pecuniary success of the fair. The obliging readi ness of tableaux committees and musical artistes and amateurs to prepare at short notice these charming exhibitions on several occasions when other announced amusements accidentally failed, merits grateful record here.
Such representations as " Franklin at the court of France,1' the '-'Artist's Studio," the " Picture Gallery," the " Vision of Queen Catharine," the six scene pan tomime of the " Mistletoe Bough," and some of the patriotic tableaux shown on these occasions will remain in memory a joy forever.
1 95
196 CONTINENTAL TEA-PARTY.
A unique and admirable entertainment was pro jected by ladies and gentlemen of Painesville and furnished and carried out exclusively by themselves.
This was a Continental tea-party in the costume and style of 1776. The following is the card of invi tation that was issued :
George Washington and lady,
Mary the mother of Washington,
General Putnam and lady,
General Stark and lady,
General Greene and lady,
General Warren and lady,
General Knox and lady,
General Marion and lady,
Marquis de Lafayette,
James Madison and lady,
Thomas Jefferson and lady,
John Hancock and lady,
John Jay and lady,
Robert Morris and lady,
Alexander Hamilton and lady,
Young ladies, belles of 1776,
Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Franklin,
Quaker family, descendants of Wm. Penn,
Indians,
Van Horn and Shipping families,
Will be pleased to see their friends to tea from 9 to 10 P. M., in the Audience Room of the Sanitary Fair building. Gentlemen ushers and colored servants in attendance. Friday, February 26th.
The only drawback to the enjoyment of this even- ing was a lack of space in the great Audience Room. So vast was the crowd of guests that not one half could partake of the bountiful refreshments or shake hands with or even see the hosts and hostesses who so admirably represented, in dress and demeanor, the fair women and brave men of the revolution.
The tea tables of the Continentals were arranged
MANNERS OF THE OLD SCHOOL. 197
in the center of the hall and set with the taste and precision of the olden time. The delicate china and massive silverware upon them were treasured heir looms that had come down as precious family relics from generation to generation. The pewter platters on the hospitable board of the Yankee Shipping family bore the date 1721 on their broad rim.
The most interesting of the relics were upon the table of General and Mrs. Washington. In the center stood an enormous punch bowl, rich and quaint, from which Washington once drank, and beside it were two tall candlesticks used by Lafayette on the occa sion of a visit in Hartford. A chair placed at this table was one in which Washington, Lafayette, Tal leyrand and Count Eochambeau had sat, and over which Dr. Bellamy had often prayed.
Beautiful tableaux were presented at intervals, as tea was being served and gossiped over. After the tea drinking was done the Continentals passed across the stage and were formally presented to their guests. They also made the tour of the hall so far as the crowd would permit, and omitted nothing that would gratify their guests and make the entertainment ge nial and hospitable.
Their rich costumes, dignified carriage and careful personation of look and manner pictured with the vividness of reality the true ladies and gentlemen of the old school, the distinguished men and women of '76. Nothing wras caricatured. The Quakers, the Indians, the Van Horn and Shipping families and even the ushers and colored servants were truthful representa tives of the persons, tastes, dresses, customs and humors of the early days of the Republic.
19.s OLD FOLKS' CONCERT.
On Monday of the second week, the Amateur Dramatic club gave their first performance, — the "Honeymoon,"- -with great success, following this with a repetition of the " Mistletoe Bough," which had been already twice received with unusual favor. This was given in the Academy of Music where the actors could have the benefit of stage scenery.
The next evening an Old Folks' Concert was given in the Audience Room. The spacious stage was occu pied by two hundred singers, representing the best vocal talent of Ohio, and dressed in the quaint style of the olden time. The music was the good old fash ioned melody that delighted our grandfathers and grandmothers in their younger days, and was well rendered by this great choir with orchestral accom paniment. Every piece on the long programme was loudly applauded and several were called for again and again. The grandest of the whole was " Corona tion," in which the audience took part. The concert closed with the " Doxology in long metre," in which the assembly rose and joined.
This concert gave delight to both young and old,— to the young as they looked upon ancestral dresses and listened to ancestral symphonies, — especially to the old as they looked back, by the light of this new reminder, to the days of long ago. A general desire was expressed that the " old folks " repeat their con cert,
A grand exhibition of the Sons of Malta, with public initiation ceremonies, was the announcement for the next evening. Curiosity had been roused to the highest point by various dark hints and mysterious
SONS OF MALTA. 199
preparations, and the Audience Room was filled at an early hour by an assembly impatient for the fun that they naturally expected would attend a disclosure of the rites of that Ancient and Honorable Order.
The stage was draped with peculiarly fantastic devices and the members appeared in solemn state and full regalia. Space would fail to tell of all the im posing ceremonials, wonderful disappearances, funereal dirges, awful revelations and astounding experiences of novitiates.
The performance evidently afforded great amuse ment to the worthy members of the venerable order themselves, but the spectators dispersed with a pro found impression of the mystery of the proceedings and a lurking suspicion of humbug that remain eth in their minds even unto this day.
Succeeding this was a second amateur dramatic performance at the Academy of Music, when the standard comedy of " Married Life " was produced. The house was most complimentary in applause and in demanding a repetition of this play.
On the same evening, in the Audience Room of the fair building, an excellent concert of vocal and instru mental music was given by the Cleveland Gesangverein and the city bands.
Miss ANNA DICKINSON having been announced to deliver her famous lecture, " Words for the Hour," the next evening the attendance at the fair wras greater than at any previous time. Owing to the sudden illness of the speaker this lecture was postponed till the following Monday, when it was received with gratification.
l)ltAMATIC CLUB,
A concert by the Welsh Choir of Newburgh, which had been arranged for Saturday evening, was pre vented by a severe storm. The members of the choir gathered in the Bazaar hall and sang several choruses and glees in good style.
On Monday, the fourteenth day of the fair, the Dramatic club again performed " Married Life," which had so delighted everybody on the former presenta tion. The comedietta of the " Rough Diamond " concluded this evening's entertainment. The Drama tic club on every occasion gave great pleasure to crowded houses and in their performances showed remarkable talent which, at no small sacrifice of per sonal feeling, was first made public for the benefit of the fair.
The closing entertainment in Audience Room was a second " Old Folks' Concert " with entire change of programme. This was, if possible, more successful than the first one. The grand old church music, the soul- stirring patriotic odes, the laughter-provoking songs, catches and glees were all given in the best manner. The quaint dresses and good voices of the " old folks " will long be remembered.
The Academy of Music had been engaged by the Fair Association for the two weeks of the duration of the fair. A stereopticon was placed there, open every day and evening when the hall was not occupied by the dramatic club. This did not receive the patron age that it merited, so many were the attractions at the fair building. It, however, paid expenses and served the purpose intended, that of monopolizing the hall and preventing any rival exhibition from coming to the city to draw against the fair.
ME ATTENDANCE. 201
More beautiful weather than that which day after day favored this enterprise could not have been found in searching the calendar of the year.
The bright glory of the sun, the cloudless splendor of the sky, the wintry garb of glittering sheen that all nature wore, seemed symbolic of happy progress and successful result. Clouds gathered and snow and rain fell repeatedly in the night time, but from dawn till dusk through the whole course of the fair, only excepting one day, sun, air and sky lent their genial influence, so that some said, with reverence, that the weather was God's donation to the fair.
The attendance was satisfactory on the first days, steadily increasing as the merits of the exhibition were reported by visitors to their friends at home, or made known through the city press, from which the foregoing description of the fair has been culled. The halls were pleasantly filled with a gay, delighted assembly, rarely were they uncomfortably crowded.
Bazaar and Floral hall were continually a scene of the most joyous character. The booths daily grew richer and more attractive by additions to their con tents, and the ladies who presided over them were well satisfied with the rapidity of their sales.
Many of the purchased articles were allowed to remain in the booths till the closing day, and the fading evergreens and other decorations were fre quently renewed, so that the freshness of arrangement and ornamentation was scarcely impaired.
No time had been decided on for the continuance of the fair, but two weeks were named as its probable duration. When that time expired, the brilliantly
202 THE DRAFT- WHEEL.
beautiful weather and un diminished attendance de cided the managers to continue it till Thursday of the third week, March 10th. The railroad companies generously extended half fare tickets to that date. The last days were enlivened by an animated " closing out sale " of the various booths. " Grab bags/' gift enterprises and many amusing devices were resorted to for the disposition of articles too valuable to find ready purchasers.
The great question, to raffle or not to raffle, had early agitated the counsels of the Executive Commit tee and the final vote had been cast in the negative.
Some enthusiastic spirits, ambitious for the results of the fair and not having the fear of the law before their eyes, were ingenious in avoiding the letter of this restriction. The Provost Marshal's draft-wheel was surreptitiously conveyed from booth to booth, where various persons were drafted to assume life membership of certain property on sale there. These decisions were accepted without a murmur, — no sub stitutes were oifered, no commutation fees paid. The victims of fortune's wheel met their fate with unflinch ing heroism !
Most of the booths closed out their stock by auc tions or "clearing out drafts," in w^hich the entire contents of a booth were put into one subscription list. These schemes occasioned much merriment, and the amount of money taken on the last day was at least as large as on any previous day.
The great fair virtually closed on the sixteenth day, and the beautiful vision faded like magic.
The Bazaar, stripped of its gay ornamentation, be-
CLOSING SCENES. 203
came a bleak and dreary storehouse into which the remaining property was gathered and arranged under direction of Messrs. II. M. CHAPIN, WM. EDWARDS and JOHX M. STERLING-, Jr., who were appointed a com mittee to dispose of it in the most advantageous way. These gentlemen were unwilling to sacrifice the really valuable stock at auction and resolved to offer the articles at private sale. For several days they patiently attended behind the counter of this novel variety-store and made satisfactory disposition of a large part of their wares. When it became necessary to remove the building, the heavier articles of ma chinery were stored in ware houses of merchants who undertook to aid their sale.
The lighter goods were removed to a little office over the Aid Rooms, where they were arranged as attractively as possible, though having, at best, very much the look of a second-hand notion stock. Mrs. L. M. HUBBY took immediate charge of this room and was indefatigable in effort to dispose of the articles. For weeks a dull traffic was persistently kept up and the goods were gradually worked off at fair prices. This conscientious administering upon the effects of the fair was of no small value in swelling the receipts.
Many articles uncalled for by their owners, — the debris of booths, halls and tableaux, — long cumbered the Aid Rooms and were perpetual souvenirs of the departed glories of those busy, prosperous weeks.
Everything of this kind that was at all serviceable or appropriate to the Soldiers' Home was used there and eventually distributed among soldiers' families of the city. The curtains, gauzes and other parapher-
204 SALE OF THE
nalia of the tableaux committees were kept for future exhibitions and loaned from time to time to Branch societies on occasion of their giving similar entertain ments.
The disposition of the fair building was a matter of some little discussion. There arose a feeble sug gestion of allowing it to stand till the end of the war, as a suitable place for receiving returned regiments and of conducting the approaching presidential cam paign, but this met with no favor. The risk of fire and of damage to the statue was too great and the managers were unwilling to leave so unsightly a reminder as the huge building, stripped of its decora tions, had now become.
It had been the original plan to balance the outlay for its construction by a sale of the four hundred thousand feet of lumber, which had already risen in price. This plan was now carried out and the build ing was advertised for sale at auction on a specified day.
Three gentlemen of Pittsburgh, representing the managers of a sanitary fair just projected in that city, had visited the Cleveland fair and learning the pro posed disposition of the building had returned home and reported in favor of purchasing and erecting it in Pittsburgh.
When the day of sale came there were a number of bids, by lumber dealers and builders, but the building was sold to the Pittsburgh committee for eighty-five hundred dollars, to be removed within a fortnight, — the Cleveland and Pittsburgh railroad company giving facilities of transportation. The committee also bought
SUCCESS OF THE FAIR. 205
the gas pipe and fixtures, queensware, cutlery, felt roofing and some miscellaneous property, increasing the amount of purchase to nearly ten thousand dollars.
The officers of the Cleveland fair were much pleased by this sale and cordially offered their aid to the Pitts burgh enterprise. This was kindly accepted and a delegation of Pittsburgh ladies came up shortly after to learn practical details and to profit by the experi ence of the Cleveland committees.
The work of demolishing the building progressed rapidly. The roofing was stripped off and rolled up for transportation, the siding and beams carefully marked and shipped as fast as taken down.
In a few days the great structure that had been for w^eeks the center of attraction had vanished from sight.
Though overshadowed by the magnitude and splen dor of the sanitary fairs that were afterwards held in the centers of population and wealth of the eastern states, yet when considered as the fruit of the patriot ism of a relatively small population, inhabiting a mere fraction of the loyal North, the Cleveland fair cannot but be regarded as one of the most strikingly success ful of the entire number. And it has been said that the joyous harmony of its animating spirit and the taste which controlled its adornment gave it claims to a higher consideration than that to which it was entitled by its pecuniary results.
While it is impossible to mention all even of those who rendered prominent service in this enterprise, it is but simple justice to say that the triumphant issue
206 CASH RECEIPTS.
of the Northern Ohio Sanitary Fair was in great de gree due to Mr. H. M. CHAPIN, who for a number of weeks left his own large business in the hands of employes and gave day and night to the interests of the fair, infusing into every department his character istic energy and enthusiasm, which, with his widely- known business ability and influence, were potent sources of success.
Below is the official report of the treasurer :
T. P. HANDY, TREASURER, IN ACCOUNT WITH N. 0. SANITARY FAIR.
1864. Dr.
March. To amount received from 44 Booths in Bazaar $ 19,082 96
" Fine Art Hall and Museum, 1,880 63
" Mechanics' Hall, cash, 4,355 29
" Dramatic Entertainments, 1.040 15
" Stereopticon, 532 75
" Floral Hall Booths, 3,209 07
" Sale of admission tickets, 33,831 00
" Other sources in Bazaar, 2,099 30
" Donations in money to April 1st, 1864, 15,439 62
" since received, 246 95
" Estimated am 't in potatoes and other vegetables 2,400 00
1865. " Sales of property since April 1st, 1864, 4,027 99
" " Fair buildings, furniture, etc., 9,941 65
" Balance of interest on funds invested, 2,103 70
$100,191 06
1864. Or.
March 31st. By bills and expenses paid to this date, 21,543 92
" " " since " 714 83
" Potatoes and vegetabl es delivered at Aid Rooms.
estimated value, 2,400 00
1865. " Cash paid Miss Ellen F. Terry, Treasurer Sol
diers' Aid Society, Cleveland, at various dates, 42, 798 62
March 10th. Am't invested in U. S. 7-30 bonds on hand, 30,000 00
" cash paid Soldiers' Aid Society, bal. on hand, 2,733 69
$100,191 06
[E.E.] T. P. HANDY, Treas.
Cleveland, March 10th, 1865.
A "TWICE BLESSED" CHARITY. 207
Inspired by the Cleveland fair the editor of the Sanitary Reporter wrote as follows :
The fair at Cleveland, having continued more than a fortnight, has closed. The Cleveland newspapers and the reports of individual visitors unite in testifying to its complete success. The receipts of the treasury have been unexpectedly large — upwards of one hundred thousand dollars — and the gratification which contributors and visitors have received has been remarkably rich and varied. Every one has been astonished at the energy, good taste and delicate tact which have dextrously marshalled so many hidden resources and made them willing aids in the service of a grand patriotic charity.
The managers as they look back on the past few weeks must feel that, under the inspiration of a holy cause, they "builded better than they knew," and each contributor, however small his gift, must rejoice at having a share in the result.
How many and how great were the obstacles to success, no one can know but those to whom success was most precious, and who, while feeling their weight and obstinacy, determined to achieve it. All friends of the soldier cannot but be delighted that the strong current of a generous and trustful devotion swept the obstacles away and left oracular croakers to the solitary enjoyment of their own monotonous echoes.
We cannot but think that the good results of such fairs as have been held in Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland and other cities are not to rest with the contributions to the soldier's comfort, alone, — are not to be estimated in so many dollars for socks, sourkrout, onions and potatoes. To promote the comfort of our soldiers, to be able to buy these essentials for the army is an incalculable good. But this charity is "twice blessed." A rich and subtile blessing must lie in the wide sympathies called out, the new relations of acquaintance, friendship and intimacy formed, and in the surprising revelation of talent and worth in remote and unexplored localities. Neigh bors and neighborhoods must come to respect each other more, to depend upon each other more, and to wonder that they have missed finding each other out so long. Prejudice must be softened, artificial barriers must give way to a freer intercourse, and tenderness of feeling and judgment must take the place of sour suspicion. After so complete a flooding of all the field of life with the resistless tide of a sweet and noble enthusiasm, we cannot but look for a new bloom and unexampled harvests.
CHAPTER XII.
THROUGH the busy winter months preceding the fair, Aid Room duties had been continued daily and with all possible regularity.
In anticipation of an increase in the treasury, forty - fi ve hundred dollars of the California fund had been drawn in January, leaving a balance of only five hundred dollars. This money was used to purchase material which was given out to branch societies to sustain their meetings during preparations for the fair.
The superintending and providing for the Soldiers' Home were added to the usual routine of disbursing, shipping and the duties of special relief and of the work department. Besides the general direction of stores to the Louisville headquarters, there had been in February a considerable shipment to the Kansas agency, including supplies sent specially for the desti tute and suffering inhabitants of Lawrence, Kansas, after the terrible Indian attack and massacre.
The Aid Rooms were closed to general business only during the two weeks when the fair was actually in progress and even then almost daily shipments were made of vegetables and other supplies that had been sent down from Produce Hall. During those two weeks, the headquarters of the Society
AFIEE THE FAIR. 209
were removed to the fair building, where all interest centered.
Many representatives of Branch societies, coming in to visit the fair, at this time first became personally known to the officers of the Society to whose care they had long consigned their boxes, and paid their first visit to the Aid Rooms, where they were made acquainted with the practical details of this supply center.
It had been predicted that the unprecedented ex citement and energy called forth by sanitary fairs would be followed by a reaction, damaging, if not fatal, to the cause. Many of the strongest friends of the Sanitary Commission doubted the wisdom of for saking the smooth waters of a steady-flowing charity, to be swept along in this impetuous torrent of benev olent enthusiasm.
Had the interests involved been less, or the results of the fairs less bountiful, these predictions and doubts might have been confirmed. Certain it is that most of the branch societies of Northern Ohio, after contributing so largely to the success of the Cleveland fair, indicated some degree of exhaustion. This, however, had no perceptible effect upon the work, because in the interval of their recovery the pecuniary results of the fair more than balanced this temporary check, while the wide spread and securely rooted interest in the cause forbade any permanent lapse from duty.
The reaction after this fair was not so apparent in the decrease of receipts from the country societies as in the falling off of committees and volunteer assist ants at the Aid Rooms,
210 THE KE ACTION.
From this time till the end of its history, the officers of the Cleveland Branch were left nearly alone to carry on the business of office and store, with the help of those whom they employed to assist them. The monthly business meetings were almost deserted and only the faithful few came at intervals to share the labor and responsibilities that gathered weight with many succeeding months.
The ladies of the city, after a winter spent in all- absorbing preparations for the great fair, felt their weariness when the excitement was over and success ensured. When they were fresh again, long inter rupted home duties claimed their first thoughts and the broken chain of Aid Room work was not easily united.
There was no lack of good will in the community nor of kindly expressed interest, but the Society was by the results of the fair deprived of its place in the daily thoughts and sympathies of even its warmest friends. The general feeling of the citizens seemed to be that they had schemed and labored with won derful success to give the Aid Society ample means and could now leave it, in confidence, as the represent ative of their charities, to pursue its philanthropic purposes, — themselves absolved, by their winter's work, from further personal responsibility.
It was with real regret that the officers felt this change. Save for the ever-present thought of their increased means of usefulness to the soldiers, they doubtless would have echoed the experience of many a millionaire and declared that the days of buffeting with fortune were their happiest days.
SPECIAL CALLS. 211
But the accumulation of work that pressed imme diately upon the diminished force at the Aid Eooms left little time for such regrets or for rejoicing over the brilliant results of the fair.
The large quantity of vegetables and fruit con signed to the produce comjnittee and the forwarding of supplies purchased by the general Commission, made the shipments of March and April unusually heavy. Besides the usual business, there were at this time some special shipments that are mentioned to illus trate the nature of the calls to which the Society was constantly subject. A request for aid in furnishing bedding for the Louisville Soldiers' Home met with willing response. Supplies were sent to Nashville for the relief of a company of teamsters who, through some irregularity in their communications with the quarter master's department, had been stranded there, destitute and suffering. Several boxes of calicoes, shirting and sewing materials were prepared for the contraband women employed in hospital service at Knoxville, Tenn. Agents of the Sanitary Commission had re ported the needy condition of these women, and as the wives of the surgeons offered to teach them to make their own garments, these materials were sent down to them. The Ohio National Guards — one hundred days men — on leaving the city were supplied with trifling comforts and followed to their camps in and around Washington with boxes of supplemental stores for their sick.
The general results of the fair had been known at the time of its closing but the actual cash receipts were slow to be reported.
212 THE FAIR FUND.
The Executive Committee, unwilling to embarrass the officers of the Aid Society by turning over the affairs in an unsettled state, had resolved that the treasurer of the fair should retain his office until the returns from the various committees had been sent in and all debts cancelled. By this resolution the final report of the treasurer was necessarily de layed and the public waited impatiently for it. April 6th, a preliminary statement was published embracing some estimates of unsold property and giving notice that fifty thousand dollars of the receipts had been invested in United States interest bearing securities, to be used by the ladies of the Aid Society, from time to time, as their wants might require.
On the 9th of April, the Society made the first draft upon the receipts of the fair, — three thousand dollars. The greater part of this sum was at once used for purchasing onions and potatoes, as the cam paign against scurvy had re-opened this spring with much activity. April 18th, two thousand dollars were invested in further purchase of vegetables, with some outlay for cotton and woolen goods. May 13th, forty-nine hundred dollars were drawn and divided between the purchase of material and vegetables and the expenses of the Home and the supply department.
In June, the last five hundred dollars of the Cali fornia fund was disbursed, and from this time the Society was wholly dependent upon the proceeds of the fair. Membership fees were no longer solicited and were not generally paid up. Individual contri butions decreased or were made specifically for the Soldiers' Home and strictly used as designated.
INCREASED EXPENDITURE '21 A
The purchase of boxes and barrels and the hand ling, cooperage and cartage on the vegetable shipments of this summer made a heavy increase in the current expenses, which, from the careful manner of preparing stores, had always been large.
In the early days of the Society, second-hand pack ing cases, given by merchants, had been used for repacking stores to go to the army. As the supply business became larger and the line of transportation longer, new and stout boxes were necessary. For some months these were given by Mr. WM. RATTLE, from his lumber factory. When this draft became too heavy, they were afforded at mere cost of lumber and nails.
From this time, all boxes in which the more valu able goods were packed were of new lumber, of a designated size and shape and heavy enough to bear any amount of rough handling in transit. Fruit was packed in sawdust, in heavy boxes made expressly for this purpose and just large enough to hold one dozen cans. Bottles of wine or cordial were also sent in sawdust, in cases of one dozen each. Blackberry and other medicinal wines were purchased by the keg or barrel and bottled and sealed at the Aid Rooms. Vegetables and fresh fruits were often contributed or purchased in bulk and for such supplies barrels and sacks were to be bought.
The purchase of cotton and woolen goods made a large part of the disbursements from the fair fund this summer. Besides the army demand for this ma terial in the form of hospital garments, there was a real necessity for furnishing it to country societies
214 ISSUING MATERIAL.
to keep up their organizations through the period of reaction after the fair.
There was, moreover, justice no less than policy in giving liberally of material to societies at this time.
The efforts and influence of these five hundred Branches had been the great element of success in the fair, and in devoting these so unreservedly many of the societies had exhausted or weakened their imme diate resources. It was only due that their work should in some way feel the benefits that their indus try had secured to the cause.
To divide any part of the cash proceeds of the fair among so many societies, with just apportionment, was evidently impracticable and might do an injury by checking their usual contributions. It was decided that the best way to help the Branches through the fair was to invest largely in material which should be issued liberally to them.
It has been sufficiently explained that material had been furnished to the branch societies with the sole object of affording a resource during some momentary ebb in their treasuries and withheld so soon as the crisis was passed.
No Branch forfeited independence by accepting such aid or ventured to relax effort and lean too heavily upon the central Society. The spirit of independence was still to be fostered as carefully as ever ; therefore no open notice was given of the intention to furnish material in increased quantity, now that the Society had means to do so. The same way of detecting the need and supplying it, the same watch over the fal tering steps of a feeble tributary that had heretofore
SELLING AT COST* 215
prevailed were continued, but the issues of material were more and more liberal from this time till the end of the war diminished the supply service.
All the material given out was cut at the Aid Rooms, furnished with tape, buttons, and spool cotton, and sent in packages, ticketed and registered. When the work was finished and received back, printed acknowledgment was made and so many articles of " returned work" duly credited. Packages sent into the country were forwarded by express at expense of the consignee or delivered to the bearer of a written order.
Besides issuing material to be made up for the cen tral Rooms, there was another way of aiding the Branches in which vigorous and feeble societies might share equally, at discretion.
The exorbitant prices that cotton and woolen fabrics had now reached were greatly disproportioned to the slender means of many little societies and even the largest among the Branches found it nearly impossible to gather in money enough to buy work for the busy fingers of their members. The Cleveland Society had always done a commission business for its tributaries, receiving their money by mail or messenger and ex pending it as designated, in purchase of material, or selling to them, at cost, any goods on hand at the Aid Rooms. This business was now enlarged. Supplies of material, beyond the wants of the work committee, were purchased at New York wholesale prices, to be sold again, at cost, to Branch societies in such quan tity as their means enabled them to buy.
From this time to the end of the supply service, a
THE SALESROOM,
large stock of material was kept on hand at the Aid Rooms, and whatever might have been the rise in the market, these goods were always sold at cost. Sheet ing, shirting, chintz, ticking, canton flannel, army flannel, batting, woolen yarn, buttons, tapes and spool cotton formed the stock of this commission house. There were also patterns, cut in stiff paper, which were given out when desired.
Delegates from country societies, coming into the Aid Rooms for advice about spending their sums of ten, twenty or forty dollars, were offered the oppor tunity of purchasing here and w^ere then advised to look elsewhere through the city and compare prices. They invariably found an advantage in buying from the Aid Room stock. Five or six cents on a yard was the usual difference, no inconsiderable gain to a little society. Price lists were kept at the Aid Rooms or sent by mail to societies with each new lot of goods.
The cash report of the treasurer shows that during the months of July and August succeeding the fair, nineteen thousand nine hundred and twenty dollars were expended in the purchase of material. A large room above the Aid Rooms was rented for the stor age of material and fitted with shelves and counters to accommodate this sales department and the cutting committee. Here, bargains were made by delegates from the Branches, and it is perhaps needless to say that terms were satisfactory, liberal measures given and many little chance advantages thrown in favor of the purchaser.
In anticipation of the irregular attendance of cut-
THE WORK DEPARTMENT.
ting committees during the preparations for the fair, Mrs. EMMA L. MILLER had been engaged to assist in the work department through the winter. When the fair closed and the falling off of committees threw the accumulated and ever increasing burden upon a few, this engagement was made permanent. Till the close of the supply work in October, 1865, Mrs. MILLER conducted the cutting department, which was her specialty, with great ability and engaged with re markable energy in the many duties of the Aid Rooms.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE disposition, leadership and movements of the Union forces, from the opening of active military operations in the spring of 1864, were such as to inspire in every loyal heart a glowing faith that took the place of the patient hope with which the delays, disappointments and quasi victories of previous cam paigns had been so bravely borne.
March 3d, the grade of Lieutenant General, revived by act of Congress, was conferred upon Major Gen eral GRANT, " in token of the nation's appreciation of what he had done and its reliance upon him for what remained to do." March 12th, army and people re ceived, with universal joy, general orders from the War Department announcing that President LINCOLN had assigned the Lieutenant General to the command of the armies of the United States. Headquarters were established in the field, with the army of the Potomac.
It was now nine months since the army of the Potomac had fought a general battle and seven months since the battle of Chattanooga had fixed the western army in firm possession of that strategic point. The plan of the opening campaign was for an advance on Richmond by the army of the Potomac, under the
618
AHMY MOVEMENTS. 219
direct command of General MEADE, simultaneously with a movement towards Atlanta, Ga., by the west ern troops. The western troops — comprising the armies of the Cumberland, the Tennessee and the Ohio — were now massed under the general name of the Military Division of the Mississippi, and turned over by General GEANT to the almost absolute leader ship of Major General SHEEMAN.
The month of April was spent in thoroughly reor ganizing all the forces and, by the western troops, in strengthening the line of communication between Nashville and Chattanooga, the primary and secondary supply bases, and in accumulating at Chattanooga immense supplies of commissary and military stores.
It was felt that a critical period in the history of the war was at hand, and that upon the military achievements of this campaign the quick termination or almost endless protraction of the struggle would depend. The governors of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin gave voice to the patriotism of their people by offering to the Government large volunteer forces of " one-hundred-days men " to relieve veteran soldiers from post and garrison duty and allow them to return to the active service of the field.
The general movement, east and west, was to begin about the 5th of May. The troops of General SHEE- MAN'S department were massed around Binggold, Ga,, twenty-three miles southeast of Chattanooga. The opposing army lay in and near Dalton, fifteen miles below, their advance being at Tunnel Hill, a station on the railroad between Binggold and Dalton. The triumphant progress of General SHEBMAN'S army, —
220
A MEMORABLE RECORD.
the engagements at Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Dallas and Kenesaw Mountain, — the battles of July 20th, 2 2nd and 28th, — the fighting at Jonesboro, — the marches, sieges, raids and brilliant manoeuvring by which the Union lines closed surely around the doomed city of Atlanta and which ended in the cap ture, September 1st, of that "Grate City" of the enemy's position, — have their record in history among the memorable events of the great rebellion.
Though military movements at the West were watched with great interest and the country was ring ing with the exploits of SHERMAN'S invincible men, it was from the operations of the army of the Potomac that the vital success of the campaign was expected. General GRANT'S plan for this army was not merely the taking of Richmond, the objective point of all previous demonstrations in this quarter, but it in cluded the breaking up of the entire railroad system of the enemy and the destruction of the rebel army.
The grand army of the Potomac, roused from long inactivity, under the inspiring leadership of the hero who had never lost a battle, entered upon a series of engagements in which its valor and endurance were severely tested and most nobly proved.
In those momentous times, — when the fate of the nation seemed to hang upon the achievements of a few short summer weeks, when the lives of thousands were the dear price of victory, and when to the agony of suspense or bereavement was added a keen sense of the interests involved in the result of each encounter with a desperate foe, — the people found their only relief from frenzied excitement in the despatches that
OFFICIAL BULLETINS. 221
were issued over Secretary STANTON'S name from the War Department.
The very first of these, announcing that " it is de signed to give accurate official statements of what is known to this Department in this great crisis and to withhold nothing from the public," was like an anchor sure and steadfast to the mind tossed by the distract ing contradictions of exaggerated rumor and news* paper canard. The promise was faithfully kept. Daily, semi-daily and sometimes hourly official bulle tins, giving brief expositions of the military situation, were heralded through the length and breadth of the North, by the associated press. Whether their pur port were triumph or disaster, there was inexpressible comfort in these despatches, for the truth lay in their clear, concise wording. Joy over a victory was un alloyed by dread that the good news might be unfounded. Defeat could not be long concealed by any sophistry of language, and it were better to know the worst at once and to bear it as a brave people best could.
But from this summer the army of the Potomac had done with timid advance, dispiriting retreat and drawn battles. The generalship of GEANT, SHEEMAX, SHEEIDAN and THOMAS ensured to the bulletins from the War Department the ring of victory, East and West, — fearfully precious victory ! bought with rivers of blood and made forever sacred by the sufferings of thousands of our bravest and our best.
Fredericksburg, Va,, was occupied by the Union forces, and extensive hospitals were opened there for
222 CLEVELAND ARMY COMMITTEE.
the army of the Potomac. Sanitary and Christian Commission agents, with nurses and supplies, pursued their work of mercy among the wounded, establishing a base of operation at Acquia Creek. All who were able to endure removal were carried by Sanitary or Government transports to northern hospitals.
Out of this urgent occasion for personal service in the hospitals of the Potomac grew the CLEVELAND AKMY COMMITTEE, an association of gentlemen organ ized May 4th, 1864, to co-operate with the United States Christian Commission " in promoting the physi cal and especially the moral and religious welfare of their brethren in arms."
The first business of this body was to raise a fund that would enable the churches of Cleveland to send a delegation to the battlefields where Christian care and consolation were so much needed. At the first meeting it was resolved to despatch eight delegates to the front. Liberal subscriptions were made by citi zens to defray the expenses of these agents, among whom Avere several of the city clergy.
The delegates, after spending some weeks among the wounded of the army of the Potomac, returned and gave, in a series of public meetings, an abstract of their rich experience on the battlefield and in hospi tal. Most of them suffered in health from their severe and trying duties. One of their number — the Rev. S. W. ADAMS, D. D., the beloved and revered pastor of the First Baptist Church — died soon after, from disease contracted during this period of faithful ser vice in the Christian Commission.
As the Sanitary Commission was engaged in pro-
ITS PLANS AND PURPOSES. 223
viding physical comforts for disabled soldiers, it was proposed to make arrangements by which delegates from the Cleveland Army Committee could aid in distributing Sanitary stores, and it was resolved that if this could be effected the newly organized Army Committee should make no attempt to collect or for ward such stores. This proposition was agreed to by the Cleveland Branch Sanitary Commission and cor dially approved at headquarters in Louisville, where representatives of the Army Committee were always received with courtesy, accredited as agents in dis tributing Sanitary stores, or aided in the transporta tion of any goods which they had brought down to the army.
By the conditions of its union with the U. S. SANI TARY COMMISSION, the stores of the Cleveland Branch were disbursed mostly to the armies of the southwest, where Sanitary agents had the favor of officers high in command and were now honorably excepted from General SHERMAN'S stringent order excluding civilians from the front. The difficulty of maintaining com munication between the army and its supply base, over a long and slender line of ill-constructed rail road, — guerilla-haunted and overcrowded with the passage of reinforcements, provisions and ammunition, - and the vital importance of secrecy in army move ments, made this order a military necessity. Two agents of the Sanitary Commission were allowed to accompany the army in its advance and men were de tailed from regiments to assist them in the care and disbursement of their hospital supplies. ~No other exceptions were made to this order save in rare cases
224 WORK OF THE DELEGATES.
when persons could obtain the endorsement of the medical authorities as competent assistants in the care of the wounded on the field.
One of the delegates appointed by the Cleveland Army Committee, the Rev. SAMUEL WOLCOTT, D. D., who traveled with joint credentials from Christian and Sanitary Commissions, in September of this year made an extended tour in Georgia, penetrating to the city of Atlanta soon after its occupation by the Union army and taking part in the care of the wounded in field hospital and at relief-stations along the line. The observations of this journey, which were highly favorable to the Sanitary Commission, formed the subject of an interesting lecture and were afterwards published and widely circulated.
With this exception, delegates of the Cleveland Army Committee, finding access to the army of the Potomac less difficult, confined their ministrations there and were consequently out of range of the goods of the Cleveland Aid Society. For this rea son, or in obedience to orders from headquarters of the Christian Commission in Philadelphia, the Cleve land Army Committee subsequently made some effort to gather hospital stores. A few branch societies withdrew for a time to this new organization or divided their gifts between the Sanitary and Christian Commissions.
At the close of the war the Cleveland Army Com mittee was continued in behalf of the freedmen and refugees of Cairo, Leavenworth and elsewhere. The transportation facilities of the Aid Society were offered and frequently accepted in forwarding these supplies.
SYMPATHY. 225
The immediate services and sympathies of the western Branches of the Sanitary Commission were engaged for SHERMAN'S army, yet intense interest pre vailed among them for the issue of the engagements at the East and there was constant occasion for show ing this in the care of the wounded who were traveling westward to their homes.
The records of the Cleveland Soldiers' Home at this date bear page after page of names of the suffer ers in the terrible battles of the Wilderness who found shelter and refreshment there. The Aid Rooms were daily visited by groups of furloughed men,— one sorely wounded in the head, another with his poor right arm splintered and bandaged to hide the shattered bones, a third with his useless limb bound up and a pair of crutches aiding his painful motion, — every one bearing some honorable marks of the battle field. Kind words and comforts welcomed these visitors, a poor recognition of their services.
The personal sympathies of the Aid Room corps were never more severely tried than in the attempt to console the afflicted ones who thronged the Rooms on the announcement of a battle, — fathers, mothers, wives, sisters, coming with white, tear-stricken faces to point out in the long list of wounded a name that was all the world to them, and to beg for the help that the heart ached to give. How hard it was to be forced to discourage their first impulse to go and nurse the sufferer ! They never could press their way through, but how could one tell them so ! and it was so cold to write — only — and the suspense of waiting so hard to bear !
226 LETTERS AND INQUIRIES.
Sometimes when it seemed possible that they could make their way to a wounded friend, a little box was packed at the Aid Rooms for the journey, with oysters, beef-tea, a change of garments, soft bandages and a bottle of wine. Passes were solicited from the railroad authorities, letters written to the Sanitary agencies in cities at every stage of their route, detail ing their errand and bespeaking kindness and aid, and a general letter of credentials furnished, to be pre sented to railroad officials further on.
There was also the tedious, almost hopeless, but persistent search by letter for missing men, the writ ing here and there, clinging to a faint thread of inquiry, slowly pursuing the wanderer's steps and too often finding the traces vanish into a lonely grave. Then followed the gathering up of the details of the last moments, the sending for the effects and trinkets — dear mementoes — and their delivery to friends.
The Aid Rooms were known to be general head quarters for information on all points concerning sick or disabled soldiers. Lists of the casualties of each battle were kept on file in the office, and many matters of personal interest to soldiers or their friends, not strictly within the limits of sanitary work, were con stantly referred there.
It was not unusual to see one of the ladies of the Aid Rooms, pen in hand, taking down from the lips of some unlettered wife or mother the homely phrases of love and greeting to her far-off soldier. Memory brings up the picture of one poor old mother, broken by a life of toil, her face seamed with care and grief, who always came to the Aid Rooms with the open
THE HOSPITAL DIRECTORY. 227
letter of her son, which she could not read, begging that some of the " dear ladies " would read it to her and write him word that she had " got it safe."
Inquiry by letter for soldiers had been made, in formally, from the beginning of the war, but was later conducted mostly through the Hospital Directory established in the autumn of 1862, by the Sanitary Commission.
The HOSPITAL DIRECTORY was a bureau of records giving the name, company, regiment and condition of the soldiers in general hospitals. The books, which contained the names of more than six hundred thou sand men, were revised and corrected daily by returns from all parts of the field. More specific information would be procured for the benefit of friends within as short a time as possible after receiving an inquiry H% one of the general offices, which were located at Washington, New York, Philadelphia and Louisville.
Th4e Louisville registry w^as opened in January, 1863, and it was naturally to that office that most of the inquiries were directed by the Cleveland Society. These inquiries invariably received courte ous attention. The business of the Hospital Directory was-.' admirably systematized and the clerical duties performed with fidelity. Beyond and above this was the spirit of true sympathy that animated its manage ment, shown in the word of cheer or the tenderly- framed condolence often sent with the good or sorrowful tidings that were drawn from its fateful pages
For details of this and other departments of the special relief system, the reader is referred to the
228 ONE INQUIRY, ONE ANSWER.
series of histories and final statements that have been issued by the Sanitary Commission from its Histori cal Bureau.
A few facts briefly sketched in the following extract from a report of Mr. H. S. HOLBROOK, the superin tendent of the Louisville office, will better illustrate the working of the Hospital Directory than any gen eral statement or table of statistics that can be given in this volume :
EXTRACT. — " ONE INQUIRY AND ONE ANSWER."
An old man enters the office. He has traveled from Northern Ohio to meet his son in this city ; he has been told to inquire at the Sanitary Com mission rooms for direction to the hospital which contains him. While the clerk turns to the books, he chats of his son and home, of the different articles in his carpet-bag, put in by mothers and sisters at home, — each had sent some little comfort. He is all animation and hope, as if at the very door which is to admit him to the realization of all his happy anticipations. The record says — "died" — that very morning! The register says, one inquiry, one answer. It does not speak of the careful preparatory suggp8 tions that sympathy tenderly makes toward the announcement of the saddening fact. It does not show that strong old man convulsed and weep ing like a child. You see not his departure from the office stunned with grief. You feel not the stifled thanks of his farewell grasp — full payment for all your sympathy and care. He goes slowly and sadly away. One of the clerks accompanies him, who procures a burial case for the remains of his " poor boy," and assists him in all his preparations for his mournful journey home on the same day. The register says — one inquiry, one answer.
A mother from Northern Indiana has received a despatch that her son is sick in Nashville ; she is on her way to see him ; she applies for a pass, but passes for ladies are seldom granted, and not without a permit from head quarters. Her credentials are all right, but she is told that it is more than doubtful if she is permitted to go. She comes to the Directory ; her son's name is on the books ; " telegraphing is expensive, and the result doubt ful." " 'Tis too bad," she exclaims, " I have seven sons, and all of them in the army, I do not wish them away, but I do want, if they get sick, the privilege of going to nurse them." " My dear madam, you shall go ; that fact will get you a pass," and so it did. The register says, one inquiry, one answer.
A sprightly young wife is sent from the telegraph office to have a
AJST EXTRACT. 229
despatch written for a permit to visit her husband in Nashville. She is quite impatient at the useless delay in consulting the records for his name. " She knows he is in Nashville, and all she wants is a despatch written, and will be obliged for as much haste as possible." " Are you sure he is in Nashville?" "Certainly." "You would have no objections to meeting him here ?" " You are playing with me, sir ; will you give me the despatch ?" " I don't think you will need one. This ' abstract ' will please you better. There are directions where to find your husband, a few blocks off." With one look to be sure she was not being " played " with, she was off from the office down street at what he would have called the " double quick," and found him not in Nashville. Had she not come to the Directory, possibly she might have obtained a pass to Nashville, and gone ; or failing in that would have gone home without seeing him.
A short time ago this case came under our notice. A soldier in hospital at Nashville writes to his wife that he is very sick, and requests her to come to him. The letter was dated the 5th of September. Two days afterward he is transferred to Louisville, but his letter informing her of the change never reached her. She leaves home and stops over night in Louis ville, and goes to Nashville on the loth. There she learns that he is in Louisville. Delayed for lack of funds, she returns to this city on the 22d, and finds that he died on the night of the 16th, the next night after they lodged in the same city, so near to each other, yet never to meet. Had she known of the Hospital Directory, and consulted it, this lifelong grief would have been prevented.
A father desires to visit a sick son. His statements accord with our record. The despatch written for him explains the case :
" To Brigadier General J. A. GARFIELD, Chief of Staff, Murfreesboro, Tenn. : Had four sons in army ; two are dead ; two belong to the 89th
Ohio, [Co.—. William C is sick at Gallatin, hospital 4. Please
grant pass. A. C .
J. S. NEWBERRY, Voucher." The pass was granted.
A father from Pennsylvania presents a letter from the surgeon of a hos pital in Nashville, saying that his son will be discharged and sent to this city in charge of the Sanitary Commission, and requests the father to meet him here. He asks, " Where is he ?" We have no note of his arrival. " He must still be in hospital at Nashville. But stay ; here is a report just in." The name is there, and " died August 9th, 1863," the very day the father received the letter, and set out to meet him. His son had sent him word not to bring more money than necessary to pay his fare to Louisville, as he was paid off and had enough. WThat was to be done ? We loaned him his passage home ; made out the necessary papers to get the effects of his son: wrote to Nashville to Sanitary Commission agents to forward them, and he left for home that evening.
230 HOSPITAL CARS.
We might multiply similar cases indefinitely, each one possessing some peculiarity to vary the service needed to meet the wants of the applicant. But these must suffice.
The results in figures fail to give any idea of the labor, patience and feel ing involved in the necessary attention to the particulars of each case, burdened with peculiar and painful interest, and urgently appealing for sympathy, information and aid. One might as well attempt to conjure up the drama of their real life, from the scattered bones of a strange burial place, as from these figures to reproduce the painful realities they simply tally. Each name is the name of a man dear to a circle of kindred and friends. Each inquiry bears the interest, anxiety, and earnestness of some relative. Between the parties stands the Directory with its registers and helpful agents.
In connection with the Hospital Directory Avas an arrangement effected by the Sanitary Commission with Government for removing and forwarding home, on request of friends, the bodies of soldiers who had died in hospital or were buried on the battlefield. This was done by the Sanitary Commission without charge, the actual outlay for disinterring, embalming and transporting being refunded by the friends who had ordered the removal.
The Cleveland Aid Society had not unfrequently to act as agent in this, — taking the orders for disin- terment, receiving and remitting undertaker's and Express charges and delivering the remains, on arrival, to the relatives.
Another phase of special relief work at the front, which has been briefly mentioned in these pages, was the transportation service of the HOSPITAL TBAINS established by the Sanitary Commission in the sum mer of 1863.
Though the charge of the hospital trains was soon assumed by Government, the Commission never lost
" ON A HOSPITAL TRAIN."
interest in them nor ceased to be known as an agent in their supervision. Supplies were furnished to each train from the Sanitary depot nearest at hand. Hot coffee, light food and stimulants were given to the feeble travelers at various feeding-stations opened along the line of transit.
For a description of the hospital train one cannot do better than read the following letter written by one of the young ladies of the Cleveland Aid Society during an extended tour among the hospitals and relief agencies of Louisville, Nashville and Chatta nooga in May, 1863 :
EXTRACT. — ON A HOSPITAL TRAIN.
* * * * Tlianks to the U. S. Sanitary Commission and to those gen tlemen belonging to it whose genius and benevolence originated, planned, and carried it out, a Hospital Train is now running on almost all the roads "over which it is necessary to transport sick or wounded men. These trains are now under the control of Government, but the Sanitary Commission continues to furnish a great part of the stores that are used in them.
My first experience of them was a sad one. A week before, the army had moved forward and concentrated near Tunnel Hill. The dull, monotonous rumble of army wagons as they rolled in long trains through the dusty street ; the measured tramp of thousands of bronzed and war-worn vete rans ; the rattle and roar of the guns and caissons as they thundered on their mission of death ; the glittering sheen reflected from a thousand sabres, had all passed by and left us in the desolated town. We lived, as it were, with bated breath and eager ears, our nerves tensely strung with anxiety and suspense, waiting to catch the first sound of that coming strife where we knew so many of our bravest and best must fall. At last came the news of that terrible fight at Buzzard's Roost or Rocky Face Ridge, and the
evening after, in came Dr. S straight from the front, and said, " the
Hospital train is at the depot, wouldn't you like to see it ? " " Of course we
would," chorused Mrs. Dr. S and myself, and forthwith we rushed for
our hats and cloaks, filled two large baskets with soft crackers and oranges, and started off. A walk of a mile brought us to the depot, and down in the further corner of the depot yard we saw a train of seven or eight cars
standing, apparently unoccupied. " There it is," said Dr. S . "Why,
it looks like any ordinary train," I innocently remarked, but I was soon to
232 A DESCRIPTION.
find out the difference. We chanced to see Dr. M , the surgeon in
charge, on the first car into which we went, and he made us welcome to do and to give whatever we had for the men, and so, armed with authority, we went forward with confidence.
Imagine a car a little wider than the ordinary one, placed on springs, and having on each side three tiers of berths or cots, suspended by rubber bands. These cots are so arranged as to yield to the motion of the car, thereby avoiding that jolting that is experienced even on the smoothest and best road. I didn't stop to investigate the plan of the car then, for I saw before me, on either hand, a long line of soldiers shot in almost every conceivable manner, their wounds fresh from the battlefield, and all were patient and quiet ; not a groan or complaint escaped them, though I saw some faces twisted into strange contortions with the agony of their wounds. I commenced distributing my oranges right and left, but soon realized the smallness of my basket and the largeness of the demand, and sadly passed by all but the worst cases. In the third car that we entered we found the Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, and Adj utant of the 29th Ohio, all severely wounded. We stopped and talked awhile. Mindful of the motto of my Commission, to give " aid and comfort," I trickled a little sympathy on them. " Poor fellows ! " said I. " No, indeed," said they. " We did suffer rid ing twenty miles "— it couldn't have been more than fourteen or fifteen, but a shattered limb or a ball in one's side lengthens the miles astonishingly — " in those horrid ambulances to the cars." " We cried last night like child ren, some of us," said a Lieutenant, " but we're all right now. This Hos pital Train is a jolly thing. It goes like a cradle." Seeing my sympathy wasted I tried another tack. " Did you know that SHERMAN is in Dalton ? " " No ! " cried the Colonel, and all the men who could, raised themselves up and stared at me with eager, questioning eyes. " Is that so ? " " Yes," I replied, " it is true." " Then, I don't care for this little wound," said one fellow, slapping his right leg, which was pierced and torn by a minie ball. Brave men ! How I longed to pour out the wealth and luxury of our whole North at their feet !
A little further on in the car, I chanced to look down, and there at my feet lay a young man, not more than eighteen or nineteen years old ; hair tossed back from his white brow ; long lashes lying on his cheek ; his face as delicate and refined as a girl's. I spoke to him and he opened his eyes, but could not speak to me. I held an orange before him, and he looked a Yes ; so I cut a hole in it and squeezed some of the juice into his mouth. It seemed to revive him a little, and after sitting a short time by his side, I left him. Soon after, they carried him out on a stretcher — poor fellow! He was dying; when I saw him, and I could but think of his mother and sis ters who would have given worlds to stand beside him as I did. By this time it was growing dark, my oranges had given out, and we were sadly in the way ; so we left, to be haunted for many a day by the terrible pictures we had seen on our first visit to a Hospital Train.
CONTINUED. 233
My next experience was much pleasanter. I had the privilege of a ride on one from Chattanooga to Nashville, and an opportunity of seeing the arrangements. There were three hundred and fourteen sick and wounded on board, occupying nine or ten cars, with the surgeon's car in the middle of the train. This car is divided into three compartments ; at one end is the store-room where are kept the eatables and bedding ; at the other, the kitchen ; and between the two is the surgeon's room, containing his bed, secretary, and shelves and pigeon holes for instruments, medicines, etc. A narrow hall connects the store-room and kitchen, and great windows or openings in the opposite sides of the car give a pleasant draft of air. Sit ting in a comfortable arm-chair, one would not wish a pleasanter mode of traveling, especially through the glorious mountains of East Tennessee, and further on, over the fragrant, fertile meadows and the rolling hills and plains of Northern Alabama and middle Tennessee, clothed in their fresh green garments of new cotton and corn. This is all charming for a pas senger, but a Hospital Train is a busy place for the surgeons and nurses.
The men come on at evening, selected from the different hospitals, according to their ability to be moved, and after having had their tea, the wounds must be freshly dressed. This takes till midnight, perhaps longer, and the surgeon must be on the watch continually, for on him falls the responsibility, not only of the welfare of the men, but of the safety of the train. There is a conductor and brakemen, and for them, too, there is no rest. Each finds enough to do as nurse or assistant. In the morning, after a breakfast of coffee or tea, dried beef, dried peaches, soft bread, cheese, etc., the wounds have to be dressed a second time, and again in the afternoon. In the intervals, the surgeon finds time to examine individual cases, and prescribe especially for them, and perhaps to take a little rest.
As I walked through the car, I heard men say, " We haven't lived so well since we joined the army." " We are better treated than we ever were before." " This is the nicest place we were ever in," etc.
After breakfast next morning, when the wounds were all dressed, I had the pleasure of carrying into one car a pitcher of delicious blackberry wine that came from the Soldiers' Aid Society of Northern Ohio, and, with the advice of the assistant surgeon, giving it to the men. The car into which I went had only one tier of berths, supported like the others on rubber bands. Several times during the day I had an opportunity of giving some little assistance in taking care of wounded men, and it was very pleasant. My journey lasted a night and a day, and I think I can never again pass another twenty-four hours so fraught with sweet and sad memo ries as are connected with my second and last experience on a hospital train. C.
CHAPTER XIV.
IT is not necessary to follow the daily routine of Aid Room duties through the year 1864, as it differed only in degree from that which has been already detailed.
Beyond the constant round of receiving and ship ping, corresponding and recording, and the superin tendence of the work department and the Soldiers' Home, each day brought its special demands upon the time and sympathies and almost hourly occasion to consult the Hospital Directory or to listen to the thousand and one inquiries sent from the home to the hospital or from the soldier to his home, through that mutual friend and faithful medium, the Sanitary Commission. All the machinery that had been de vised to promote the efficiency of the Society and its Branches was still employed and such new measures were adopted as the resources of the treasury now justified.
THE PRINTING OFFICE.
It was the constant endeavor of the managers of the Society to transmit to the Branches the stimulus which they themselves received from their own more direct and daily communication with the army. It has been shown that personal letters were addressed
HIE PUTTING OFFICE. 235
monthly, or even more frequently, to the secretary of each society, articles prepared weekly for publication in the city papers, and documents, reports and ac knowledgments widely circulated.
As a means of further interesting the tributaries, and of directing and encouraging their work, and as a matter of economy and convenience, a small hand printing-press was purchased in August of this year, and a corner of the cutting-room in the second story partitioned off and converted into a miniature printing office, conveniently fitted up and well supplied with type and other fixtures.
Here the young ladies of the Aid Room corps addressed themselves with much persistence to learn ing the art of type-setting and press- work. With a few directions from a practical printer and after some laughable experience at the outset, these amateur typos became quite dextrous with composing-stick and roller and were soon able to produce work that would have been no discredit to any printing-house.
From this little office the Cleveland Aid Society issued frequent bulletins that were circulated among the Branches and elsewhere. These bulletins con tained a list of hospital stores, with directions for preparation, packing and shipment, the latest tele grams from agents at the front, noting the nature and urgency of any special need, or letters received at the Aid Rooms from persons who had been aided by the Sanitary Commission or had witnessed its benefits to others. Monthly business statements, reports of the Soldiers' Home, and all matters of general or special interest were submitted to correspondents in the same way.
236 " AID SOCIETY PRINT."
The cards, bill-forms, price-lists of material, letter heads and all blanks used from this time in the business of the Society also bore the impress, " Aid Society Print," and all were put in type, locked up, rolled and pressed off by the group of girls who added to their already engrossing duties at the Aid Rooms the interesting but often laborious work of practical typography.
It is only justice to mention that Miss SARA M ATI AN was foreman of this little printing office, and that Mrs. MILLER, Miss YOUNGLOVE and Miss RUTH KEL LOGG were her persevering and competent assistants.
Besides the establishment of the printing office, which really marked an era in Aid Room life, no changes of moment occurred this summer in the routine of duties that were always the same yet always fresh and always interesting to those who saw in them a reflex of the great work that was going surely forward, under southern suns, to a tri umphant end.
A fragment from a letter written at the Cleveland Aid Rooms, in August, 1864, will serve as a picture of the busy life of this period :
Mrs. R is assorting and packing, Mrs. M snipping away at
a great bale of blue and white stripe, N and S posting books, C
wrapping innumerable documents, while TIM and the redoubtable BARNEY, after shouting, hammering and pushing all the morning, have just de spatched a shipment, two full car-loads. Two other car-loads went down yesterday. Those were pickles and lime juice purchased at the East. Now they are shipping onions from the Frankfort street storehouse and rushing in here semi-occasionally for orders, leaving a long line of muddy boot- tracks on the floor which was so beautifully scrubbed after yesterday's clearance ! DOMINIC, (bless his good natured soul and his one eye !) has just appeared in the doorway, whip in hand, calling for " tally " to his next
CANVASSING AND FORWARDING. 237
load, and here comes FJRANK, with his hands fall of shipping-bills, and just at his heels is the Express man with the inevitable book which I must stop to receipt, * * * * next, a squad of soldiers from hospital, coming in for a friendly call and to ask for "just a sheet of paper and a steel pen, please, Miss," and one who is pale and feeble looks wistfully at the flannel
shirts till good Mrs. M drops her shears and ties up for him in a snug
bundle, a warm shirt and drawers, a little " comfort-bag " well filled and a white handkerchief.
That completes the picture — ah no ! there goes JEROME, to the Home, carrying a basket of grapes and a carving knife, having left his request for a barrel of flour and sundry other supplies for our great household under the hill.
Vegetables, pickles and krout — both purchased and contributed — formed the great bulk of shipments to the southwest, and the demand for such supplies was still the burden of every letter from agents in the field. The services of canvassers were continued with much success in influencing contributions and main taining the branch societies. From the cutting and work department, which has been specially described, hospital clothing of excellent make and material was furnished in quantity from week to week.
Well-tested recipes for making blackberry syrups and cordials were widely scattered, and the medicinal virtues of these preparations were urged through city and country papers. A " blackberry army " of boys and girls was again recruited in many townships where the local societies were zealous in securing the whole blackberry crop for hospital use. Fresh vege tables in bulk and ripe currants were several times sent to the hospitals of Camp Dennison, near Cincin. nati. Special requests from the surgeon of that post for bandages and dressings were honored from time to time. Garden seeds, onion-sets and flowering plants were again sent to the hospital gardens at Chatta nooga.
238 HELP FOR PRISONERS.
In June of this year a large number of boxes con signed by country societies were forwarded through the Cleveland Aid Rooms to the Ohio Relief Associa tion at Washington, and later, large quantities of pickles and other stores called for by the Quartermas ter General of Ohio were forwarded to Columbus for returned prisoners who were arriving there. Several hundred weight of tobacco were purchased by the Norwalk Branch for two regiments from that section. This gift, on reaching its destination, drew forth a graceful letter of acknowledgment and of tribute to the general usefulness of the Sanitary Commission among the soldiers in the field. The comparatively small needs of the Wheeling depot were still drawn from Cleveland. The Soldiers' Home established by the Sanitary Commission at Jeffersonville, Ind., was largely furnished, on opening, with bedding from the Cleveland Aid Rooms. The Soldiers' Home at Nash ville often received special supplies from the same source.
In answer to some touching letters from Union prisoners in Florence, Ala., and Columbia, S. C., several vain attempts were made to send boxes of comforts to these perishing men. The pitiable condition of our soldiers in the rebel prisons at Cahawba, Ala., reported by some of the escaped or exchanged prison ers, moved the officers of the Cleveland Aid Society to open communication with the rebel officials in charge of that post, and to ask their help in deliver ing to these suffering prisoners some supplies of clothing. Fair promises, never fulfilled, were the only results of these negotiations which were at last regretfully abandoned.
CHANGE OF VICE-PRESIDENTS. 239
Shipments to the Sanitary agency at Leavenworth, Kansas, were continued as usual. These goods had now free transportation over the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, and Hannibal and St. Joseph railroads. In the duties of this agency, Mr. BROWN was assisted by the Ladies' Aid Society of Leavenworth, which strug gled through many difficulties to become an active and useful organization. The destitute state of the freedmen and Union refugees that were arriving in great numbers at Leavenworth was vividly brought to the notice of the Cleveland Society by the letters of Mrs. HIRAM GRISWOLD, a former resident of this city, who in removing to Kansas carried to this new home the quick sympathies and active loyalty that had made her for many months one of the most zeal ous workers at the Cleveland Aid Rooms.
At a regular meeting, November 1st, 1864, Mrs. J. A. HARRIS, who had been from its organization an active member of the Society, was chosen second vice- president. This office had been left vacant by the resignation, August 2d, of Mrs. LEWIS BURTON, whose charitable labors in other directions made her daily attendance at the Aid Rooms impossible.
The officers and active members of the Society sometimes suffered in health from too laborious or exciting duty at the Rooms and were forced, occasion ally, to seek rest and change for a few weeks — but, with the two exceptions noted above and on page 105, all were happily spared the pain of giving up, perma nently, their places in a work that was all-engrossing and that brought day by day rich and all-satisfying reward to mind and heart.
240 REVIEW OF THE YEAR.
The treasurer's books at the close of the year showed that the resources of the Society had been liberally expended, but there was constant demand for a class of stores that money could not buy, — for bandages, dressings, articles of home workmanship and many little comforts that only generosity and skill could supply. Every call for these was answered with a promptness that should be gratefully recorded to the lasting honor of the aid societies of Northern Ohio.
During the summer, tributaries had been urged to collect pickles, krout, potatoes, onions and anything that would prevent or arrest scurvy. These appeals were made in behalf of SHERMAN'S men, lying before Atlanta. When that splendid army, on its ever-famous " march to the sea," passed beyond the loving care of the North and could only be followed by the prayers of thousands of anxious hearts, the forces of THOMAS, gathering about Nashville, received generous supplies from Northern Ohio.
The hospital stores shipped from Cleveland still went mainly to the headquarters of the Sanitary Commission at Louisville, Ky., thence to be for warded to Nashville, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Memphis, Vicksburg and the ever more distant " front," to be dispensed by agents whose experience fitted them to bestow the right thing in the right place and to use supplies with less waste and more effect than could be done by any transient distributor however con scientious or zealous.
From Dr. NEWBERRY'S final report it appears that the stores distributed by the Sanitary Commission in
EXPENSES OF DISTRIBUTION. 241
the armies of the West were valued at five millions one hundred and twenty-three thousand two hundred and fifty-six dollars and twenty-nine cents, in the home field. The expenses of collecting, transporting and distributing these supplies amounted to one hun dred and ninety-six thousand two hundred and thirty- seven dollars and eighteen cents, of which ninety-eight thousand eight hundred and ninety-four dollars and sixty-seven cents were paid for their distribution. In other words, the expense incurred outside of the home field, in transporting and distributing stores valued at over five millions of dollars was less than one hundred thousand dollars, or less than two per cent, of their valuation, a lower per cent-age than was claimed by any other organization of a similar charac ter. If the work of the supply department of the West had been done as a commercial transaction, — if the stores had all been purchased, and the expenses of transporting and distributing them all paid in cash, - it certainly could not have been done where and as it was done for a less sum than ten millions of dollars.
When the approach of winter again increased the calls for woolens, socks and mittens, the aid societies turned their resources toward the purchase of mate rial. Fairs, suppers and lectures were held in many towns for the "soldiers' aid" fund, dime sociables and tableau parties were made profitable to the good cause.
As time went on, the tributary societies, learning from long experience and often-repeated precept that it is the supplies sent before the news of a battle that
24*2 NEW QUAETERS.
save life and assuage suffering, settled into a steady round of duty with results far more effective than any spasmodic action, however brilliant, could have pro duced.
There was, moreover, through this year an added impetus in the belief that " the beginning of the end " had come, — an impulse inspired by the achievements of our gallant armies, East and West.
April 1st, 1865, the Cleveland Aid Rooms were removed three doors north, to No. 89 Bank street.
The old quarters had long been cramped and in convenient, yet this change was not made without regrets at leaving the spot where the Society had begun its work and which the varied experience of four years had invested with so many and so dear associations.
The new Rooms were a spacious wareroom on the ground floor with store cellar beneath, and a sky lighted office in the rear, which a little taste and ingenuity soon converted into a pleasant boudoir counting-room. By general desire, the arrangement of desks and other furniture was made as nearly as possible the same as in the little office that had just been quitted. An interior staircase led to a large square room above, where the counters, shelves and store-boxes of the cutting and commission-sales de partment found ample accommodation. Another staircase, directly above the first, gave access to a room of the same size in the third story, and here the printing office was established. A speaking tube from the office communicated with the second and
A CONSECRATION. 243
third story rooms, which were airy, well-lighted and cheerful. Gas and water were conveniently arranged through the building.
The new Aid Rooms, on the first day of occupation, were consecrated by the funeral services of a Union soldier who had borne his starved body and crazed brain homeward from a rebel prison-pen only to reach the Cleveland Soldiers' Home and die. No trace of his family could be discovered and after a week of vain attempt to acquaint them with his fate there gathered around his coffin at the Aid Rooms a little group — strangers to the dead, but not the less his mourning friends — who paid the last Christian offices of respect to his remains. Weeks afterwards, the in quiries, which had been diligently continued, were successful and the body was borne from its stranger grave to rest with kindred dust. This was the second occasion on which burial services of the unclaimed dead were solemnized at the Cleveland Aid Rooms.
CHAPTER XV.
THE hope of returning peace, which dawned with 1865 and flushed with joyous excitement the opening months of that eventful year, broke into glorious sun light when, on the 3d of April, the fall of Richmond was flashed over the land and, on the 9th, the capitu lation of the rebel army in Virginia.
These events virtually closed the war and were im mediately followed by orders from theWar Department stopping enlistments, diminishing supplies, calling in troops and preparing to reduce the army to a peace basis.
A few brief days of wild rejoicing, — in the vain attempt to grasp and take to heart the great happi ness of peace indeed at hand, — and then the too bright future was suddenly overcast by deepest gloom, and the voice of triumph and thanksgiving died away in a wail of national lamentation as baffled treason guided the assassin's hand to its deadly aim, and ABRAHAM LINCOLN fell, — the noblest of martyrs to a noble cause.
When the funeral pageant paused in its long sad journey, to rest in solemn state within the temple that loyal hands made haste to rear under the wide- spreading elms of the Forest City, the representatives
244
MONUMENT PARK, CLEVELAND, O. The Remains of President Lincoln Iving in State, April 28, 1865. Page 244.
A MEMORABLE BAY. 245
of the Sanitary Commission were allowed to bring tribute of rare flowers and to watch all through that mournful day near the coffin of the honored dead.
Who of the thousands ,that passed, with downcast eye and muffled footfall, in review before that Silent Presence will ever forget the ineffable sadness of that day ! — the clouds dropping gentle rain, in sympathy with a nation's tears, the sighing wind lifting and swaying the draperies of the curtained pagoda, heavy with symbols of woe, the national emblems everywhere drooping and shrouded with sables, — or the weird solemnities of the evening watch, when the moaning of the restless trees and the loud w^ail of the rising storm mingled fitfully with the wild strains of a dirge, and glancing torches flashed for one moment with un earthly glare as the bearers reverently raised their sacred burden, and the cortege, with nodding plumes and stately trappings, swept out into the dense dark ness that fell like a pall upon the mournful scene.
Years of sorrow seemed to have clouded over and blotted out the bright rising of the sun of peace. In the exciting and varied events of that ever-memorable time it was hard to take up the burden of duties again, — nor was this a grief that faded with its day. The shaded faces and mourning breast knots of the little Aid Eooni group were long the symbols of a blow that fell upon every loyal heart with the weight of a personal bereavement.
The actual close of the war was scarcely known or noted in Sanitary circles. The heaviest, most engross ing, and by far the most interesting relief work in the home field began after the war had really ended.
246 WELCOME HOME.
The sudden cessation of hostilities, the rapid re duction of the army, and the immediate return of regiments from the field made it the first duty of the Sanitary Commission to increase its means of pro viding for the comfort of soldiers in transit. Other schemes affecting the welfare of the soldier-turned- citizen were already working in philanthropic brains, to be brought forth so soon as occasion for them should be developed. Soldiers' Homes, lodging and feeding stations, that had been maintained for the accommodation of squads of invalid men or an occa sional passing regiment, were now to be enlarged and fitted to welcome and give good cheer to thousands of homeward-bound heroes.
In these duties the Cleveland Branch performed no unwilling part, and happily the generous results of the fair gave ample means for pursuing the purposes of the special relief department. The final report of the Sanitary fair had been made in the preceding March, when the balance, thirty-two thousand seven hundred dollars in Government bonds, was turned over to the exclusive control of the Society. This sum was in the treasury at the close of the war.
The interest of this history now passes into that of the Special Relief service, which is fully presented in the accompanying Report. There, the enlargement of the Soldiers' Home, the busy care given day and night throughout the summer and fall to each return ing regiment, and the subsequent conduct of the Free Claim Agency will be found in detail. These will be touched upon here only as it is necessary to refer to them in following the general history of the Society to its close.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. 24?
When it became certain that the aggressive opera tions of war were indeed over, many branch societies began to inquire, by letter or otherwise, whether the work of preparing hospital stores might not properly cease. It must be recorded here, to the credit of the Northern Ohio aid societies, that their contributions received at the Cleveland Rooms in the month of April, 1865, when the war closed, were as great as they had been at any time, only excepting the excit ing period immediately after the news of the battle of Pittsburg Landing in 1862.
To the officers of the Cleveland Society, long accus tomed to look forward to the effect upon their work of any possible change in military affairs, it seemed certain that the duties of the supply department must continue for a considerable time after the return of peace. In supplementing Government issues, the Sanitary Commission had never commanded stores enough to meet all the demands of our great armies, and in the event of any probable reduction of the forces during the coming summer there must yet be a wide field for the offices of benevolence. This opinion was always given in answer to the inquiries daily put by the representatives of tributary societies, — inqui ries that were not made from weariness or lack of interest but from honest belief that their occupation was gone.
To strengthen this opinion by appeal to the highest sources of information on this point, the officers of the Cleveland Branch addressed a letter to the general office of the Sanitary Commission asking whether they might not follow the example of the War De-
248 CONTINUING SUPPLIES.
partment, reduce expenditure, cut down supplies, discourage contribution, and prepare to givre their auxiliaries honorable discharge from their long and faithful volunteer service.
The reply to this is embodied in an extract from the minutes of a meeting of the Commission, April 20th : " The termination of the war leaves much to be done for the relief of the national forces in garri son and before they could safely be disbanded and the men re-established in the pursuits of civil life. Such garrisons, as a rule, require more sanitary aid than the forces in the field, and Aid Societies should, in the opinion of the Commission, not abandon their work but continue it with added activity, in view of the prospect that it may soon gradually cease to be necessary."
Obedient to the spirit of this decision, the duties of the supply service were continued at the Cleveland Aid Rooms with much vigor and chiefly in the interest of the troops that were maintained around Nashville. Agents from that quarter reported Gen eral THOMAS still relying hopefully upon the Sanitary Commission for keeping his army well supplied with vegetables. A bulletin was at once issued to the branch societies, representing this fact and calling attention to the condition of the returned prisoners then gathering at Vicksburg, so many of whom were overtaken on their way homeward by that fearful calamity, the explosion of the Mississippi river steamer Sultana,
The only way in which it seemed wise or even pos sible to reduce expenses was by diminishing the issues
A STATE OF SIEGE. 249
of material to branch societies, it being judged that the garments contributed would from this time be sufficient to keep up the due proportion in shipment. Notice was therefore given that, after May 15th, no more packages of work would be furnished from the Cleveland Aid Rooms except in rare cases when a Branch that made frequent contribution should need a small supply to keep up the weekly meetings while endeavoring to raise funds.
Even this attempted retrenchment was premature, for as regiment after regiment returned and was or dered into Camp Cleveland, to wait muster-out and pay, a host of bronzed and sturdy veterans daily besieged the Rooms, each one bearing in his travel- stained garments and generally unkempt appearance the surest passport to aid. To most of these men, in their devious wanderings, the paymaster had for months been a veritable will o' the wisp. Government issues of clothing had ceased, and in the interval between muster-oat and final pay-day the "Sanitary" found abundant occasion for its kind offices.
The distribution of under-garments, socks, sus penders, handkerchiefs, combs, soap, towels, writing materials, and the plug of tobacco that always conies first on the soldier's list of requirements, was at this time the chief business done at the Aid Rooms.
The ladies were often dismayed to find a crowd blockading the pavement and patiently waiting their arrival of a morning, and when the doors were thrown open the throng was so great that they were fain to draw across the wide room a high counter, as a sort of barricade behind which they could more conven-
250 " COMFOBTSBAGS."
iently arrange and apportion their issues. It was only stout, hale soldiers that were thus barred out. The little wicket was always opened at the sight of a pale face or halting step, and garments of more deli cate make and material or some dainties drawn from a certain reserve stock were slyly packed into the invalid's parcel.
Among the minor articles of convenience given out at the Aid Rooms nothing was more useful than the little housewives or work bags that were generally made by school children and juvenile societies. Scarcely a day passed but some soldier would call in on the way to or from his regiment to beg for a needle, a skein of thread or a few buttons. Then the compact little " comfort-bag " was handed out, and, as if by magic, all his desires met their fulfilment.
Sometimes the dextrous fingers of one of the Aid Room ladies had occasion to adjust a displaced arm- sling or to do some trifling office of the needle for a feeble soldier. Poor fellows ! they often sadly needed patching up, — if only a stitch could have been put into the lame arm or halting limb, to mend them up in body as well as in raiment !
Besides the great number of unpaid soldiers that flocked into the Aid Rooms, in these days of the break ing up of camps and hospitals, there were others of a more forlorn class. They were those whose hard earned money, just received, had been filched by trav eling pickpockets or cunningly coaxed away by con fidence men and sharpers. This misfortune generally overtook the victim on his journey homeward and thus left him penniless among strangers, with no re-
NO PLACE TO STOP. 251
course on Government and totally dependent upon charity. The officers of the railroads centering in Cleveland listened with wonderful patience to the almost hourly request for passes, and helped these unfortunates forward with great kindness. The tables of the Soldiers' Home supplied them with food and a package of luncheon for the journey. Some neces saries of clothing were usually furnished from the Aid Rooms. This home distribution comes under the head of Special Relief, and is detailed in the ac companying Report.
The Sanitary Commission had fixed upon July 1st, as the probable limit of the supply service. When that time came, the Cleveland Branch found no place to stop, but every reason to continue the issues that have been mentioned. Those who for more than four years had followed the soldier into camp and upon the field with their gifts were resolved that he should not ask in vain when he returned to a land of plenty.
A considerable sum was expended in purchasing certain articles that were not in the usual line of con tribution, and the branch societies were called upon in an urgent circular issued July 10th, to continue their meetings or to reorganize if disbanded. Notice was at the same time given that cut garments would be sent out from the Cleveland Aid Rooms as usual until the Branches could again gather funds to buy material for their own work.
The long weekly reports of receipts in hospital clothing, furnishings and especially in farm and daily products, through the entire summer of 1865, are testi-
-?O^ THE EMPLOYMENT AGENCY.
mony to the faithful continuance in well-doing of the aid societies of Northern Ohio long after the close of the war afforded them a plausible excuse for resting from their labors.
THE E M P L () Y M E XT AGENCY.
The rapid disbanding of our armies immediately suggested to the Sanitary Commission the need of some systematic provision for re-establishing the re turned soldiers in the relations and pursuits of civil life, from which they had become more or less de tached. It was proposed to effect this by constituting each supply Branch a " Bureau of Information and Employment," to which all discharged soldiers could apply for business situations, and where the invalid or partially disabled, especially, were to be aided in finding such light occupations as they could best pursue.
An Employment Agency was opened at the Cleve land Aid Rooms, May 1st, 1865, upon a plan of registration furnished by the Central office at Wash ington. The books give only a partial showing of the aid afforded by the Society to soldiers in search of employment, much informal and unrecorded work of this kind having been done from the first year of the war. The early applicants, invariably disabled men, had been put into the way of obtaining work, if fit for any duty, or classed, with their families, among the objects of special relief.
On opening the Agency it was advertised through the city and country papers, and circulars calling attention to it were distributed among business men.
ITS MANAGEMENT. 253
A blackboard, scribbled all over with an attractive enumeration of the talents and accomplishments of the applicants, was conspicuously posted on the pave ment in front of the Aid Room door, and every effort was made to bring employer and employe together.
The permanently disabled men were considered the first claimants and these were certainly the most diffi cult to place in situations. In cases where only half service could be done, and wages were small in pro portion, a monthly allowance for house rent was given and the aid of the Society again and again ex tended. Tools and materials were loaned or given to sick men who could gain a trifle by working at home. If quite unable to earn anything they were withdrawn from the books of the Agency and entered as pen sioners of the Aid Society. Several young men who were disabled by the loss of limbs were allowed to remain at the Soldiers' Home through a course of study at the Commercial College, two were sent to city schools, and three became telegraph operators and offices were secured for them.
Of those registered as able bodied, nearly all were feeble from late illness and only very few were fit for full duty. The majority of the really able bodied men were too lately from the army to have regained the industrious habits of civil life, — some failed to report a second time at the office, others left the city upon mere hearsay of employment elsewhere, and several who were provided with situations broke the engagement and were dismissed from the books. A few, known to be intemperate and unworthy, were refused entry upon application. These cases of
254 A SIGNIFICANT RECORD.
unfaithfulness are balanced by those of several ex cellent men who are still holding positions of trust with their first employers.
Young men who came in from the country to look for work, if without means, were admitted to the Soldiers' Home for three days, furnished with a card of recommend to employers and directed where to apply. The permit for the Home was extended at discretion if it expired before employment was secured. Upon notice from the employer that an engagement had been formed, the soldier was often allowed to remain at the Home till first pay-day enabled him to engage a boarding place.
The employers' register did not keep pace with that of the applicants, and it became necessary to make personal appeals to the business men of the city. The duty of placing the disabled involved especial ingenuity and persistence on the part of the ladies of the Society, much running about after office hours, an occasional day's traveling, hither and yon, with livery horses, and a continual boring of friends, kins folk and acquaintance,
In turning over the books of the Employment Agency it is interesting to notice many names long familiar to the Society, — names that appear first upon the supply books, when the soldier on marching away from home received some article of comfort or convenience from the Aid Eooms ; next, entered upon the records of the Hospital Directory, when missed from the ranks after a battle or reported in some far- off hospital, he was traced at the request of sorrowing friends; later, it is found in the list of those who, on
AN ABSTRACT. 255
the homeward journey, found rest and refreshment in the Soldiers' Home; again, upon the Special Relief books, where supplies of food, fuel, medicines or clothing for his family are noted beneath it ; and when health and strength are returning it is registered with an application for employment. Lastly, the soldier, turned citizen, will file his papers with the Free Claim Agency.
Such a record shows the watchfulness of the Sani tary Commission over the objects of its care, and is no less significant of the confidence that the soldier placed in this tried and faithful friend.
ABSTRACT OF THE CLEVELAND EMPLOYMENT AGENCY.
Number of applications by employers, 170
Number of applications for employment :
By able bodied men, 258
By disabled men, 153
Total applicants for employment, 411
Number failed to report a second time, 80
Number of applications by letter, not received 31
^-Q
300 Number lurnished with employment :
Able bodied men, 108
Disabled men, 98
Total furnished, 206
Number remaining on the books unfurnished, 94
Number once furnished, applied a second time, 77
KINDS OF EMPLOYMENT FURNISHED :
Mechanics, 24; Clerks and Copyists, 27 ; Farmers and Gardeners, 17; Laborers and Porters, 52 ; Teamsters, 17 ; Railroad hands, 9 ; In private families, 25 ; Agents, 4 ; Post Office Clerks, 4 ; Telegraph Operators, 3 ; Watchmen, 3 ; Policemen, 3 ; Entered at School, 2 ; Physician, 1 ; Janitor, 1 ; Tollgate keeper, 1 ; Pedler, 2 ; Unknown, 11. Total, 206.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE shipments of the Society ceased about the middle of August, on advice from the Louisville head quarters, and no further effort was made to attract contributions. Supplies received after that time were used at the Home for the comfort of its inmates and later were given to destitute disabled soldiers who were living in or near the city, or to any needy dis charged men who applied at the office of the Aid Rooms for help.
With the close of the supply service came the first realization that the war was indeed over.
The bustle of packing, boxing and despatching ceased, and the long room, which had been nearly cleared by the last shipment, looked lonesome and dreary. The last Bulletins and Reporters had been mailed and the Document committees retired from their long and faithful service. The cutting and work department was cleared of material and the duties of that committee were ended. Draymen looked idly in at the door in the vain hope of getting a "job," and the porter, for lack of employment at the Aid Rooms, was transformed into factotum and half-hourly-express to the Home, where the busy summer's work of receiv ing regiments still continued. The printing press
256
CLOSE OF THE SUPPLY WORK. 257
was seldom used now and only in the business of the Employment Agency, which, with the general care of the records, was at this time the only office work done at the Rooms.
In their determination not to desert the work, the officers of the Society had now stood at their post till the work had deserted them and the question of con tinuing had solved itself.
September 1st, the main room and store cellar, now needlessly spacious, were under-leased to a business firm. The signs were taken down, the receiving-cases, empty barrels and packing boxes, the porter's truck and skids, the scales and other fixtures and conven iences of the shipping department, were disposed of at private sale or returned to the owners who had loaned them, and a general clearance by auction was made of miscellaneous articles that had accumulated in the four and a half years of business and were valueless to the soldiers or their families.
The office furniture and books, with a small supply of stores for chance distribution, were removed to the second story, where an Aid Room in miniature was established. Here everything was carefully dis posed to preserve so far as possible the arrangement of the dear old room that had just been vacated. Office hours were from 9 o'clock, A. M., till 12 M.
Published notice was given that the Cleveland Aid Rooms had been removed to "office No. 17, second floor," where the ladies would remain to close up the business, arrange their papers, and render a final re port. The branch societies were released from fur ther duties, with words of grateful thanks, and their
258 BREAKING UP THE AID ROOMS.
officers were requested to send in their own closing statements with any other papers that would be of service in making up the general history. All out standing packages of work and material were called in. Notice was at the same time given that a part of the Soldiers' Home would be kept open till some permanent provision had been made, by State or Na tional Government, for homeless disabled soldiers, and that at the office of the Society, in the Home building, some one of the ladies would be found every morning between the hours of 9 and 12.
The coveted retirement and quiet opportunity for balancing books and closing accounts were not secured even by this withdrawal to a second floor rear. The morning office-hours were engrossed with the Employ ment Agency, which involved much patience and perplexity, and even the long afternoons slipped by, filled with a succession of duties — often trifling, but all going to make up the sum of special relief work.
Several hours of each day were passed at the Home, where a family of about sixty was now maintained, mostly men who were admitted for a few days while seeking employment in the city. Squads of invalids just discharged from hospital came, day after day, and there was, at long intervals, a regiment late in making the journey home from some distant post, — but the great rush was over. The household of the Home gradually fell back into the regular ways of the old time, and the ladies could enjoy a quiet night in their own houses with only a faint chance of being startled from their dreams by the well-known summons to welcome an approaching regiment.
OHIO STATE SOLDIERS' HOME. 259
In June of this year, Governor BROUGH, interested for the future of the homeless disabled men who were being discharged from hospital, had applied to the War Department for the transfer of Tripler Hospital, near Columbus, with its furniture and equipments, to the State of Ohio, with the purpose of founding a permanent Soldiers' Home. This request was granted and the transfer duly made.
The OHIO STATE SOLDIERS' HOME was formally opened October 17th, 1865, and all invalid or dis abled discharged men were invited to its hospitality, — " not as a charity," so reads the circular, " but as a return in part for what they have sacrificed for their country." The State Home was pleasantly located on the banks of the Scioto river, about three miles from Columbus. The buildings were temporary, in the barrack style, convenient, commodious and nearly new ; in fact the workmen were still busy upon them when the war closed. The furniture and equipments were reasonably ample.
To sustain this new asylum until an appropriation could be obtained from the Ohio Legislature at its approaching session, the Cincinnati Branch Sanitary Commission gave fifteen thousand dollars. This sum not being sufficient, in the unexpected delay in acting upon the bill, the Cleveland Branch later gave five thousand dollars from its treasury towards the sup port of the State Home.
A few days before the formal opening in October, the secretary and treasurer of the Cleveland Society visited the State Home, on request of the superintend ent, Hon. ISAAC BRAYTOIS", and it was then agreed to
260 TRANSFERRING SOLDIERS.
transfer all invalid soldiers that were in the Cleveland Home to this more permanent asylum, and to make known to the disabled soldiers of Northern Ohio this new provision for their comfort. The design was to turn over at once to the State Home all the furniture and stores of the Cleveland Home, but this was soon found to be impracticable. The daily arrivals of feeble soldiers en route from distant hospitals, the occasional coming of a regiment, and especially the presence of several hopelessly sick men whose critical condition, protracted through the winter, forbade any thought of their removal to Columbus, made it neces sary to keep the Cleveland Soldiers' Home open, month after month, as will be seen by the accompany ing report.
The branch aid societies were desired, by letter and circular, to inform all feeble and disabled soldiers in their locality — without distinction of State or nation ality — of their claims to the charity of the State and to urge them to accept it. Notice was sent through out Northern Ohio that soldiers desiring to enter the State Home might report themselves at Cleveland whence they would be forwarded to Columbus at the charge of the Sanitary Commission. The officers of the Society made it the chief business of this winter to collect and send forward invalid soldiers to Co lumbus.
The Cleveland Soldiers' Home became a rendezvous where the feeble men were kept for a few days for rest, if need be, provided with comfortable under clothing, furnished with railroad tickets to Columbus and a certificate which insured them admission to the
CLOSING UP. 261
State Home. The Cleveland and Columbus railroad company afforded these tickets to the Aid Society at half the usual rates. The steward of the Cleveland Home was often sent down in charge of a squad of helpless soldiers or with very sick men, who were always removed on a bed comfortably settled in the baggage car. At the Columbus depot an ambulance stood ready to convey them to the door of the State Home. Some further notice of the OHIO STATE SOLDIERS' HOME is given in the Special Relief Report which accompanies this history. It may be said here that the officers of the Cleveland Aid Society had a warm interest in this institution through its entire existence, — an interest that was not withdrawn w^hen in the summer of 1867 it was transferred to the general Government, became a NATIONAL SOLDIERS' ASYLUM, and was removed to permanent buildings at Dayton, O.
As may be imagined, the work of " closing up" went on but slowly in the little second-story office of the Aid Society this winter.
Files of letters were indeed drawn from their dusty pigeon-holes and prepared for preservation in letter- books ; printed documents were indexed and arranged for binding. The great ledgers and shipping books were still to be reviewed, an aggregate of the business taken and a careful estimate made of the cash value of all contributions.
While this dull work was going heavily forward at rare intervals, on chance occasions of comparative leisure, a new duty so plainly appeared that there
262 THE FREE CLAIM AGENCY.
was no question of putting it aside or shrinking from its burdens.
The Branch Agency established at Cleveland by the general Commission, January 1st, IS 65, for the prose cution, without charge to the soldier, of naval and military claims of the late war, was — like all similar offices — ordered to be closed at the end of the year, with transfer of the pending claims to the general office at Washington. When the time of closing came, a great number of unsettled claims remained on the books, to which the proposed transfer would cause much delay and embarrassment, while the daily increasing business clearly showed the importance to the soldier of continuing a free Agency in this locality.
The officers of the Aid Society believed that they could not use to a better or more legitimate purpose the balance in the treasury than by assuming the expenses and supervision of the Claim office. This being decided on, the FEEE CLAIM AGENCY was estab lished in the third-floor room, directly above the office that was still known as the " Aid Room." The print ing press, now disused, was taken down to give place to this new department, and was subsequently given to the State Home.
April 20th, 1866, five years from the date of its organization, the Society contracted office limits again, giving up the second floor, removing to the third story and sharing that room with the Claim Agency. This third migration was easily accom plished. The desks and books, and a few boxes of soldiers' clothing and little comforts to answer the
ITS MANAGEMENT. 263
appeals that were made almost daily, were soon trans ferred to "Koorn 15, third floor." The pictures and trifling ornaments, that had been carefully preserved in every removal and were dearly prized from asso ciation, were still made by familiar grouping to recall memories of the lights and shadows of Aid Room life. The porter, whose office was now a sinecure, was commended, with testimonials of long and faith ful service, to another situation. A discharged soldier well known to the Society by his trusty performance of duty at the Home, was employed as sub-clerk, porter, and agent in the many little items of business that constantly occurred in rendering special relief to soldiers in transit or to soldiers' families.
In taking charge of the Claim Agency there had been no thought of maintaining it beyond the time needed for adjusting the claims under existing laws, but as new and important pension and bounty laws were soon agitated and finally passed, the same reasons which had moved the Society to assume the business were urgent for its continuance and it was resolved to keep the office open until the decision of Congress upon the proposed increase of pensions should be made known.
The purposes of the Agency were again advertised through the press of Northern Ohio and its notices widely distributed. The officers and members of the branch societies were furnished with its cards and circulars and requested to put them into the hands of every soldier who might need legal aid in adjusting his claims on Government for services in the late war.
The Aid Room circle was now broken up and the
264 LAST DAYS.
secretary and treasurer of the Society alone remained to direct the affairs of the Claim office, in which an authorized agent was employed. The growing busi ness under new laws of June, 1866, obliged them to increase the clerical force and to give their whole time and constant services to the minutiae of office work.
In the really wearying routine of duties so unex pectedly protracted, it was impossible to find time or thought for preparing the general history and final statements that had been so long promised to the public. Besides the unwillingness to put aside the claims of a needful charity or to stop short of the con scientious fulfilment of a public trust, there was an actual inability to sum up the results of a work that was yet unfinished.
The Agency ceased to take new applications, Janu ary 1st, 1867, and remained open only to claimants whose papers were already on file there. From this time the duties of the office were less engrossing, and on the 1st of July an agreement was made with an experienced agent to take charge of the still pending claims, he to receive from the Society a specified sum upon each claim at its final adjustment.
Though relieved, by this agreement, from daily attendance at the office, the secretary and treasurer could not feel absolved from personal responsibility and were unwilling to wholly resign into other hands, however competent, the closing business of the Agency. The history of the Cleveland Free Claim Agency, which properly closes the general history of the Aid Society, is detailed in the accompanying Special Relief Report.
SUMMARY. 265
The reader is referred to that Keport, page 398, for the expansion of a subject whose brief mention here scarcely conveys an idea of the three years of labor and solicitude which the management of the Claim Agency involved, after the actual close of the war.
The foregoing pages are a brief sketch of the work that loyalty prompted one small district to do for the soldiers. They are submitted in the hope that it may not be uninteresting to trace the history of a Society which was the first permanently organized, one of the first to enter the field, and the last to leave it ; which began with a capital of two gold dollars and closed with a cash statement of more than one hundred and seventy thousand dollars ; which grew from a neigh borhood sewing-circle to become the representative of five hundred and twenty-five branch organizations, in dispensing hospital stores valued at nearly a million of dollars ; which built and supported a Soldiers' Home and conducted a Special Relief system and an Em ployment Agency, from which sixty thousand Union soldiers and their families received aid and comfort, and a Free Claim Agency which gratuitously collected war claims aggregating three hundred thousand dol lars, at a saving to the claimants of over seventeen thousand dollars.
Appended to this volume are tabular statements which confirm the above summary.
Appendix A gives the treasurer's cash report, an enumeration of the supplies issued, w^ith their cash
i .«,
266 ABSTRACTS.
valuation, and a list of the army localities to which these were shipped.
Appendix B sums up the expenses of the Special Belief service, including the cost of building, enlarg ing and maintaining the Cleveland Soldiers' Home, and notes the number of lodgings, meals and transpor tation tickets furnished to soldiers, classifying the applicants by the states from which they were enlisted. This appendix also gives the names of citizens who contributed cash for building the Home, and of those Branch Societies that sent supplies specifically for its tables.
Appendix C reports the business of the Free Claim Agency, the number and designation of the cases filed and the items and aggregate of expense.
Appendix D records the names of ladies of the city whose payment of the monthly fee, for one year or longer, or whose active part in the work at the Aid Koorns, entitles them to be called members of the Society, and the names of the gentlemen who were enrolled as honorary members.
In Appendix E are the names of those friends of the Aid Society who were most prominent in all schemes for supplying its treasury, — ladies and gen tlemen whose energy and skill projected concerts, tableaux and amusements of various kinds, and young people whose musical or artistic talents made these amateur entertainments charming and profitable. The special committees of the Sanitary Fair have their place here, though even this long array of names em braces but a tithe of those who worked zealously in that great charity. The local associate members of
REPORTS. 267
the U. S. SANITARY COMMISSION, the Ward Relief Com mittees, so far as reported, and the city Reception Committees are included in this appendix.
Appendix F is a list of Branch Societies, with the names of their officers and correspondents, so far as it was possible to obtain them from letters or reports. Under some of these will be found a summary of the cash disbursed or of the estimated contribution in kind. These have all been taken from the written re ports of an officer. Where no valuation was furnished none has been supplied.
Even the most satisfactory of these statements but feebly shadows the patience, enthusiasm and self-devo tion involved in maintaining an Aid Society, formed, as many of these were, in localities where farm duties were engrossing, neighborhoods scattering, and ship ping facilities inconvenient, — where money was not plenty and laborers were few.
Earnest and repeated requests have been made, by letter and circular, for the closing statement of each society, but so meagre has been the response that it became a matter of doubt whether to publish those that were received. In deciding to do this partial justice to the few, it is much regretted that even the names of others equally prominent must be unrecorded, and that some of the most important auxiliary socie ties are left entirely without a business showing.
The difficulty of obtaining these reports, though embarrassing to those who would gladly have given the Branches more space in this volume, is a not un- pleasing commentary upon the spirit which animated the faithful laborers in Northern Ohio Aid Societies
268 CONCLUSION.
throughout the war. In their zeal to begin their work, and their enthusiastic continuance, some " had no time to waste in keeping books;" others, indifferent to"the future, destroyed their papers from time to time, as valueless, — so soon as they were satisfied that their boxes had reached destination, — or celebrated the happy return of peace by a general bonfire of their records. Some of the most efficient organizations worked steadily on without change of officers, and when the war closed, quietly resumed the interrupted duties of the missionary circle or church sociable from which their Aid Society had been temporarily formed, and this without summing up results or claiming or expecting honor or reward.
But all who had any part in the beneficent work in which it was woman's peculiar privilege to serve her country, must feel abundantly rewarded in having been able to do something for those who gave health, manly strength, worldly prospects, ties of home, and even life itself, in the more perilous service of the field.
As already sweet flowers and tender plants creep over and half conceal the battle footprints but lately left on many a field and hillside of our land, so sweet charities and tender memories arise to enwrap the gaunt figure and veil the grim visage of War, that must forever stand, a central object, upon the canvas that portrays the history of these memorable years.
PART II.
SPECIAL RELIEF.
SPECIAL RELIEF.
THAT division of the Sanitary Commission work known as the SPECIAL RELIEF DEPARTMENT, com prised all the aid rendered to soldiers, individually, both through the Homes and Lodges, and from the depots of supplies.
The branches of this service were : the HOSPITAL DIRECTORY, through whose medium the condition of a soldier, sick in hospital or camp, could be daily learned, and whose records of the battle field told the fate of many a missing man ; the EMPLOYMENT AGENCY, wrhich secured to discharged soldiers occu pation suited to their various degrees of disability; the WAR CLAIM AGENCY, which collected gratuitously for soldiers, their widows or heirs, the pension, arrears of pay and bounty due them; and the SOLDIERS' HOMES, whose reports also covered the assistance rendered the families of enlisted men. These compre hended the entire work as known to the home field. At the front the design was necessarily varied and expanded, embracing the system of hospital cars and transports, of feeding stations and hospital visitors.
The Soldiers' Homes of the Commission grew out of a necessity soon recognized — that of facilitating the transportation of sick and disabled men. Much
274 SOLDIERS' HOMES AND RESTS.
suffering was found to exist in the transfer of such from insufficient arrangements for food and rest, and the attention of the Sanitary Commission was directed to this fact. To remedy the evil, Homes or Rests were established in all the large cities on the great routes of travel, or in military occupation.
First designed for the relief of the sick and desti tute, the plan, widening, included all soldiers of the national army on furlough or discharge. The larger establishments, drawing rations from the government to cover the greater expense, invited to their hospi talities even regimental organizations on transfer to the field, or returning to their camps of discharge.
Here the sick soldier found rest and refreshment ; the discharged and disabled man, awaiting the first installment of pension, gained a temporary asylum; the recruit, the veteran, the returned prisoner, met here the sympathy of their loyal fellow citizens in many forms of substantial comfort.
The present report embraces only those phases of the local relief work which may properly be con nected with the history of the CLEVELAND SOLDIERS' HOME.
MARINE HOSPITAL, ARMY DEPARTMENT.
IN the van of those who, during the first six months of the war, applied, personally, to the Soldiers' Aid Society for relief, were the soldiers in the hastily organized camps, who were, at first, scantily supplied with clothing and bedding.
Often a company of fresh, stalwart country lads, arriving in hot haste, found their patriotic fervor
EARLY CAMP LIFE. 275
severely tested by the necessity of passing their first night in camp exposed to the fury of a summer tem pest. Promptly following such accessions to the military force, came a delegation of soldiers to the Aid Rooms in search of relief from that quarter, while they relate the trials of the boys, who marched in from Hiram, or Chardon, last night, and lay on the wet ground. Later in the war, taught by past experience, the mother gave her soldier a home-made blanket or patch-work quilt, as a temporary expedient; but, in the first days, the great question was, who should be earliest in the field ? Providence and the quartermas ter would take care of the rest.
Here are a file of so-called requisitions for blankets from the 7th, the 8th, the 40th Ohio Regiments,— names which afterwards became so honored, and whose members fought bravely, suffered, died on the field, in hospital, or brought home their wounds and lived to smile at the hardships of the first days of enlistment.
Following soon upon the organization of the Sol diers' Aid Society, was the formation, in all wards of the city, of committees who assumed the charge of the soldiers' families, visited each and all systemati cally, and distributed to them, according to their several necessities, food and clothing, purchased from the funds contributed in each district for this pur pose. (See Appendix E.)
Personal investigation, faithfully pursued in all cases, by members of the various ward committees, resulted in an impartial and correct disposition of the money committed to them. The aid thus bestowed,
276 WARD COMMITTEES.
in most instances, was received as simply supplemen tary to the honest labor of the soldier's wife ; although the good committee ladies once found their offer of employment rejected on the ground that "she couldn't be expected to work, as she understood the ladies were to be supported while their husbands were in the war."
Although these committees were, to a great extent, composed of active members of the Aid Society, the Ward Relief system being wholly local in its work ings, was entirely independent of the Sanitary Com mission. Relieved thus from the direct care of the soldiers' families, the Aid Society still occasionally rendered them assistance, and this in time became an important item in its current work. As a medium of communication between the home circle and the absent soldier, it was always available.
Among the recruits in Camps Wade and Taylor, there were soon sick men, suffering from the unusual exposure, injured by the accidental discharge of fire arms, or victims of the inevitable camp diseases, who, in the absence of hospital accommodations, fell to the charge of the Sanitary Commission.
Regimental hospitals were organized and well con ducted, but as each in turn was broken up, when marching orders came, the patients who were unable to go on with the regiment, again reverted to the Aid Society. Their number daily increased, and in lodging houses, where they were quartered, they could not receive the care their condition required. It was evident that some more extended system must be adopted, and to effect this, a meeting was called on
MAEINE HOSPITAL. 277
the llth of November, 1861, by the gentlemen who had been recently appointed associate members of the General Sanitary Commission. (See Appendix E.)
The Soldiers' Aid Society was invited to co-operate in the scheme, and a committee appointed to secure a portion of the Marine Hospital for the use of invalid soldiers. On application to the Secretary of the Treasury, the Collector of the port was authorized to assign one or two rooms in the great, half-tenanted building for this purpose.
The Faculty of the Cleveland Medical College offered to attend the patients gratuitously. A con tract was made with the steward of the Hospital to supply necessary food, while the outfit of bedding, clothing, dressings and nourishing diet for the sick came from the store room of the Soldiers' Aid Society.
To what was now called the Army Department of the Marine Hospital, Mr. B. EOUSE gave his time and services as director of its affairs, nurse, faithful attend ant upon the sick and correspondent. For the two soldiers who died there — one burned by an explosion in the corral, the other returning on furlough to his Illinois home — he performed every kind office, then traced the friends of each and gave them the partic ulars, so full of interest, of the soldiers' sickness and death.
Here, in fact, the Aid Society found little to do. It could visit the patients, from time to time; now and then aid one in returning to his home, and hold itself, on all occasions, in readiness to respond to calls upon its stores for the use of the hospital. It became also, in several instances, responsible for soldiers too ill to be safely removed to the Marine Hospital.
278 PITTSBURGH LANDING.
As the men. became convalescent, were discharged, and returned to their regiments, from one and another would come back a letter, full of the writer's views of the war and administration of military affairs, seldom failing to revert, in the words of one correspondent, " to your kindness that you shew me, when I thought no friend was near."
The expense of maintaining the hospital was borne by the committee under whose charge it was organ ized. After the establishment of the DEPOT HOSPITAL this committee ceased to act, while the Special Relief work was thenceforth assumed by the Soldiers' Aid Society, at this time formally connected with the U. S. SANITARY COMMISSION and recognized as its Cleve land Branch.
THE DEPOT HOSPITAL.
On the 6th and 7th of April, 1862, the battle of Pittsburgh Landing was fought.
In common with the entire West, Northern Ohio was deeply moved and aroused by this struggle, in which a large proportion of its troops were engaged. On that first anxious day, when it was rumored that the great battle was in progress, which was afterwards decided in favor of the Union forces, the Aid Rooms were thronged with an eager crowd, which gathered and increased as intelligence, later and more full, reveal ed the extent of loss, even to the victorious troops. The imperfect lists of wounded and dead were finally made public, and there were still many, bewildered by the vagueness of the reports, the distance of the unfamiliar battle ground, who came to the Aid Society as the
HOSPITAL STEAMEES. 279
fountain head of military information. Little aid could be rendered them there beyond writing a letter of enquiry — the mere sending of which was a tempo rary relief to anxiety and suspense — and sometimes enlisting them in working for any and all soldiers. Often the amanuensis of the office was petitioned to read the joyful answer to her missive, wherein it appeared that the writer was safe and wanted another fight. Often, too, a few kind words from the unskilful pen of a brother soldier were brought her to deci pher, which told that poor so and so was killed on the second day's fight, or, what was almost as hard to hear, had been wounded and taken prisoner by the enemy.
Within a week from the date of the battle, the hospital steamers of the Sanitary Commission brought up the river the first installment of wounded men, who could bear removal to the cooler northern climate. The hospitals along the route received their allotted number of patients ; the convalescents were furloughed and allowed to return to their own homes.
At this time the suggestion was made to the Aid Society by Mrs. JAMES SHAW, of Windham, O., that something should be done at Cleveland for the relief and comfort of the soldiers who must pass through that city. Several wounded and sick boys from Northern Ohio regiments had spent the night, hungry and cold, on the floor of the Union Depot.
Two ladies from the Aid Rooms were at once detailed to carry into execution a hastily formed plan which would meet the exigencies of the case. A small room in the Depot was obtained, through the
280 THE DEPOT HOSPITAL.
kindness of the Cleveland, Painesville and Ashtabula railroad company, for a temporary hospital, accessible, well warmed and lighted.
A part of the primitive furniture of the Marine Hospital was ordered to the front, a foraging party organized to beg or borrow some additional articles of comfort, and a rendezvous appointed for drays and committee women. The simple outfit was soon col lected, for its various parts were cordially given by the city merchants, with something also in the way of encouragement for the new scheme. In one instance a clerk, hearing the story of the hospital, begged to add his gift to his employer's, because he had a dead soldier brother.
At noon a small train, consisting of a dray load of beds, tables and chairs, under the orders of the ener getic director of the Army Department of the Marine Hospital, and a carriage containing the committee, obscured behind a confused mass of sheets, blankets, pillows, bowls, pitchers, clothing, etc., leffc the Bank street headquarters, and by night the DEPOT HOSPITAL was an established charity.
Opening a door from the busy depot the room was disclosed, fifteen feet square, with painted floor, perfectly clean, four white beds, a table with books and newspapers, and a very little other furniture disposed to advantage. The walls at this period, though clean, were bare, but soon one and another wounded hero, who found the hours pass slowly in this retreat, covered the white surface with startling pictures, extracted from sensational prints, charcoal sketches or martial scenes, original in design and exe-
ITS MENAGE. 281
cution. Here was JEFF. DAVIS, in the uncomfortable position in which all soldiers delighted to imagine him, and, perhaps in close conjunction, an inscription which asserted, with plentiful capitals, that " This is a bully place."
It was noisy without, through the heavy roll of cars and the shrieks of many locomotives, but within it was quiet, clean and inviting to the sick men to to whose use it was dedicated.
The establishment was consigned to the charge of GEORGE VOSBUEGH, an excellent nurse, kind and efficient, who attended all the trains and brought to the hospital room those who were unable to proceed on their journey. A system of tickets, redeemable each month, procured meals at all hours from the dining hall of Messrs. WHEELER and RUSSELL, in the same building, and in this way many could be fed, even in the limited time allowed between the arrival and departure of trains.
The advent of the new institution was welcomed by those engaged in any capacity at the depot. It now appeared that much suffering had been experi enced by disabled soldiers, detained through the non connection of trains, and dependent upon the charity of their fellow passengers or of the rail road employes, who were heavily taxed to meet the immediate wants of this numerous class.
The irregular character of the furloughs of men brought from Tennessee on the hospital boats, made it often necessary to assist them by transportation. The Governor of Ohio employed Mr. CLARK WARREN as special agent to send forward the Ohio men. For
282 CAPACITIES AND RESOURCES.
transportation of members of regiments from other States, the Aid Society relied upon the generosity of the various rail road companies, whose innumerable kindnesses can be only imperfectly recorded. Daily, almost hourly, requests for assistance were invariably and cordially granted, and so long as the society organization existed.
Clothing and some simple luxuries were supplied the hospital from the Aid Rooms, and thus to a cer- amount of home-made dainties direct communication was secured with the lips of the patients, and duly credited on the out-standing account with the surgeons and nurses. Did any one insist that all the sheets and shirts, fruit and wines went astray, the Depot Hospital could be pointed to with pride as refuting the assertion in one instance.
Occasionally a seriously ill patient was sent to the Marine Hospital, where fresher air and less noise awaited an invalid. When the U. S. General Hos pital was established at Camp Cleveland, all cases of continued illness were transferred thither, except of men actually discharged from the service.
Financially the Depot Hospital received no special attention from the public. The expenses of its first month's existence were refunded by Governor TOD of Ohio, who visited the room, was pleased with its humble mission, and in this way contributed to its object. It was subsequently supported from the funds of the Aid Society, no particular collection being made for the purpose until the Soldiers' Home was built.
The capacity of the room was extremely limited; it
A. DRAWBACK. 283
aimed only to lodge for a night a sick soldier, and to feed those who were able to proceed homeward with out further detention. Sometimes the name of an army nurse appears on its records, and often the wives or mothers of wounded men were glad to rest here an hour with their charges on their journey from camp or hospital.
There was still a drawback to the success of the depot room — the absence of the home character which only can redeem such places from becoming mere feeding stations. The first duty was to see that every man had enough to eat, and, as far as the brief time allowed, had his deficiencies in clothing repaired, his papers straightened, and a pass procured. But noth ing indicated that he was not simply the object of governmental solicitude, nor added to the relief of his temporal wants the assurance of warm sympathy prompting the aid, which holds hardly a secondary place in the design of the Sanitary Commission.
The patients were, whenever it was possible, visited by members of the Society, always when one remained more than a few hours. Sometimes a patriotic sheet found its way back, emblazoned with banners and eagles, glowing in magenta or pink, and bringing a few words from a former soldier guest ; or a reunited family send to the new found friends of son or brother a round robin like this :
From the father :
" i A friend in need is a friend indeed.' John got home safe, and hasn't taken cold, therefore I give you my sincere thanks for your kind attention."
And the mother adds :
284 RETURNING REGIMENTS.
"From a friend. To let you know that ray son reached home safe, without receiving any injury, but was some tired, but has got rested and is now quite comfortable, except he is weak and has a bad cough. * * He wants that I should give you his best respects - the old lady as took care of him — as he feels to thank you both for your kind care and attention to him, and says give his best respects to all inquiring friends, and his trouble is that he is not able to be with the regiment. * *."
In August, 1863, the regiments on duty on the lower Mississippi, whose term of service had expired, were relieved and ordered home for muster out.
The route selected brought the troops of Eastern States through Cleveland, and when this became known, with the fact that many sick accompanied each detachment, preparations were made to receive and entertain them at this point.
The rail road companies contracted with the propri etors of the Depot Dining Hall to provide the feasts with a solid foundation of bread, meat and coffee, while to supplement this with, a superstructure of more dainty food, became the privilege and duty of the citizens generally.
The Soldiers' Aid Society Kooms were headquarters for the reception of such gifts, and soon overflowed with treasures of good things. Boxes, barrels, shelves, desks, were receptacles for pies " of all that grows," cakes in endless variety, custards, fruit, wines, every thing which could be baked, boiled or fried, in unlim ited quantities.
The stock of Sanitary handkerchiefs and fans, with
STIRRTKG APPEALS. 285
their mark, which he who runs may read, lay ready for distribution; the camphor and blackberry wine were decanted into small bottles, while a plentiful supply of light food for the sick, beef tea and stimu lants was selected from the hospital stores.
From the Aid Rooms these preparations were con veyed to the depot, where the entertainment was spread on long tables, improvised for the occasion, and extending through the entire length of the build ing. The depot proper being fully occupied by the dining arrangements, the small adjoining room was given up to the sick, and attended by only too many kind and sympathizing volunteer nurses.
From the Aid Room emanated the first news of the arrival of troops, conveyed to the city at large by a huge black board, which said, in staring letters, from its position before the door: "The 47th Mass, will be here at nine o'clock to-night ! ! Citizens, bring your good things to the depot ! ! " or, perhaps, in a more persuasive tone : " Gentlemen going to market, will please remember the hungry soldiers, to-night ! " When there was sufficient time, the editors of the city papers would repeat these notices, enforced by a full allowance of capitals and leaded type.
Of a busy week's experience the Secretary of the the Aid Society wrote :
CLEVELAND AID ROOMS,
AUGUST 15, 1863. DR. J. S. XEWBERRY,
Sec'y Western Department U. S. Sanitary Commission, Louisville : At the close of a busy and wearisome day, I have time for only a word before the mail closes. We have had our hearts and our hands full in the last twenty-four hours, and many of our ladies have had their first sight of the dreadful effects of war.
286 THE PORT HUDSON REGIMENTS.
Yesterday afternoon, at 4 o'clock, the long expected regiment, (4th Massa chusetts,) arrived. There were nearly a hundred sick, and all in a very worn condition. The preparations so long made proved ample, and after two hours' merciful work among the hospital cars, and a full feast set out for the well, the ladies had the satisfaction of sending the brave boys on their way in a much better condition than that in which they came to us.
Another regiment was telegraphed to be here in two hours from the departure of the first, and you may imagine the commotion into which the whole town was thrown ; messengers were sent everywhere to notify the housekeepers and to hasten their gifts, and such excitement and hurry of preparation at the depot ! Cleveland people, you know, are equal to any good work, and so, at 8 o'clock, when the 28th Maine came in, there was an abundant meal spread for them, and a fully organized committee of ladies to attend the sick. The hospital cars, five in number, were crowded with bad cases. All our ladies were down there and worked like heroines.
At 10 o'clock at night we left the depot, only to go home to make fresh arrangements to meet a third regiment, at 5 o'clock this morning.
This last regiment, the 47th Massachusetts, has occupied us all the morn ing of this beautiful Sabbath, and our hearts have been sorely tried by the dreadful state in which the men were found. We had very good provision for their reception. Believing cleanliness to be next to godliness, we organized a " new department," and set long tables at the entrance of the depot and upon them put rows of tin wash basins, with a cake of soap and a towel at each, and had plenty of fresh water ready. Such a splashing and scrubbing and cheering never was ! I believe this was the most welcome part of the programme. From their bath the soldiers passed on to a really bountiful breakfast of soft bread and butter, cold meat, pickles, herring and salmon, plenty of onions and cucumbers, tomatoes and apples, coffee and tea. So the well men were abundantly fed. Meantime, the ladies carried hand basins and towels into the hospital cars. Each sick man was refreshed by having his face and hands bathed, and then the tea, coffee, warm gruel, bread and jelly, dried beef, sponge cake, egg and wine and other stimulants, were dispensed with lavish hand. One badly wounded man and the surgeon, Dr. BLACKMER, who was very ill indeed, were carried at once into our little hospital and carefully tended. The surgeon remained, and Mr. WM. BINGHAM has taken him to his own house. Four sick men were sent to the Camp Cleveland Hospital, four of the Maine regiment also went there last night.
A sad scene, indeed, was the death of one poor fellow, this morning, in our little hospital. He was sinking fast when the train came in. Every thing was done for him that kindness or experience could suggest, but he was too far gone with the exhaustion following a lung fever, and died almost within sight of his home and family.
Poor fellow ! how hard he tried to speak and to send some word home !
NEW DUTIES. 287
He was a splendid soldier, they said, and when the men of his company filed sadly in to look at his dead face, — some even kissed his forehead and dropped their tears upon it, — we knew that they felt it hard to leave their comrade, and harder yet to frame the sad story into words that his waiting friends at home might hear. We have taken every care of the body, and it is to be forwarded to-morrow by express.
I think you would be quite satisfied with the part our Aid Society has taken in the care of these regiments, and surely it has been a blessed work. It would be well for the Union cause in Cleveland if we had such calls made upon our sympathies and our benevolence every week. You have no idea how nobly our ladies came out to this duty, nor how richly they were rewarded by the bright faces of those New England boys, as they left the depot cheered and refreshed by the care they had received. This last regiment was peculiarly needy. It had passed every important point in the night, till now, and this half day in Cleveland was a blessing to the poor fellow's ! They numbered about seven hundred, with one hundred, at least, seriously sick, and nearly all, indeed, ailing somewhat, and just from the trenches at Port Hudson.
No time for another word.
AUGUST 21.
I sent you on Sunday a hurried sketch of our new duties — feeding the passing regiments — and now can give you only an equally hasty view of what has been done this week, which to us has seemed long and eventful, and has turned quiet little Cleveland into a busy town, and made Bank street and the depot the scene of a great deal of benevolent and good natured confusion at all hours of day and night.
Monday morning we were occupied in making arrangements for sending on the body of poor THAYER, of whose death I wrote you. At night it went, and with it we sent some comforting words to his wife and friends, which I hope softened somewhat their great sorrow. All day Tuesday we were torn with rumors about the next regiment. The cars broke down, and various detentions kept the train till 8 o'clock P. M. Then the 28th Connecticut, a small regiment — five hundred perhaps — arrived ; so worn and wreary the men looked, and they straggled so painfully into the depot that it touched every heart, and you may believe our ladies were not slow in offering the comforts contained in their generous baskets.
The colonel had gone home by sea, sick. The lieutenant colonel, two surgeons, and many of the line officers were dead, and the regiment wras in charge of the major. The sick had been brought up in charge of the 2d assistant surgeon, Dr. HENRY ROCKWELL, a mere boy in appearance, but a miracle of faithfulness, kindness and energy. Dr. ROCKWELL had tele graphed his desire to leave five men in the hospital here, and we had an omnibus ready. The men were very unwilling to stop at first — even feigned sleep, and hid themselves under their blankets — but at the persua-
288 CLEVELAND HOSPITALITY.
sions of some of our ladies, accompanied by a taste and a smell of the appetizing gruel, broth, blackberry cordial, etc., they began to put out their heads wistfully, and finally nineteen clamored to stay, and were left. The ladies promised to go and see them in hospital next day, and so they did. S. and N. drove over to inquire after them, and found them as comfortable and happy as sick men could possibly be. " Oh," said one of them, " when you told me of your excellent hospital, I expected to see a great comfortless brick barn or warehouse, fine outside with nothing cheerful within ; but when we drove up to this homelike little cottage, and saw how neat and pleasant everything is, we knew that we were among our friends, and after our bath, and the luxury of clean clothes and a good breakfast, we felt like new creatures, and can realize that we are no longer in Dixie." Indeed all the men who have been sent to Camp Cleveland hospital this week have given the same willing testimony to the kind care received there.
At 10 o'clock (Tuesday night,) the regiment had gone on its way, and the sick had been sent over to the hospital. I must not forget to tell you that the commissary stores — three dray loads — were presented to our Society. We can turn some of them into our own stock very nicely, and for the rest we can get a good sum of money, as the Quartermaster here has promised to buy them of us.
Next day we had a little breathing time, and then towards night were electrified by the news that two more large regiments were coming on from Indianapolis, while still two more were on the way from Cairo. All Thurs day the preparations were making, and indeed I cannot tell you how gen erously our citizens met this fresh call. It reminded one of those early days of the war, when each merchant seemed to vie with his neighbor in his lavish gifts of everything his store afforded. Indeed, it was almost impossible for us to buy anything here. It seemed a mere farce to offer payment, everything was so freely given to this good cause. We bought dishes enough to serve the whole regiment at once, and towards night you would have been amused to see our lawyers, merchants and railroad men spreading tables, slicing onions, bottling wine, or cutting sandwiches. We had ample washing arrangements, too ; a long row of basins twice down the depot. Such a splashing, when at 7 o'clock the 49th Massachusetts, seven hundred and seventeen strong, came in ! — tired, dusty, and so hungry, but there was enough for all, and the sick were attended in the cars, as before.
The surgeon, Dr. WINDSOR, was exceedingly careful of his men, and knew at once who were to stay, and we had beds carried out of our little room to the side of the car. Seven men were thus brought into our depot hospital. The ladies supplied them with stimulants, and at 8 o'clock they were ready to go over to the hospital. One poor fellow fainted before the omnibus left. He was very, very sick. They brought him back apparently
CARE OF THE SICK. 289
dying, but thanks to the motherly care that he received, animation was restored. Dr. GUSHING was called and pronounced it a bad case, paralysis of the throat, caused by great exhaustion. After he had revived and had been made comfortable for the night, Captain ENSWOHTH offered to stay with him, which he did, and this morning we found him well enough to be carried to the hospital. We have seen him since, and he bore the drive well.
The men of this regiment expressed the greatest delight at being among their friends again. The colonel and lieutenant colonel had been disabled, the major was in charge. It was a fine regiment. Just before the train moved off, we discovered in one car a black bundle — blankets, as we then thought — piled away in a dark corner, but the heap having, in an unguarded moment, betrayed animation, some adventurous woman investigated the mystery and brought to view the woolly heads and wild eyes of two contra bands who had not dared to venture out for fear of being stolen back South. They were reassured, of course, and dragged out just in time to get a morsel of supper, for which they showed surprising appetite. It required a great deal of argument, however, to convince them that they were in a free country !
Our duties with this regiment were not over till near midnight. This morning, of course, we were somewhat footsore, and were conscious of having heads, from the fact that there was an ache somewhere above our shoulders. Eight o'clock came, and with it the startling telegram — "48th Massachusetts — seven hundred men — very hungry — had nothing at Indi anapolis — can we get breakfast at Cleveland ? " Only two hours, and not only a feast to be provided, but the debris of last night's entertainment to be carried away ! Seven hundred plates to wash, etc., etc., — a small matter to some of our splendidly organized subsistence committees, but a bug-bear indeed to raw hands, as we were.
It was done, however, and at 10 o'clock the hungry regiment had really a sumptuous repast spread, while the thirty sick men were attended by the ladies, who first gave a refreshing draught, then the luxury of a dip into the bright tin basin, with plenty of soap, and afterwards turned out of the exhaustless tin cauldrons hot broth, gruel, and all manner of sick diet. Two very sick men have been left. They were taken over to tlie hospital this afternoon.
And now here we are, Friday night, with two big, famished, expectant regiments thundering towards us like relentless fate, — the 53d Massachu setts saving its appetite, perforce, for breakfast here to-morrow morning, at 9 o'clock ; the 23d Connecticut equally certain of a dinner or supper some time later. And they shall not be disappointed, brave fellows ! It does the hearts of all our people good to give, and to cook, and to carve for these returning men. We might almost wish, for the cause of our country, that we had had such work to do every week since Southern sympathizers began to show their heads among us !
290 FRIENDLY MESSAGES.
Now, do not think I mean to boast of what we have done, in the hurried sketch of our work which I have given you. Nothing of the kind is true. I only wish you to know that our citizens have their full share of the patriotism and humanity of which other cities nearer the seat of war have given such beautiful illustrations.
Yours truly, M. C. B.
To soldiers, living so long in an enemy's country and among unfriendly people, Cleveland, with its welcome and enthusiasm, seemed a garden spot in the war's experience. The news of its hospitality went to many a New England home, and after the regiments were resolved into their citizen elements, directly and indirectly, many messages of grateful remembrance found their wray to Ohio. One correspondent wrote for the " poor blind mother and afflicted wife " of the soldier who died in the Depot Hospital; others, in various styles of chirography and orthography, but in uniform good feeling, sent their own friendly messages. The report of some of the 28th Connecticut bore fruit in a gift to the Aid Society of ten dollars, from a gen tleman who learned " the manner in which the troops from Eastern States were received." From another New England town returned the fame of the washing arrangements, and thanks of certain of these ex-soldiers for " kindness received when worn out and suffering." All this was certainly pleasant and encouraging.
These regiments were followed by the 177th New York, also from Port Hudson, but more exhausted and with a larger train of sick than any preceding it It was met at Cleveland by a committee from Albany. N. Y., where the regiment was recruited, and its wel come was perhaps more enthusiastic from this cause.
In common with the sick of the New England
PLEASANT DUTIES. 291
troops, the worst cases were removed to the United States general hospital, at Camp Cleveland, after a few hours' rest in the room at the depot, where one soldier died soon after his arrival. A subsequent very pleasant duty of the Aid Society was to visit these patients at the hospital, and carry to them the good wishes sent by their colonel or more fortunate comrades, who had gone home. The messages were always joyfully received, and the condition of the invalids was in return reported to Albany. Some times the friends of a convalescent soldier came to be directed to the hospital, and then required some assistance in removing their charge, who probably owed his life to the brief detention, and was always superlatively happy. In the absence of nearer friends, the care of the remains and effects of those who died devolved upon the Aid Society. Colonel CHAMBERLIN, of the 17 7th New York Volunteers, contributed to its treasury fifty dollars, in recognition of these services. This New York regiment was the last that passed through Cleveland in 1863. On the 8th of the fol lowing September five hundred men, newly assigned to the Invalid Corps, were entertained at the depot. A day or two later came two hundred convalescents, the sick of Eastern regiments, who had been left at the hospitals on the route from Port Hudson. On the 22d of September a similar detachment was enter tained, as reported in the following letter:
CLEVELAND, September 24th, 1863.
* * About one o'clock, on Saturday, a message was sent from the depot for Mrs. ROUSE and myself, and, on going down, we found some one hun dred and twenty men, from Xew Orleans and Baton Rouge, going home on furlough or discharge. A sadder sight you can hardly imagine. All
292 LIFE AND DEATH.
were crippled or otherwise maimed, or pale and tliin from tlie effects of long fevers. They had dined luxuriously off oysters and coffee, for which — I came home convinced — they considered thanks due to the "fat man" who dispensed it. The depot room was occupied by a young boy — a member of the 48th Massachusetts — terribly weak after a brain fever. We dosed him with plenty of oyster broth, and ordered more of the same to be given him for his journey. It was really a pleasure to see a little color flush his cheeks as he felt the reviving influence of the warm food. His companion, also a member of the 48th Massachusetts, who were fed at Cleveland in August, and who, he said, would never forget it, was as careful of his charge as any woman, and I am sure they reached home safely. But a soldier who had left the hospital, apparently no nearer death than his comrade, was brought into the depot dead, on the seat where he was placed on entering the train. The body was removed, before we came down, to the undertakers, and would then have been taken away and- buried without ceremony of any kind, but, on learning this, we gave orders that everything proper should be done for him, and his funeral take place from the Soldiers' Aid Rooms. I found, among his papers, letters from his wife and daughters, full of anticipation of his return. From them I learnt their address, and wrote that night to the wife.
I am quite convinced, from Saturday's experience, that we must have a Soldiers' Home. We can have a bazaar, or some other dreadful thing, to support it.
The brother of the sick boy reported promptly his safe arrival with his charge; " a joyful thing," he adds, " to me and his poor mother." The soldier who died in the train was afterwards claimed by his friends, and his remains and small possessions sent, at their request, to Norwich, N. Y. Some services afterwards rendered, in furnishing the proof necessary to secure a pension to his widow, brought a contribution of five dollars to the treasury, from the lawyer conducting the claim, the amount of his fees in the case.
The cheerless aspect of the depot, on the day which brought this detachment of sick, with a cold wind sweeping through its dreary length and chilling the feeble men who crawled up and down the platforms, or lay listlessly along the heaps of baggage, furnished
LIMITED QUAKTERS. 293
the conclusive argument for a Soldiers' Home. The Depot Hospital only sufficed for the worst cases, and even then had many disadvantages. The noise and confusion without, sometimes unavoidably penetrated to the ears of the sick men, the quarters were too limited to give all the attention to be desired, and on Sunday, the depot being closed, it was necessary to remove the patients to other places. The whole sys tem of relief was imperfect, in admitting of no uniform restraint or supervision. The less disabled were fur nished only with meals, and not amenable to any discipline whatever, drifting away into the drinking places, which abound in that vicinity, and shifting for themselves, except in the matter of food; even that, taken in a peripatetic manner, was deprived of its civilizing influence. All these points were strength ened by the rapidly increasing number of soldiers from the Southern Department, since the opening of the lower Mississippi brought troops by this route. Besides, should the war then close, the number of disabled men thrown upon the care of the Sanitary Commission could not fail to be very large.
A Cleveland Soldiers' Home was at once deter mined upon ; one that should be comfortable enough to give the sick the care and attendance found in the United States general hospitals, which are closed to men discharged from the service ; and should also be sufficiently attractive to compete successfully, in every simple way, with the surrounding hotels, or rather saloons. To these, the newly discharged soldiers with their pay in pocket, were an easy prey, and between their runners at the trains and the employe of the
294 SUCCESSFUL CANVASSING.
Depot Hospital there was consequent and continual enmity.
Two officers of the Aid Society, with Mrs. R. F. PAINE, Mr. PETEE THATCHEE, Mr. JAMES TEACY and Mr. JOHN F. WAENEE, who kindly offered their ser vices, constituted a committee to solicit contributions for this purpose, and entered upon the task immedi ately. They were successful beyond their anticipa tions in collecting two thousand dollars, including the value of some gifts made in material for the building. (See Appendix B.) The work of collection, although rendered comparatively easy by the general prompt generosity with which the request was met, was yet embarrassed by the fact that the special relief work of the Soldiers' Aid Society was little known, and, indeed, up to a recent period, had made no demands upon the interest of the public. The greater number of those who were solicited to aid the new project, gave readily, because they had faith in the earnest purpose of the society, which asserted that there w^as new suffering to relieve, and not because they knew this to be true. Consequently there were certain, even among the generous and patriotic, who pro nounced the scheme unnecessary and a waste of means which might be applied to assist more pressing distress. The truth of this opinion could only be proved by actual test, and after a few months' experi ence of the value of such an institution, the objections to its purpose were very generally withdrawn, as all doubts of its usefulness were set at rest.
On the 12th of December the Depot Hospital was finally closed, despoiled of its furniture and returned
INVALID CORPS. 29o
to the uses of a railroad waiting room. Its record, compared with its small capacity, is honorable. It gave out fourteen thousand meals and lodged nearly thirty-four hundred men, and to many of the number issued clothing and furnished transportation.
Aside from this number, which chiefly consisted of the occupants of the depot room, or those relieved in its name, were numerous soldiers' wives and fam ilies, who claimed and received assistance in various ways from the Aid Society Koorns, and whose names were often entered upon no record. They had letters to be read from absent husbands and brothers, and, in the office, some one could always be found to per form this service. A poor old woman, one day, went to the house of her favorite scribe, in an agony of grief, and placed in her hands a letter, which some neighbor had read to her, containing the fearful tidings of her son's having been put into " the invalid corpse." " And will they let him be brought home ? " she sobbed. It was with difficulty made clear to her that her son had written the letter himself, and there fore must be alive, and the Invalid Corps was defined as a blissful situation, where the convalescent soldier would have no more fighting. It seemed often hard that a stranger must be trusted to read all that came from a dear and absent son, or communicate to him the loving messages and home news ; yet she who thus stood between, yet connected the members of a scat* tered family, became in time almost the confidant of their mutual troubles and pleasures^ and learned to feel most genuine interest in their welfare.
296 STODKY PETITIONS.
There were even more letters to write than to read, for a good, fair hand, which could plainly write the direction — company, regiment, hospital and state,— was much sought after. The mother would often come to ask to have a letter written to the captain, for her son had not been heard from for long months. The answer to the inquiry was often news of death or imprisonment, but sometimes JOHN or JAMES, whose letters had been so anxiously waited for, was, by the officer's report, " well, and on duty with his regiment, and will be instructed to write to his mother." Varied and curious were the applica tions made by women, as ignorant as affectionate, for information and assistance. Mrs. S. had a sailor son, and wished the Navy Department petitioned for his pay — name of ship, etc., unknown. Rosa S., a pretty, rosy young woman, came for news of a soldier husband, who is traced through various stages of disgrace until found in a deserter's prison. Day after day she comes, gradually losing her fresh color, looking paler and more anxious, as grief and hard work steal away her youth.
Mrs. D. was a forlorn woman that picked up a precarious existence by the sale of matches, pigs' feet and other trifles. She had a son in camp and then in hospital, to whom she dictated many letters into which was always slipped a little hardly earned money or some postage stamps. She slept anywhere that offered lodging, lived on scanty food, and wore the cast off dresses of charitable people, but an affec tionate heart beat under the rags.
Mrs. H. — a paler soft voiced little woman, — had
HOPELESS QUESTS. 297
lost all trace of her husband, soon after his enlistment, and came, with a fall description of hair, eyes and fine bass voice, to ask assistance in discovering his fate. His name was not on the Adjutant General's rolls ; he had dropped out of human knowledge as completely as if he had never existed. Once the wife had news that a soldier with a beautiful voice and musical talent was at a frontier fort, but a letter written to its commanding officer brought again disap pointment after weeks of waiting.
There was one slim little girl, who carried a baby and came any number of times to inquire after her husband, JOHN SMITH, sick in hospital somewhere. JOHN SMITHS innumerable could be found — every regiment and hospital had its share — but this partic ular JOHN SMITH never turned up. It was hard to give her the same answer again and again, as she came in, bright and expectant, with the baby in its white starched sunbonnet. She was so cheerful and industrious, and so fond of poor JOHN SMITH; it seemed almost as if she hoped to find him there every time she entered the little Aid Room office.
Others there were, not only among residents of Cleveland, but, perhaps, to a greater extent, persons living in neighboring towns, who, although quite able to write their own letters, yet were ignorant of the proper steps to be taken in securing certain desired information. Inquiries at the Hospital Directory office ordinarily went through the channel of the Aid Society; also applications for news of a missing soldier at the Adjutant General's office, and search for tidings of those who had died in hospital. The
298 DIFFICULT COMMISSIONS*
agents of the Sanitary Commission — not only at the Louisville office, but wherever one was stationed — could be relied upon to perform, at no small sacrifice of time and trouble, any service asked of them, tracing, by even the slenderest thread, the fate of men who had disappeared from the company rolls, or executing commissions entrusted them to deliver to patients of hospitals in their department. Unbounded influence with the military authorities was often ascribed to them and to their home representatives. " Please get my son a furlough," was the burden of many letters. " Have JOHN discharged and sent home to get well," or, " can you not have my husband transferred to the hospital at Camp Cleveland ? " and so through the scale of possible and impossible commissions.
One letter says : " We received your letter. As a drowning man clings to a straw, so we cling to any hope relating to our dear boy. The advice and sym pathy expressed in your letter we feel truly grateful for. Will you use your influence with the surgeon to procure a discharge if our boy still lives." Another : "My son is in hospital at Nashville; his wound is doing well but he has been troubled for some days with fever. If it continues I fear he won't be here very long. I ask, how am I to get him home ? "
The Hospital Visitors — another corps of the Sani tary Commission agents — were commonly clergymen appointed to visit systematically, each in his own district, the military hospitals, and minister in many ways to the comfort of the patients. Aside from the duties of chaplain, ex-officio, which most of them per formed, they charged themselves with writing letters
A HANDFUL OF LETTERS. 299
for the soldiers, supplying them, under sanction of the surgeon, with many trifling luxuries from the Sanitary Commission storehouses, and keeping careful record of the last words and messages to be trans mitted to the friends of the dying men. To the Hos pital Visitors application was therefore often made by the Aid Society, in the interest of persons wishing to learn the condition of an invalid, or to claim the effects of one who had died in a certain hospital.
These are a few of the letters received at the Aid Rooms : " I would wish you, as a friend of suffering parents, to look after the effects of my son. The value of the effects is of no consequence, only as mementos of a dear boy that I had fond hopes of. He left his studies at the age of eighteen and went to fight for his country, and has filled a soldier's grave amongst strangers. The things are nothing — nothing — save as mementos of a lost son."
" Being desirous to know the whereabouts of my son, I write to you. If you know you will confer a favor on his parents. From his father."
"I write to you as my last hope of ever hearing anything about my dearly loved husband. I fear it is too late, but I hope some agent at that place may know something about him."
" I had a son die in hospital in Chattanooga that I did not know was in the army, until I received a letter from the surgeon stating that he died there. Could you not assist me in ascertaining the facts con cerning it ? "
"I received your letter, and will never cease to thank you for your kindness to me and mine. I have
300 LETTERS CONTINUED.
now a hope that my dear husband was as comfortable as possible. Oh, God, it is hard to bear. He had a needle-book and an inkstand which I should like to have because they were his."
" I have received a letter stating that my son died in the battle-field hospital. I wish you would write to Georgia."
" It caused me much joy to hear that my only son was improving. I desire you to keep me informed as to his health, and ask him if he is in need of money. If he becomes dangerously ill I want to come and see him."
What disappointing answers sometimes came! "He died three weeks since." "His name is not on the hospital books." " No record at the Directory office." Not unfrequently it was a convalescent in the same ward where a soldier had died who wrote.
"ALEX, was a sober, industrious boy. He often talked to me of you and his sister. He told me how he loved you, and that he intended to send money to you. I went to see his grave; he is buried in the soldiers' burying ground. You must be comforted ; remember he died for our great and glorious country."
The picture was not all dark — its bright side was often turned. " He is getting well, and walking about the camp, although he still looks feeble." " He has just started for home on furlough." " JOHN is doing well." " SULLIVAN is discharged from the hospital and has joined his company." One affectionate son replied to anxious questions as to his long silence, that he had written home four times and got no answer, and now he had quit it.
UNION PRISONERS. 301
The applications most difficult to answer — most hopeless to forward, were from the families of men prisoners in the hands of the rebels. At the close of the year 1863 these letters began to come, increasing in number and more hopeless in tone, as months passed and still the exchange of prisoners was delayed, and hope of release in time to save seemed almost at an end. Here is one :
" Dear lady : Excuse the liberty I take to address you. I am a soldier's wife ; my husband a prisoner to the rebels. The only word which has reached me concerning him was through a soldier who escaped from Andersonville ; since then no tidings have reach ed me. I am sorry to trouble you. Is there any possible way to find out if he is yet living? My anxiety is very great."
And another. "He was captured on the 12th of May. I have two children, and anxiety is taking me to an early grave."
There were many men wrhose names were entered upon no register, and whose fate was known only through some fellow prisoner who had made his escape or had been finally exchanged. To one woman, poor, and the mother of several children, it became necessary to say that her husband, stripped by the rebels of hat, shoes, socks, blanket, blouse and shirt, had frozen to death on the cars, while being trans ferred from Andersonville to Columbia prisons, in mid winter.
In the Sultana disaster perished a number of men from Northern Ohio regiments, just released from prison, feeble, sickly and hardly able yet to realize the new joy of being once more free.
302 HOSPITAL INQUIRY,
The subject of hospital inquiry can not be exhausted — can barely be entered upon within the present limits. Its natural centre was the Hospital Directory, of which a sketch has already been given on page 227 of the preceding General History of the Cleveland Branch Sanitary Commission. The extracts above made were, however, from personal letters to those in the Aid Society office, who were known through their connection with this work.
A full file of all these letters is preserved — several hundred in number. They contain a world of hopes, fears, griefs, joys, purest patriotic feeling, and reflect, as no other record can, the hearts of those whom the war bereaved. To the writers of these letters, the soldiers words, " he died for our great and glorious country," could never be a mere high sounding phrase ; it was a living fact, which softened the keen edge of sorrow and carried the domestic loss into the higher sphere of sacrifice and self devotion. They offered other sons to a cause which each by his own tribute had appropriated and made personal, and the interest which all had felt in the welfare of the soldier, when represented by one familiar name, became more wide in scope, more fervent in purpose.
Those who eagerly aided the first feeble attempts to relieve the suffering consequent upon the war, were the last to withdraw their gifts when the neces sity was past.
Where some additional aid was required beyond that systematically issued by the visiting committees to the soldiers' families, it was obtainable from the
SANITAKY ISSUES. 303
Aid Society funds. If the winter was unusually severe, the stock of quilts and blankets was drawn upon to give to the most destitute, and when a soldier, discharged or on furlough, was sick in his own home, his food, wine and medicine generally came from the Aid Room stores. A note from the physician was usually required where medicines and stimulants were asked. The memoranda of such disbursements show a half barrel of ale sent to one man, who, shot in the lungs, barely lived through months of fearful suffer ing. Corn starch, farina and " blackberry corgell," as one petition expresses it, were frequently issued. The latter beverage was generally believed to be infallible in any mortal disease, and, to quote from the same correspondent, " to Due a Graddell of Good." Prescrip tions, cerate, liniments, cod liver oil, were given out in druggists' orders, and the amount paid for such issues is not small.
After the important battles there were invariably many, anxious to go at once to the scene of action, who came to the Aid Rooms for help and direction. They argued that if a wounded man could be brought home, he would more surely recover, — they must see him at all events, and they thought, as one said, that " you can hardly imagine our anxiety and anguish." It was hard to deny these natural requests, and yet so great were the difficulties in the way of such journeys, so doubtful the possibility of reaching the desired point, it was always suggested that inquiry into the facts of the case should first be made by letter or dis patch. The way sometimes seemed clear; one member of the family would start for the front, provided with
304 FRUITLESS JOURNEYS,
transportation, and armed with letters of recommen dation to the Sanitary Commission agents along the route. They also always carried with them a little package of eatables, contributed often by friends and neighbors as poor as themselves. This was not for their own refreshment by the way ; it was expected to revive the wounded soldier, even in extremis, espe cially if a can of fruit was added from the Aid Room stores. The children of a poor woman, preparing for such a pious pilgrimage, were taken in charge by one and another of the same warm hearted friends.
One wife, who had seemed a helpless, uncertain being, hearing that her husband had been left on the route from Harper's Ferry, sick and paralyzed, left her four children at home, and started in search of him, by the aid of such simple directions as could be impressed upon her. She came back without him, but, happily, he was afterwards traced to the Tripler Hospital, at Columbus, O., by letters sent from the Aid Rooms, after her return.
Another woman, who went to Gettysburgh in search of a wounded husband, and who saw, in all the horror of a recent battle field, only the suffering of one soldier who lay in a small field hospital, brought back fearful tales of the neglect with which she was treated by the military authorities, from major generals down. But she also brought back, in his coffin, the soldier whom she had journeyed so far to see, and who died before she found him in the hospital tent.
A man going to see his sick boy at one of the Winchester hospitals, could not read, and a system of signs had to be invented for his instruction. The
A SAD HISTOEY. 305
letter having one straight line in the corner was for the railroad conductor; that with two marks, for the Subsistence Committee, at Pittsburgh, and represented dinner; and so to his journey's end.
These expeditions were almost always fruitless. It was sad to see them undertaken with so much eager ness and at such sacrifice of slender means. It was commonly too late when they arrived ; the patient had not lived longer than the first report, or had been transferred to a more distant hospital. Yet the jour ney in itself was a relief, and, if successful, was so happy in its results that it could hardly be discour aged, if based upon any reasonable grounds.
A hard working seamstress, in a city in the State of New York, learning that her husband, dangerously wounded, was in hospital at Louisville, Ky., started with the hope of bringing him home. She had barely money enough to carry her through the earlier stages of her journey, but she pushed her way on, seeking out in each town the office of the Sanitary Commis sion, and procuring there transportation to the next point and letters to aid her in any unforeseen emer gency. Louisville was finally reached, the man found alive and doing well, and, assisted by the Commission, she remained there until the soldier was able to travel, a furlough procured and he allowed to go home under her charge. She was so happy when she reached Cleveland and waited a few hours at the Home to let the ladies see the tall ghastly soldier, whose wounded shoulder was still in slings and whom she regarded with such fond pride. They got home safely, the man recovered, joined his regiment
306 AID EOOM GUESTS.
and served his time out; but two years later the woman again came one morning to the Home. Her husband had been robbed of his pay and murdered, just after leaving his regiment headquarters on Look out Mountain. The faithful creature made another journey, hoping by her own effort to discover at least his body in the wilderness of trees and thick under growth which clothe the steep descents of the moun tain side. But the search was never successful.
Before experience had proved, even to the appli cant, the difficulties in the way of forwarding private parcels, many articles, small and great, stockings and mittens of home manufacture, with dainties of the most perishable character smuggled in their folds, cakes and pies made after the old infallible recipes were brought to the Aid Rooms to "follow the army" in search of some individual soldier. Frequently, if the camp was not distant and communication open, any small article of comfort was selected from the Aid Room stores and sent by mail to a soldier, in the name of the parent who could not afford its purchase.
The hospital and camp furnished a large proportion of the visitors to the Aid Rooms. Almost every morning the hospital ambulance drew up before the door and brought over for a day's holiday some of the men who were unable to walk so long a distance.
The ambulance was always at the service of the ladies at the Aid Rooms to take them to Camp Cleveland. It also made a morning trip to the depot to pick up any stray soldiers assigned to the hospital, and its driver, Steward L., was radiant when
SANITARY TREASURES. 30 7
something nice was sent to the sick men on the return journey. Most of the patients who visited the Aid Rooms came, however, on foot, some of them hobbling on crutches over the three long miles of hill and dusty road. Their holiday seemed always to include this visit, and, later in time, a dinner at the Soldiers' Home. A few trifling gifts were ready for them, a little stationery and a stamped envelope, tobacco, — sometimes accompanied by a lecture against its use from the good lady who gave it out, — mittens for the guard at camp, and knitted woolen socks which all the soldiers coveted, handkerchiefs of brilliant color ing and patriotic design, a flannel shirt occasionally, always combs, pencils and little things of that class. Books, papers and magazines were borrowed, circu lated through the hospital and generally returned to the Aid Rooms.
In several instances one of the society officers was entrusted with the last installment of pay of some soldier, who drew it out of his banker's hands in small sums. Trifling advances of money were at times made to men who were known to be honest and in need of a little help to send home, or for the purchase of some necessary article. In every case the sum thus loaned was promptly repaid before the soldier left the hos pital.
THE SOLDIERS' HOME.
A BUILDING site for the Home was given by the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati railroad com pany, comprising three hundred feet of the pier upon which the Union Depot stood, parallel with the
308 THE SOLDIERS' HOME.
latter, and separated from it by only the width of the road. This situation was unsurpassed in its easy access from all the railroad trains and steamboats, and thus was avoided the necessity of conveying sick men up the hill into the city — in many cases a dangerous and painful transportation.
In the construction of the building the Aid Society availed itself of the proffered services of Mr. RANDALL CRAWFORD, who not only superintended the original design, but kindly undertook to carry out all the sub sequent changes, improvements and additions which became necessary.
The plan adopted somewhat resembled that of the Soldiers' Home at Louisville, Ky., — a battened build ing, two hundred feet long, whose interior arrange ments, after numerous expansions, resulted as shown in the accompanying diagram. These meagre outlines are transformed in the memory of those who were frequent guests within its walls into a picture, bright and cheerful, of which, it must be confessed, the extreme length of the building and its pallor of com plexion gave little promise.
It is sketched as it appeared, in its day of greatest usefulness and prosperity, when the funds of the Soldiers' Aid Society, expanded by the receipts of the Sanitary Fair, were employed to add some degree of luxury to its undeniable comfort.
The two wards at the south end of the building contained twenty-five beds each, were clean, well ventilated, brilliant with fresh whitewash, blue bed spreads and a profusion of flags of various sizes, festooning the mirrors, waving from the gas fixtures and crossed above windows and doors.
DIAGEAM.
309
310 THE RECEPTION ROOM.
The middle ward, called the reception room, where the men commonly sat, boasted a larger collection of pictures, patriotic emblems and other decorations. Here was the book-case with a good library of small compass, and a round table, well supplied with peri odicals and, through the kindness of the editors, with the daily Morning Leader and Evening Herald. Writing materials were furnished to all, and, the superintendent being instructed to stamp the numer ous rainbow hued letters, the post office box on the wall indicated a voluminous correspondence. There was a smaller table where often a one-armed or one- legged soldier might be seen seated apart, absorbed in the mysteries of arithmetic or a copy-book. Another grand attraction was the backgammon board, in use from morning to night, and always surrounded by an excited group of spectators watching the progress of the game, which, as the checkermen in time disap peared from the scene, was carried on by means of buttons and other small articles. There was also a looking glass where summary before-dinner toilets were performed, with migratory combs, attached by long brass chains to the wall, and a much frequented water cooler in another corner. Flowering plants stood in the windows, and a scarlet cardinal bird in his cage sang with distracting disregard for hours. An adjoining room was furnished with compartments for baggage and checks. The bath-room, transferred from its first position near the sleeping wards to the extreme end of the building, contained conveni ences for dressing wounds, towels, combs and brushes of uncertain tenure. Here, the men soon discovered.
THE EARLY OUTFIT. 311
a plunge bath could be easily improvised by re moving a trap-door and diving into the depths of lake Erie below. There was a small ward for the very sick, which could be soon warmed and was less noisy than the larger rooms. Kitchens, dining rooms pantries and the apartments of the officers of the Home were well arranged and well fitted up, the use of each being designated by small signs on the doors. The Branch Aid Society of Newburgh provided each of the thirty-six windows with a green Venetian blind, which kept out the dust and glare of the depot thoroughfare and, drawn up on the lake side, admitted its invigorating breezes.
The early outfit of the Home was, however, more simple, comprising only what was really necessary in the way of furniture, purchased to add to the treasures of the depot room, and a little that wras contributed in response to a newspaper appeal. Dr. NEWBERRY, the Western Secretary of the Sanitary Commission, presented the establishment writh iron bedsteads and rope matting for the wards. The Gas Company fur nished, gratuitously, all the gas consumed — a valuable contribution, as the building was lighted brilliantly throughout its entire length. The Water Company also granted the free use of its pipes in the adjoining depot, for although water was everywhere around the Home, none could venture to drink of the yellow flood eddying about the piers.
When all was finished, liberal applications of white wash, both within and without the building, were made, two long signs mounted, and a bright national flag run up over all, which in the first year of the
312 THE FIEST PEIZE.
war, when temple and tent alike wore the colors of freedom and loyalty, had floated from the tower of Trinity Church, Cleveland, and was presented to the Home by its Rector, the Rev. T. A. STAEKEY. The nurse attending the Depot Hospital was en gaged to continue his services in the new field; a superintendent and matron employed, and the house hold corps increased by the addition of a female servant. Just at this time a soldier, whose brain and limbs nature and the rebels had combined to hope lessly confuse, presented himself as a subject for assistance, and was appointed to the position of man- of-all-work. A gun he never again should wield, but a broom and mop he exercised to perfection, and served his country in this humble way perhaps as well as before, although with less glory, it is true.
On the 12th of December, 1863, the finishing touches were given to the Soldiers' Home, and on' the afternoon of that rainy, chilly day two officers of the Aid Society proceeded to inspect the building. The whole was in order. The accommodations seemed ample for any number of men, but not a soldier, sick or well, appeared to claim its hospitality. This was disappointing in the extreme, in view of the urgency of the case as represented to the public by the canvass ing committee, who honestly expected crowds of eager applicants awaiting the last blow of the carpenter's hammer. With dampened ardor they returned to report the discouraging state of affairs, but, half way up the hill, fortune threw in their way a very muddy, forlorn, one legged soldier, limping along painfully on
THE HOME PKOSPECTTJS. 313
his crutches, who was at once stopped, wheeled right about and conveyed to the Home in triumph. Here the employes were ordered to be very careful of him, to give him the best the house afforded, and, as he proved really a friendless, homeless cripple, he was invited, in the ardor of the moment, to remain an indefinite length of time — or even to pass the rest of his days sunning himself on the bench by the Home door. One soldier, at least, was sheltered by the two hundred feet of boards and shingle that night, and during the next week nearly three hundred men were fed and lodged under its roof.
On the entrance door to the Soldiers' Home was a sign which said:
U. S. SANITAEY COMMISSION.
SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY OF NORTHERN OHIO. SOLDIEKS' HOME,
CLEVELAND, O.
SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS, DISCHARGED SOLDIERS, AWAITING PENSIONS
AND BACK PAY, OR FURLOUGHED SOLDIERS "WITHOUT MONET, WILL
FIND LODGING, A RESTING PLACE AND FOOD, FREE OF
CHARGE, AT THE SOLDIERS' HOME,
West of Cleve. Col. & Cin. Passenger Depot, in the rear of the Merchants' Despatch Office.
Smaller cards bearing this inscription were widely circulated, especially through other Homes, while large cards of the same kind were hung in all the passenger trains on the different railroads and posted in the hotels and post office. Each of the Branch Societies received one, with the request to suspend it in a conspicuous place. A runner, with a badge of the Home, was still in attendance at every train, while depot officers and employes were always ready
314 MEANS OF SUPPORT.
to direct to the institution any who had failed to read its many signs or escaped the notice of its officials. At the more remote depot of the Atlantic and Great Western railroad, the Omnibus Line agent had orders to send to the Home, at the Aid Society expense, soldiers arriving there who were too feeble to walk so far. In fact nothing was neglected which could draw within its influence the men for whom the comforts of the Home were meant. It was certainly cheering to a man, who looked forward only to arriving hungry and forlorn in a strange city, to read the invitation sent hours before to meet him. " Such proofs of kind remembrance stouten our hearts," one soldier said.
The benefits of the Home were, at first, necessarily limited to the classes before mentioned — chiefly sick or disabled men, soldiers on furlough or discharge coming singly or in squads. Unlike other similar institutions, whose support has been very largely drawn from rations obtained from the government, the Soldiers' Home at Cleveland was entirely sustain ed by voluntary contributions, either made directly for that purpose or donated for the general uses of the Aid Society. For this reason, until after the Sanitary Fair, the Home was financially unable to receive regiments or large bodies of soldiers under command of an officer entitled to obtain rations from the post commissary.
Although the rule of the establishment admitted only those clearly shown by their papers to be entitled to a share in its comforts, yet the order, by common consent, was inoperative. A man claiming to have lost his furlough or discharge was allowed the benefit
FLEXIBLE KULES. 315
of a doubt, and, especially if sick or hungry, was temporarily entertained. The error of possessing too little faith was a fault of great magnitude in the eyes of the founders of the Soldiers' Home, and while the common sense and experience of the superintendent were somewhat relied upon to discriminate in doubt ful cases, yet his orders allowed him to turn no one from the door until his claims had been investigated and his immediate wants relieved. There has never been cause to regret this mild government. Refugees and government employes occasionally claimed and received assistance ; the female refugees benefiting by the kind offices of a society established for that pur pose, under the name of " Home for Strangers." The wives and mothers of sick soldiers always found place in the Home building.
On entering the Home a soldier's baggage, gun and knapsack were properly checked, his name, company, regiment, condition and destination carefully regis tered, and to this entry was afterwards added the number of meals, lodgings and other assistance received. All were allowed to remain as long as neces sary, but, after one day's sojourn, a card signed by an officer of the Aid Society was required to endorse a longer stay. Cases of sickness were of course ex empted from this rule.
Good conduct was an indispensable requisite for readmission, and, although instances of intemperance and disorderly behavior at times occurred, the men were generally found civil and orderly, and uniform discipline was maintained. This was due to the really good character of the majority of our volunteer
316 AIM OF THE INSTITUTION.
soldiers, and in part, it is believed, to the spirit in which the establishment was conducted.
The fund which sustained this and all Sanitary Commission institutions came from a thousand sources, often humble and sometimes unknown. It was the offering of patriotism and loving self denial, and the earnest of this should accompany as well as prompt the gift. The Soldiers' Homes were designed not only to minister to the absolute necessities of those who became their guests, but, while not omitting these weightier matters, they aimed to express by the man ner in which the gifts were offered, the interest felt in the soldiers as men who were intelligently and devo tedly enlisted in the service, and not as mere candi dates for unlimited food and flannel shirts. This was accomplished through personal refining influence and the use of simple means, pleasant things to look at, good order, kind treatment and the presence of many tokens of womanly taste. Every guest was aware that in the Soldiers' Home good conduct was expected, and as a rule respect for the regulations of the house hold was cheerfully rendered.
A sick or disabled man found at the Home what his condition required, his wounds were carefully dressed and his case attended to by a physician, his friends were informed of his illness, and where the disease appeared serious or of long duration, the wife or friends were summoned and allowed to remain until the patient could be removed. A room in the building was especially appropriated to the use of such guests.
For the first month the Depot Dining Hall furnished
ITS ADMINISTRATION. 317
meals to the Home inmates, as before. This plan was soon relinquished, and the food was prepared thence forth within the Home, except when the detention of trains made a coffee room lunch all that was possible. As the wants of the institution became more gener ally known, contributions of green vegetables, fruit and home made luxuries were received from the Branch Aid Societies, and these gifts continued so long as there were soldiers to be regaled. Occasion ally articles of a perishable nature, unpacked eggs, stray potatoes and onions, fruit which threatened fermentation and compounds dangerous to transport were sent from the Aid Rooms, reorganized and set before the soldiers.
As with the Depot Hospital, the control of the institution remained exclusively with the officers of the Soldiers' Aid Society, by whom all purchases were made, rules framed for the government of the household, and all questions arising in its adminis tration decided. A room in the building was subse quently used as an office, where this business could be transacted, and one of the ladies was in daily attendance.
The experiment was made of employing as superin tendent a soldier assigned from the U. S. General Hospital at Camp Cleveland for the purpose, but this proved inexpedient, and Sergeant JOSEPH JEROME, a discharged and disabled soldier, was appointed to the position. Until October, 1865, when compelled by his business engagements to resign his post, he continued to discharge its duties to the satisfaction of his employers, who found him efficient, reliable
318 AN OLD FKIEND.
and capable of exercising an excellent influence and control over his most turbulent guests. Mrs. LOUISA FORD, who was both capable and energetic, first filled the place of matron, and was succeeded in March, 1865, by Mrs. Ross, by whom the increased duties of the office were faithfully discharged until the closing of the Home.
Aside from the entertainment of transient guests, the duties of the first six months embraced the care of a number of patients, suffering from wounds or disease of long standing. Conspicuous among these, was a tall, gaunt Hungarian, a political exile from his own country and a member of the 1st Ohio Battery. Once he had inhabited a corner of the Army Depart ment of the Marine Hospital through a serious illness, and since then had apparently made the tour of all the Homes and Lodges to which his military service could gain him admittance. He had occasionally reported to his former friends through the pen of some lady whose protege he had in turn become, and one morning he presented himself at his old quarters, more ghastly than ever, and begged the privilege of dying in peace, under the protection of the Soldiers' Home. In that asylum, however, under the combined influence of good care and unlimited cod liver oil diet, he unexpectedly revived and became equal to the duty of engaging in hourly and fierce wordy battles with his fellow soldiers and especially with the matron, who excited in him unqualified aversion. His mortal disease, consumption, rendered him so morbidly sen sitive that he fancied every man's hand was against
AN APPAEITION. 319
him, and consequently built fortifications around his bed of chairs, tables and pillows, in anticipation of possible attacks from the worthy matron, whose mere entrance into the ward, where he lay entrenched, was sufficient to throw him into a fever of agitation. One night he came trembling to the house of one of the Aid Society ladies and refused to return to the Home unless under her protection.
But often a more kindly side of the strange nature appeared ; he would dive into the depths of his myste rious and carefully guarded "baggages" and bring out a good red flannel shirt for another sick soldier, and the Sanitary Fair acknowledges the gift of a pair of dumb bells from the same source. In the Sanitary Fair buildings he was frequently found. His appear ance was so startling, — the apparent embodiment of all that soldier ever suffered, — it naturally excited universal sympathy, and wherever he turned, oysters and coffee were lavishly bestowed. It was no doubt the restlessness of disease which made change of place necessary to his happiness, for a few months later he went to Cincinnati, finding there as usual other friends and new sympathy, and soon came the news from a kind hand of the death of this u good and patriotic man" in the Commercial Hospital.
The first death within the Home walls was that of JOHN H., a Michigan soldier, whom his wife, with her child in her arms, had brought from one of the crowded Washington hospitals. They had come against the advice of the surgeon and had painfully struggled from one friendly shelter to the next, until this — the last — was reached. It was apparent from the first
320 THE FIRST DEATH.
that the long journey had been fruitless, and yet the comfort which each day brought was in the thought that on the next they should be certainly able to start for home and the children. How intensely the sick man longed to be there, and yet was so courageous and patient ! His wife, well meaning, vociferous, and — with all her affection — aggravating to an unpar alleled degree, failed to disturb his serenity; the contretemps of a noisy and new fledged household had no irritating power; the most trivial kindness was magnified into a cause for gratitude. To the clergyman who often visited him and tried to draw his kindly simple heart from its little circle of human anxieties, he spoke, in the last night of mortal agony, of faith and resignation which had been born in these hours of fearful suffering.
Through the assistance of the Aid Society the body was carried to his home in Michigan, and a clue to the further fortunes of the family for a time retained through the letters of a son, a bright young boy, enlisted at thirteen years of age in the band of an Illinois regiment. From these, much interesting infor mation was obtained with regard to the said band, and all the plans for " mother and the children," lying beyond his happy discharge from the service.
CHAELES W. was another patient, under treatment for partial blindness, whom the course of events brought back again, two years later, with a broken leg and still more imperfect sight. In that period he had run the gauntlet of perils by poverty, disease and intemperance. Renovated physically and morally, it was hoped, he was again discharged, to reappear in
VETERAN REGIMENTS. 321
twelve months with still greater capacities for assist ance.
Still another inmate was one unfortunate enough to have suffered two amputations upon his right leg and requiring a third operation when his application for admission was made. Occupying for some six weeks the small sick ward, he was distinguished for the sang froid with which he took the whole matter — ludi crously cheerful in the midst of his pain, reading, singing, laughing, especially vigorously shaking hands with every visitor, as if the mere certainty of food and shelter made all other inconvenience trilling.
Except in the care of the sick, the Soldiers' Home had no part in the entertainment of the regiments returning on veteran furlough, in January and Feb ruary of 1864. A citizens' committee was formed, and the soldiers feted in the dining hall of the Sani tary Fair buildings, then just completed.
A member of the 20th Ohio Battery died at the Home two days after his arrival. His wife, who had brought a little child from their country home to meet the husband in Cleveland, fortunately came before his death. A baby at the Home was an unusual guest, but it comforted the poor woman as she sat by the fire and dressed the laughing little thing, whose father lay dead in the next room. Aided by the kindness of the officers of the battery, she removed his remains to a grave with his own people.
Into this quiet circle of recognized usefulness, a bomb shell was occasionally thrown, by some daring hand among the Home guests, which brought dismay
322 OCCASIONAL GRIEVANCES.
and indignation to the minds of its managers, and doubtless had a salutary effect in clearing the atmos phere of temporary obstructions. On one such occa sion the Aid Society was informed, in a well-written frank statement from a young cavalryman, that the disabled members of the Invalid Corps, on arriving at the Home, were compelled to bivouac on the floor, in full view of numerous comfortable unoccupied beds,— in deference to certain ideas of military discipline enter tained by the superintendent. At another time, the solution of sundry unaccountable midnight raids upon the pantry — and consequent valiant skirmishing of the matron upon the foragers — was found in the discovery that no entertainment had been given to the hungry guests arriving by the evening trains ; all had been sent supperless to bed and had thus revenged their disap pointed appetites. These grievances were promptly remedied and, indeed, were found few in number, although every complaint entered against the em ployes of the establishment was promptly investi gated. Some fancied wrongs arose from, the necessity of limiting the stay of soldiers on furlough, or of denying admittance to members of regiments in Camp Cleveland.
In February, 1864, the first sum of money contrib uted by the Branch Aid Societies to the support of the Home was received from Wads worth, O., and this example was soon followed by other towns. These gifts, although valuable as indicating sympathy with the Home and its work, were yet trifling when compared with the actual amount required to main tain the establishment. The proceeds of the Sanitary
WOUNDED IN THE WILDERNESS. 323
Fair were therefore drawn upon to meet the current expenses and to carry out an extension to the build ing, with some other alterations and improvements.
The early spring and summer of this year were marked by nothing more eventful than the ordinary routine of a Soldiers' Home presents, with its daily change of inmates ; but the series of battles beginning with the Wilderness brought an influx of wounded men to all the Homes on the route from. Washington. At first came those whose injuries were of such a nature that they could make the journey unattended, and a few weeks later, again and again, a bed or stretcher was carefully lifted from the railroad cars and carried to the Home, on which lay some fearfully wounded man whom a father or brother was taking to his home. They always thought fresh country air would effect what a crowded hospital had failed to do, and this was no doubt true if the journey could be lived through.
It is of course impossible to preserve a tithe of the incidents which marked this and later periods. Those familiar with this phase of the Sanitary Commission work, know the character of the daily history of a Soldiers' Home ; its numberless cases which, calling for personal care and active sympathy, are yet so soon supplanted by others, who in turn give place to new guests.
One hot Sunday in July, the visitors at the Home found, among other patients, a young soldier, shot through the body, who had lain on his face for seven weeks in hospital, and was now being carefully carried home by his father, who — as was often seen — waited
324 TWO PATIENTS.
on him with really womanly tenderness. Anything more exquisitely uncomfortable than the condition of the boy can hardly be imagined, and by his side, during al! the burning afternoon, sat the father, fan ning away the flies, changing slightly his painful position, bringing him ice, lemonade, anything which could give him temporary ease, and saying occasionally a cheerful and encouraging word. Some blackberries and a clean cologne-scented handkerchief, which were given him by one of the ladies, seemed especially to please him, and when at home and convalescent, he sent back the following letter:
JULY THE 10
i neglect of Writing to you till now i hap Bin very poorly till a few days i Be gin to get much Betor you hap probly for gotten me i Was at your Solgers horn on the 3 of July over Sunday, if you haf for gotten me i never will for get you the kindness you shown to me Was grat Releav to me i hav suffered dredfully from my Wound throo ner the spine of my Back i hop i soon will get well, i will close for this time hoping that i will see you again, i Will forever remain your poor little Woodid Solger Boy. JOHN.
Another patient was a Wisconsin soldier, suffering from hospital gangrene, who, through two long weary months of convalescence and relapse, was the care of the Home, although not under its roof. His nerves, rendered sensitive through disease, were tortured by the noise of railroad trains and heavy wagons at the depot, and one morning his bed was put into an express cart, sheltered by umbrellas inclined to every angle, and transferred to a quiet house near the lake. Here a nurse was employed, and a physician regularly attended him. Here, with everything that could speed his recovery, amuse his loneliness, or tempt his appetite, he revived, Ian-
DOMESTIC NEWS. 325
guished, grew better, worse, while the insidious disease, checked in one spot would immediately appear in another. All this time a vigorous correspondence was kept up with the parents and wife of the patient. The old mother, in Wisconsin, was "worried to deth and in poor helth," and feared he would never get well. She dictated numerous letters through a daugh ter, who explained that " to please mother, who was afraid you wouldn't get them, we sent the letters different ways, once by express." For herself, the daughter thought she would never refuse to give something to the " Sanitary;" " if it don't do my friends good, it may some other person."
The wife, who kept up as good courage as her "nervous temperament would permit," sent volumi nous epistles of alarm, gratitude, anxiety; messages from little CARRIE, and accounts of the farm, which — like many another woman — she had managed in her husband's absence. She told him how STANLEY had grown, and that the neighbors had come in and stacked her grain, free of charge, with many other little domestic items, which were a comfort to the poor fellow, whose chances of getting home seemed very small. But at last he actually did recover, his wounds finally healed, and a brother, dispatched by the anxious family for the purpose, bore home his prize with great rejoicings.
Many of the patients who occupied the Home during the months of July and August, 1864, were members of the National Guard, returning from the three months' service. The exposure and change in mode of life caused sickness among them to an unu-
o2b ENLARGING THE HOME.
sual degree, and in many instances produced fatal effects.
In August the Home building was again altered and improved. It then appeared as in the plan, with out the new dining room extension and south ward.
September 8th the Secretary of the Society wrote :
Tlie Home just now engrosses a good deal of our attention. You have no idea how that department has grown since the "one hundred days' men " began to come home. Last month we averaged one hundred lodg ings per day and eight hundred meals per week. One day Mrs. ROUSE and I were sent for at 8 A. M., and went down to find eight hundred men, the most of them weak and ailing, scattered over the entire space between the Home and the depoc, while all the beds in the Home were filled and the floors covered with very sick men, so that we could hardly find stepping room. To the half famished men outside I gave out crackers by the handful until a whole barrel had been emptied, while German MARY filled each man's cup with hot coffee. The railroad train had broken down between Alliance and here, and the poor fellows had been left thirty-six hours in the woods without food. Never, except at the extreme front, have I seen such eager faces and starved looks. Inside the house we were busied all day long, till dark, carrying tea, toast, eggs, gruel, beef soup and milk punch to the sick men. One died just as he was brought in. It was our last summer's experience over again. These were the 166th and 169th regiments Ohio National Guards, one hundred days' men. The General Hospital and barracks here are full, and every day for two weeks we have had every bed filled and the floor crowded. Dr. NEWBERRY agreed with us that the Home should be enlarged. Mr. CRAWFORD said the materials would be beyond the reach of our purse next spring, and that the building should be done now, so the carpenters are busily at it. The whole is shingled and floored, the kitchen pushed back and the dining room enlarged, and other improvements have been made that I think you will be pleased to see. I have just come from a sad scene there this morning. A member of the 166th died just before I went in, and another is fast going. His wife is with him, but her care is in vain ; twenty-four hours will end his days, poor fellow ! A death occurred there on Sunday. You cannot imagine the sad cases that have come under my eye there these last two weeks.
And again, on September 30th:
The repairs and additions are now nearly finished, and the Home is full every day. Judging from the number of refugees and deserters we enter tain there, JEFF. DAVIS will soon be the " last man " in his dominions.
OHIO NATIONAL GUARDS. 327
Only think of it, five on Friday, thirteen on Saturday, six on Monday, and so they come, and we take them in until they can get employment. A squad of them are working now on Mr. CASE'S building. The women, of whom we have not a few, are consigned to Mrs. WILLIAMSON'S Society for the Friendless, for we cannot keep them at the Home. I went down, yester day noon, just in time to see sixty hungry mortals, in various stages of convalescence, making their way from the train to the door of the Home. JEROME had gone to Painesville and Mrs. FORD had been suddenly called into the country on some personal affairs. Dutch MARY and I threw our selves into the gap, and set and cleared tables and washed dishes at railroad speed. Every man of that crowd has had at least one good dinner in his life !
Through these members of the National Guard the good report of the Home spread far and wide, and the people of Northern Ohio learned more of its objects and wants than all previous appeals through the press had taught. The women whose husbands and brothers had actually received aid within its walls, embraced the cause with especial ardor, and thenceforth the Home received a generous share of their interest and personal sympathy. One wrote that her husband, a member of the 150th Ohio National Guards, was sick at the time of his return, and so was partaker of the bounty of the Soldiers' Home. He had often told her that it surpassed other Homes in the variety of the table, and that he was much more pleased with his stay there, so she wrote at his request to express his thanks.
Another, a friend and contributor of long standing, says: " I have a dear brother, a member of the 150th Ohio, who is being kindly cared for in your Soldiers1 Home to-night. Heaven bless you for it ! "
Here, in the Home, many hardly earned contribu tions were seen in actual use, and, although the faith of the great body of contributors in the field opera*
328 THE CHILDREN'S GIFTS.
tions of the Sanitary Commission was genuine and most generous, it cannot be denied that an additional stimulus was given to the general work, by the widen ing of the Special Relief department. The little girls, whose album quilts — the product of much sac rifice of bright Saturday afternoons — covered in plain sight some wounded soldier, to whom its numerous inscriptions furnished amusement for dull hours, were eager to make others for the same good purpose. The refreshing sight of blackberries and currants, picked by their own industrious fingers, going down some hungry soldier's throat before their very eyes, could hardly help bringing more encouragement than a venture trusted to the perils of a Southern cam paign. In city and country, innumerable small socie ties and juvenile bazaars sprung into existence, having the Soldiers' Home at Cleveland as an object ive point.
Meanwhile at the Aid Rooms had gone on the busy round of correspondence and inquiry, as new battles were fought and new names — so many and familiar — were daily added to the records of dead, wounded and missing. Near the door, now hung the lists of missing men, published by Miss CLAEA BARTON and from time to time amended by her, which were often and anxiously scanned. Posted beside them on the wall and more frequently in the reception room of the Soldiers' Home, was sometimes a little written notice of a soldier whose fate was still a mystery, with the request that if any man knew of him, he would report to the anxious family.
HOME FROM THE WAR. 329
Once this was done in hope of hearing of a youthful soldier supposed to have been killed in a brilliant cavalry charge, or to have fallen, wounded, into the hands of the enemy.
Some of the long-sought-for had in time returned, had been released from prison, or had recovered from their wounds and come home on furlough, and, where the matter could be compassed by their affectionate relatives, had been led — sometimes " like sheep to the slaughter," — to the Aid Rooms for inspection and admiration. One woman excused the failure of her son to appear in person there, on the ground that he was "so wild like." RICHARD T., who was so long in prison, had made his escape and came in one day, radiant, escorted by his proud and happy wife. The brown-eyed little German woman had received her FRANZ safely back from the hospital, where he had lain sick, and under their small roof there was great rejoicing. Other brothers and husbands had come home and reported themselves " all right," while a few of the lost and found returned only to end the story of sickness and suffering in death or permanent disability.
The letters of this period show a new element in their manifold character, as did also the applications made in person at the Aid Society office. In the succession of engagements on SHERMAN'S march from Chattanooga to Atlanta, there had been great loss of life, and Ohio men had fallen with the rest. It there fore became a part of the duty of the field agents of the Sanitary Commission, and of the inspectors sta tioned at the various posts in the rear of the army,
330 BRINGING HOME THE DEAD.
to identify the graves of the killed and, where it was desired, to forward the bodies to their friends. The orders for removal ordinarily came through the Cleve land Aid Society, to whose care the remains were consigned, and with whom settlement for the incident expenses was made. Many a woman, who had become the sole support of her children, spent all that she possessed or could borrow, in bringing home the body of her husband, that it might lie in ground hallowed by church rites, or by the more common consecration of children and friends already resting there. There were not many who considered a National Cemetery the best and holiest place where a national soldier could be buried, and it was usually failure of means to remove him, not want of inclination, which left him lying there.
One of the first of these commissions was for the son of an old man living near Cleveland, who came in the rough farm wagon to carry home this, the second, who had been killed in the service. Four other sons were still serving in one of the great armies.
There were also two brothers wTho, killed side by side at the same moment, were found buried together near Resaca. Of another who was brought from a Georgia battle field his father wrote : " We have received the body of our dear son. You have the thanks of an afflicted family for the interest you take in assisting the poor soldiers. God grant the day may soon come when there will be no more need of Soldiers' Aid Societies, and no more sacrifice of valuable life."
The entrenchments near Dallas and Resaca, Flor ence and Kenesaw Mountain yielded up the bodies of
ARTIFICIAL LIMBS. 331
many a " dear son," and many were removed from the fields and little gardens of the towns. A barrier was, however, placed in the way of continuing these offices, by the order of General SHERMAN, which positively forbade the further removal of bodies until after November, 1864. This measure was purely a sani tary one, and, after the limit designated by his order, so long a time had elapsed that little further was accomplished in the matter.
A very frequent complaint made at this time, and often at later periods, was of the quality of the arti ficial legs furnished by contractors to the nation's crip pled soldiers. They were sometimes worthless after a year's use. It was almost impossible for their wear ers to purchase new limbs; the price far exceeded their scanty purses, and the inconvenience was very great, as a serious drawback to gaining a livelihood. Nor could these be supplied at the Sanitary Com mission expense, although contributions for this pur pose were sometimes made. Spring crutches were in great demand, and a purchase was made of one hun dred pairs, manufactured by a discharged soldier who was himself crippled. These were afterwards var nished and padded by a second one-legged soldier, a guest at the Soldiers' Home.
After the battles in Virginia, in the spring of 1864, there were more persons to assist in going to see sick or wounded soldiers than at any earlier period. The hospitals were more accessible. It was not like seek ing one left in the wake of the armies of the West, where transportation was perilous and the guerillas
332 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.
so troublesome. One man who had two sons, one of whom was killed and the other seriously wounded in the first battle of the Wilderness, though extremely ignorant and inexperienced, made his way to a Wash ington hospital by the help of letters and passes, found his living son and brought him home. Another father wrote from his home in Michigan, after return ing from a visit to his son, as follows : " I found my son in the hospital. He was not able to be moved from the bed, and I was obliged to return without him. The Sanitary ladies kindly offered their sym pathy; he had no appetite to eat anything from their fair hands. I intended to call on you on my return and thank you for your kindness, but was not well enough to do so."
From soldiers themselves frequent letters carne. Delegations and committees in the hospitals at the front would indite elaborate thanks on the part of all the boys, for donations, traced to their source by the indestructible mark of the Soldiers' Aid Society of Northern Ohio. These communications generally began with a picture of the inevitable man, in soldier or sailor dress, who, suspended in mid air, gaily nailed the national flag to the north pole, and they ended with a score or two of signatures. There were still more individual letters, and here is a specimen of the class, although dating back as early as the battle of Pittsburg Landing :
DEAR FRIEND: I was sent here from the Battle ground to assist in dressing the many wounds I was in charge of 15 Wounded Soldiers the Surgeon had neglected to get bandages and what to do I knew not but determined not to give it up without a trial I started out inquiring of every one I met if they knew any place where I could procure any Banda-
AKMY LETTEKS. 333
ges no one knew finally I came across A young man with a lot of Bandages under His arm looking as pleased as though he had found $5.00 in gold I stopped and asked Him where did you get them. Oh said he (his face glowing with pleasure) right down there to that little frame house (pointing across the street) there is A Woman that belongs to the Society she has every thing that our Boys wants I went and found to my surprise Old mother BECKERDIKE with Bandages, Pillows, towels, shirts Drawers, Socks and every thing to make the poor suffering Boys comfortable I took what I could carry of the Bandages and other necessaries and went to the Hospital looking as well pleased as the Soldier I had met that told me of the place all this seems kind of curious to me to get such luxuries without A Recuisition Countersigned by two or 3 Officers. But how to express my gratitude I know not we can say I thank you most sincerely there is A Reward layed up for the Society which will return to you in many days. Our Boys would have suffered severely had it not been for the Society I hope we will all meet in Heaven where War and Bloodshed are not You will be very kindly remembered by all of the Hospital.
Yours respectfully give me Ohio Ladies thats my native State.
Here is another not so overflowing with honest warmth. Gloomy pictures the nameless writer draws.
Humanity seems to demand that the attention of some charitable insti tution should be called to our condition here at Vicksburg. We have nothing left us but to apeal to charity. In our Regiment alone we have One hundred and thirty-seven sick. 113 of them are shaking with the ague and the Doctor informed me that 36 grains of Quinine would set them all upon their feet in forty eight hours but for the want of it they will have to shake until some and I am fearful many of them will shake themselves into eternity. I am satisfied what will do for the army at Washington will not do for the army here in this malarious country where we have to drink water out of mud puddles a great deal of the time. * * *
The following letter is pathetic, but resigned, as if the writer were fully aware that the nation had the worst of the bargain by insisting upon his service. He was an old acquaintance.
Well i am again in the field i was drafted the fifteenth of this month i cant see where they will put me i am not fit for service i can not work nor dare to expose myself i hope they will give me time to get well if i ever do my wife feels worse than she did the first time i went out she
334 CONTRIBUTING SOCIETIES.
lived by herself last summer and noboddy to talk to but the dog she thinks it a great pleasure to have me to talk to although i could not do any work and i dont think i ever will.
Here is a letter from a soldier, wlio sends a modest and natural request.
You will confer a great favor on the writer if you will please be so obliging and so kind as to send, occasionally, a line or two to a weary lonesome soldier, to cheer him on his lonely road. You may think it is a great presumption on my part to thus address you, being a perfect stranger, but, knowing you are engaged in such a good work for us soldiers, I thought you would also help to cheer us by a word, for a word from a lady oftentimes helps us on amazingly. I have no kind mother or sister in writing distance. I am sorry to tell you they are all south. Now, I know if you had an idea or even could imagine what a source of comfort it was for us to open a letter, why I know you will pen a few lines. If you desire it I shall answer your letter, and I think I can interest you by a description of the country and the people hereabouts.
The contributions for the Soldiers' Home now formed a part of the shipments from towns near Cleveland. A few of the Aid Societies sent weekly a supply of good things for the Home table, and, for a time, all the potatoes and butter consumed in the household came from the same generous source. Occasionally, from over zealous packing, most tempt ingly invoiced boxes and barrels arrived in a state of chaos — hot doughnuts consigned to a tomb of vege tables and canned fruit distilling into the cheese and butter. Among these contributing societies were conspicuous all who had given most liberally towards the supply department of this work. A list of them will be found in Appendix B, of this volume. These were not all nourishing villages nor incipient towns of the more thickly settled portions of the territory which limited the Soldiers' Aid Society of Northern Ohio. Many of the most valuable and useful gifts
WINTER QUARTERS. 335
were prepared in lonely farm houses, to reach which the few ladies who formed the society must journey through cold, snow, or almost impassable mud, over long miles of country roads. In many such meetings the wants of the Home were earnestly considered, and for its sick soldiers was manufactured and dis patched the best which each good housewife could prepare. The tiny society at Chester Cross Roads sent over one hundred pounds of fresh spring butter, and so large a quantity of dried fruit that a lady at the Aid Rooms remarked to the grey haired man who brought these contributions to Cleveland : " Your village must be a fine place for fruit." "We have very little," he replied, " but we keep it all for the soldiers and eat none ourselves."
The expenses of the Home were now very sensibly reduced by these gifts. In a report, published in January, 1865, the estimated cost of a meal or lodging since the opening of the institution had averaged only twelve cents.
The winter of 1864 and '65 brought again a large number of discharged men to claim assistance. Sev eral crippled soldiers were admitted to the Home while attending the schools or commercial college. Others remained for only a few days while seeking employment, and these, with a number of really help less men, swelled the list of inmates to formidable pro portions. The first approach of cold weather also brought from the South an unusual number of refu gees and rebel deserters from the hardships of another winter campaign. To the latter, the ordinary hospi-
336 KEFUGEES AND DESERTERS.
tality of a meal or lodging was granted. The refugees always needed assistance in procuring employment, and proved the most difficult class of applicants to provide for. Those having trades readily found work, but others of a more numerous class, unfitted by habits or education for any known branch of industry, were most discouraging proteges. The Strangers' Home Society took charge of the female refugees and often assisted these destitute families to organize a new humble home, by gifts of household furniture and food. Among these many phases of want, distress and helplessness, are conspicuous a few shining exam ples of resolution and energy.
A snowy day in December, 1864, found a group of six refugee brothers huddled around the stove at the Aid Rooms. Their homespun suits bore ample evi dence to the swamps and forests through which they had escaped from Dixie, and a rebel picket had sent a bullet through the knee of one during the flight. The only warm garment they possessed — an old shep herd's plaid — was wrapped around the youngest brother, TOMMY, fourteen years old. From " JEEMES " to BOB there was little variation in dress or expression; all were hopeless and discouraged, with the exception of TOMMY.
To the Home they were all dispatched, until employment could be found for them, and after vari ous trials and failures to make clerks, laborers or salesmen of them, they adjourned in a body to chop wood upon the line of some railroad. From thence came frequent and alarming reports of BOB'S having chopped away portions of his own feet or his neigh-
TOMMY. 337
bor's, or of JOHN'S axe having unexpectedly descended on his brother's head.
Meanwhile, TOMMY was adopted by the Soldiers' Home, clothed and sent to school. The expense of his support was quite balanced by the many ways in which he made himself useful — always ready to sit by the bed of a sick soldier, to light fires, or run the numerous errands to which a boy's feet are considered equal, and never unwilling to "tote" anything for friend or foe. Grave and conscientious, his sober face was daily welcomed at the Aid Rooms, where he had ordinarily some weighty question to propound, as, " Miss - — , how long does it take to get an educa tion ? " His monthly school reports were duly brought to be signed by his guardians and the credit marks properly admired, and to the discriminating taste of the Aid Society was confided the selection of poems and orations to be spoken on public occasions. TOMMY received many marks of favor from teacher and scholars at school, once in the form of a pair of skates, often by smaller gifts and gratuitous sleigh rides. But TOMMY was homesick. Nothing had been heard through the long winter from the father and mother in Virginia, and when the taking of Richmond opened a way of return to her refugee citizens, the six broth ers were among the first to avail themselves of it.
All refugees claimed to be Unionists, and so doubt less the larger portion of them were. Some had suffered beyond belief at the hands of the rebels, had seen their fathers and husbands murdered, their homes destroyed and themselves cast out, but it may be doubted whether all who professed to be loyal could
22
338 ENTERTAINMENTS,
support their claim. There were females, refugees from hunger and privation in the South, as staunch rebels at heart as their husbands, who were probably then fighting under the rebel flag. When only a meal or lodging was asked, the sentiments of a hungry mother and her children were not very closely inquired into. There are some amusing incidents associated \vith this class. One woman, who had received permission to remain over night with her family at the Home, brought forth from her baggage a surprising quantity of handsome clothes, put them in tubs of water to soak, pulled out a pipe, seated herself over the fire, and refused to depart until some one had finished the washing for her. The humiliating confession must be made that, unless force had been employed, she would have remained in possession.
On the 2d of December, 1864, Mr. JAMES E. MUR DOCH gave a Patriotic Reading for the benefit of the Home ; and in March of the following spring, a num ber of ladies and gentlemen, who had long been friends and supporters of the Aid Society, gave a series of Tableaux and Dramatic Performances for the same object. (See Appendix E.) The latter enter tainments yielded a profit of seven hundred and thirty dollars, and with this sum a new ward, thirty-six feet long, was added to the south end of the building. "Work was at once commenced upon this, and in a few days it was completed and ready for occupancy, with a fall complement of flags, pictures and blue gingham spreads.
The following sketch, published in March, 1865, gives an outline of the daily routine of the establish-
ONE DAY AT THE HOME. 339
ment at a time when large numbers of convalescent soldiers were in process of transfer to their respective
States.
OXE DAY AT THE SOLDIERS' HOME.
" How few of our citizens have taken the pains to turn the corner of the Union Depot, to give a passing look at the flourishing Soldiers' Home, stretching its white length along the pier ! It has certainly done its best to attract the people's affectionate attention, not only covering itself with mighty signs, as with a garment, but crowned with the flag which converts all places under its shelter into soldiers' homes. As the representative of our city's hospitalities to the sick and wounded soldiers, or to any of our national army who need food and shelter, it has now so good a name that all who have contributed to its support may well be proud.
" The last few days have brought an unusual num ber to its door. Eastern hospitals are in process of depletion to make room for new arrivals from SHER MAN'S army, of those who have fallen by the way in the grand march. Convalescents they call these men, who hobble on crutches about the door and crowd every available space within the Home limits; yet each bears his marks of disease or wound, either in pale face and feeble gait, in useless arm or crippled limb. But all individual differences are merged in the one absorbing interest with which the still closed dining room door is watched. Behind that protecting barrier all is now bustle and active preparation, and under the influence of quick fingers the meal is in
340 FEEDING THE CONVALESCENTS.
readiness, soon enough for the patience even of the hungry crowd waiting beyond the door. Now the word is given, and in troops the first installment of men, very slowly and feebly — not as they marched away with SHERMAN — for these must be carefully helped to their places at the bountiful table, with crutches stowed away in close proximity; this one must have some kind hand to supply the place of the arm now hanging useless at his side, and another's morbid appetite craves some variation from the ordi nary fare. The guests' names must be recorded, as accurately as the warfare of knives and forks will permit, rough Government crutches exchanged for the comfortably-padded ones furnished by the Sanitary Commission, and many little deficiencies in clothing noted and remedied, while the men do justice to the fare before them. No wonder the faces brighten under the combined influence of kind words and good cheer. Did the maker of these marvelous cookies realize the exquisite relish with which the appetite of a convalescent regards them ? These vegetables and apple butter, with which some country Aid Society has furnished the home larder, are delicious beyond belief to men so long consigned to salt beef and hard tack; while the butter and soft bread receive such special attention, that reinforcements are speedily required. A low hum of applause and approving comment runs round the tables ; one and another says, audibly enough to rejoice the attendant ladies : ' Well, this looks like home ! ' or, * I havn't seen anything like this since I left home ! ' Many pay only the compliment of full justice to the meal, while here and
VARIED WANTS. 341
there one summons up courage to make a neat little speech of thanks as he rises from the table. But whether silent or complimentary, the feeling of all, we believe, is expressed in the words of the tall pale sergeant, who, rising with difficulty on his crutches, says : ' Ladies, kind friends ! it is worth the little we have suffered for our country, to meet such a warm reception at home.'
" Now the room is finally emptied of its first guests, and the tables hastily prepared for the second detach ment, and then for a third and fourth. All honor to the worthy Matron that her store room stands bravely such repeated attacks, and her coffee boiler stoutly replies to all drafts made upon it. What a relief, that the last poor fellow who lingered near the table has fared as well as the first who rushed eagerly in to the assault! The same programme is repeated on each occasion, with variations in individual cases. One forever-helpless man is carried in the arms of a brother soldier, that he, too, may have the pleasure of sitting at table with the rest, and he pulls out the fatal bullet which ' ruined' him, as he says, to exhibit. Meanwhile there are many in the sleeping ward, too feeble to care to leave its comfort, whose taste must be consulted, and to whom food must be carried. Here one man's wound needs dressing, an other asks for a fresh bandage; a slipper is wanted for a swollen foot, and a sickly soldier must have some strengthening remedy from the medicine-chest. At last all are fed, all rested, and all wants attended to ; the whistle of the train is heard and the soldiers depart, with strength enough gained to carry them on
342 APPEALS FOE AID.
their journey, leaving behind them plenty of good wishes for the Home. But their departure brings little rest to the Home corps. The debris must be removed, and fresh preparations made for the arrival of the later trains, which may bring as many more guests to be entertained again and lodged over night."
The Home, even at this time, was comparatively unknown to the people of Cleveland, its local position cutting it off from friendly visits. The Aid Society found, however, a decided stimulus given by it to the general work, and were anxious to extend its influ ence through the entire system of tributary organ izations. The soldiers who came to the Home had been, many of them, previously aided on battle fields, in hospitals, in the Homes of the Commission, and the central office possessed the advantage of having constantly before it some evidence of the results of its work. With the view of sharing this interest, no less than in the hope of increasing the material receipts, the wants of the Home were persistently brought before the public. As long as practicable, a list of the soldiers entertained was published weekly. Con tributions were always publicly acknowledged, and in time the reporters of the daily newspapers chronicled the incidents of the household in a manner thorough enough to satisfy its most zealous advocates.
Early in the spring of this year the long-hoped-for, long-delayed exchange of prisoners was made. If the time had seemed long to those who waited and almost despaired at home, it had been an eternity to the
PRISONERS' LETTERS. 343
prisoners themselves. " What did the men think of the delay ? " was asked of one who had been for many months confined in Anderson ville. " We thought the Government did not know how we were suffering, and, at last, we believed that we were deserted by every body — even by our friends. Then some of the men said there was no God. The married men all died first ; they would think of home until they got des perate. Some of the time we had nothing to cover us but some sticks stuck in the ground, over which we stretched strips torn from our clothes. We never believed the Government would lose by exchanging us, for we knew how we should fight if we once got out of that place."
From time to time, especially as the last winter of imprisonment approached, letters had come to the Aid Society from Ohio men, confined in the prisons at Florence, Ala., and Columbia, S. C. They contained no demands for luxuries ; they asked for the coarsest soldier's fare, hard tack and army beef, to keep off starvation. To this some of the men added requests for clothing, shoes and shirts. The inmates of Sauls- bury prison suffered more intensely from cold than from the actual want of food, for with forests in abun dance near them, they were forbidden to cut down even enough wood to build huts or barracks, and often had only holes dug in the earth to shelter them in the bitter winter weather.
On the coarsest scraps of old brown paper some of these letters are written, and have usually more than one signature, with the prison numbers of the writers.
344 HUNGER AND COLD.
" You are requested to lend your aid in the relief of two members of the 23d Ohio. Both of us are bare footed and nearly naked, without blankets or shelter of any kind. It will be necessary to be expeditious, for the cold winter is fast approaching, and, if some thing is not done soon for us, wre shall hardly stand the storms. Some dried fruit would be very thank fully received, and perhaps be a good remedy for the scurvy, as we are both ailing with that disease."
Here follows a list of eatables, flour, bacon and the size of the shoes so much needed.
One of the men who signed the next letter was a noble fellow, captured by the rebels while taking care of a wounded comrade on the field after a battle. He says: " Excuse the intrusion of strangers. We are six in number — three of us thirteen months in prison. We all need shoes, socks, shirts and drawers, and we crave something substantial to eat, as army bread, etc."
Others wrote because they knew "no one else to apply to," and were " somewhat acquainted with you as an agent of the Sanitary Commission," and add : " Please don't think us too forward."
A fifth letter runs thus : "We have no near friends to write to for aid. We assume the privilege of wri ting your honorable body, asking you to send us a box of provisions, to help us through the winter. Also, we would ask you to send us some clothing. We are very destitute and have scarcely enough to cover our nakedness. The cold weather is here, and we sup pose it will be still colder and our sufferings will be very great, without we can receive something to keep us warm. We hope this may meet your approbation,
EXCHANGE OF PEISONEES. 345
and, our prayers accompanying it, we have the assur ance to think it will."
The desired clothing and food had been sent, with little hope that they would reach their destination, but because it was impossible to do otherwise while there was the remote chance of the supplies relieving any suffering Union prisoners. Of their fate this only was known: a small part of the stores sent by the Sanitary Commission did actually reach some of the men, but the vast freight of food and blankets, de signed to comfort and succor the starving and freezing prisoners, was wrecked on the prison bar and glad dened the hearts of rebel officials.
But finally the exchange was made. One and another of the Cleveland men came home, and told of the fate of others who had starved to death, or died of actual despair. One said: "When we came near the camp of our troops at Wilmington, on our way home, first we heard in the distance a military band, then we saw, away off, a United States flag, and then all the boys broke down ; they shouted and wept, and some knelt down to it, and just then the boys from the camp came out to meet us and brought us every thing they could find for us to eat, and the band came out too and played for us."
From Annapolis, where all the exchanged prisoners were landed, after the necessary detention to receive refreshment and allowance of pay, the less feeble among them obtained a month's furlough and at once went to their homes. Every day and train now brought to the Cleveland Soldiers' Home large num bers of these men. It seemed as if enough could not
346 EEBEL MERCY.
be done for them there. A standing order at this time was, that all the feeble men among the returned prisoners should be given milk punch or blackberry cordial as soon as they arrived, and the same con tinued at intervals during their stay, with everything to eat which they could suggest. With all this care, some of them died and others lingered there through long and severe illness. But there were many more who gained wonderfully in this short rest, and proba bly came safely to the end of their journey.
When Richmond was taken and the whole North rejoicing, it was pitiful to go into the Home wards and see sitting there, listlessly and despondingly, men who, suffering for the common cause, were yet shut out from sharing the general joy.
On the very day which brought the glorious news of LEE'S surrender, a man came to the Home with his son, whom he had found in the hospital for exchanged prisoners at Annapolis. He was still a boy, but paralyzed, partially deaf and with mind hopelessly clouded. All during their stay he sat perfectly silent, apparently unable to hear the noisy rejoicings, or even to comprehend their meaning. He only spoke once ; a gentleman who was present asked the father what had caused the son's terrible condition, and catching the meaning from his pitying expression, the lad said, slowly and with difficulty, " starvation," and then relapsed into the same dull state as before.
The first of those who died among the prisoners was a young Michigan soldier, who was brought, dying, from the train, but yet begged to be allowed to go on directly to his own home. He was told that his
STARVED TO DEATH. 347
mother would be at once sent for, and a telegram went immediately to the little village where she lived, but there was some unforeseen detention of the trains, or carelessness of messengers, and she did not arrive until her son had been twenty-four hours dead. Up to the last moment of consciousness he had talked of her. That one fond hope of seeing her had almost power to keep the parting spirit in its mortal frame. He was so afraid she could not come, or perhaps was sick, or dead, for her last letter, received in prison, was dated eight months before. But the mother came on the next day — a pale, sad woman, dressed in deepest mourning for another son, killed in the war, who had been brought home to her, dead, a few months earlier. "EDWIN," she said, "when he went away was such a rosy, broad shouldered fellow," and then she went in and looked at him in his coffin. But the fleshless, withered skeleton that lay there seemed never to have been any one's handsome boy. She took him back to the Michigan village, and not long afterwards she wrote from there, in these simple and touching words :
" Agreeable to my promise, I will write you a few lines to-night, that you may know I am at home in safety, having arrived last Wednesday afternoon. The burial took place at two in the afternoon, Sab bath, when the wasted body of that dear one was laid in the grave by the side of his sainted father and brother, there to await the resurrection morn. I have a hope in contemplating his death without which I might be driven to distraction — the hope that my EDWIN has gone to everlasting happiness, and that I
348 A MOTHER'S LETTER.
may one day meet him with his brother who has only gone before. I believe they are both better off than with me, yet I so feel the need of them, while here, their love and sympathy seemed so indispensable to my comfort and enjoyment, that I cannot easily recon cile myself to their loss. I assure you it is with much sadness that I went home, feeling that my boy would never see me there, yet I felt grateful that I had the privilege of burying his body with his kinsmen, instead of having it left in the enemy's land, and I felt thankful too that he was kindly cared for in his last moments, that he could feel that though among strangers, he was with friends that he could put con fidence in ; and you will I ever remember with love and gratitude as a friend to my poor, injured, dying boy, also others at the Home. The kindness of Cap tain JEROME will ever be remembered, likewise of the Matron and all ; their names I do not remember. I have not been well since I left Cleveland, but I am not sick, but keep about and try to work, which goes hard with me. I wish I could call at the Home once in a while to see the sick soldiers and help to take care of them. I think I should like that better than my own work, for which I have lost ambition. I would like to hear from you all again."
To this soon succeeded the death of another pris oner, who, it was at first hoped, would recover by prompt treatment and good care. For a few days the small ward rang with his delirious shouts, then fol lowed a stupor, broken by only occasional moments of consciousness, and on Sunday morning, a week after his arrival, the heavy breathing which had been pain-
VETERAN RESERVES. 349
fully audible throughout the house, suddenly ceased, and all was over. His wife had been promptly informed of his illness, but no answer was received to the message, nor to the subsequent letters which announced his death. He was therefore buried from the Soldiers' Aid Society Rooms, where a funeral service was held, and was carried to the grave by a squad of soldiers from the Home. His small worldly effects — a little sum of money, the fresh military clothing, the new leather pocket book, with one entry and date, and the numerous trifles which had charmed the eyes of one just free from Salisbury prison - were all carefully put aside until their proper guardi ans could be discovered. The members of the Albany Sanitary Commission endeavored to trace the friends of the soldier, through the faint clue afforded by a name which, as afterwards appeared, was one assumed at his enlistment. After six weeks' inquiry the quest was finally successful, and the remains of the soldier and his small possessions were sent to his father.
In April of this year, an extension to the dining room was built, running at right angles with the older part. Soon afterwards, a company of the Veteran Reserve Corps, assigned for duty at the depot and quartered in the adjoining barracks, made application through their officer for permission to turn the rations into the Home stores, detail a portion of their number for service in the establishment, and in return receive their meals at the Home table. This was finally agreed to, and proved not an unfavorable arrange ment, in view of the subsequent service rendered by
350 WELCOME TO OHIO SOLDIEKS.
the men. From the Sanitary Commission Soup House two great condensers were obtained to cook meat and vegetables in large quantities, and these, set up in the large kitchen, were presided over by two red faced Veteran Reserve cooks, who reigned supreme in that domain. Other Veteran Reserves, from the giant who stepped into its ranks by the loss of a finger, through the various grades of disability to the actual cripple, were to be met with at every angle of the Home building, scrubbing floors, mopping, setting tables and washing dishes.
When it became known that a Camp of Discharge would be organized at Cleveland, a meeting of the City Council was held and an appropriation made to properly entertain the returning Ohio regiments. A committee was appointed to take the matter in charge, who at first proposed to arrange with the Soldiers' Home to feed these troops, but some doubt being expressed as to the capacity of the institution, the contract wTas given to Messrs. WHEELEK and RUSSELL, the proprietors of the Depot Dining Hall. A long line of fiy tents was pitched under the trees of the Park, and here all the Ohio soldiers assigned to Camp Cleveland were feasted. (See Appendix E.) The Soldiers' Aid Society, confident of the expansive prop erties of their Home, would have gladly undertaken the office of entertaining the Ohio men, and now claimed for their share regiments from other States passing through Cleveland, and the sick of all organi zations.
The first arrival of these guests was the 20th Mich igan Infantry, who sent forward a dispatch on the 3d
AN EARLY BREAKFAST. 351
of June, announcing its coming, three hundred and forty strong, in three hours' time. A return telegram invited it to dinner at the Home, and a carriage, sent through* the market to collect green vegetables? soon returned a moving mass of cucumbers, lettuce, onions and radishes, surmounted by a great tin can of milk. Scouts were sent out for bread and cakes, the condensers, filled with beef and potatoes, were soon in action, and the dinner prepared as promised in the invitation hazarded three hours before.
This accomplished successfully, the prospect of a breakfast at five o'clock, A. M., of the next day, to the soldiers of a Michigan Battery was really inspiriting. The train brought them in on time, just after the sun rise of a lovely summer Sunday morning. The break fast over, a last glimpse was taken of the men, crowd ing the decks of the steamer, shouting and tossing up their caps by way of farewell. A score of handker chiefs, aprons and towels were waved in return from the lakeward windows of the Home, and with flags flying, band playing, the great steamer moved out with her happy freight, over the blue and sunny water. Just then some one announced, " Here comes the 98th Ohio ! " and into the depot rushed the train, swarming with soldiers, enthusiastic and very hungry. This was the first arrival of the regiments for Camp Cleveland, but having been erroneously reported as assigned to Camp Chase, it found the citizens' com mittee unprepared to receive it. Here was a fearful crisis. Something must be done — but the Sunday quiet of restaurants was unapproachable. It was now discovered that Michigan had not despoiled
352 THE NEW DINING ROOM.
Ohio — there was still something to eat in the Soldiers' Home. The officers and the sick men were taken there, and the regiment, formed in double line in the depot, was regaled with bread and butter, cakes and plenty of hot coffee from the Home. This answered until five o'clock in the afternoon, when a proper din ner, provided by the citizens' committee, was served to them in the dining hall at the depot, and they marched over to Camp Cleveland with music and banners.
The Home dining room was immediately found unequal to the demands of such occasions. Mr. CRAWFORD advised the redemption of the yet unoccu pied portion of the pier from its ruinous state, and the following day a new room was planned, running one hundred and twenty feet along the dock and connected by folding doors with the smaller hall. In three days the building was completed. Mr. L. D. RUCKEE, Super intendent of the Cleveland and Toledo railroad, sent a special car to Olmstead to bring up the requisite number of chairs, and the next arrival of troops, seven hundred soldiers of a Wisconsin regiment, wrere dined with little delay. An artist was discovered in the Veteran Reserve ranks, who employed his genius in decorating walls and ceilings with designs in colored paper. Flags and pictures of favorite generals were suspended beneath the red, white and blue roof, and the whole effect was gay and patriotic.
After the seven hundred Wisconsin soldiers came ten hundred and thirty-four from Michigan, followed quickly by regiments of three, four and five hundred men, from both these States and from Minnesota,
RIVAL ATTE ACTIONS. 353
almost ad infinitum, and at all hours of day and night.
Each regiment had its individual interest, which gave to every arrival its characteristic. All had their colors in various stages of honorable mutilation ; some brought large collections of captured birds and animals, squirrels and raccoons perched on the men's shoulders, or curled up on their knapsacks ; others had trains of little darkies following to new homes in the wonderful North, with round eyes dilating at sight of the cakes and pies, and who were always called upon after the feast to exhibit some plantation dances and break downs for the benefit of the ladies. Many had fine bands of music, always brought into service on these occasions, if only a drum corps. A band, with lovely silver instruments, attached to the 22d Wisconsin, played all one June afternoon from the end of the long dining hall, and charmed those who listened into temporary forgetfulness of unswept floors, unwashed dishes and impending regiments. Occasionally troops recently stationed at a military post were accompanied by wives and children, who drank up the milk, caused a famine among the sweet things, were seldom civil and regarded the Home as a convenient hotel.
The preparations for these entertainments were soon systematized. Early notice of the expected arrival of troops was sent to the Aid Rooms from the different railroad offices, but once or twice, through some failure in reports, the shortest imaginable time was allowed for preparation. Such an electrifying dispatch as this would come, per breathless messenger: "Seven hundred soldiers will be at Cleveland in half an hour ! "
23
354 A BILL OF FAEE.
Three, four, even five hours was brief time when every thing had to be purchased and cooked, and in these desperate circumstances a carnage would be sent around to collect volunteers, and another dispatched to the market to find bread, meat and vegetables. A short experience sufficed to reveal the proper wires to be pulled to extract impossible performances from the German baker, who quivered with horror at " so many breads" being expected in an hour. The bread was always forthcoming, and the beef and vegetables. On Sunday, the railroad tracks being comparatively free, the special trains conveying soldiers were usually put on, and this became no unfrequent spectacle — a car riage, with some of the Aid Society ladies, driving from baker's to butcher's house, invading the Sabbath leisure of these individuals at the church-going hour, in search of something to give a regiment of hungry soldiers. That they were hungry none can doubt who reads the superintendent's list of what was necessary to feed five hundred men : " One hundred and thirty- five pies, one half barrel ginger cakes, one thousand small cakes, one half barrel apple sauce, three hundred loaves bread, three hundred pounds beef, one half barrel pickles, thirty quarts milk, one half barrel crackers, one barrel potatoes, two and one half barrels coffee, one barrel vegetables."
If the time allowed to prepare and serve these meals was short, the superintendents of the railroads were most kind and indulgent, and the Home has no failure to record. An exception was the case of a New York cavalry regiment, which was first discovered in the depot and could only be invited to make a flying
THE RESERVE FORCE. 355
descent upon the tables, already laid for breakfast. Everything upon them was carried off and then, the baker having just made his morning visit, all hands were marshaled to cut open the fresh loaves, insert a lump of butter in each and dispatch them to the soldiers remaining in the train.
A number of ladies connected with the Aid Society held themselves in readiness for such occasions, when it became necessary to seek more assistance than the officers of the Society and the Home employes could supply. Among these were Mrs. D. CHITTENDEN, Mrs. RANDALL CRAWFORD, Mrs. WILLIAM GUSHING, Mrs. J. O. SEYMOUR, Mrs. KNOWLTON, Mrs. J. HAY- WARD, Mrs. C. D. BRAYTON, Mrs. C. A. TERRY, Mrs. R. F. PAINE, Mrs. J. M. RICHARDS, Misses KELLOGG, Mrs. S. WILLIAMSON, Mrs. WILLIAM T. SMITH, Miss SARA MAHAN, Mrs. E. L. MILLER, Miss ANNIE BALD WIN, Miss CARRIE YOUNGLOVE, Mrs. PETER THATCHER, Mrs. CLARK WARREN, Mrs. CHARLES WHEELER, Mrs. GEORGE WILLEY, Miss VAUGHAN.
It is also due the President of the Aid Society, Mrs. B. ROUSE, to record her unfailing attendance at the Home on these and, indeed, all occasions. Her energy and activity, notwithstanding her years and feeble health, put to the blush many who were younger and more robust.
In this connection should properly be mentioned many kindnesses received, not only at this time but also during every period of the history of the Home and Depot Hospital, from those attached to the rail road offices or employed in the depot. Of the favors extended to the Society by the Superintendents of
356 GENEROUS RAILROAD COMPANIES.
railroads centering in the city, Messrs. E. S. FLINT and ROBERT BLEE, of the Cleveland and Col ambus road, HENRY NOTTINGHAM, of the Cleveland, Painesville and Ashtabula, J. H. DEVEREUX, of the Cleveland and Pitts burgh, L. D. RUCKER, of the Cleveland and Toledo and of Captain L. A. PIERCE, Agent of the Michigan Central, mention has already been made. How valu able their assistance was can be readily seen when it is stated that more than two thirds of the transpor tation issued to soldiers was on passes granted to the Society by the railroad companies, and the record falls far short of the actual number aided in this way. The generous interest called forth by the sufferings of the soldiers extended to those who had charge of the relief work, and the managers of the Home also record with pleasure the kindness of Messrs. WHEELER and RUSSELL, Depot Master C. S. ROBINSON, Mr. GEORGE STOWELL, and Depot Officers VAN HUSEN and CLARK WARREN, the latter of whom rendered valuable ser vice in the Depot Hospital. Mr. H. S. STEVENS, of the Omnibus company, put at the disposal of the regu lar visitors to the Home a seat in the vehicles of this line, and also supplied a permanent pass to the officers of the Society and to the superintendent and matron of the Home. H. GEER & Co. on many occa sions gave the use of a carriage to the Society, in some cases of emergency when troops were expected, or when a sick soldier was to be carried to and from the trains.
FEEDING A BRIGADE.
THE largest number of men entertained at one time was a brigade numbering thirteen hundred and fifty men, which arrived on the 29th of July.
ENTERTAINING A BRIGADE. 357
This brigade, consisting of the 37th and 38th Wis consin and 27th Michigan, whose arrival had all day been postponed from one hour to the next, it was at length definitely settled would be at Cleveland at 12 o'clock, midnight ; so there was no sleep to be had, except in stolen snatches, sitting upright in the hardest of chairs, with ears on the alert to catch the first dis tant whistle of the expected train. Of course no one at first intended to be sleepy. In the earlier part of the evening all found enough to do in the manifold preparations for thirteen hundred men. The ladies cut bushels of bread, cake and pies in the upper kitchen, and marshaled and assisted their temporary command of Veteran Reserves in the task of setting the tables in great and small dining rooms. Veteran Reserves were omnipresent — staggering under the weight of trays of plates and dishes, or carrying great baskets of edibles, to be distributed on the long rows of tables. On the disposition of this force the com manding officers prided themselves not a little — all the lame men sat at the tables assisting in cutting the bread and cake, which the one- armed men built up into tasteful monuments on the designated plates, and those so unfortunate as to possess both arms and legs were expected to be generally useful. Certain of the number, as well as the Home employes, had a definite post assigned each. One presided over the coffee — no slight task where six great caskfuls are required — another superintended the slicing of the beef from the cauldrons, and others still the boiling of potatoes by the barrel, while the evil genius of a third unhappy group condemned them to peel innumerable little
358 A MIDNIGHT MEAL.
green onions. Every one was busy and animated, even to the small boys who, having nothing else to do, stimulated the energy of the working force by divers false alarms brought in from the outer dark ness. The guard was posted and dropped calmly to sleep; the tables were finally surveyed and the most anxious scrutiny employed to discover possible flaws in quantity or quality; also the corps de reserve of edibles, mountain high, was pronounced sufficient to feed the army of the Cumberland. Then the ladies in the matron's room and the soldiers in the great kitchen formed into groups, laughed, chatted, grew drowsy, and finally fell asleep, and for two hours nothing was heard but the waves of Lake Erie dash ing up against the pier beneath the Soldiers1 Home. Suddenly, about 2 o'clock, A. M., a faint whistle — the very ghost of a sound — changed the silent scene in a moment into one of the most active life. Gas lights blazed up all over the house, the fumes of coffee rose on the air, and for the fifteen minutes before the soldiers actually arrived, every one needed ten pairs of hands and feet. An eager crowd, armed with plates, surrounded the steaming boilers of potatoes, while a similar group, provided with tin pails and kettles, assailed and aggravated the presiding genius at the coffee casks. The corps detailed for duty at the long rows of wash basins, hastened to its post, and soon lanterns were shining along the depot walls to light up the festive preparations. At this juncture the superintendent, assuming his lantern and badge of office, and accompanied by the steward and a detach ment to attend the sick of the brigade, sallied forth
OPEN AIR TOILETS. 359
to meet the train. It was hardly necessary to tell the soldiers what was in store for them. Every man knew what the dispatch ran forward to say that afternoon, and every eye was watching the long low building with its many "brilliant windows — the only bright spot in the blackness of 2 o'clock, A. M. So the train was speedily emptied, the men fell into ranks, the band struck up a lively tune, and the line of march was taken up for the Soldiers' Home. Here they halted, stacked arms, and the commanding officer informed the men that before partaking of the sup per provided by the patriotic ladies of Cleveland an opportunity would be given them to wash their faces and hands. On this arose a tumultuous hurrah ! and all charged pell rnell on the line of tin basins, which for ten minutes was a scene of wildest confu sion. The water plashed, faces shone, pocket combs were circulated and the result was a general and pervading atmosphere of soap and water. Even with this civilizing influence, the brown rugged ranks of veterans looked formidable enough in the half light,
O O '
though drawn up for a peaceful attack.
The few moments' grace thus obtained, was precious indeed to the busy throng within the Home, who congratulated each other that the divided train brought only a portion of the number as a first detachment. Fortunately, by the time the toilets were completed, every thing was ready — five hundred bowls of steam ing coffee were poured out, the dining room doors thrown open and, marshaled by the superintendent, who temporarily ranked generals and colonels, in filed the hungry soldiers. That was a charming sight to
360 PROGEESS OF THE FEAST.
their entertainers — such looks of eager anticipation settling into joyful certainty, as the eye took in the light, the flowers, the smiling welcome, the home like look of the white covered tables, and, certainly not least, the variety and profusion of food heaped thereon. The first murmur of surprise and applause was a delightful sound, and not less so the subsequent clat ter of knives and forks and the hum of many animated voices. The large dining hall was soon filled, next the smaller one, yet all were not seated. However, being earnestly assured that a second table would soon be prepared — though only half convinced that anything could equal that first glimpse of sumptuous fare — the remnant withdrew and gave their attention to the casks of iced water and lemonade standing beside the Home door.
Within, the feast progressed with wonderful rapid ity. An appointed number of ladies who, with a detail of Veteran Reserves, were assigned for duty at the different tables, again and again filled the bowls with hot coffee and replenished the fast disappearing mountains of bread and meat. Occasionally one would stumble over a small and unhappy yellow secesh dog who accompanied his conquerors and refused to remain concealed under the table. The attendants likewise combined with their other duties the agreeable task of drinking in the expressions of approval which, as the feast slackened, fell from all lips; also of listening, with calm conviction, to the universal decision of the infinite superiority of the supper under consideration to any ever provided by other corporation or town.
INVALID DIET. 361
In the smaller dining room, the officers of the brigade supped at a table only differing from the others in the non-essential privilege accorded of put ting the milk and sugar into each cup according to individual taste. And the sick — those at least who could crawl to the table — had their appointed place and a bevy of anxious and eager attendants. Being excepted from the general uniformity, the appe tite of each invalid was consulted, and the kitchen stove soon covered with innumerable little messes, hastily prepared to suit a sick man's fancy, and served with sympathizing words and glances, which doubtless added greatly to the flavor. This was evident, for the patients generally showed a laudable inclination to eat through the bill of fare in addition to this invalid diet. There were also sick in the wards who claimed attention. Under the steward's charge, each man had received clean clothing and the necessary medicine or stimulants required by his condition, and was now at liberty to select anything which seemed tempting within the pantry's limits. This food being prepared, was taken to the ward and arranged on tables, ornamented each with a bouquet stolen from the dining room.
By this time the rooms were emptied of the last remaining guests, and not a moment could be lost in removing the fragments of the meal and restoring the tables to their first freshness, for the second train was at hand and, flattening their faces against the windows and pressing around the doors, were the disappointed ones of installment number one. The universal haste, half laughing, half desperate, was stimulated now by
362 JoHffinr COMES MAECHING HOME.
the sound of many voices and feet without, announcing the arrival of the remaining eight hundred and fifty soldiers. In the lower kitchen a dense white steam enveloped the heated and excited group of dish washers, preparing a third supply of plates and dishes, while down the dining room flowed a tide of men and women, with trays of butter plates and towers of pies, which met an opposing phalanx of empty dishes, streaming up to the kitchen. At this juncture the General commanding the brigade proposed that the Glee Club of the Michigan regiment should favor the Cleveland ladies with a selection of patriotic songs. So a file of bright, half shy, half amused, young sol diers took up their station against the wall, out of reach of impending collisions, and above the confusion of tongues, the sound of hurrying feet and the clash ing of forks and dishes, rose the strains of " Tramp, Tramp," the "Blue Cockade" and "Johnny Comes Marching Home," sung with spirit and sweetness. Every one found a moment to lay aside her occupation and applaud the young musicians, in spite of the pre monitory sounds without the closed door.
At last, in a really brief space of time, the rooms were again thrown open and again filled with a second throng, rather more hungry than their prede cessors. Up to this point there had been no signs of failure in the pantry, but the experienced ones began to consider with nervous dread the probability of its enduring another attack from the four hun dred remaining guests, who would certainly come with trebly aggravated appetites. Four hundred tall, strong Wisconsin men were patiently awaiting their
DEPARTURE. 363
share in the good things so glowingly described by their comrades. There was no time to lose in these reflections. The tables were set the third time by weary people, whose hands moved less briskly and whose feet seemed strangely to adhere to the oft traversed floor. Finally all was ready and ample in every respect, to the general surprise and delight. No such genuine expressions of grateful appreciation fell from any as from these Wisconsin soldiers who, waiting in the chill summer twilight, must hfve doubted whether any one house could contain enough to feed thirteen hundred as hungry men. Before the last lingering guests had left the tables — including the numerous little negroes, whose pockets bore ample evidence to the sympathy of the attendant ladies — the bugle sounded its shrill call and away they all scampered, hands and mouths full. Every one in the Home crowded to doors and windows to see the host depart. The first signs of morning were red in the east when the line formed again from the extreme limits of the watery territory, and when all was ready the officer in command told the soldiers to give the Home and the ladies of the Sanitary Commission three cheers. Then ensued a deafening shout, accom panied by innumerable individual greetings, the band struck up again, handkerchiefs were waved and the brigade moved off in a tumult of cheers, good wishes and good byes. Then the people at the doors wrent slowly in to breakfast and were electrified by the announcement of another regiment to be expected at noon.
364 THE HOSPITAL DEPAETMENT.
All these troops brought sick men with them ; in the baggage cars of the train there were always some haggard miserable victims of ague and fever — for not a man of them would consent to let the boys come home and leave him behind. By the time Cleveland was reached, those who had undertaken the journey when unfit to bear its fatigues, were obliged to remain at the Home until they could be taken to the Camp Cleveland hospital or join their regiments. The steward of the Soldiers' Home at this time was a discharged soldier, JOHN SCHWAB, who had been appointed to the position in March, 1865, and was one of the kindest, most capable and atten tive nurses with which a sick man was ever blessed. His hospital staff consisted of two convalescent soldiers, detailed to act as his assistants and recruited from the guests of the household, many of whom had often before acted in this capacity. The medicine chest and the stores of lint, bandages and plasters Avere under the steward's charge, and his skill in dressing wounds, with quickness and tenderness, made his services of great value.
Although others of the Cleveland surgeons occa sionally prescribed for the Home patients, — Drs. ELISHA STEELING and PEOCTOE THAYEE having each attended a patient through a severe surgical case,— the physician of the establishment was in fact Dr. CHAELES A. TEEEY, who paid four or five hundred gratuitous visits to the sick men there, and, after the Home was closed, continued his services whenever they were required for an invalid soldier or his family.
It was amusing to see how stoutly all the sick men
A SUBMISSIVE PATIENT. 365
at first refused to stay, when the others went on, even if evidently seriously ill. But after a day or two a reaction would take place ; what was passing around them began to amuse them a little, their food was excellent, their quarters comfortable, and the interest taken in their cases, their tastes and comfort by the ladies of the Home, in time worked a marvelous change. A Massachusetts regiment left behind it several most unhappy homesick men, who shook with ague chills and pined with disappointment for a day or two, then cheered up amazingly, laughed, ate, got well and went home in high spirits. One of them, a sweet-looking boyish soldier, shed a few tears when he said good bye. " And, O, AVERILL," cried a pru dent lady, as he went away, " you have forgotten to take your quinine !" whereupon submissively he tossed off a bumper of the pleasing beverage and was gone. "Miss," said the steward solemnly, " he had just taken his usual dose and he thinks it's poisonous ! " Could any one demand a stronger proof of gratitude ? It did not seem deadly in its effects ; he and the other men got safely to Massachusetts and wrote back to tell of their arrival and of their favorable opinion of the Home.
Another Wisconsin soldier, who lay in the corner of the ward through what had nearly proved a fatal illness, seemed insensible to all the care and kindness which could be shown him, yet surprised one of his " liebe freunde " by sending, with some money which was loaned him for the journey, a grateful letter, of which this is a portion translated from its native German. " You have been my best friends. As long
366 CRIPPLED CORRESPONDENTS.
as I live I will thank you. Do not think badly of me that I have not written before. If you ever come to our neighborhood you must make us a visit. My father and mother greet you a thousand times because you helped me in my great distress."
A third patient writes : " I am gaining my strength. I think I should never have got home if it had not been for your kindness to me. I owe my life to you, for which you have my sincere thanks. It is a noble institution and I hope it will be prospered."
And a fourth: "I return the five dollars you so kindly loaned me to bear my expenses out. I feel under great obligations to be grateful to you for this as well as many other favors I have received from your excellent institution. I shall ever hold the Soldiers' Home in grateful remembrance. It is one of the bright spots in life that memory loves to dwell upon."
In turning over the volumes which hold these letters, the men who wrote them are one by one recalled. Here is a correspondent who had lost a leg, another an arm, a third was consumptive. They had all seen many hardships in the field and some of them in prison ; but not one of the brave fellows remembered that as a title to the consideration of their countrymen and women. The letters are full of the kindness received at the Home as something delightfully unex pected and certainly not merited.
THE WOUNDED OF THE 103D OHIO.
ON the 19th of June the 103d Ohio was reported as en route for Camp Cleveland, but at the time
THE WOUNDED AT ALTOONA. 367
appointed for the arrival, 9 o'clock, A. M., of the next day, instead of the expected regiment came dispatches announcing a catastrophe to the train near Altoona, Pa, The city was full of anxious friends, for the 103d had been recruited in Northern Ohio, several compa nies in Cleveland. There stood, that sunny morning, the tents in the Park, gay with flags, the tables laid for the feast, and all through the streets were women and children, with nosegays of June roses and pinks for the soldiers. There were a few hours of anxiety and uncertainty — no one knew definitely who were injured, or whether the regiment was involved in general disaster. But, as the long day wore on, the confused messages that first came were modified by more accurate reports, although the dreadful fact remained that three strong young soldiers, who had survived the perils of a four years' war, lay dead at Altoona, and twenty or thirty others were more or less injured.
The first thought in the minds of those who had friends or brothers among the wounded, was to go directly to Altoona, and often during the day was the question asked at the Aid Eooms, " Can you not help me to get there ? " But, before any of the anxious souls could start on their journey, a message came from the wounded men themselves ; they would be in Cleveland with the regiment on the next day, all of them, at least, whose injuries would bear removal.
These were legitimate guests of the Soldiers' Home, and it was resolved to make their arrival a festival occasion.
At 12 o'clock the train was due, and long before
368 A SAD RETURN.
that hour a dense crowd had collected at the depot. The train came into the midst of a little tempest of cheers and fluttering handkerchiefs. The women cried, the band opened its brass throat, and, when the noisy welcome was over, the regiment marched away, wind ing like a gay ribbon along the dusty hill, with the old colors flying, pretty bouquets crowning the bright bayonets, and gorgeous necklaces of brilliant flowers embarrassing the officers they distinguished.
From the improvised hospital cars of the train the superintendent and his assistants brought to the Home the wounded men, some on stretchers, carrying others, and followed by all who could help themselves by means of a stout cane or crutch. It was a sad return, nor could the poor fellows help feeling it, and hardly less so did their comrades who marched away to the gay music. The men were taken to the pleas- antest ward, sweet with its holiday bouquet and cool with the breezes from the lake, and here a vigorous bathing and renovation took place. The wounds were dressed, the worn and stained uniforms replaced by fresh cotton clothing, and now the barometer began to indicate fair weather. Dust and heat were things of the past. Visitors were admitted, and through the open door crept a promise of dinner.
Every man had now a glass of iced lemonade or milk punch. A little book was produced and the day-dream of each in the way of dinner recorded. The bill of fare had no limitations, and caused laugh ter and amusement even among the most despondent invalids. One wanted eggs, another fresh meat and vegetables; every man asked for fruit and a potato.
A DINNER PARTY. 369
A round table was brought into the ward, cups and saucers arranged, and never was dinner party more thoroughly enjoyed, although the guests were obliged to follow the oriental custom of reclining at the meal. A smaller table was drawn to each bed, the men propped up on pillows, and the room soon filled with merry voices. Later in the day, when their place of retreat became known, friends and relatives came pouring in, until each invalid's bed was the centre of some family group. Among them, too, were many sympathizers, with cakes, custard and other good things unsuitable for an invalid, but of which — forgetting dinner past and consequences possible — all the pa tients did cordially partake.
For three days the heroes of the Altoona disaster were made as happy as their fractures and bruises would allow, and then each, as he regained his strength, went to his own home and kindred.
The majority of troops hitherto entertained were from Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, but in July and August the troops on duty in the Mississippi States, generally New England and New York regi ments, began arriving, bringing plenty of ague patients. As long as the Home existed, regular troops in transit in the line of the service received the same attention that was paid to volunteers. The 6th United States Cavalry was the only complete regiment entertained, the others being merely squads of recruits.
To these successive regiments, with their sick requir ing all the care which a hospital affords, was of course added the daily tide of individual soldiers, arriving
370 THE CRUEL WAR IS OVER.
and departing, to be fed, lodged and specially relieved in many ways. All day in the Home dining room stood a table already laid for whatever meal might happen to be required — breakfast, dinner, supper. From the early daylight boat to the latest evening train, any soldier might come, lay aside his knapsack, find a comfortable meal, with plenty of hot coffee, provided for him, and go on his way without detention.
When the war was really over and every day brought some regiment on its homeward way, there was not a soldier yet undischarged who did not pine to get out of the service. They began to hate their uniforms as a badge of continued obligation. They wanted to be with their old companies — going home and welcomed by townsmen and sweethearts. Men who had been brave soldiers for four years of war, grumbled at serving after the rebels were conquered. It was wonderful what magic lay in the yellow dis charge paper. It represented going home to wife and children, and once more becoming a citizen. The armies of irrepressible soldiers, who were to convert the Republic into a military despotism and fight each other when there was no one else to kill, melted si lently away, and instead there were so many more clerks, laborers, mechanics, who were only too glad to beat their spears into pruning hooks, and to hang up their muskets peacefully on the wall.
One splendid looking soldier, who belonged to a regiment discharged at Camp Cleveland, was afflicted with persistent ague, and, some error occurring in his papers, was obliged to remain temporarily at the Home. He sat there for days, sulky and sullen as a
MUSTERED OUT. 371
caged lion, but after one lucky visit to the paymaster, came in radiant, in citizen's clothing, emitting cheerful ness and good humor from every pore/ the shabby soldier dress discarded — Richard himself again !
When the order came releasing from the service members of the Veteran Reserve Corps whose original regiments were already mustered out, all hope of any further work from those at the Home was over. Ket tles and dish pans were deserted, while all day long a little crowd could be found at the paymaster's office, awaiting the turn to settle accounts with Uncle Sam. Sometimes they were kept kicking their heels at his door for several days, but the money once safely in pocket — away to the tailor !
There was one tall fellow, simple minded as a baby, who was always bursting with little bits of family history and small confidences. He delighted to exhibit the picture of his wife, and to ask : " Well, now, don't she look smart ? " Then he would tell what a brisk little body she was, and how she had worked as a dress maker while he was in the war — all with honest pride. One afternoon B., who had cast aside his cook's apron with the rest to dance attendance upon the paymaster, came into the Aid Room office with the inevitable russet portmanteau — always the first purchase — and putting it down, opened its treasures for inspection. "Now, how much do you suppose I paid for this ? " he demanded at each article, — then overwhelmed his audi ence by announcing its surprising cheapness. When the last great bargain was replaced, the honest fellow's heart failed him ; tears stood in his eyes as he said : " We never shall meet here again but I hope we may in heaven," and so went home to his smart little wife.
372 ELOQUENT GUESTS.
It was pleasant to know what interest those soldiers who remained any length of time at the Home, espe cially if they had been sick there, took in its affairs. Some of them could believe that their own mothers and sisters had a share in providing its comforts; but to most of them the charm consisted in their coming from those to whom they were strangers, except for their service sake. On a meal ticket, perhaps, some shy guest became eloquent. " Thanks to Ohio for the kindness I have received at the Home, and may God reward its benefactors." Enclosed in a neat border of scallops, another one wrote, on the corner of a book : " The thanks of the soldiers are due to the attendants of the Home for their kindness to sick soldiers." They would often write, from their own homes, from the hospital or regiment, perhaps saying : " You may remember me as the soldier who had a scar across the face." A man who had been several months at the Home as guest and afterwards as assistant to the steward, wrote: "I hope you will not think me pre sumptuous when I address you as friend, for I am sure I never met a stranger anywhere who took half the interest in my welfare," and then follow his little items of domestic news and plans for the future. One poor broken down fellow, whose sufferings and temp tations must have long since ended, left the Home in a fit of remorse, because, " My spirit would not allow me longer to feed upon the bread of charity, although I knew I was welcome by all of those connected with that best institution that the world ever saw." Extrav agant language, but excusable in a man who had no home of his own to die in.
RAIDERS AXD MALCONTENTS. 373
The supply work at the Aid Rooms was still in full force, for in the field was an undischarged army, requiring the aid of the Sanitary Commission's vege table trains to defy the attacks of scurvy, and the newly found peace had not yet depleted the hospitals, filled with the wounded of the last great battles.
The claimants from the camp for the stores of the Aid Society now assumed formidable numbers. A detention, sometimes of a week or two, before each regiment was paid off, was impatiently endured by the soldiers. Their clothing bore such marks of the famous march through Georgia, that it was often hardly adapted for the inspection of the civilized world, and the wearers, who had expected to be at once discharged, were painfully conscious of this. It was discovered that the Soldiers' Aid Society had various useful and comfortable articles on hand. One soldier came and then another, until finally the Aid Rooms were filled with such visitors from early morn ing until night. The articles obtained were not valu able, but a clean handkerchief, a pair of stockings, or a cotton shirt made the recipient for the time quite happy. Their thanks, unfortunately, were often accom panied by such unexpected remarks as this : " Well, this is the first thing I ever got from the Sanitary," or, " You don't see the Sanitary out of Ohio." " What," some lady would exclaim, "did. you never get any vegetables ? " " Yes, we had potatoes and onions, but never any fruit." The men who complained, it appeared, had never been in hospital since their enlist ment, and to each one it was carefully explained that the work of the Sanitary Commission was, save in the
374 FOURTH OF JULY BANQUET*
distribution of anti-scorbutics, confined to the hospitals. If all who felt themselves thus aggrieved admitted to having eaten Sanitary Commission vegetables, to hav ing lodged and dined at the Soldiers' Homes, and yet had never been on the hospital list, the inference was clear that they had received their full share of the Sanitary Commission benefits. Convinced of this or not, they still came — sometimes almost a whole com pany would be found seated in front of the Aid Rooms, patiently awaiting the unlocking of the door. It became even necessary to barricade the < entre of the room, to separate the eager guests from the busi ness of the Society.
Many of the soldiers' families now drew supplies of cooked food from the Home. After a regiment had been fed there was often a quantity of cut bread and meat remaining, which was distributed according to a list of such families, kept for the purpose. Once the non-arrival of an expected New York regiment left a houseful of cooked provisions on hand, w^hich were loaded upon drays and express wagons and sent to every soldier's wife within reach.
The Fourth of July dinner, given by the citizens of Cleveland to the regiments in camp, the patients in the hospital and veteran soldiers generally, was served at the Home by request of the committee having the matter in charge. It was not a trifling affair nor easily prepared. A regiment preceded it and another breakfasted off the remains, while the dinner was skil fully sandwiched between the two. In fact when the tables were actually laid, in all the glory of holiday
THE LITTLE SAILOR. 375
preparation, a detachment of two hundred convales cents, on their way to a Michigan hospital, arrived by the Eastern train, without announcement. They were, of course, seated at the tables and regaled with a portion of the puddings and pies for which the soldiers in the Park were sharpening their appetites, under the influence of the Fourth of July oration. No one enjoyed the nice things more than the sick men who first tasted their quality. As soon as these were dispatched, every man in the establishment was pressed into service, whether one-armed or one-legged, and, the stock of food holding out, the tables were restored before the sound of the band became audible, and the long, dusty procession drew up expectant at the doors. Accompanying it in omnibuses and carriages, which blossomed out with flags, came the lame, the halt and the blind from the hospital at Camp Cleve land — men whose faces from many visits paid to the Bank street Rooms had become familiar and welcome. Two deaths occurred, almost in the midst of these festivities. While the dinner was in progress, a little sailor, from the Mississippi squadron, who had been lying for months in hospital at Mound City, was brought from the railroad train and placed upon a bed in the further ward, remote as possible from the noise and music. Such a delicate child-like face lay on the pillow, with eyes dark and long lashed, whose sad and patient expression had grown through slow and wasting disease. To an inexperienced observer he showed no sign of illness, except, perhaps, in exces sive debility, and, as he lay quietly through the hot day, he looked like a pretty boy sleeping away the
376 THE PRODIGAL SOK.
fatigue of play. But the decision of the physician was imperative — his parents must be at once sent for. They came the next morning — two plain, elderly people whose Benjamin this son evidently was — and through the day they hung over him, trying a hundred simple country remedies from their home experience, burning brandy and making tea or gruel in the hope of reviving his failing strength. But the loving care was useless, for with no further suffering he sank rapidly, and died before evening.
Another, a government employe, brought the same evening to the Home, lived two days, but died before his parents could come to him. This, his old father said, was a long absent son who had left them years before, and he burst into a passion of tears when told that he was too late to see him living.
On the 6th of July, Company D, of the 6th Veteran Reserves, was ordered again to Johnson's Island, and in the following August, a company of the 22d Regi ment of the same Corps, stationed at the camp, was detailed for duty at the Depot. The men occupied the old quarters, gradually crept into their predeces sors' places, washed dishes, swept floors, cooked and waited upon the sick. Their term of service only extended over three weeks.
Quite a number of men whose regiments were dis charged at Camp Cleveland and who failed to receive their pay through some informality in their papers, applied for permission to remain at the Home until the fault could be rectified. This was generally granted on condition of their services being made available in the duties of the household.
THE HOSPITAL LEGACY. 377
In August the U. S. General Hospital at Camp Cleveland was broken up, and those patients whose removal to Camp Dennison seemed inexpedient, were transferred to the care of the Soldiers7 Home. One, a sensitive and nervous lad, who had suffered long with a painful disease, found the neighborhood of the depot quite unbearable, and was removed to a country village, where the expenses of his illness were borne by the Aid Society. There he lingered a few weeks, sending for and receiving some small luxuries from the Soldiers' Home, which only relieved his restless longings for the moment, but could give him no lasting relief. One of the eager little notes is here, written by a patient, much- en during sister, who watched him so faithfully and now too lies at rest with him : " I know you will do anything for a soldier's comfort, and will help me as much as you can, for the short time my brother has to stay here. He says he hopes he will soon be in heaven, pleading before the throne of Mercy a great reward for your kindness to him, as he can not return it by any reward in this world."
Another patient had been once before at the Home, just after suffering amputation of both limbs, which were crushed under a railroad car. He had now a cheerful position in the ward assigned him, where he could easily see and be amused by w^hat passed around him. Sometimes the steward would mount him upon his back and carry him around the depot, or the piers, for a little change of air and scene, while an occasional drive through the city gave him inex pressible pleasure. When able to travel, he was sent, under charge of the steward of the Home, to Phila-
378 A FLOUEISHING BUSINESS.
delpliia to procure his artificial legs, and, pending their manufacture, was left at the Sanitary Commission Lodge. Six weeks later a proud and happy moment arrived. He wallzed into the Home on what he called his " artificials," with only the help of a cane. Every visitor was called upon to admire the newly acquired faculty. A pension was afterwards procured for him by special act of Congress — as his accident, having occurred while on furlough, precluded him from claim ing one under existing laws. He tried, but not suc cessfully, to work at his old trade of shoe making, and finally drifted into his proper place, the National Asylum.
Men, injured to the extent of losing both limbs, were rarely fit for any continuous employment, even of a simple and light nature. So great was the shock to the nervous system, that a quiet, unexciting exis tence in some institution, where their wants were attended to and the future gave them no anxiety, was generally the climax of their ambition.
On the 1st of May, 1865, a new and flourishing business had been inaugurated in the organization of the former irregular efforts to obtain work for dis charged soldiers, into an Employment Agency. A system, drawn up and recommended by the Central Bureau of the Sanitary Commission, was adopted, and books opened, wrhich were furnished by it to all the Branch Agencies. This new department began in the late summer and autumn to furnish numerous guests to the Home, forming a fair proportion of all the applicants registered at the Aid Rooms. In the
WANTED, EMPLOYMENT. 379
case of disabled soldiers, a temporary admission, even for a few days, was often necessary, until the occupa tions to wliicli they were best adapted could be found. Even to men not crippled, but compelled by long absence from business almost to commence the world anew, it was a benefit to be enabled, without loss to their small means, to procure the employment most suitable to their tastes and ability. The Agency was advertised and applications for registration were received by letter as well as in person. It was not always easy to adapt the supply to the demand, so many of the applicants were unable to perform full labor, and the positions where light work was required were not readily found nor always desirable.
" Being a discharged soldier, and having contracted a set of weak lungs in the service — by the way, was in four years — I thought I would make an appeal to you for a situation."
" Two fingers shot away and my left shoulder bro ken at Spottsylvania Court House. Since then I have not been able to do anything. The ball is still in my breast near the heart, and I am not able to do very hard work. I would like to be brakesman on a train, as work in a close room hurts me to breathe."
"I write to know if you could find a wounded soldier some light employment. I was wounded at Antietarn. I shall always be a cripple. My wound has never healed. I had a home when I enlisted, but have been obliged to part with it ; everything is so high these past two years. I was the first man who enlisted in the town where I live. I see no way of supporting my wife and child through the coming dreary winter."
380 AN AFFLICTING ENDORSEMENT.
" Do, please, try and get rue something to do ; iny application is the one hundred and eighty-seventh. I don't care what it is, so that it is honest work."
And from a despondent one-legged Teuton :
" Ladies, my desire is to say that I have not a place to work yet. It is allmost encouraging. I was up to see they man again who wanted me to sprinkle they streets, but no advise was given to me. My wish is to see him to Day and if not A proper answer comes forth from his mouth I will leave him."
What could be done with these and many others - so anxious to work, so unwilling to live upon charity, and yet so little able to earn more than the smallest wages ?
The able-bodied men all found occupation in time, some of them through the Employment Agency, others by their own efforts. In recommending a soldier to a position of any trust, references from a former employer, or from, his company officer were required. A man who could bring such a passport as this was sure to succeed. "The most temperate young man I know, assiduous, persevering, orderly and active. I would trust him with a million of money. He will tell the truth and the truth only. In fact he is a pattern of a boy."
One unfortunate, bright-eyed young colored soldier came, afflicted with this endorsement :
" i Do Sertey Fye that he is a sober young man his occupashon Was a Horshler be fore in Rooled in the U S service, he can be trusted, he wants to Drive a Fainalay Caredge i do now him as a onest young man, and all way Done his Duty as a soliershier.
Yourst Most Restibels M."
A COLOKED KEGIMENT. 381
The Employment Agency, with its system and re sults, is fully detailed in the preceding General History on page 252.
The returning tide of regiments continued to flow during the entire summer and fall of 1865, and even through the later months of this year. The sketch already given shows the general character of their re ception at the Soldiers' Home. One of the most orderly, best disciplined body of men ever entertained there was the 102d Regiment U. S. Colored Troops, which arrived in two detachments, numbering collect ively some twelve hundred men. With the right wing were several women and children, in odd fantastic costumes — a union of plantation dress with civilized finery. They were cold and tired and gathered eagerly around the fire, with the flock of round-eyed little ones looking shyly out from behind the protecting barricade of the mothers' dresses. The soldiers themselves, bright, active young men, threw their entire energies into the open air ablutions, scrubbed and re-scrubbed their shining faces, and scrupulously assumed any additional article of festive attire to be found in their knapsacks.
The left wing, which arrived a week later, brought a train of one hundred sick men. A storm encountered on the passage had driven the vessel containing the troops out to sea, and consequently the existing forms of disease were aggravated and many new cases created. This invalid corps, under charge of a detail of soldiers, was specially supervised by an old negro, acting as master of ceremonies, who insisted on a rigid toilet
382 A PERILOUS JOUKNEY.
being performed for each sick man before admitting to the wards the visits of the ladies, or any hopes of dinner. To all the indignant remonstrances he replied merely with a superior smile and polite bow of excuse. It was a strange and picturesque scene. The wards were filled with the worst cases — men who had the settled melancholy, which is a peculiar feature of ill ness in their race, and three of whom died on board the boat that night after leaving the Home. The floor of the reception room was covered with the less seri ously ill, lying about in all attitudes, enjoying the warmth and languidly expectant of dinner. When evening and the time for embarkation on the Detroit boat arrived, an omnibus was obtained to transport the sick men, while the most dangerous cases, not trusted to this conveyance, were carried in blankets, borne each by four stout soldiers. Poor fellows ! they had an uncomfortable journey; their porters were young, merry and not very attentive, and sometimes the invalids came in sudden and unpleasant contact with the ground, but no audible complaint proceeded from the blankets.
The last regiment arrived one cold January morning, and was announced three hours before, in this dis patch, " Four car loads of troops are at Crestline, from away down south. They have been nine days on the way — have run out of provisions and want to come in to the Soldiers' Home." The reply was of course a promise of dinner, and the superintendent of the Cleveland and Columbus railroad promised to bring the men in time to accept the invitation. At three o'clock, P. M., the 8th New Hampshire arrived, cold
THE HOMEWARD MARCH. 383
and hungry. The chilly atmosphere was bitterly felt by men so long accustomed to the mild climate of Louisiana, and every wave of the stormy lake struck the pier with almost the force of a cannon ball, and sent showers of spray through treacherous chinks in the Home walls. But once inside the building, it was bright and cheerful as possible. Fires blazed in every quarter, and the tables were smoking altars of incense, for everything in the house which could be cooked and served steaming and hot had been prepared. All that could not be consumed at one meal — bread, meat and cheese — was packed into the men's haver sacks and, it is hoped, lasted them until they reached New Hampshire. After this, the great dining room was never used ; the doors were closed, the gay trap pings removed, and snow wreaths, hung by the wind on the walls, usurped the place of the favorite generals.
The expenditure made in feeding troops was a very large item in the expenses of the Home, and although the duty, except in the case of the sick, might not be regarded as essential, yet no act of its dispensation seemed to more clearly express the higher and national character of the Sanitary Commission. The regiments returning to their distant homes in Michigan, Wiscon sin, Minnesota and Iowa, found a little series of entertainments prepared for them on the route.
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit, had each its organization, which let no soldier pass by unfed or neglected. The enthusiasm was more than the food — it had a moral effect which is expressed in the resolutions sent back by the 1st Minnesota Battery after its arrival at St. Paul.
384 THANKS FEOM MINNESOTA.
"Re-solved, That in the name of every soldier of the Union, whom they honored in honoring us, and on behalf of the 1st Minnesota Battery in particular, do we tender to the ladies and patriotic citizens of Cleveland, our grateful thanks for the attention received at their hands.
Resolved, That though with feelings of universal pleasure and pride do we look back on the spotless record of our Battery during its three and a half years' service in the Army of the Tennessee, yet the brightest spot in our memories will henceforth be the closing scene of our military life, when, our mission accomplished, and the object for which we struggled so long happily attained, we received on our homeward march the manifestations of a nation's gratitude.
Resolved, That the pleasure we derived from the personal attention shown us by the ladies of Cleveland and the State of Ohio in general — great as that pleasure was — is enhanced by the thought that in thus greeting us as friends and brothers — who were strangers from a far distant state — with nothing to entitle us to such greeting, except the fact of our being soldiers of our common country, this — the great truth — was demonstrated, that the American Union was no longer, as heretofore, a conglomeration of discor dant States, loosely hung together, but that by the mutual sacrifices and united efforts of the past four years, we have in reality become a great nation — one in purpose — one in sentiment — sharing alike in the glorious memories of the past, and in the blessing resulting to the whole wide land, from the late triumphant vindication of the principles of free, enlightened, popular government."
The approach of winter changed the route of travel, and the few regiments to be still mustered out of service were sent to Camp Chase — the Cleveland camp having been early dismantled and broken up. This branch of the Home work was consequently over. When the institution was finally closed, and left to its solitude of bare walls and empty rooms, and the Society's watchfulness for expected troops was no longer necessary, the 25th Ohio unexpectedly arrived and sent forward so short a notice of their coming that it was only possible to serve them with an infor mal meal at 5 o'clock, A. M.
A PERMANENT HOME. 385
THE OHIO STATE SOLDIERS' HOME.
ON the 17th of October, 1865, an institution for disabled soldiers, known as the Ohio State Soldiers' Home, was opened at Columbus. The grounds, build ings and equipments of the Tripler Hospital were transferred by the United States Government to the State authorities for the purposes of an asylum of this character. Situated on the river bank, some three miles from the city, it seemed a quiet and safe retreat to which the pensioners of the Cleveland Home could be removed. Its influence was more favorable to the recovery of the sick, for quiet, good nursing and the services of a resident physician were at their disposal. Above all, a permanent asylum was thus provided for those whose disability would probably make them through life dependent upon such institutions.
The appointment of Hon. ISAAC BBAYTON as Super intendent and of Mrs. E. L. MILLER, who had been long connected with the Aid Rooms, as Matron of the establishment, gave the Society another interest in its affairs.
All the inmates of the Cleveland Home entitled to admission were sent to Columbus at the Aid Society's expense — the more feeble taken thither on stretchers. The notice was widely circulated through Northern Ohio that the same opportunity would be open to all disabled soldiers, and invitations to contribute to the table of the Home were extended to the Branch Societies by means of printed slips issued from the Aid Rooms' press.
Until the meeting of the Legislature, no appropri ation for the support of the institution could be
25 /
386 A HAPPY NEW YEAE.
obtained, and the Cincinnati Branch Sanitary Com mission at once offered fifteen thousand dollars for the purpose. The Soldiers' Aid Society of Cleveland gave five thousand with the promise of more, if further aid became necessary. A condition attached to these gifts opened the institution to soldiers from all States. As the Soldiers' Home at Cleveland contracted its own limits, portions of its furniture were from time to time transferred to the Columbus asylum, with which fre quent communication was maintained. The men wrote to their Cleveland friends, the officers of the Aid Society twice visited Columbus and endeavored to assist the institution as far as the duties of their own field would permit. The surplus stock of crutches went to the new hospital, and often an opportunity occurred of procuring some additional comforts for its inmates. A spring couch was sent to one bed-ridden man, and an expensive spinal brace purchased to enable another patient to walk about the wards. In several instances the expenses of the visit of a wife or mother to a very ill patient were defrayed from the Society treasury.
On the 2d of January, 1865, the Soldiers' Aid Soci ety gave a dinner to the inmates of the State Home. In the long lines of men ranked on either side of the tables were found a hundred familiar faces. Here were many who had recently left the care of the Cleve land Home, and others, acquaintances of earlier date, who, through various channels, had also drifted into this comfortable retreat. In the hospital wards were again others — consumptives, cripples, paralytics — who had once been firmly established in the sympa-
THE NATIONAL ASYLUM, 387
thies of the Cleveland Sanitary Commission, but who as easily adapted themselves to the new quarters. One patient, helpless lad, whose long suffering was drawing to its close, smiled recognition from his bed, and from a vast green cambric tent there issued a cheery voice which, traced to its source, was with difficulty identified as belonging to a blind soldier, who — half maddened by acute inflammation of the eyes — had left no enviable record at the Cleveland Home. Even the advances of its steward — on soap and water and clean clothing bent — had been received with wrath and voluble indignation. But now convalescence beamed upon him — everything was couleur de rose.
The officers of the Aid Society regarded the new institution with great interest. It continued and per fected their own temporary system of relief, and close observation of its government proved that it offered a thoroughly comfortable home to disabled soldiers. Through its various transitions from Sanitary Com mission and State to National authorities, there has never been occasion to reverse this first favorable opinion.
In 1867, the Ohio State Soldiers' Home was turned over to the United States Government, removed to Dayton and converted into the Central National Asylum for Disabled Soldiers. Since this transfer it has been independent of external assistance. An arrangement had been made in October, 1865, with the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati railroad company, whereby the Aid Society was enabled to send soldiers to the Home at reduced rates, but the free transportation now provided by the managers
388 THE WINTER'S WORK.
of the Asylum renders further aid in this direction unnecessary, save in some individual cases.
During the winter of 1865 and '66, the Home work was very sensibly contracted. Occasional squads of discharged soldiers, from the regiments still serving in Texas, would present themselves as candidates for lodging and refreshment, and there were plenty of men arriving every day on their way home from the various hospitals. The chief service of the Home was now in its character as rendezvous for applicants for admission to the State Home, who were here supplied with what they needed in the way of clothing, and sent at the Society's expense to Columbus.
In addition to these were a number of permanent inmates, a large proportion of whom were blind or partially so, who came to Cleveland to be under treat ment. Every morning, a little procession left the Home for the daily visit to the oculist, the blind leading the blind, or groping their way by means of sticks and canes. Around the reception room fire a group of them was always found, killing the time by mutual experiences of war days, or discussions, per haps, of the respective merits of Generals GRANT and SHERMAN.
A soldier, suffering almost beyond belief and con fined to his bed for more than a year, was brought by his friends to the Home to take advantage of its nourishing food and medical aid. The comfortable bed, especially provided for his use, stood in the centre of the ward, covered with the gayest and prettiest album quilt that the house afforded, and its occupant
IN THE SICK WAKD. 389
became a kind of general confidant and counsellor — always to be found, ready to listen, and with so few plans and hopes of his own to communicate. Every one was willing to read or talk to him, for his suffer ings seemed to call forth what was kindly, even in ungentle natures. Once he was taken to his own home, at his restless desire, then, still hoping for recovery, he asked to be transferred to the Columbus Asylum. Accordingly, his bed was one day again put into a wagon and taken, temporarily, to the then almost deserted Home. Some one going to the Aid Room door watched it pass — the pale face on its pillow — the red and blue covering fluttering in the wind — until the corner of the street was turned and the long hill
— never to be repassed — descended. The Home steward carried him safely to Columbus, where he lived a few weeks and died, leaving the favorite quilt with its bright colors and patriotic devices to a patient equally unfortunate.
His successor in the little sick ward of the Home was a young soldier who had been taken from the Infirmary of a neighboring town, where for two years he had lain bedridden, helpless and suffering. The two weeks which were passed in the Home remained a green spot in his dreary life, for here his scanty wardrobe was replenished, and all day long he might lie planning some new dainty, dreamed of, perhaps, in days of workhouse fare. In fact when he left the Home it was with indignation — soon repented of
— at a limit being set to his consumption of some indigestible article of diet. Six weeks after his remo val to Columbus, a little picture with a hymn beneath
890 FAITHFUL MOUKNEK8.
it, set in a humble frame and given him while in Cleveland, was brought back to the donor, with the message that he had looked at it every day until the last. After his death a fellow soldier executed this last commission.
In a wretchedly uncomfortable house on the West Side, a German soldier was found, sinking under a chronic disease of many months' duration. From the poverty and discomfort of his own quarters, and the noise of the five hungry flaxen-haired children, he was taken to the Home, hoping there to recruit sufficiently to bear the journey to the State Asylum. With him came the wife and eldest rosy-cheeked boy, and " Thank God ! it is warm here," said the woman as she entered the ward. Every day, mother and child visited the sick man, who never left the warm room until the dark rainy afternoon when he was carried out in his coffin, with the two faithful mourners following. In the two long days when he lay dying and unconscious, they had watched by him — the woman's hand fast clasped in his, long after it grew cold and unresponsive, and the eyes could recognize her no more. Yet she sat there still, refusing even to take food, until another woman's hand for a few moments held his, that he might not know her absence.
As a legacy was left the care of the houseful of children, to feed and clothe whom, for a time, the Aid Society felt itself pledged. Through its Claim Agency a pension for mother and children was procured, which, with the addition of what the woman could herself earn, made them in future independent of other aid.
It would be impossible within the present limits to
GROWN-UP SCHOLARS. 391
give even a passing notice to many inmates of the Home who, by remaining during a long period of con valescence, won a larger share of the general interest. One soldier, who had lost his right arm at the bat tle of Bentonville, worked his way by uniform good conduct to an established post in the institution, -wearing its white badge, executing innumerable errands, reading to the sick, and devoting his leisure moments industriously to the cultivation of left-hand penmanship. Through the medium of the Employ ment Agency he afterwards obtained an excellent situation which he filled with credit.
Another was a tall powerful German, who limped about the Home on his crutches during the slow process of recovery from amputation of the right leg, and whose absorbing occupation was the pursuit of knowledge by means of sundry worn geographies, histories and arithmetics. Over these he toiled, hour after hour, with puzzled and sometimes despairing looks, varying the task by the vain endeavor to train his big clumsy fingers to imitate copy-book flourishes. To him the Home was indebted for varnishing and leathering its store of crutches. Providence — of whose dealings his ideas were singularly crude — had in store for him many misadventures. His "reise gepack" was stolen from him in New York, and this appeared to him the natural deduction: "Although from my youth up I have endeavored to do right, and have the fear of God before my eyes and in my heart, I now see it is of no use." After leaving the protection of the Home, numerous other misfortunes pursued him, in the endeavor to establish some business where his
392 A DISABLED MAN'S FUTUKE.
crippled condition and ambitious views could be reconciled.
One could not help pitying the bewilderment with which these poor maimed fellows regarded the future. Trained to labor, yet all possibility of earning a liveli hood by its means removed — there was always a period of sad uncertainty following upon convalescence. At first there seemed nothing which a man so disabled could do, but in time the perplexities grew clear; honest desire to work discovered a path to occupation of some kind, and although the ordinary complement of arms and legs was never found to be superfluous, yet many a sharp-witted man made his one arm do good service for two. The increased invalid pension and the care fully hoarded bounty of some of the more prudent soldiers made a little capital with which to take the first step in the world. It is now the opinion of those who have observed these cases, that most instances of pauperism, or of its companion evil, hand-organ grind ing, in healthful though crippled subjects in ex-mili tary coats, may be traced to some radical fault in the individuals themselves. It is seldom, if ever, necessary for the national uniform to be thus disgraced. For the temperate and honest disabled soldier who has no family, the National Asylum offers a home, good food, clothing, education and the opportunity of learning some respectable trade, the pension meanwhile accu mulating, until, on leaving the Asylum, a little nest- egg for future fortune is provided.
A record should be here made of the death of WILLIAM HAKRISON, a member of the loth New York Heavy Artillery, which took place at the Home on
UNCLAIMED. 393
the 16 tli of September, 1865. Returning to Tennessee, from the place where his battery was discharged, he was waylaid in Buffalo, N". Y., beaten and robbed of his pay. The shock of the loss, rather than the effect of injuries received, acting upon a constitution already enfeebled by disease, produced a prostration of mind and body from which he could not rally. For the three days after he was brought to the Soldiers' Home at Cleveland, he sat, half unconscious, as if overpow ered by the weight of some dire calamity, and died on the fourth day after his arrival. In his few lucid moments it was discovered that he had friends in Morgantown and Nashville, Tenn., but none of the many letters announcing his death and requesting his family to claim his clothing, have brought answer of any kind. An advertisement subsequently inserted in one of the Nashville journals met with no more success. The poor fellow lies buried in Woodland Cemetery, in this city, and his grave is properly marked, in the hope that some one may one day be found to inquire his fate.
It would be inexpedient to mention those against whose memory no honorable record stands. It was early discovered that the benefits of such an institution must to a certain degree be dispensed with little refer ence to the worthiness of the applicant, but simply in the ratio of his sufferings. The more disabled, those requiring material aid in every way, were sometimes, morally, the least deserving of any assistance. Fortu nately the number of such cases is small and extends chiefly over the latter period of the Home's existence. The disbanding of the volunteer army and the gradual
394 RESIDENT PENSIONERS.
absorption of its members into civil life and peaceful pursuits, brought to the surface a residue of thoroughly disabled men, without home or friends, for whose sup port the first pension was insufficient, and who, until the establishment of Government or State institutions, necessarily depended upon the Sanitary Commission. In this class were both bad and good men.
As the assistance required by soldiers in transit became less, the wants of resident disabled men and their families were more urgently presented. During the winter and early spring a weekly allowance was paid to certain destitute families, and also fuel, food, flour and clothing issued in large quantities. Often an occasion offered for helping a disabled soldier over small accidental difficulties, as for instance, by purchasing for one man, crippled by chronic rheumatism, the tools necessary to establish a cobbler's shop on a tiny scale, and in settling the troublesome arrears of rent for another whose wound had re-opened and whose earn ings were consequently stopped.
The office work still occupying the time of the Aid Society officers, it was impossible to give every case presented the investigation it properly deserved, therefore, in applications for assistance from the fam ilies of soldiers personally unknown at the Aid Rooms, a recommendation from a Trustee of the ward was required. Saturday, the day appointed for these dis bursements, brought a motley assemblage of women and children, each with a story of hardship and dis tress. As summer approached, the number was grad ually reduced to a few cases which still claimed a
FINAL DUTIES. 395
certain degree of assistance. Especially was this necessary in the long sickness or convalescence from dangerous wounds, of soldiers whom it seemed unwise to remove to the State Home, and whose recovery appeared more fully insured by the gift of a small sum of money, enabling them to remain under home care and treatment.
At the recommendation of Mr. M. C. EEAD, the former Sanitary Commission Agent at Nashville, Tenn., the sum of two hundred dollars was placed in the hands of General WHIPPLE, Chief of Staff to General GEORGE H. THOMAS, for the relief of the destitute widows of Union soldiers in that city. This fund was carefully expended in aiding them to reach their friends, or in providing food for the more needy. A list of the persons relieved and a statement of each individual case was made out by General WHIPPLE and remitted to the Aid Society.
In February, 1866, the Home was closed, with the exception of a sleeping ward and reception room which were occupied four months longer. The corps of employes was dismissed and the contracted establish ment placed under the charge of GEORGE H. GIBSOIST, who had succeeded the former superintendent and steward and combined the now limited duties of both positions. The average number of meals during this last stage of its existence only reached two hundred and fifty per month.
After the first of June the occasional migratory subjects for special relief were referred to the Aid Rooms, lodged, as under the old system, at boarding
396 THE HOME DISMANTLED.
houses, and fed by means of meal tickets, representing a dinner at the depot coffee rooms.
Steward GIBSON, whose engagement at the Home had proved the value of his services, was now trans ferred to the Aid Rooms as an auxiliary in the office work, and took the place of the former porter, TIMOTHY FAKKELL, who had so long and faithfully served the Society as porter and sub-shipping clerk.
A portion of the bedding, furniture and clothing of the Home was transferred to the Columbus Asylum, and the remainder, at no little expense in cartage and wareroom rent, was stored away in reserve for a new city hospital then in contemplation, and to partially furnish which the Home outfit could legitimately be applied. This project was, however, abandoned, and the furniture, hardly improved by its many transpor tations, was sold at auction or distributed to soldiers' families. The Soldiers' Home, now a battered, dingy building, its once new and brilliant flag torn and weather-stained, its tenants discharged, the occasion which brought it into being happily gone by, it seemed fit should serve no other purpose nor be associated with other objects or occupants. The building was accordingly dismantled, sold in sections as it stood, and speedily removed by the purchasers.
It has been of course impossible to mention in the history of the Cleveland Soldiers' Home all who aided it, or, if unable to personally assist the officers of the Aid Society, with whom the responsibility of con ducting the institution rested, frankly gave them their support and confidence. Such a record, could it be made, would be found only to include those who were thoroughly loyal.
THE SCHOOL GIRLS' FETE. 397
In Dr. J. S. NEWBERRY the managers of the Home found always a friend and adviser. Through him, as Western Secretary of the Sanitary Commission, the Home obtained the gift of some valuable furniture for the wards, while the salary of the superintendent was for eighteen months paid from the same source. To Messrs. EDWARDS, TOWNSEND & Co., who kindly pruned their grocery bills to suit the Aid Society finances; to Dr. C. S. MACKENZIE, who on many occa sions supplied the soldier patients with medicine without money and without price ; to the editors and reporters of the HERALD and LEADER for almost unlim. ited use of their columns to narrate the incidents of the Home and to appeal for further contributions ; and to the milkman, Mr. D. COZAD, who gave his December bill as a Christmas box to the Home, the thanks of the Aid Society are hereby tendered. Nor should the little fete, prepared for the soldiers by the young ladies of Miss LINDA T. GUILFORD'S school, be omitted in this record — when the ever present spirit of departed coffee, which haunted the dining room, was replaced by the perfume of flowers and fruit, the hurried blue-coated waiters supplanted by young, merry, white dressed girls, and an ideal banquet — delicious but unsubstan tial — served to the soldier guests.
After the close of the Home the history of the Special Belief work flows naturally into that of the Claim Agency, which afforded the channel for its further extension.
398 COLLECTION OF AVAE CLAIMS.
THE CLAIM AGENCY.
THE gratuitous collection of soldiers' claims upon the Government formed, even in the earlier part of the war, an important feature in the Sanitary Com mission work.
The agents in charge of the Homes at Nashville, Washington and other points near the fields of mili tary operations, found that a large proportion of the men discharged from hospital required aid in obtaining a settlement of their claims for pay or bounty. Some times this arose from defects in their discharge papers, and often merely through ignorance of the proper form in which such claims should be presented. In all cases the Commission's agents assisted to push these claims to settlement, and the estimated amount collected for soldiers at the Homes exceeds two million five hundred thousand dollars.
In 1863, an Agency was established at Washington for the systematic prosecution of this branch of the Special Relief service, and in 1865, its operations were extended, through the establishment of numerous local Sub- Agencies for the collection of claims.
At these offices all claims presented were accepted, without regard to their probable merit, and trans mitted to the Central Bureau. To this duty and the requirement of furnishing the proof necessary to sub stantiate the claim, the sub-agent's responsibility was limited.
The office at Cleveland, O., under charge of WIL LIAM H. GAYLOED, Esq., filed one hundred and ninety claims through the Central Bureau in the eight months of its existence, from May, 1865, to January, 1866,
THE CLEVELAND AGENCY. 399
Although not reporting to the Cleveland Branch Sanitary Commission, the local Agency brought to its notice many cases where relief could be properly extended to needy claimants, pending the adjustment of their claims for pay, bounty or pension. Often the aid could be more judiciously given through the appli cant's admission to the Soldiers' Home, sometimes by transportation to his own home, and, again, by advanc ing small sums of money, from time to time, to meet the necessities of his family.
On the 1st of January, 1866, all the local offices were closed, their books and accounts transferred to the Central Bureau, and due notice given that no new claims would be received by the Sanitary Commission Agency.
An arrangement was made with Mr. W. F. BASCOM, then in charge of the General Office, to prosecute the claims on file to settlement.
At this time the Cleveland Branch . Sanitary Com mission, foreseeing that some confusion and perhaps misunderstanding must arise from the abrupt closing of the local Agency, determined, by advice of Dr. NEW- BEEKY, to employ a portion of its remaining fund in receiving new claims, and in settling those already filed in the Departments. Among the many plans suggested for the disposal of this sum, none seemed more directly to benefit the soldier for whose relief the money was at first contributed.
Mr. GAYLOKD was engaged to continue in charge of the Agency until June 1st, 1866. The question of extending the business beyond that date remained contingent upon the passage of the various pension
400 NEW LAWS.
and bounty bills under consideration in the Senate and House of Representatives. The number of claims received during these four months was small, and would hardly have authorized continuing the office beyond the stipulated time. The bill increasing pen sion to soldiers disabled to a certain degree was passed June 6th, 1866, and soon followed by the Additional Bounty Act and the bill granting pensions to each minor child of a deceased soldier. This seemed to decide the importance of a gratuitous Claim Agency.
Mr. GAYLORD was prevented by his personal engage ments from remaining longer in charge of the office, and consequently resigned his position on the 1st of June. In giving him an honorable discharge from their service, the Aid Society lost a faithful Agent, whose uniform kindness and courtesy to the claimants particularly fitted him to represent the Sanitary Com mission.
JASPER E. WILLIAMS, Esq., was appointed to succeed Mr. GAYLORD, and entered immediately upon the duties of the office.
It was proposed to somewhat revise the system under which business had hitherto been conducted. The Sanitary Commission Bureau had allowed its Agents to advertise their services to so limited a degree that, to the mass of discharged soldiers, the existence of such offices for the collection of claims was unknown. The Aid Society, desiring to extend as widely as possible the offer of its services, caused advertisements of the gratuitous character of its Claim Agency to be inserted for the six months following the 1st of June, 1866, in the Cleveland daily journals, and in all the county
A FLOOD OF APPLICATIONS. 401
papers throughout Northern Ohio. In addition to this, Mr. WILLIAMS went at once to Columbus to receive the claims for bounty and pension of the inmates of the Ohio State Home for Disabled Soldiers.
In anticipation of the passage of the Additional Bounty Act, several hundred soldiers' discharges were received and deposited in the Aid Eoom safe, with the promise that due notice should be sent the own ers when their applications could be properly filed. Many of the claimants unfortunately departed in happy assurance of having fulfilled their whole duty in the matter, and promptly called for the money in a few weeks' time, or wrote to request that the check should be forwarded to a given address.
A notary was employed in the office, which relieved the claimant from the fees ordinarily incurred in making out his papers, while all the additional evi dence required was obtained at the Agency expense, save in a few cases where it could more readily be procured by the claimants themselves.
Applications flowed in from every quarter — from former inmates of the Soldiers' Home — from appli cants once registered on the books of the Employment Agency — men who had reason to trust any phase of Sanitary Commission work. There were also a few prudent souls who came to assure themselves of the firmness of the basis on which this gratuitous Claim Agency was established, before entrusting their cases to its care.
There were, naturally, twice as many claims pre sented as could be filed with any reasonable hope of success — although the Sanitary Commission's rules
402 " NOT ENTITLED."
were much more flexible than those of the ordinary claim agent, whose fee depends upon his success. There were so many excellent reasons why they should all have pensions and bounties — they had served the stipulated time, with the exception of a few weeks or months — they had been discharged for disability and were permanent invalids — they were poor — were sick — had been good soldiers — the women had lost their sole support in sons, husbands, brothers. One poor creature says, when informed that she could not claim the bounty for a dead son, "My life has been made up of just such disappointments." This is a sample of others : " I had two sons die in the army, which part of my dependence and support were. JOHN died at Nashville, Tenn., and BENJAMIN at Milliken's Bend, La. JOHN was twenty-three and BENJAMIN seventeen years old. I have a husband, but he is very old, has poor health and can't stand to work any more to support me. I am feeble and our support and dependence is gone. They always supported us and sent money home when they were in the army. I want to have you get a pension for us, as we are getting old."
There are volumes of these histories of military ser vice, dates and circumstances of discharge — misfor tunes, disability — wrant of employment — griefs and losses — potent arguments for the Government bounty being extended to them, and for the Sanitary Com mission assisting them in obtaining it. Had the said Agency been elected judge of such pleas, all the anxious correspondents might have been satisfied. As it was, half, at least, of their letters were marked with the disappointing endorsement — " Not entitled."
ADDITIONAL BOUNTY ACT. 403
On the 1st of October, the Committee appointed to frame regulations for the payment of bounties under the new Act, made its report, and the discharges which had been reposing in the Agency safe were brought to light. Notifications were sent their owners to appear at the office with witnesses to make out their applications, and this summons was repeated on four or five distinct occasions, as, in the two months which had elapsed since the passage of the bill, many of the claimants had changed their address, and responded very much at their leisure when the notice finally reached them. The Committee's report limited still more the class who were entitled under the letter of the law to the national bounty. It also, at first, pro hibited the employment of an agent in the collection of these claims, but, as this provision could not affect a gratuitous agency, some advantage in point of time was gained by the Sanitary Commission office, whose cases were rapidly filed before the removal of the restrictions allowed others to enter the field.
This strict interpretation of the law by the Com mittee, and the later and still more stringent decisions of the Comptroller of the Treasury, excluded from its benefits many w^ho seemed at first unquestionably entitled to claim them. Especially was this true in the case of parents of soldiers dying after the passage of the Act, or before their claims, already entered, had been adjusted.
The "Increase of Invalid Pension" claims were easily adjusted; little evidence was required and speedy set tlement made. Not so the cases coming under the law which granted an additional pension to a soldier's
404 INCREASE OF PENSION.
widow for each minor child. The rules first issued from the Pension Office, prescribing the form of these applications, were found insufficient, and further, stricter requirements were ordered by the Commis sioner. Every woman had promptly and confidently sworn, on the first paper, to what she and her neigh bors believed to be the correct ages of her children. But when required to support this statement by further and positive proof, confusion and perplexities ensued. Church records were overhauled — sometimes found missing — family bibles brought to light — defective memories belabored, and memoranda consulted. Many a mother, in perfect good faith, swore to three different ages for each of her children, and one poor woman, in despair of better proof, offered to bring her little girls to the office that their ages might be guessed at. The fees expended in sending for the necessary affidavits in these cases — in rectifying blunders — and swallow ing unlimited amounts of well-attested words — were three-fold greater than were required in all other claims.
It had early been found necessary to increase the clerical force employed in the Agency, and still further to add to it, as the sudden and serious illness of Mr. WILLIAMS obliged him to withdraw from the office work.
The Aid Society was fortunate in engaging Messrs. SAMUEL M. EDDY, CHARLES L. CUTTER and ALFRED G. WILCOX, who most faithfully and intelligently per formed the obligations of the new business — which from its temporary character could not permanently command the services of any. In addition to these
INDIGNANT EPISTLES. 405
who were at different periods employed, the time of the Aid Room porter was often occupied in the minor details of the work, and Mr. WILLIAMS' special clerk, Mr. H. R. SACKETT, constantly engaged.
The secretary and treasurer of the Society, still unable to delegate the responsibility of the Agency, remained during this year in constant connection with its duties.
The claims were hardly filed when some of the clouds which must habitually darken the existence of a war-claim agent gathered over the Sanitary Com mission office. It is believed that many who entrusted their claims to it, considered the Sanitary Commission endowed with superhuman powers to direct the move ments of the Departments, and to expedite the routine of Government clerks and paymasters. That it did not at once revolutionize the system of the Paymaster General, for the payment of bounties, created surprise and distrust in some worthy breasts, and this feeling found vent in numerous threatening and indignant epistles. One man thought, "They have had time anoff To of seteled this thing up if they ever was agoing to. If you have any obligations there, it seems to me that it might bee got some way. I think I have kept cool long anoof." Another: "It seems to me, sir, you have had good time if you had used any diligence." Even this was hardly consoling : " It does seem a very slow and long process of aid the soldier gets for his services. I have every confidence in you, and firmly believe you will do all you can to see that I am fairly dealt with, but I have made a complaint to Washington on account of my delay and shall soon know the cause."
406 REMONSTRANCES.
Even these, though annoying and useless, could be borne, supported by a sense of inward rectitude, and inability to improve the existing state of affairs, but another class of remonstrances had greater weight, addressed, as they were, to a Society having for its object the interest of soldiers and soldiers7 widows. " Expecting the money every day, I am sick and my little girl is sick. I have had to give up work entirely. I am out of money and have no wood." " I am just starting in business and want all the money I can get." "I came here to school, thinking of course I should get my pension this fall." " Don't put me off until the last, for I have no good hand to work with and need the money badly." " Do try and get it for me if you can, for I stand greatly in need of it." And another woman, feelingly but mysteriously, remarks: " Think how you would feel if you was taken away and them left to make a living in this world by such hard work." " I am really suffering, and were it not for my wife would be in the poor house. And so, for the sake of all that is right, have the matter pushed through." " I wish you would do what you can for me, as I am in poor circumstances and am suffering much from sickness, with no prospect of ever getting well, as my lungs are badly affected."
To some unquiet beings the requirement of any additional evidence in their claims was a true griev ance, and, oddly enough, construed into distrust, on the part of the Government, of their individual asser tions. One woman insists : " Mr. JONES says there is no need of filling out so many papers. I am tired of it." Another, with dignity, decides : " If they don't
DESTITUTE CLIENTS. 407
want to pay me that bounty money on my certificate which I have already signed, why they may just keep it. There is some loss or wrong about it." Another woman's confidence in the stability of the Agency was entirely shaken by the fact that the former Agent had "riz up from the business," over which reflection she shed frequent and copious tears. And yet the way of claimants of the Sanitary Commission was made smooth as possible. There were no incidental expenses in their cases, nor fee of any kind.
There was frequent and great temptation to advance a portion of the expected pension or bounty to some of the destitute clients, and in several instances this was done, but experience proved the impracticability of opening a door which could not again be closed and might lead to embarrassing consequences. Many opportunities were, however, afforded the Aid Society of relieving those claimants whose necessities were personally known to it, by gifts of clothing and bed ding from the surplus hospital stores, and sometimes by a weekly allowance of money, given, not loaned them. In this way the Agency became not only the medium for the honest and gratuitous collection of claims, but also, to some extent, the channel for dis covering and relieving the temporary wants of the applicants. The suffering sometimes caused through delay in the settlement of pension claims was deeply felt by the Aid Society, and many attempts were made to soften the disappointment and make clear the pressing perplexities. Because this office could not be deputed to others, any more than could the responsibility of watching and ensuring the interests
408 CHANGE OF AGENT.
of the claimants, the Aid Society was unwilling to accept any of the numerous propositions to contract with an agent for the settlement of the business, although such an arrangement might possibly have reduced the office expenses.
Three applications for pension, which had been previously rejected as not fulfilling the requirements of the Department, were granted by special Act of Congress, in view of certain circumstances connected with the claims which rendered them morally, though not legally, valid. In securing these the kind services of General G-AKFIELD and Hon. R. P. SPALDING were employed.
On the 1st of January, 1867, nearly nineteen hun dred claims had been already received, and it was the decision of the Aid Society to take no new cases, save those to whose collection it was pledged. Quite a number of discharges still remained on hand, whose owners had not yet appeared to make out the papers necessary to accompany them. Notice of the close of the Agency, except for the settlement of the cases it had already filed, was given through the Northern Ohio papers.
On the 1st of the following June, Mr. WILLIAMS, who had brought both talent and energy to his brief work, finding his health unequal to the task of resuming its duties, resigned his position in the Agency, much to the regret of his employers. He was succeeded by Mr. MILO B. STEVENS, who had already had several years' experience in this business, and who was thoroughly competent to undertake its entire charge.
SATISFACTOEY RESULTS. 409
It was believed that the Agency could be saved some expense by paying Mr. STEVENS so much per claim and allowing him to receive new cases upon his own responsibility. This arrangement was accord ingly entered upon, July 1st, 1867, those having applications filed through the Agency, being notified of the change through a circular, which also clearly stated that the Sanitary Commission had no connec tion with new business assumed by Mr. STEVENS.
Although, owing to the unexpected complications before mentioned, the Claim Agency had to bear the test of some inexperience in its directors, it was still the instrument of much good, recognized and acknowledged by the great body of its clients. No portion of the Aid Society's work occasioned it more anxiety or a deeper feeling of responsibility. The slow and tedious process of the adjustment of claims seemed to the Society officers, anxious to wind up their six and a half years' work, to have no termina tion, and threatened to drag its weary length into the next possible war. Throughout the Agency's entire history the soldiers' interests were scrupulously con sulted, nor did they suffer, it is hoped, from the various annoyances which oppressed and harrassed the officers of the Aid Society.
That the results of the Agency's work were satis factory to its claimants there is recorded proof. This is often in the form of simple expressions of appreci ation, but sometimes the glow of grateful feeling, expanding, comprehends even the nation in its embrace. One man considers that the service performed for him "has entirely refuted the argument that republics are
410 THE AGENCY'S REWARD.
ungrateful." Another enthusiastically writes : " Word s cannot express my thanks for this favor. I think a republican form of government the best under the sun. Were I called to it, my own life would be but little worth could I help the country."
But the most satisfactory result of the Agency's work was not in the expressed acknowledgments of its clients, but in the consciousness that the pension or bounty could go to its owner, untouched and entire in its amount, — burdened by no expense of any kind. The pleasure of finally conveying to widow, orphan or disabled soldier the national bounty — so anxiously waited for, so often necessarily anticipated — was too great to require verbal expressions of thanks to com plete its measure. Many of the wants and necessi ties which waited upon the crippled soldier before his name was placed upon the pension rolls, were well known to the Aid Society officers, and they shared the joy and relief which the fortunate decision brought.
The whole number of claims filed through the Agency of the Cleveland Branch Sanitary Commission amounted to eighteen hundred and ninety. A classi fied list of these cases, and a detailed statement of the expenses of the Agency, will be found in Appendix D of this volume. At the date of this writing, Novem ber, 1868, nineteen cases remain unsettled, awaiting the action of the Paymaster General. The total esti mate of the amount collected for soldiers through the Claim Agency is nearly three hundred thousand dol lars, averaging a pension case at the value of five years' payment. The claims have been adjusted at
A SERVICE ACCOMPLISHED. 411
a saving; to the soldiers of over seventeen thousand
o
dollars, taking as a standard the ordinary legal charges of claim agents, exclusive of notarial fees and other incidental expenses. The amount expended for such items was a large additional sum.
No cases have ever been intentionally taken from the hands of another agent, save in three or four instances at the positive direction of the claimant. The Agency in its own relations has not been so for tunate, occasionally finding itself the fifth wheel to the coach, after long and patient labor.
A few cases have been abandoned as worthless, and a number of bounty cases rejected on the closer read ing of the Act, but the great majority of claims have been granted, the money paid to the owners and the Treasury Orders collected. Proper receipts for the discharges and checks have been taken and carefully filed for preservation in the records of the Cleveland Branch Sanitary Commission.
With the close of the Claim Agency, the mission of the Soldiers' Aid Society of Northern Ohio is accom plished. The United States Government has not left the men disabled in its service to depend upon chari table institutions for future support. These served their purpose in the interval which elapsed before permanent measures could be organized. General laws, it is true, can not cover every individual case; and instances of suffering, which are not reached by established provisions, may occur, but these exceptions have a security against want in the sympathy of loyal hearts which have always readily recognized their
412 SPECIAL BELIEF RECORD.
claim. The liberal pension and the National Asylums are the crutches which the Government provides for its crippled soldiers. They can not compensate for loss, but with industry, temperance and manly inde pendence, a disabled man finds these supports — which he has honorably earned and to which he is legally entitled — sufficient to insure exemption from private charity.
There remains, then, nothing further for a Sanitary Commission to do. Individually, there is a duty to be fulfilled by every one who acknowledges the national indebtedness to those who lost so much in the Union's brave defence. To be clothed and fed can not accomplish the whole ambition of any man, however disabled. To assist his honest labor, and to consider his disability as a title to consideration and friendly aid, opens a wide field for future and indi vidual duty.
The general results of the Special Kelief work of the Cleveland Branch Sanitary Commission may be thus summed up: From its inception, April 20th, 1861, to the present date, sixty thousand five hundred and ninety-two persons are registered as having, indi vidually, received aid through its means. This record includes those who were relieved in the Home and Depot Hospital, at the Aid Society Rooms and through the Employment and Claim Agencies. No record of such a service can be complete. It was often possible to give and impossible to register, and — especially in the Hospital Inquiry Department — many small services, which occupied the time and a portion of the funds of the Society, are not in proper shape to be
THE HOME AKMY. 413
recorded. One hundred and twelve thousand one hundred and twenty-seven meals were given, and thirty thousand lodgings provided. Transportation was also furnished to fifteen hundred and fourteen men. An estimate of the medical attendance and of the number of wxmnds dressed at the Home is scarcely possible.
A tabular statement of the entire Special Relief work, which also classifies the recipients of this aid and exhibits the expense of the whole service, will be found in Appendix B of this volume.
In a history which details the Special Relief work in the home field, the part which those took in the war who could only aid it by their time, their means and their prayers, is necessarily brought out in per haps stronger relief than even the far nobler sacrifice of the brave soldiers, which must, save in its grand results, be to so great an extent unrecorded. And yet to no others, as to those who, by their connection with the Sanitary Commission work, were constantly associated with the men forming the armies of the Republic, can their true character be so thoroughly known. In their Soldiers' Homes, they saw suffering patiently endured, heard not even one vindictive word from those who had borne most cruel treatment at the hands of the rebels, and daily recognized patriotism, true and well-proven. They to whom the care of expressing to these men the grateful appreciation, the loving sympathy of the great reserve force at home, was committed, represented thousands of others less happy in having to delegate this privilege. This history is therefore addressed to them, and the soldiers'
414 AN AMPLE RECOMPENSE.
own words have "been frequently employed, — which, in a merely personal narrative, had been hardly fitting,— that they might witness to the manner in which so many offerings have been applied. One acknowledge ment of real benefit received — one such admission as this: " But for your care he must have died," is ample recompense to all who shared this service for any of its sacrifices, if they can claim or deserve the name.
APPENDIX.
APPENDIX A.
CASH AND SUPPLY REPORT
418 APPENDIX A.
TREASURER'S REPORT
ELLEN F. TERRY, TREASURER,
In Acc't with SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY OF NORTHERN OHIO. DR.
To Contributions for general purposes - ..$ 14,627 42
" Soldiers' Home - 3,09739
" Membership fees 3,813 17
" Cash received from Treasurer of Northern Ohio Sanitary Fair 76,245 49
" Estimated value of vegetables received from Sanitary Fair . . 2,400 00
" Cash 'from U. S. Sanitary Commission, (California Fund,) 10,000 00
" Value of purchases made for Sanitary Commission 42,730 18
'•' Proceeds of Concerts and Exhibitions 3,987 31
" Interest and Premium on U. S. Bonds. 3,373 21
ri Cash received from City Committee, July 4th, 1865 379 60
« « " Reception Committee 118th 0. V. 1 20500
" Company Savings Co. E., 22d V. R, C 66 60
" Insurance Company Dividends 30 50
" Sale of Home and furniture, Commissary stores and other
articles donated for sale - - 1,705 57
" Loans repaid by soldiers 396 24
" Cash on deposit and effects of deceased soldiers 76831
" Cash for purchase of material on order of Branch Societies . . 4,384 48
" Repayment of freight charges 888 30
" " " charges on bodies of soldiers 1,83060
" Cash for registering discharges 12 80
TOTAL . $170,942 17
APPENDIX A. FROM APRIL 20, 1861, TO JANUARY 1, 1869.
ELLEN F. TERRY, TREASURER,
In Acct icith SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY OF NORTHERN OHIO. CR.
By purchase of materials for hospital garments $ 48,758 90
" vegetables and Sanitary stores 7,184 4G
" nails, hoops, packing-cases and tools 1,649 73
" stationery, record-books, blanks and postage
stamps 1,14675
" expenses of Special Relief service 3,635 80
" Depot Hospital and Soldiers' Home 25,116 24
" Hospital Steamer Lancaster, (see page 50,) 1,100 00
" Claim Agency 6,784 23
" Concerts and Exhibitions 569 76
•' removing bodies of soldiers 1 .913 10
" paid porter's salary and for extra services, cleaning, painting,
barreling potatoes, cooperage, gas and water fitting 3,615 41
" paid rent, insurance, and office expenses, including wood,
coal, gas and stoves 2,964 37
" paid for printing and advertising 2,493 41
" to Ohio State Soldiers' Home 5,31742
" salary of Miss Mahan for thirty-two months. 1,504 00
" " salary of Mrs. E. L. Miller for twenty-one months 814 00
" " for freight and cartage 5,731 91
" purchases made on order U. S. Sanitary Commission 42,219 77
" paid to U. S. Christian Commission, per order 11 25
" " on account publishing History - 700 00
" " " Sanitary Fair 10125
" expenses of printing office 212 58
" loss on uncurrent money 101 78
" cash on deposit refunded to soldiers - - 709 01
" estimated value of vegetables from Sanitary Fair 2,400 00
TOTAL. ...$166,75519
Balance on hand January 1st, 1869, deposited in Merchants' National Bank, Cleveland, subject to order of expenses of publishing History and settling remaining war claims 4,186 98
TOTAL. $170.942 17
ELLEN F. TERRY, Treasurer.
1 have examined the books and accounts of the " Soldiers' Aid Society of Northern Ohio," submitted by Miss TERRY, its Treasurer, and find them kept with great accuracy, showing the results as set forth in the foregoing
exhibit.
T. P. HANDY.
CLEVELAND, January 1st, 1869.
APPENDIX A.
S T A T E M E N T
Of Supplier Issued by the Soldiers' Aid Society of Northern Ohio.
BEDDING AND CLOTHING.
ARTICLES.
ISSUED.
VALUE.
|
Blankets Bed Sacks |
1,496 9.132 |
$ 5,984 00 31,962 00 |
|
|
Bedgowns |
354 |
1 416 00 |
|
|
Boots and Shoes... . |
pairs |
132 |
283 75 |
|
Buttons |
sross |
60 |
3600 |
|
Calico Coats, Pants and Vests |
yards |
227 3,898 |
9080 11 896 85 |
|
Comforts and Quilts Cotton Batting |
bales |
13,473 11 |
53,892 00 110 00 |
|
Drawers, Cotton Drawers, Flannel Dressing Gowns Flannel Green Holland Handkerchiefs and Towels Hats and Caps |
pairs pairs yards yards |
14,338 46,145 3000 168 21 123,840 3.285 |
35,845 00 115,362 50 12,000 00 8400 2255 30,960 00 1.711 00 |
|
Havelocks |
1,200 |
600 00 |
|
|
Haversacks |
34 |
17 00 |
|
|
Mittens Mosquito Bars Neckties and Collars . |
pairs |
5,440 9 835 |
2,720 00 2250 208 10 |
|
Pillows ... Pillow Cases |
23,164 48,560 |
34,746 00 24,2S() 00 |
|
|
Shawls |
5 |
°0 00 |
|
|
Sheets Shirts, Cotton |
25,511 37,985 |
51,022 00 104,458 75 |
|
|
Shirts, Flannel.... Slippers |
pairs |
35,645 5.441 |
98,023 75 2,723 00 |
|
Socks... Straw |
pairs bales, |
32,698 69 |
24,523 35 120 00 |
|
Suspenders Tape |
pairs rolls1 |
176 112 |
8800 560 |
|
TOTAL |
*645.234 50 |
APPENDIX A.
HOSPITAL FURNITURE AND SURGEON'S SUPPLIES.
ARTICLES.
ISSUED.
VALUE.
Adhesive Plaster yards 22 $ 1100
Arm Rests ' 2,000 1,00000
Awnings ' 5 3050
Baggage Checks pairs 104 1800
Bandages Ibs. 31.550 3.94375
Bandage Machines ' 7 050
Baskets 25 1600
Bath Tubs ! 2 14 00
BathBrick ; 8 130
Beds, Feather , 8 10000
BedPans 55 5500
Bedsteads, Iron 50 25000
Bedsteads, wooden 26 9200
Blackboards j 2 : 1000
Blacking papers 15 : 150
BookCase i 1 i 2000
Books and Pamphlets j 190,420 1 19,04950
Bowls i 1,252 , 132 QO
Brass Chain yards 19 385
Bread Knives... 13 | 585
Brooms ! 113 | 4895
Brushes, Scrub i 59 ! 1525
Brushes, Stencil I 83 ! 800
Brushes, Whitewash... 1 2 j 300.
Buckets ! 22 j 1980
Bureau j 1 I 1000
Butchers1 Steels and Knives 17 ™
Camphor... Ibs. I 13 650
Candles Ibs. 103 3090
Candlesticks 53 1325
Canes 335 8500
Carper yards 50 5600
Castors, Dinner... I 41 5175
Cauldrons, Iron i 2 8000
Chairs j 525 35275
Chairs, Rocking 6 3500
Charcoal Ibs. 2 300
Chlor. Lime Ibs. 285 | 2750
Chop Bowls and Knives...
Clocks 2 4000
Clothes Lines... 4 150
Clothes Pins gross 6 300
Clothes Wringers... 2 1000
CoalHods 6 1400
Coffee Mills... 2 1125
Coffins 7 8900
Combs and Brushes I 1,275 i 19250
Compresses Ibs. I 31,496 3,93700
Corks... gross 59 1300
Cork I'ress 50
Corkscrews I 25 ;
Cots 85 i 25500
crockery;"piafes:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.— ! 2,267 : mm
Crockery, Vegetable Dishes 37 i 24 60
Crutches...... pairs 3,000 } 4,529 5o
Cullenders 450
Cups and Saucers 100 840
Curtains HI J8465
Cushions and Pads 25,983 6,49o To
Deerskin JOO
Desks 8 12700
Dinner Bell JJ
Dippers 41 j 1765
Di8infectanVsv;;;::::::".v.v:.v.. —'.."..". ibs. » 15 oo
Door Mats JJ5
Dust Brushes and Pans
Envelopes 70,916 i 394 fe
Eye Shades M6 \
Fans 2,577 | 128 3o
4 • 1 00
:;:;;;::::::;;::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::ji^ M 1950
Fingerstalls ........ -J^HH^L. - '
Carried forward - - - $42,44415
APPENDIX A.
423
HOSPITAL FURNITURE, ETC.— CONTINUED.
|
ARTICLES. |
| |
ISSUED. |
VALUE. |
|
|
Brought forward Flat Irons |
18 |
$42.444 15 5 80 |
||
|
F |
eeh.P'orks ... |
2 |
60 |
|
|
Funnels |
a |
90 |
||
|
G |
ames... |
77 |
19 25 |
|
|
Graters. |
11 |
1 65 |
||
|
Green Spectacles Gumiarabic |
pairs |
2 |
300 15 00 |
|
|
Hatchets and Hammers |
17 |
12 25 |
||
|
Housewives India Rubber Cloth |
yards; |
8,029 12 |
2,00725 1200 |
|
|
Ink Ink Stands Knives and Forks |
pints; |
84 25 1.416 |
7790 1250 290 65 |
|
|
Lamps Lampblack Ibs : |
2 6 |
150 1 35 |
||
|
Lamp Oil |
gallons' |
4 |
3 70 |
|
|
L |
anterns |
4 |
4 75 |
|
|
Lime |
...bbls.! |
4 |
600 |
|
|
Lint Liquorice Ix)cks and Padlocks |
.Ibs.1 Ibs.! |
3.318 6 |
431 35 300 |
|
|
Looking Glasses ' |
15 |
14 75 |
||
|
Lounges |
3 |
40 00 |
||
|
Lumber Maps Matches Match Safes |
M; gross!. |
2 2 12 (j |
1,81000 500 700 1 *ifl |
|
|
Matting Mattresses |
yards) |
110 195 |
11650 78000 |
|
|
& |
ops |
4 60 |
||
|
Mouse Traps... |
8 |
90 |
||
|
Nails. |
Ibs. |
4.581 |
329 95 |
|
|
Needles Oilcloth. Oil Silk .. Paint . . . Pans, Baking Patent Medicine, Bottles Pens |
papers' yards) yards i Ibs. boxes! |
269 14 22 11 34 676 28 |
3365 2025 1575 600 2775 495 10 24 00 |
|
|
Pencils Pepper Boxes... |
857 3 |
4290 45 |
||
|
Pins Pincushions |
papers] |
100 16.058 |
1000 1.60580 |
|
|
P |
ipes |
78 |
m so |
|
|
Pitchers . . Pumps. . . Rubber Moulding |
...feet: |
31 3 74 |
12 65 1225 925 |
|
|
Safe Saltcellars.. |
1 79 |
115 00 5 20 |
||
|
Salve ... |
boxes! |
200 |
2000 |
|
|
S |
aws |
4 |
8 35 |
|
|
Scales ... |
... pairs, |
2 |
23 75 |
|
|
::issors |
26 |
18 ?,0 |
||
|
S |
nonces... |
5 |
5 00 |
|
|
Screens |
4 |
13 00 |
||
|
Shingles... |
...M. |
!•>() 25 |
||
|
Shovels . |
6 |
5 00 |
||
|
£!?te*, - - ----- |
45 |
450 |
||
|
Slings.. Soap, Hard Soap, Soft |
Ibs. bbls. |
800 3,339 11 |
20000 66780 47 20 |
|
|
t; |
pittoons |
342 |
12340 |
|
|
Splints. Sponge Spools Thread Spoons.. Stationery .. Stencil Plates Stop Ladders Stone Jugs... |
Ibs. |
336 10 340 2,728 70 1 349 |
420 10 00 51 00 10400 968 00 11400 500 76 10 |
|
|
Carried forward &KQ KJQ ~r\ |
424 APPENDIX A,
HOSPITAL FURNITURE, ETC.— CONTINUED.
|
ARTICLES. Iss |
UED. VALUE. |
|
$53,549 70 3 10000 1 1 230 00 2800 10480 1 500 1 4040 14 4700 61 198 85 13 10 35 11 7300 1.142 6480 26 1300 23 28 75 885 8 85 3 20 00 1 1200 48 6 45 48 23 25 120 6750 5 3 50 3 3 50 6 85 00 369 73 15 2 75 4 2 50 1 (500 3 11 oo 5 9 25 5 26 50 3 25 00 5S i:34 60 5 2 00 5 5 00 |
|
|
*>tove Castings and Trimmings - |
|
|
Tables |
|
|
Tible Cloth^ - |
|
|
Teapot'' - |
|
|
Tin Boilers - |
|
|
Tin Cups - - |
|
|
Tin Pans -- |
|
|
Tin Pans |
|
|
Tin Plates |
|
|
Truss _ |
|
|
Turpentine gallon* |
|
|
Varnish quarts |
|
|
Waiters |
|
|
Wash Boards - |
|
|
Wash Bowls and Pitchers |
|
|
WashMachines . •--' |
|
|
Wash Stands |
|
|
Wash Tubs - |
|
|
Water Casks |
|
|
WTater Coolers -- |
|
|
Wire Covers |
|
|
AVire Cloth ' yards |
|
ARTICLES OF DIET AXD DELICACIES. ARTICLES.
ISSUED.
VALUE.
|
Ale |
gallons' |
690 |
345 00 |
|
Apples |
bushels |
1 .564 |
3.910 00 |
|
Apples, Dried Apple Butter |
- Ibs. gallons |
127,742 2.277 |
25.548 -10 2.277 00 |
|
Barley --- |
Ibs. |
96 |
1920 |
|
Beans |
bushels |
25 |
50 00 |
|
Beef, Concentrated Beef, Corned - |
.Ibs. Ibs. |
80.191 22.305 |
80.191 00 2,007 45 |
|
Beef, Dried |
.--Ibs. |
5.944 |
1.18880 |
|
Beef, Fresh - |
Ibs. |
7.607 |
1.14105 |
|
Beets -- |
bushels |
25 |
32 00 |
|
Brandy |
bottles |
420 |
840 (X) |
|
Bread • |
-- IbS. |
20.678 |
1.03390 |
|
Broma |
Ibs. |
•> |
1 50 |
|
Buckwheat Flour |
--.- Ibs. |
10 |
80 |
|
Butter - - |
Ibs. |
1 T.li«3 |
11,136 05 |
|
Cabbage |
bushels |
30 |
60 00 |
|
Cakes and Cookies |
- ...Ibs. |
4.211 |
842 20 |
|
Carrots - |
bushels |
50 |
6-400 |
|
Catsup |
bottles |
214 |
1070) |
|
Cheese - |
Ibs. |
9.421 |
1 ,884 70 |
|
Chickens, Condensed . . |
...Ibs. |
2.811 |
2.811 00 |
|
Chickens, Dressed |
Ibs. |
190 |
94 65 |
|
Chocolate |
Ibs. |
15 |
750 |
|
Cigars |
400 |
200-0 |
|
|
Carried forward .... |
$130.613 "30 |
APPENDIX A.
425
ARTICLES OF DIET, ETC.— CONTINUED.
|
ARTICLES. |
ISSUED. |
VALUE. |
|
|
Brought forward |
s 10 S9 2.232 2,609 115 230 1.526 674 ••158 4.080 ti 17 75 12,278 •215 43K2 03.872 35.806 10 96 2.430 10 •248.875 1,104 1.713 0 144 81 •212 1.150 •M% 5 34 till 30 4,200 8 3.520 30 800 10.731 4.638 115 1.641 23 160 00 8,107i/2 71 44 15 109 54 40.143 3,074 10 38.841 17 105 206 27 07 1.425 2 557 1.484 |
$130.613 20 400 10 00 2075 223 20 1.043 05 11500 17250 61 00 67 40 69 15 613 35 32 00 1700 1 50 1250 2.455 60 32 25 1 75 501 35 1.87140 17.003 00 9 50 600 365 4() 2000 9965 184 00 428 £5 850 720 2440 6360 28750 20500 600 1000 825 427 50 6000 2.100 00 120 881 50 600 12000 8.352 00 37100 5750 246 15 460 2400 900 16,215 00 4970 3500 2500 5450 13 50 15.457 20 506 10 2000 38,841 00 510 4200 44:35 810 1445 2140 100 8355 222 60 |
|
|
fog" |
|||
|
Cloves - -- |
__lbs. |
||
|
. Ibs. |
|||
|
Codfish |
Ibs. |
||
|
Coffee |
...Ibs. |
||
|
Coffee Extract - |
Ibs. |
||
|
bottles |
|||
|
Ibs. |
|||
|
Corn Dried |
...Ibs. |
||
|
Ibs. |
|||
|
Crackers |
...Ibs. |
||
|
bushels |
|||
|
Cream Tartar - |
Ibs. |
||
|
bushels |
|||
|
bushels |
|||
|
E'rcrs |
... dozens |
||
|
Ibs. |
|||
|
Figs - - - |
...Ibs. |
||
|
bbls. |
|||
|
Fruit Dried |
Ibs. |
||
|
Fruit Preserved |
. cans |
||
|
Ibs. |
|||
|
(•»oo~*eberrie< |
...quarts |
||
|
Ibs. |
|||
|
Green Corn - |
...bushels |
||
|
Ibs. |
|||
|
Hams |
...Ibs. |
||
|
Herbs |
Ibs. |
||
|
Herrings |
boxes |
||
|
...Ibs. |
|||
|
Ibs. |
|||
|
Ibs. |
|||
|
bottles |
|||
|
Ice |
...tons |
||
|
Ibs. |
|||
|
Ninirlass - |
...Ibs. |
||
|
L'-ircT - - |
Ibs |
||
|
dozens |
|||
|
...bushels |
|||
|
bottles |
|||
|
"Maccaroni |
...Ibs. |
||
|
Ibs. |
|||
|
Me** Pork |
Ibs |
||
|
Ibs |
|||
|
"Milk Fre«h |
quarts |
||
|
Ibs. |
|||
|
Mutton |
...Ibs. |
||
|
Mutton Tallow |
Ibs. |
||
|
~\iitme°s |
... ounces |
||
|
Oat Meal |
Ibs. |
||
|
bushels |
|||
|
dozens |
|||
|
cans |
|||
|
bushels |
|||
|
Ibs. |
|||
|
bottles |
|||
|
Pickles -- |
gallons |
||
|
Pie-; - |
|||
|
Pie Plant - - - |
...bushels |
||
|
...bushels |
|||
|
Ibs. |
|||
|
Ibs. |
|||
|
T^ice |
...Ibs. |
||
|
S'l-TQ |
Ibs. |
||
|
...Ibs. |
|||
|
Sfllt |
Ibs. |
||
|
.. .boxes |
|||
|
...Ibs. |
|||
|
Shoulders |
Ibs. |
||
|
r<n,.i.ia/l fni-ivnrrl - £241,937 TO |
426
APPENDIX A.
ARTICLES OF DIET, ETC.— CONTINUED.
|
ARTICLES. |
ISSUED. |
VALUE. |
|
|
36 7 10,034 53 312 10,346 208 24 591 218 1,102 643 75 10 50 21 1,717 16 241 200 8,153 129 935 |
$241,997 70 900 375 2,006 30 700 4680 1,862 30 62 40 720 886 50 327 00 11020 54655 150 00 2000 6400 630 34340 1 60 24100 2000 6,114 75 3225 1,187 50 |
||
|
Ibs |
|||
|
Ibs. |
|||
|
fals |
|||
|
Starch |
Ibs. |
||
|
qts |
|||
|
Sugar - |
::;:::;::$;: |
||
|
qts |
|||
|
Tapioca |
Ibs. |
||
|
Tea Black |
Ibs |
||
|
Ibs |
|||
|
Toa^t |
Ibs |
||
|
Ibs |
|||
|
bushels |
|||
|
. . . . bushels |
|||
|
Vermicelli |
Ibs. |
||
|
gals. |
|||
|
Wheat Cracked |
:::?ibs. |
||
|
Whisky - - |
-. . - bottles |
||
|
Whiteflsh |
Ibs. |
||
|
Wine |
bottles |
||
|
Yeast Cakes |
doz. |
||
|
Vegetables, Mixed - |
bushels |
Total
$256,053 50
MISCELLANEOUS.
|
ARTICLES. |
ISSUED. |
VALUE. |
|
52 |
10 00 |
|
|
Barrel Heads and Hoops |
46 10 |
|
|
Blank Books - |
89 |
239 95 |
|
5118 |
2°4 20 |
|
|
Boxes Packing |
27 759 |
13 605 80 |
|
Boxe**' Contribution |
17 |
24 50 |
|
Bulbous Roots barrels |
1 |
24 00 |
|
Coal tons |
146 |
1 031 65 |
|
Daily Papers |
17 592 |
401 85 |
|
6 |
126 50 |
|
|
Fla* ** Small |
360 |
30 00 |
|
Gas^ Fixtures and Fitting |
294 80 |
|
|
Hardware Sundries . |
65 60 |
|
|
1 |
1 00 |
|
|
Marine Glass |
1 |
20 00 |
|
Meal Tickets |
9571 |
2 356 15 |
|
Oats bushels |
10 |
6 00 |
|
Onion Sets bushels |
15 |
60 00 |
|
Pictures |
87 |
92 00 |
|
Plant*5 Flowerin0' |
137 |
27 40 |
|
Plumbin0' - |
13465 |
|
|
Postage Stamps |
31 831 |
833 15 |
|
Press °Printing, with Type and Furniture |
215 30 |
|
|
Press Lever |
1 |
6 00 |
|
Press Copy |
1 |
1500 |
|
Hakes |
1 |
75 |
|
Roller and Blocks setts |
1 |
15 3S) |
|
Rollers Wooden |
7 |
250 |
|
Seeds Garden - boxes |
4 |
2000 |
|
Seeds Garden - - pkgs. |
100 |
2000 |
|
Seeds Garden bushels |
24 |
9600 |
|
gjrrnS . - - |
19 |
89 10 |
|
1 |
1 25 |
|
|
Sprinklers -- - _._ |
200 |
|
|
Tools |
27 |
29 So |
|
Warehouse Truck |
1 |
800 |
|
Wood cords |
41 |
457 90 |
|
Unclassified Articles . |
1366 |
34150 |
|
Boxes forwarded to Refugees |
46 |
1,150 00 |
|
Boxes forwarded, contents unknown |
162 |
4,050 00 |
Total
$26,175
APPENDIX A. 427
RECAPITULATION.
VALUE OF SUPPLIES ISSUED.
Bsdding and Clothing $045,234 50
Hospital Furniture and Surgeon's Supplies 55,017 45
Diet and Delicacies 256,05350
Miscellaneous 26,175 80
Grand Total $982,481 25
428
APPENDIX A.
HOSPITAL STORES HAVE BEEN SENT BY THE SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY OF NORTHERN Onio TO THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
(Receipts fur these shipments are on file among the papers of the Society.)
OHIO.
Camp Taylor, Cleveland, 7th & 8th O. V. I.
Camp Wood, Cleveland, 41st O. V. I.
Camp Wade, Cleveland. 2nd O. V. Cav. and John Brown Rifle Co.
Camp Tod. Cleveland. 45th and f.Ttli O. V. I.
Camp Cleveland. 103rd. 105th. 107th. 124th, 125th O. V. I. and 10th O. V. Cav.
Recruiting Offices. Cleveland. 7th, 19th. 23rd, 4lst, 45th. 54th. (i7th O. V. I.. 2nd O. V. Cav. and 18th Brigade Teamsters.
2')th Ohio National Guards. Cleveland.
Post Hospital. Camp Cleveland.
General Hospital, Camp Cleveland.
Marine Hospital, (Army Department,) Cleve land.
Depot Hospital, (San. Com.,) Cleveland.
Soldiers' Home, (San. Com..) Cleveland.
Returned Soldiers, sick, disabled, or ex changed Prisoners. Cleveland.
Soldiers1 Families, living in and near Cleve land.
Camp Jackson, Columbus. 23rd and 24th O. V. I.
Camp Thomas. Columbus.
Camp Le\v Wallace, Columbus, 1st Regiment Paroled Forces.
Camp Delaware. Columbus, 5th and (5th U. S. Colored Troops.
; Camp Chase, 54th and 12()th O. V. I.
General Hospital, Camp Chase.
Tripler Hospital. Columbus.
Ohio State Soldiers' Home, Columbus.
Agent U. S. Sanitary Commission, Colum bus, for distribution.
Quartermaster General Ohio, Columbus, for returned Prisoners.
Camp Marietta.
Camp Piqna.
Camj) Goddard.
Post Hospital, Cam)) Dennison.
Regimental Hospital 7th, 8th, 52nd, 54th O.
V. I., Camp Dennison.
i 1st O. V. Lt. Art., 3rd O. V. Cavalry, Camp Dennison.
General Hospital, Camp Dennison.
Branch Sanitary Commission, Cincinnati, for Hospital Steamers.
Soldiers' Home, (San. Com..) Cincinnati.
FreedmenV Relief Association. Cincinnati.
Woodward Hospital. Cincinnati.
Washington Park Hospital. Cincinnati.
Broadway and Main st. Hospital, Cincinnati.
Post Hospital. Gallipolis.
General Hospital. Gallipolis.
Camp of (ith Veteran Reserve Corps. John son's Island.
TENNESSEE.
Supply Depot U. S. Sanitary Com., Nash-
vi'lle. for general distribution. Soldiers' Home. San. Com.. Nashville. General Hospitals Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5,8, 13, 18, 10,
Nashville.
General Field Hospital. Nashville. Refugee Department. Nash vi Ik- Regimental Hospital 1st O. Y. Lt. Art .
Camp Andy Johnson. Nashville. Soldiers of Ist'O. V. Lt, Art,. 17«th O. V. I.
and 160th N. Y. V. I.. Nashville. Teamsters in distress. Nashville. U. S. San. C >m. Hospital Steamers Lancas ter No. 4. New Dunleith and others, for
distribution at Posts on the Tennessee
and Mississippi Rivers. Hospital Steamers sent by State of Ohio for
the wounded of Pittsbnrg Landing Cleveland Citizens' Committee, sent tor the
relief of the wounded at Pittsburg
Landing. Supply Depot U. S. San. Com., Pittsburg
Landing. Supply Depot U. S. San. Com., Hamburg
Landing.
Supply Depot L*. S. San. Com., Memphis. Medical Director, Savannah. Post Hospital, Savannah. Supply Depot U. S. San. Com.. Murfrees-
boro.
Supply Depot I7. S. San. Com.. Chattanooga.
General Hospitals, Murfreesboro.
Convalescent Camp, Murfreesboro.
Post Hospital, Gallatin.
Post Hospital, Columbia.
Post Hospital, Shelbyville.
Post Hospital, Franklin.
Regt'l Hospital 41st O. V. I . Murfreesboro.
Regt'l Hospital 103rd O. V. I.. Knoxvilie.
Rrgt'l Hospital 105th O. Y. I.. Gallatin. j Regt'l Hospital 03rd. 72nd, 7Gih O. Y. I.. Pittsburg Landing.
Regt'l Hospital 7th Kansas Y. Cav.. Mem- 'phis.
Tleirfl Hospital 32nrt Iowa V. I., Fort Pillow.
Ohio State Agent. Memphis.
V. S. San. Com. Hospital Visitor, Memphis.
Chaplain 10th O. Y. Cav.. Murfreeshoro.
Chaplain 79th Penn. Y. I, Murfreesboro.
Chaplain Eaton. Memphis.
Chaplain Porter, for Contrabands. Memphis.
Refugees in distress (Freedmen.) Gallatin.
Contraband nurses in U. S. Hospital, Knox vilie.
Soldiers of 20th. 41st and 105th O. Y. I.. Murfreesboro.
Soldiers of 10 1th and 125th O.Y. I.. Franklin.
Soldiers of 19th, 41st, 103rd and 105th O. Y. L, Chattanooga.
Solditrs of 14th O. Lt, Art., Jackson.
APPENDIX A.
V I R G I N I A .
Supply Depot U. S. San Com., Wheelinir
Agents San. Com. traveling in Virginia.
Post Hospital, Wheeling.
General Hospital, Wheeling.
General Hospital, Grat'ton."
General Hospital, Charleston.
General Hospital Winchester.
York Seminary Hospital. Winchester.
Post Hospital, Beverly.
Post Hospital, Romney.
Post Hospital, Huttonville.
Post Hospital, Clarksbargh.
Post Hospital, Grafton.
Post Hospital, Ganley Bridge.
Post Hospital, Charleston.
Post Hospital, Fayetteville.
Post Hospital, New Creek.
Post Hospital, Fetterman.
Brigade Hospital, Camp Union. Fayetteville.
Brigade Hospital, Camp Anderson, Gauley
"Bridge. Regimental Hospital, 1st O.V. Lt.Art.Fay-
' etteville.
Re«t'l Hospital 1st O. Y. Lt. Art., Grafton. Regt'l Hospital 1st O. V. Lt. Art., Beverly.
Regt'l Hospital 1st O. Y. Lt. Art., Paw Pa\v. Regt'l Hospital 7th O. Y. , Gauley Bridge. Regt'l Hospital 7th O. V. " Regt'l Hospital 7th O. V.
Winchester. Cnlpepper.
Regt'l Hospital 7th O. Y. ..' Charleston. Retrt'l Hospital 8th O. Y. ., Winchester. Regt'l Hospital 8th O. Y. 1., Camp Cross- man, New Creek.
Regt'l Hospital 12th O. Y. I., Fayetteville. Regt'l Hospital 23rd O. Y. I., Fayetteville.
Regfl Hospital 23rd O. Y. I.. Beverly.
Regt'l Hospital 23rd O. Y. I., Camp Ewing, Gauley Bridge.
Regt'l Hospital 24th O. Y. I., Cheat Moun tain Summit.
Regt'l Hospital 37th O. Y. I., Princeton.
Regt'l Hospital 55th O. Y. I., Romney.
Regt'l Hospital 55th O. Y. L, Grafton.
Regt'l Hospital 84th O. Y. L, Winchester.
Regt'l Hospital 91st O. Y. I., Kanawha Falls.
Regt'l Hospital 110th O. Y. I., Camp Keifer, Parker sburgh.
Regt'l Hospital 123rd O. Y. I., Winchester.
Regt'l Hospital 3rd Ya. Y. I., Clarksburgh.
Regt'l Hospital 4th Ya. Y. I., Point Pleasant.
Regt'l Hospital 5th Ya. Y. I., Ceredo.
Regt'l Hospital 6th Ya. V. I., West Union.
Regt'l Hospital 8th Ya. Y. I., Buffalo, Put nam County.
Regt'l Hospital llth Ya. Y. I., Parkersbnrgh.
Regt'l Hospital 9th Ind. Y. I., Fetterman.
Regt'l Hospital 13th Ind. Y. I., Camp North Branch Bridge.
Regt'l Hospital 13th Ind. Y. I., Camp Chase.
Camp 67th O. Y. I., Suffolk, 1
Camp 5th U. S. Colored Troops,
Norfolk. -Mittens.
Camp 5th U. S. Colored Troops, Yorktown.
Soldiers in 169th Penn. Y. I., Gloucester Point.
Soldiers in 29th O. Y. I., Dumfries.
Soldiers in 123rd O. Y. I., Martinsburgh.
Union Prisoners in Richmond and Danville. (Nerer received.)
ILLINOIS.
Supply Depot U. S. San. Com., Cairo. Agent for Contrabands' Relief Soc'y. Cairo. Depot Hospital, Cairo. Brigade Hospital, Cairo. Post Hospital Cairo. Regt'l Hospital 8th Illinois Y. L, Cairo. Regt'l Hospital 18th Illinois Y. I., Cairo. Regt'l Hospital 30th Illinois Y. L, Cairo.
Regt'l Hospital 41st Illinois Y. I., Cairo. Regt'l Hospital 3rd Iowa Y. I., Cairo. Regt'l Hospital 8th Iowa Y. 1., Cairo. Post Hospital, Mound City. General Hospital, Mound City. HospitaljBarracks, Mound City, per Surgeon General, Ohio.
INDIANA.
Soldiers' Home, Sanitary Commission, Jef- j Hospital No. 4, New Albany.
fersonville. | Soldiers in Hospitals, New Albany.
MISSOURI.
Agent U. S. Sanitary Commission, St. Louis,
for the wounded at Springfield. Agent Western San. Com. St." Louis. Ohio State Agent, St. Louis. Fifth Street Hospital, St. Louis. Jefferson Barracks Hospital, St. Louis. Jefferson Barracks Chaplain, St. Louis. General Hospital, Camp Benton, St. Louis. General Hospital, Kansas City.
Brigade Hospital, Bird's Point. Post Hospital, Bird's Point. Regt'l Hospital 2nd O. Y. L, Platte City. Regt'l Hospital 2nd O. Y. L, Carthage. Regt'l Hospital 27th O. Y. I., Sedalia. Regt'l Hospital 43rd O. Y. I., New Madrid. Regt'l Hospital 7th Iowa Y. I., Bird's Point. Regt'l Hospital llth Iowa Y. I., CampLyon, Bird's Point.
KANSAS.
Supply Agency U. LeavenwoVth. Post Hospital. Fort Scott. Chaplain of Post, Fort Scott.
J. S. Sanitary Commission,
Regimental Hospital 2nd O. V. Cav., Leav-
enworth.
Freedmen's Relief Agency, Leavenworth. Sufferers in the Indian Massacre. Lawrence.
430
APPENDIX A.
KENTUCKY.
Headquarters Western Department U. S. San. Com., Louisville, for general issue.
Kentucky Branch U.S. San. Com., Louis ville.
Hospitals No. 1, 4. 5, 7, Louisville.
Hospital No. 5, Louisville, (Port Donclson wounded.)
Ladies1 Committee. Louisville, for distribu tion in Hospitals.
Soldiers' Home. Sun. Com., Louisville.
Soldiers in all Hospitals, Louisville.
Park Barracks Hospital. Louisville, (Grapes.)
Asst. Quartermaster Gen. Ohio. Louisville.
Agency Sanitary Commission, Lexington.
Agency Sanitary Commission, Columbia.
Agency Sanitary Commission, Perryville.
Agency Sanitary Commission, Danville.
Agency Sanitary Commission. Somerset.
Agency Sanitary Commission, Nelson's Fur naces.
General Hospitals, Lexington.
General Hospitals. Lebanon.
General Hospital, Bardstown.
General Hospital, Fort Holt.
General Hospital. Ashland.
General Hospital, Paducah, '(Fort Donelson wounded.)
Brigade Hospital, (18th Brigade,) Ashland.
Brigade Hospital, (18th Brigade.) Paintville.
Brigade Hospital, (84th Brigade,) Sulphur Fork Trestle, Colesburgh.
Brigade Hospital, Lexington.
Brigade Hospital, Camp Nevins, Hardin Co.
Post Hospital, Lexington.
Post Hospital, Lebanon.
Post Hospital, Bardstown.
Post Hospital, New Haven.
Post Hospital, Bacon Creek.
Post Hospital, Bowling Green.
Post Hospital, Ashland.
! Post Hospital, Paducah. i Post Hospital, Munfordsville. ' Stearns' Hospital, Paducah. ; St. Mark's Hospital, Paducah. I Flat Lick Hospital, Cumberland Ford. Camp Nelson. Regimental Hospital 1st O. V. Lt. Art.,
Camp Jesse D. Bright. Regfl Hospital 1st O. V. Lt. Art., Camp
Jefferson. i Regt'l Hospital 1st O. Lt. Art.. (Edgarton'a
Battery,) Bacon Creek. Regt'l Hospital 1st O. Lt. Art., Somerset. Regr,' Hospital 9th O. Battery, Cumberland
Ford. Regt'l Hospital 1st O. V. I., Green River,
Munfordsville.
Regt'l Hospital, Crab Orchard. Regt'l Hospital 16th O. V. I., Cumberland
Ford.
Regt'l Hospital 21st O. V. I., Bacon Creek. Regt'l Hospital 41st O. V. I., Camp Wickliffe,
New Haven. Regt'l Hospital 42nd O. Y. I., Camp JBuell.
Paintville.
Regt'l Hospital 42nd O. Y. I., Louisville. Regt'l Hospital 42nd O. V. I.. Louisa. Regt'l Hospital 42nd O. Y. I., Cumberland
Gap.
Regt'l Hospital 05th O. Y. I.. Bowling Green. Regt'l Hospital 103rd O. V. I., Frankfort. Regt'l Hospital 104th O. V. I., Mt. Yernon. Regt'l Hospital lllth O. Y. I., Bowling
Green.
Soldiers of 10th Ohio Battery, Richmond. Regt'l Hospital 2nd East Tennessee Y. I.,
Camp Dick Robison.
Regt'l Hospital 2nd East Tennessee Y. I.. ' Camp Wild Cat.
TO THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
Medical Purveyor U. S. A., Washington, D. C., for the wounded at Bull Run."
Soldiers' Aid Society. Washington, D. C.
Ohio Relief Association, Washington, D. C.
Ohio State Agents, Washington. D. C.
Mrs. Wheeler, for distribution, Washington, D. C.
Camp LTpton, near Washington, 1st O. Y. Lt. Artillery,
Camp 3rd Mich. V. I., Alexandria Heights.
Hospitals of Georgetown, D. C., (Grapes.)
Fairfax Seminary Hospital.
Camp 60th N. Y. V. I.. Washington, D. C.
Camp 150th O. V. I., Washington, D. C.
Camp 4th N. Y. V. Cav., Potomac, Creek. j Branch U. S. Sanitary Commission, Pitts burgh, Pa., for the wounded at Gettys- burgh.
MARYLAND.
Agents of U. S. San. Com., Cumberland. Medical Director U. S. A., Cumberland. Post Hospital, Cumberland. Brigade Hospital, Cumberland. General Hospitals, Cumberland. Hospital L., Cumberland. Post Hospital, Oakland.
Post Hospital, Clarysville.
Post Hospital, Frederick.
Regimental Hospital 4th O. Y. I., Oakland.
Regimental Hospital 2nd Maryland Y. I.
Cumberland.
Regimental Hospital, Keedysville. Soldiers of 84th O. V. I., Cumberland.
GEORGIA AND ALABAMA.
Agents U. S. San. Com., Resaca, for general
issue. Agents U. S. San. Com., Atlanta, for general
issue. Post Hospital, Marietta.
Soldiers of 19th, 55th, 74th and 104th O. V.
I., Atlanta.
Soldiers of 125th O. Y. I., Stevenson, Soldiers of 1st O. V. Lt. Art. and 9th Ohio
Battery, Bridgeport.
APPENDIX A. 431
MISSISSIPPI.
U. S. San. Com. Hospital Supply Steamers, Soldiers of 42nd O. V. I. Vicksburg.
for general distribution. Soldiers of 65th O. V. I., camp near Corinth.
Agent Christian Commission, Vicksburg. |
ARKANSAS.
Soldiers of 25th O. V. L, Little Rock. | Soldiers, Duvall's Bluff.
LOUISIANA.
Soldiers of 42nd O. V. L, Plaquimine.
APPEiNDIX B.
SPECIAL RELIEF REPORT
434
APPENDIX B.
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437
438 APPENDIX B.
SPECIAL RELIEF DEPARTMENT.
CASH R E P 0 R T .
Paid for building and furnishing Soldiers' Home $7,024 69
" Salaries of Home Employes and for Extra Services 3422, 16
" Subsistence and Meal Tickets 12,20074
li Household Expenses, Fuel and Medicine 2,02607
" Burial Expenses 6017
Individual Belief, Transportation and Board of Sick Soldiers 4,018 27
Expenses of Claim Agency 6,784 23
Total -. $35,53633
ELLEN F. TERRY, Treasurer.
APPENDIX B.
439
CASH CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOLDIERS' HOME.
Trinity Church. Cleveland $110 61
S. A. S., Millersburgh.. 10300
T. W. Kennard 10000
H. B. Perkins. Warren. O. 10000
Theta Phi Alpha Soc., Cleveland Ins titute 7000
Dr. W. S. Streator. 5000
Citizens of Frogsville 46 54
S. A. S., Willoughby 4644
S. A. S., Bedford 4450
Wadsworth Dramatic Club 42 50
Union League, Cleveland 4050
G. E. Herrick 3500
S. A. S., Earlville 3325
Woolson, Hitchcock & Carter 30 50
Harmon & Crowl 2500
B. W. Jenness & Co 25 00
S. A. S.. Middle-bury 2500
Lucien S. Phillips*.... 2500
S. A. S.. Ravenna 25 00
James Root. Hartford, Ct 25 00
Seaborn & Hempy 2500
Sheldon & French 2500
Elisha Savage, Berea.O... 2500
S. A. S., Gustavus 23 00
A Friend 2100
Dudley Baldwin . 2000
W. Bingham & Co... 2000
Clark & Rockefeller 20 00
S. A. S., Cleveland, 7th Ward 20 00
L. Crawford & Co 20 00
Crowell & Child* 2000
Edwards, Townsend & Co 20 00
H Harvey 2000
C. O. King 2000
S.L.Mather 2000
S. D. McMillan 2000
Morris & Price 2000
Northern Transportation Co 20 00
S. A. S.. Olmsted Falls.. 2000
Otis &Brownell 2000
Parish & Knight 2000
H.B.Payne . 2000
M. B. Scott 2000
D. B. Sexton.. 2000
George A. Stanley 2000
Tennis & Dangler 2000
Thomas & Butts 2000
John F. Warner 2000
Gco. Worthington 2000
S. A. S., Dover... 19 Go
S. A. S.. Rawsonville 1900
S. A. S., Hiram 1643
Bond & Morris 1500
L. F. & S. Burgess 1500
Rev. L. Carter 1500
Cross & Payne 1500
Hughes & Rockefeller 1500
W. Sabine 1500
James J. Tracy 1500
Young People, Dist. No. 5, Parma... 12 05
R. P. "Myers 11 50
S. A. S.. Perry 1057
H. G. Abbey "... 1000
Adams & Jewett 1000
Alcott & Horton 1000
Babcock & Hurd 1000
F. M. Backus 1000
F. T. Backus . 1000
E. I. Baldwin & Co $
T. S. Beckwith
Begges & Sinclair
George A. Benedict
J. P. Bishop
Thos. Bolton
Mrs. Mary Bradford
Bratenahl Br os.
S. A. S. Brooklyn
O. A. Brooks & Co
Burgert & Adams
S. A. S., Burton
C. L. Camp
W. F. Carey
Cash
Mrs. H. Chisholm.
Chas. Clark
J. H. Clark & Co
J. B. Cobb&Co
W. P. Cooke & Co
Dr. E. Gushing
Dr. H. K. Cashing
J. H. DeWitt..
R. B. Douglass
George B. Ely
W.P.Fogg
Morrison Foster
Glaser Bros
S. O. Griswold
John B. Goodsell
E. B. Hale
W. B. Hancock
T. P. Handy .—
R. Hanna & Co
B. Harrington
Win. Hart...
Mrs. W. R. Henry
Hervev & Bousfi eld
J. M. &H. T. Hower
Hower & Higbee
J. M. Hoyt..
S. Hvman
F. C: Keith
M. R. Keith
Moses Kcllv.-.
H. D.Kendall & Co...
Richard Kimball
Koch, Levi & Meyer .. II. H. Little & Jenning
Lyon & Sherman
J." Marchand
Geo. F. Marshall
T. Maxfield&Co
Dr. C. S. Mackenzie...
Miller & Parsons
George Mygatt
Morgan & Root
G. W. Morrill . .
Chas. W. Noble
Palmer & Dennis
N. P. Payne
O. H. Perry
F. J. Prentiss .
Lorcn Prentiss
S. B. Prentiss
Prescotts & Chase
A. & E. C. Pope
A. Quinn & Son
Raymond. Lowe & Co.
1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 10 (X) 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 10 00 1000 10 00 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000
440
APPENDIX B.
CASH CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOLDIERS' HOME— CONTINUED.
C. A. Bead... $ 1000
AdolphRettberg.... 1000
Rice & Burnett - 1000
John W. Sargeant 1000
Philo Scovill. 1000
Seaman & Smith 10 00
Smith &Dodd - 1000
J. B. Smith 1000
Smith &Curtiss 1000
R. P. Spalding - 1000
Geo. Sprague 1000
E. Stair 1000
Stillson, Leek & Price 10 00
A. B. Stone 1000
Strong & Armstrong 10 00
Taylor & Gris wold 10 00
John Tod - 1000
J. II. Wade... .-- 1000
M iv . P. M. Weddell 10 00
Horace P. Weddell. 10 00
C. Whitaker 1000
H. S. Whittlesey 1000
Lemuel Wick 1000
H. Wick & Co _ 1000
Willey &Cary 1000
S. Williamson 1000
Geo. S.Wright 1000
S. A. S., Tallmadge 9 00
J. T. Watterson 1 '.100
Ken ton Bros .., 8 00
D. T. Pratt -- (ioO
W. K. Adams 5 00
A. W. J.. 5 00
W. D. Baker 5 00
J. Benton 500
C. P. Born 500
D. G. Branch 5 00
C. G. Bruce 5 00
F. Butts & Co 500
Cannon & Freeman 5 00
M. Carson 5 00
Cash 500
Cash 500
Cash 500
Mrs. E. Clark 500
S. Corning 5 00
R. Cowles 500
W. D. Gushing 500
Davis & Vorce 5 00
S. Dewey 500
Fusier & Burgert 500
E. F. Gaylord 500
II. C. Hawkins. 5 00
Hilliard & Hatch 500
Geo. W. Fahrion ... 500
Geo. Freeman 500
John A. Foot 5 00
Geo. Ingcrsoll 5 00
Capt. Jerome 500
T. M. Kelley - 5 (K)
II. Leutkemeyer 5 00
S.Mann 500
S. A. S., Mayfield - 500
Mo rehouse & Merriam 5 00
C. F. Morse 5 00
George S. Mygatt 5 00
J. D. O'Neil&Son 500
JohnM. Peck 500
S. Ranney 500
II. K. Reynolds |
C. Shaw
T. G. Sholes
Mrs. F. A. Sterling..
Miss Laura W. Sterling
A. B. Stockwell.
Mrs. A. B. Stone
C. L. Thompson
D.R. Tilden
Mrs. W
George Whitelaw
J. V. N. Yates
E. Chester
II. Lord...
W. J. Warner
Universalist S. S. Conneautville...
L. C. Baker..
Cash...
Cash
J. D. Cleveland..
A. S. Houk.
A. & C. Loeb
Silas Smith
J. Wansor
George Wilkinson
Willouerhby and Vicinity.
B. & H. Baer
L. Benedict
B. P. Bowers
B. Butts...
Cash
L. Buff'ett
Cash
Deckand & Co
E. J. Estep
D. W. Gage ... J. P. Koehler . S. May
John Schwab .. J. F. Whitelaw Mr. Sinclair... A Friend...
Barber
S. A. S. Brimfteld
S. Brainard
Cash
G. W. Clark.
R. A. Dver. Newburgh .
Chas. Fliedner
E. M. Flynt
O. A. Granger
Miss O. R. Gurney
J. Hall. ..-'
J. Halle
N. Heisel
Mrs. Hinman
Mr. Lyman
Mrs. Porter
Mrs. Dr. Robinson
Wm. P. Stanley
John Storey
Dr. John Wheeler
W. J. T
A Friend
Cash ..
Mrs. Mitchell
A. H. Brown
S. A. S., St. Glair Road. Cash Box at Home ...
500
500
500
500
5 00
500
5 00
5 00
500
5 00
5 00
500
400
4 00
400
380
3 00
300
3 00
300
300
300
SOO
3 00
300
225
2 00
2 00
2 00
200
200
2 00
2 00
200
2 00
2 (K)
2 00
200
200
2 00
200
00
(M)
(X)
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
00
1 00
1 00
100
100
1 00
1 00
100
95
50
50
50
42
870
APPENDIX B.
BRANCH SOCIETIES CONTRIBUTING TO SOLDIERS' HOME.
|
AKRON. |
FRANKLIN MILLS. |
PARMA |
|
AMHERST. |
FREEDOM. |
|
|
ATWATKB. BAINBRIDGE. |
GARRETTSVLLLE. GENEVA. |
RANDOLPH. |
|
BATH. BKUFORD. BERLIN CENTRE. |
GREENPORT. GREENWICH STATION. GUSTAVUS. |
RAWSONVILLE. ROCKPORT. |
|
BEREA. BERLIN HEIGHT:-;. BIRMINGHAM. BoARDMAN. BOSTON STATE KOAU. BRECKSVILLE. BRIMFIELD. BRISTOLVILLE. BROOKLYN, BROOKLYN CENTRE. BURTON. BUTTERNUT RIDGE. Olmsted. CHAGRIN FALLS. CHARLESTOWN. CHATHAM CENTRE. CHESTER CROSS ROADS. COLLAMER. |
HARRISVILLE. HlNCKLEY AND GRANGER. HIRAM. HOLMESVILLE. HOMERVILLE AND SULLIVAN GLEE CLUB. HURON, CHRIST CHURCH. JOHNSONVILLE. JUDD'S CORNERS, Concord, O KENT. KlNGSVILLE. KINSMAN. KlRTLAND. MAYFIELD. MlDDLEBURY. MlLLERSBURG. NEWBURGH. |
SHALERSVILLE. SHEFFIELD. SOUTH ROCKPORT. ST. CLAIR ROAD, Cleveland. STREETSBORO. STROXGSVILLE. TALLMADGE. TROY, Nova P. O. TWINSBURGH, UNION FOUR CORNERS. UNIONTOWN. UNIONVILLE. VIALL DISTRICT. WADSWORTH. WADS WORTH DRAMATIC CLUB WAKEMAN. |
|
COLUMBIA . CONNEAUTVILLE UNIVERSAL-' |
NEWTON FALLS. NORTH JACKSON. |
WARRENSVILLE. WEST ROCKPORT. |
|
DOVER. DOVER CONG. CHURCH. EARLVILLE. EAST CLEVELAND. EUCLID. |
OLENA. OLMSTED. OLMSTED FALLS. PAINESVILLE. PARKMAN. PARISVILLE. |
WlCKLIFFE. WINCHESTER. WlNDHAM. WlLLOUGHBY. WlLLOUGHBY RlDGE. |
APPENDIX C.
CLAIM AGENCY REPORT
444
APPENDIX C.
CLEVELAND BRANCH SANITARY COMMISSON CLAIM AGENCY.
STATEMENT.
NUMBER OF CASES FILED.
Invalid Pen sion 97
Increase Invalid Pension, 118
Widow's Pension, 26
Increase Widow's Pension. 67
Mother s Pension, 15
Guardian's Pension 3
Guardian's Pension and Increase, 6
Transfer Pension, 0
Arrears Pension, 1
Arrears Pay and Bounty, 167
Pension Money, 45
Additional Bounty, Act July 28th 1113
Heirs' Additional Bounty, Act July 28th, 200
Artificial Limbs, 3
Three Months' Pay 7
Commutation of Rations, 13
Miscellaneous Cases. 3
Total,... ...1890
FILED THROUGH CENTRAL BUREAU OF CLAIMS.
Invalid Pension 49
Increase Invalid Pension, 1
Widow's Pension, 16
Mother's Pension, _ 1
Arrears Pay and Bounty, 116
Commutation of Rations, . 7
Total, 190
EXPENSE ACCOUNT.
By paid salaries Agents and Clerks, $4,419 93
printing and advertising, 729 73
stationery, postage, legal blanks and record books, 1,027 55
notarial fees...... 31258
office expenses, desks, safe and notary seal, 25468
expenses of collecting claims at Ohio State Soldiers'1 Home, 39 77
Total,.. ...$6,78424
APPENDIX D.
NAMES OF MEMBERS
446
APPENDIX D.
MEMBERS.
MRS. HENRY G. ABBEY.
kk S. C. AIKEN.
"• L. ALCOTT.
" SHERLOCK J. ANDREWS.
" M. C. K. ARTER.
"• CALEB AT WATER. Miss CARRIE ATWATER. MRS. LEVI AUST. MRS. F. T. BACKUS.
" HENRY BAKER.
" THEO. BAKER.
" E. I. BALDWIN. Miss MARY BALDWIN. MRS. JAMES BARNETT. Miss ANNETTE BARNETT. MRS. J. BEANSON.
kk GEO. E. BEEBE.
" R. A. BEEBE. R. U. BECHER. M. E. BECKWITH. SILAS BELDEN. GEO. A. BENEDICT. L. BENEDICT. S. M. BENHAM.
t; CURTIS BENTON.
" CARLOS BENTON.
" HORACE BENTON.
kk BESTER.
ki J. BEVERLIN.
kk EDWARD BINGHAM.
kk WILLIAM BINGHAM.
kk J. P. BISHOP.
" BlSSITT. MlSS BlXBY. MRS. S. H. BOARDMAN.
" WM. J. BOARDMAN.
" BOISE.
"• THOMAS BOLTON.
kk J. BOUSFIELD.
" WILLIAM BOWLER.
kk J. M. BRAINARD.
" WILLIAM BRADFORD. Miss CLARA BRANCH. MRS. C. D. BRAYTON. Miss MARY CLARK BRAYTON. MRS. N. C. BREWER.
"• C. C BRIGGS.
"• JOHN BROUGH.
"' FAYETTE BROWN.
" J. C. BtlELL.
kk M. BROWN.
kt THOS. BURNHAM. kt L. BURGERT.
kk P. R. BURNETT.
kk BUFFINGTON.
kk L. BURTON.
LEVI BUTTLES.
BOLIVAR BUTTS.
CALDWELL.
LOUISE CALKINS.
J. F. CARD. Miss ALICE CAREY. MRS. LAWSON CARTER. Miss BELLE CARTER. MRS. CARTWRIGHT. kt J. LANG CASSELLS.
MRS WM. B. CASTLE.
SKLAH CHAMBERLIN'. H. M. CHAPIN. J H. CHASE. HENRY CHISHOLM. D. CHITTKNDKN. lk ELIZABETH CHUBB. k" E. CLARK. k I. L. CLARK. kk W. A. CLARK. Miss M. S. CLEVELAND.
MRS. J. M. COFFINBERRY.
•k I). O. COLE. 'k WM. COLLINS. " H. E. COOKE.
" W. C. COOLEY.
"• JOHN COON. kk L K. COWLES. kk WM. CRAIG. k' CRAPSER. kt J. H. CRITTENDEN. lk S. W. CRITTENDEN. kk T. D. CROCKER. ki E. W. CROOKS.
H. L. CROWELL.
JOHN CROWELL.
GROWL.
CUBBON.
CUNNINGHAM.
WM. D. GUSHING.
H. K. GUSHING.
F. B. DARROW.
BENNITT DARE.
ALFRED DAVIS.
CHAS. A. DEAN.
R. B. DENNIS.
M. J. DICKENSON.
B. F. DEXTER. DEGENIN. GEO. C. DODGE.
R. DUTTON.
C. F. DUTTON. DONAHUE.
J. DOUGLAS. O. S. DOUGLAS. ALFRED ELY. GEO. B. ELY. A. W. FAIRBANKS. JAMES FARMER. FERGUSON. FEUSIER. WM. A. FISKE. Miss SARAH FITCH. " JENNIE FONTS. MRS. A. E. FOOTE. " HORACE FOOTE. 'k JOHN A. FOOTE. kk FOWLE.
kk MORRISON FOSTER. " E. FREEMAN. tk A. FULLER. " GEO. W. GARDNER. Miss FANNIE GARDNER. MRS. C. M. GIDINGS. Miss GEORGIE GORDON. MRS. HIRAM GRISWOLD.
APPENDIX D. MEMBERS— CONTINUED.
447
MRS. W. B. GUYLES.
" HALE, W. S. Miss S. S. HALL. MRS. WM. B. HANCOCK. MBS. ALBERT M. HARMON.
• B. HARRINGTON. k* J. A. HARRIS.
'• WM. HART.
kt G. H. HASKELL. Miss NELLIE HASKELL. MRS. K. HAYES.
•• JOSEPH HAYWARD.
• WM. H. HAYWARU. " G. E. HERRICK,
" CHAS. HICKOX.
" M. E. HlGLEY.
Miss EMMA HILLS. MRS. L. C. HOAG.
" HOB ART. ' DENNIS HOLT.
'" R. C. HOPKINS.
" A. G. HOPKINSON.
" J. M. HOYT.
" M. A. HOYT. Miss IDDA HOYT. MRS. HUBBELL.
" O. E. HUNTINGTON.
• HURLBURT, W. S. " H. B. HURLBURT.
" HUTCHINS.
" L. M. HUBBY.
" M. Y. BUTTON,
• L. D. HUDSON. " HUNTOON.
" War. HUTTON. " G. A. HYDE. "• HIRAM IDDINGS.
" W. A. INGHAM.
" J. E. INGERSOLL. " ISAAC A. ISAACS.
E. S. ISOM. " E. JENNINGS. ' S. W. JOHNSON.
G. H. JOHNSON " S. A. JEWETT. " T. M. KELLEY. Miss KENT.
" AMELIA KENT. MRS. JAMES KIRBY. " WM. LACY. " M. C. LANE.
LAUDERDALE.
C. W. LEPPER.
J. LEONARD.
E. H. LEWIS.
LIPE.
THOS. LIST.
H. H. LITTLE.
JULIANA LONG.
LYDIA LONG.
W. W. LUCK.
JOSEPH LYMAN.
MALLORY.
S. K. MANNING.
C. MASTERS.
E. MASTERS.
H. C. MARSHALL.
JAMES MASON.
S. H. MATHER.
WM. MELHINCH.
WM. M. MERIAM.
J. B. MERIAM.
E. H. MERRILL.
MRS. DR. MERRITT. ' WM. MILFORD.
" WM. MlTTLEBERGER.
" MCNEIL. • NELSON MONROE. Miss KEOKEE MONROE. MRS. E. P. MORGAN.
" J. H. MORLEY.
" R. P. MYERS.
ll J. J. MYERS.
' GEO. MYGATT. MYRICK.
" ZINA NEEDHAM. Miss MELVINA NEVINS. MRS. HENRY NEWTON. Miss JULIA E. NOBLE.
' HENRY NEWBERRY.
" STANLEY L. NOBLE.
•' O. M. OVIATT.
" S. B. PAGE. Miss S. PALMER. MRS. J. D. PALMER.
'• FANNY PARSONS.
' R. F. PAINE.
" AUSTIN PARMETER.
' PECK.
" PENDLETON.
" JOSEPH PERKINS. Miss PHELPS.
" MATILDA PICKANDS. MRS. POLLOCK.
" WELLS PORTER.
" D. U. PRATT.
il H. F. PERCIVAL.
" PERRY PRENTISS. ' LOREN PRENTISS.
" S. B. PRENTISS.
" F. J. PRENTISS.
'• W. M. PRENTICE.
" N. B. PRENTICE.
-1 W. H. PRICE. Miss ELLEN PRITCHARD. MRS. P. PROBECK. 1 L. M. PRYOR.
" GEO. PRESLEY. Miss M. PRESLEY. MRS. N. PURDY.
" R. P. RANNEY.
•' RAYJIOND.
" J. A. REDINGTON.
" REESE.
" D. P. RHODES.
" C. L. RHODES. J. M. RICHARDS. C. H. ROBERTS. DR. RODMAN. ROUNDS. B. ROUSE.
B. F. ROUSE.
C. L. RUSSELL. E. S. ROOT,
A. G. RUSSELL. W. SABINE.
•; J. C. SANDERS.
"• SANDERSON.
" SANFORD.
" NELSON SANFORD.
•i J. H. SARGENT.
•' J. W. SARGEANT. Miss S. SCOTT. MRS. PHILO SCOVILL.
- O. C. SCOVILL.
" A. G. SEARLS.
448
APPENDIX D. MEMBERS — CONTINUED.
MRS. LEWIS SEVERANCE.
" JOHN SHELLEY.
" A. SHARPE. Miss MARY SHELLEY. MRS.D. A. SHEPARD.
" O. B. SKINNER.
" SKINNER, W. S.
" J. B. SIMMONS. MRS. EZRA SMITH.
" WM. T. SMITH. Miss MARY E. SMITH.
MRS. W. P. SOUTHWORTH.
"• R. P. SPALDING.
" SPARROWHAWK. Miss L. SPELLMAN.
"• C. SPELLMAN. MRS. EPFIE STANDART.
" W. E. STANDART.
ki I. T. STEVENS.
bt JOHN M. STERLING, JR.
" E. T. STERLING.
" M. B. STICKNEY.
"• AMASA STONE, JR.
" A. B. STONE. Miss FLORA STONE.
>k CLARA STONE. MRS. E. STUMM.
" RUFUS SWIFT.
" SWAN.
" D. C. TAYLOR.
k' E. TAYLOR.
" CHARLES A TERRY. Mrss ELLEN F. TERRY. MRS. PETER THATCHER.
MRS. DR. THAYER.
" EDWIN THAYER.
" J. A. THOME.
" G. TUCKER. MRS. D. R. TILDEN.
" S. C. VAN DORN.
•' JOHN VARNER.
ki A. VANTASSEL.
" J. H. WADE.
" RANDALL WADE. Miss LILY WALTON.
" WALWORTH. MRS. B. P. WARD.
" WM. M. WARMINGTON.
" J. WARBURTON. Miss WARMINGTON. MRS. WASHINGTON.
" P. WEDDELL.
" A. J. WENHAM.
" A. WHEELER.
" CHARLES WHEELER.
" H. L. WHITMAN.
"• S. WILLIAMSON.
" H. V. WILLSON.
" T. P. WILSON.
" DOUGLAS WHITE.
" WELCH.
"• STILLMAN WITT.
tk C. A. WOODWORTU.
" R. C. YATES.
" J. V. N. YATES.
" M. C. YOUNGLOVE.
Miss CARRIE P. YOUNGLOVE.
HONORARY MEMBERS.
FITCH ADAMS.
L. ALCOTT.
R. H. BABCOCK.
CHARLES C. BALDWIN.
DUDLEY BALDWIN.
E. I. BALDWIN.
C. J. BALLARD. T. S. BECKWITH. GEO. E. BEEBE. A. H. BENEDICT. EARL BILL. WILLIAM BINGHAM. WILLIAM J. BOARDMAN. T. N. BOND.
W. H. BOYDEN. H. K. BOYLSTON. FRANCIS BRANCH.
D. G. BRANCH. CHARLES G. BRATENAHL. H. F. BRAYTON.
O. A. BROOKS. BURT, ROSE & Co. THEODORE BURY. BOLIVAR BUTTS. W. F. CAREY. CHARLES C. CARTER. W. L. CARTER. LEONARD CASE, JK. H. M. CHAPIN. O. A. CHILDS. S. P. CHURCHILL. JAMES F. CLARK.
HENRY F. CLARK.
I. L. CLARK.
B. J. COBB.
CAIUS C. COBB.
COE & HASTINGS.
COE & MAY.
MA.J. JOHN COON.
E. COWLES.
R. COWLES.
L CRAWFORD.
WM. W. CRAWFORD
OGDEN CRITTENDRN.
S. W. CRITTENDEN.
H L. CROWKLL.
WM. CROWELL.
WM. D. CUSHING.
D. A. DANGLER.
H. S. DAVIS.
WM. EDWARDS.
DAN. P. EELLS.
T. D WIGHT EELLS.
A. ELY, JR.
GKO B. ELY.
T. W. EVANS.
J. FINGER.
MORRISON FOSTER.
J. A. FOOTE.
GEO. FREEMAN.
LUKE B FRENCH.
RALZIE J. FULLER,
H. C. GAYLORD.
REV. WM. H. GOODRICH.
APPENDIX D. HONORARY MEMBERS— CONTINUED.
449
A. S. GORHAM. E. R. GUISWOLD. E. T. HALL.
H. M. HALL. UNION HALL. E. N. HAMMOND. T. P. HANDY. ROBERT HANNA. WM HART. H. A. HARVEY. W. H. HARVEY. H. R. HATCH. R. HAUSMAN. J. HAYWARD. G. E. II RRICK.
E. C. HlGBKE.
ADDISON HILLS. H. G. HITCHCOCK.
B. W. HORTON. JOHN G HOWER. JAMES M HOYT. ARTHUR HUGHES.
H. B HURLBURT.
J. G. HUSSEY.
F. JUDSON.
F. C. KEITH.
H. D KENDALL. ROBERT KNIGHT. WM LAWTEY. T W LKKK
H. W. LEL-TKE3IEYER.
H. H LITTLE.
GEO H. LODGE.
R. H. LODGE.
E. C. LUCE.
II. C. LUCE.
S MANN.
H. C MARSHALL.
SAMUEL L. MATHER.
SAMUEL H. MATHER.
WM. M. MAXON.
C. S. MACKENZIE. W. J. McKiNNiE. WILLIAM MELHIXCH. J. B. MKRIAM.
S D. MCMILLAN. JACOB MILLER. E. P. MORGAN.
G. B. MURFEY. R. P. MYERS. GEO. MYGATT. J. D. NORTON. O. M. OVIATT.
REV. WILBUR F. PADDOCK.
J. B PARSONS.
R. C. PARSONS.
B. F. PEIXOTTO.
NATHAN P. PAYNE.
JOSEPH PFRKINS.
A. M. P^RY.
OLIVER H. PERRY.
E. C. POPE.
CHAUNCEY PRENTISS.
F. J. PRENTISS. S. B. PRENTISS. P. I PRICE. W. H. PRICK.
A. QUINN & SON. S. RAYMOND.
H. K. RVYNOLDS. WM ROCKEFELLER.
E. ROCKWKLL.
JAMES ROOT. R. R. ROOT.
B. F. ROUSE. L. D. RUCN.ER. GKO H. RUSSELL. ALKX. SACKKTT.
E. W SACKRIDER. DR. JOHN C. SANDERS. M B. SCOTT.
O. C. SCOVILI/E. SEABORN & HEMPY. JOHN SEAMAN.
GEO. B. S ENTER.
D. B. SEXTON. GEO. A. STANLEY. S. L. SEVERANCE. S. H. SHELDON. JOSEPH SHIPPKN. O. B. SKINNER. J. B. SMITH. W. T. SMITH. S. C. SMITH. ORSON SPKNCER. GEO. SPRAGUE. JOHN M. STERLING, JR. H. H STILSON. A. STONE. JR. JOHN TENNIS. PrTER THATCHER, JR.
C. L. THOMPSON. AMOS TOWN SEND.
H B. TUTTLE.
J. H. WADE.
F. T. WALLACE. T. WALTON.
T. A. WALTON. H. D. WATTERSON. J. L. WEATHERLY. H. P. WEDD^LL. JOHN A. WHEELER. CHARLES L. WHITE. JOHN E. WHITE. A. H. WICK. C. C. WICK.
GEO. WlLLEY. W. G. WILLIA3IS. A. P. WlNSLOW. R. K. WlNSLOW.
STILLMAN WITT. C. J. WOOLSON. GEO S. WRIGHT. W. W. WRIGHT. R. C. YATES.
M. C. YOUNGLOV3.
30
APPENDIX E.
COMMITTEES.
452 APPENDIX E.
AMATEUR PATRIOTIC CONCERT.
ACADEMY OF MUSIC, SEPT. 24, 1801. (Page 30.)
SOPRANO?.— Miss Nettie Brayton, Miss Mary Shelley, Miss Nellie Wick, Miss Clara Woolson, Miss Emma Witt.
CONTRALTOS.— Miss Tllic Crawford, Miss Constance Woolson.
TENORS.— E. C. Rouse, A. J. Monlton.
BASSOS.— J. n. Stanley, J. H. DeWitt, J. F. Whitelaw, J. Krable, J. P. Holbrook, Ed. Stair.
PIANIST?.— Prof. J. Long, Mrs. J. M. Isaacs.
AMATEUR ENTERTAINMENT. Music AND TABLEAUX VIVANTS.
ACADEMY OF MUSIC, MAECH 3 AND 5, 1863. (Page 102.)
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. — R. C. Parsons, Joseph Perkins, Stillman Witt, M. C. Young- love, William Edwards, John M. Sterling, Jr., J. Burton Parsons, B. F. Peixotto, T. N. Bond, Mrs. M. C. Younglove, Mrs. Win. J. Boardman, Miss Terry.
SOPRANOS.— Mrs. S. J. Miller, Miss Mary Shelley, Miss Emma Witt, Miss Nellie Vaughan, Miss Lizzie Gates, Miss Nellie Wick. TENOR.— E. C. Rouse. BASSO.— D. O. Cole.
PIANISTS.— Mrs. George S. Mygatt, Misses Ara and Bella Stone, Geo. W. Brainard. VIOLONCELLO.— D. O. Cole.
APPENDIX E. 453
NORTHERN OHIO SANITARY FAIR
SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
(Page 144.)
ON BUILDINGS AND HALLS.
Peter Thatcher, Jr., Chairman; Dr. E. Sterling, Secretary; Randall Crawford, W. J. Warner, W. F. Smith, J. M. Blackburn, S. C. Brooks, S. N. Nelson, Geo. H. Burt, R. R. Herrick, Geo. P. Smith, Wm. Rattle, P. Freeman.
LUMBER.— C. G. King, Ezra Thomas, L. C. Butts, A. J. Piper, E. Freeman, C. S. Ran som, L. M. Cobb, A. M. Harmau, S. H. Crowl, Isaac Sturtevant, P. B. Young, N. Purdy, C. McNeil, Sheldon & French, B. W. Jenness, Edward Sanford, William Sabin, Nelson Sanford ; Henderson & Wilson, Mayfield; Page & Beer, Collamer; J. W. Rogers, Ashta- bula ; L. P. Gage, Painesville.
GAS.— William E. Beckwith, G. A. Hyde, Mark W. House, T. Dwight Eells, Timothy Heath, W. P. Fogg.
WATER.— S. F. Lester, George W. Girty, J. McGarvey. L. M. Hubby, Joseph Singer, B. P. Bowers.
HEATIXG.— C. J. Woolson, W. L. Carter, Horace G. Hitchcock, C. P. Born, C. Whitaker, R. P. Myers, J. Wansor, J. B. Parish, S. Merchant, R. Knight.
ON RECEPTION.
I. U. Masters, Chairman ; Amos Townsend, H. S. Stevens, B. Rouse, E. C. Rouse, Wm Collins, J. P. Bishop, Mrs. B. Rouse, Mrs. Wm. Melhinch, Mrs. L. Burton.
RAILROADS.— L. M. Hubby, John Gardner, A. Stone, Jr., J. N. McCullough, T. W. Kennard.
TRANSPORTATION.— E. S. Flint, H. Nottingham, L. D. Rucker, Charles L. Rhodes, Wm. Hewitt, Charles E. Gorham, A. Everett, W. G. Yates, H. H. Eldis.
ON DECORATIONS.
T. N. Bond, Chairman; John M. Sterling, Jr., Marcus A. Hanna, Fayette Brown, Silas Merchant. J. Ensworth, Geo. E. Hall. Geo. W. Chapin. Bolivar Butts, D. Pratt, C Busch, Geo. Stowell, D. A. Dangler, C. W. Palmer, Cains C. Cobb, George Hewlett, Geo. B. Ely, B. F. Peixotto, J. H. DeWitt, H. C. Luce, J. S. Tascott, H. C. Marshall, Dr. John Dickin son, R. F. Paine, D. P. Eells, A. M. Van Duzer, G. W. Crowell, John Sargeant, L. R. Morri?, Charles C. Carter, Charles A. Brayton, George C. Vaillant, S. Chamberlain, D. R. Morris, John Wightman, Geo. W. Howe. Geo. Woodworth, Capt. S. F. Drake, Capt. H. D. Pheatt, Capt. S. Rummage, Belden Seymour, F. R. Myers. H. P. Seymour. Capt. Ed. Kelly, S. B Conklin, John Robinson. J. V. Painter, Charles W. Noble, George W. Rouse, I. W. Blake, Samuel Stair, John Walker, Charles G. Atwood, Dr. C. O. Butler, J. Hough- ton, T. W. Morse, Capt. James Hill, Henry Sizer, A. Mclntosh. Dr. E. Taylor, James Far mer, G. H. Lodge, A. C. Hubbell, George A. Tisdale, Loren Prentiss, Perry Prentiss, Capt.
454 APPENDIX E.
T. W. Steele, S. P. Jenkins, Mrs. T. N. Bond, Mrs. Joseph Hayward, Mrs. C. M. Gidings, Mrs. S. Witt, Mrs. J. D. Palmer, Mrs. Charles Doubleday, Mrs. H. H. Little, Mrs. J. F. Card, Mrs. W. W. Chandler, Mrs. Robert Hanna, Mrs. John A. Ellsler, Mrs. J. M. Gillette, Mrs. John Tod, Mrs. E. N. Keyes, Mrs. A.M. VanDuzer, Mrs. Henry Sizer, Mrs. William Smythe, Mrs. J. R. Shipherd, Mrs. Swift, Mrs, B. F. Pratt, Mrs. C. D. Cook. Mrs. J. Ens- worth, Mrs. S. P. Churchill, Mrs. H. A. Hurlburt, Mrs. L. L. Deming, Mrs. W.D. McBride, Mrs. J. W. Sargeant, Mrs. William May, Mrs. G. Woodworth, Mrs. W. Wellhouse, Mrs. J. H. Sargent, Mrs. P. G. Watmongh, Mrs. J. J. Myers, Mrs. William Shipherd, Mrs. W. F. Smith, Mrs. R. T. Lyon, Misses Ariel Hanna, Louise Gardner, Fanny Paine, Mary Mahan, Ruth Kellogg, Sarah Walworth, Mary Lodge, Clara Miles, Nina Miles, Lizzie Dockstader, Emma Hancock, Lizzie Pheatt, Harriet Hurlburt, Alice McCurdy, Jessie Fox, Mary Stetson, Lily Walton, Fanny Smith, Lily Barstow, Mary J. Blair, Hattie Blair, M. Barstow, S. Barstow, Fanny Gardner, Clara Hurlburt, Libbie Fitch, S. Petta, L. Robinson, Emily Stair, Mary Stair, Lucy Blair, Nelly Blair, Kate Larrimore, Sarah Gardner, Ollie Coon, Mary Lane, Mattie Tilden, Julia Durgin, Matilda Pickands, Julia Kellogg.
ON PRODUCE.
J. G. Hussey, Chairman; Geo. W. Gardner, Secretary; O. M. Oviatt, R. T. Lyon, J. G. Simmons, W. H. Sholl, C. J. Comstock, M. B. Scott, George Spraguc, T. Walton, J. H. Gorham, P. Chamberlin, N. Heisel, Addison Hills, Thomas Burnham, H. M. Hall, A. C. Hubbell, A. J. Wenham, L. A. Pierce, William Melhinch, T. W. Evans, F. Raymond, H. S. Davis, J. H. Clark, A. V. Cannon, P. H. Babcock, M. B. Clark, B. H. Stair, Chauncey Prentiss, George Sinclair, William Rockefeller, William Murray, Robert Hanna, H. Harvey, A. Burgert, S. F. Lester, Charles Bradburn, George Corning, R. S. Weaver, B. Brownell, J. Bash, Toledo ; G. D. Bates, Akron ; H. A. Foster, Minerva ; Hull & Buss, Oneida ; L. S. & C. A. Crim, Galion ; L. K. Warner, Newark ; Isaac Steese, Massillon ; John Dickson, Bolivar ; E. Burnett, Canal Dover ; A Woodward, Bellevue ; George Thornton, Sandusky ; H. S. Lucas, Marion ; J. M. Johnson, Oberlin ; D. T. Ilaines, Muncie ; Samuel Bartlett, Canal Winchester ; Hills & Co., Delaware; O. J. Mauzy, Union City; Morrison & Dins- more, Erie, Pa. ; R. M. N. Taylor, Meadville, Pa. ; A. Wallace, Indianapolis, Ind.
ON MACHINERY AND MANUFACTURES.
M. C. Younglove. Chairman ; George Worthington, Charles Whitaker, Wm. F. Smith, E. C. Garlick, Alton Pope, R. P. Myers, Jacob Lowman, William Hart, Geo. A. Stanley, Jacob Hovey, E. C. Bacon, S. A. Jewett, C. J. Woolson, S. M. Carpenter, Wm. Marriott, John P. Holt, G. W. Sizer, Charles Wason, G. W. Morrell, C. Koch, James Seaborn, J. W. Britton, Wm. Dewitt, John Young, Robert Knight, J. G. Graham, A. M. Hazen, Thos. Jones, Jr., C. S. Ransom, Walter Farnan, J. F. Holloway, E. W. Brooks, F. D. Stone ; James Ward, Jr., Niles ; N. B. Gates, Elyria ; Gen1! C. P. Buckingham, Mt. Vernon ; C. L. Boalt, Norwalk ; P. P. Sanford, Painesville ; Marvin Kent, Kent ; R. F. Russell, Toledo ; J. H. Brown, Youngstown ; J. W. Williams, Chagrin Falls ; C. Aultman, Massillon ; Clem ent Russell, Massillon; A. Kent, Akron; D. K. Wisell, Warren; Liddell & McCarty, Erie, Pa.
IRON, STEEL AND COPPER.— A. G. Smith, A. B. Stone, C. A. Otis, Henry Chisholm, Major Collins.
CORRESPONDENCE.— A. H. Masscy, N. W. Taylor, P. E. Schrieber, F. O. Bacon, W. H. Burridge.
ON MERCHANDISE.
William Bingham, Chairman ; C. W. Coe, Secretary ; L. Alcott, S. D. McMillan, O. A. Brooks, E. I. Baldwin, H. D. Kendall, A. G. Colwell, L. L. Lyon, L. F. Burgess, J. B. Cobb, N. E. Crittenden, E. Stair, F. C. Keith, W. P. Fogg, J. B. Parish, S. M. Strong, H.
APPENDIX E. 455
L. Crowell, A. Rettberg, J. H. Chase, J. A. Vincent, John Shelley, O. A. Childs, G. W. Whitney, S. S. Lyon, J. W. Sargent, William T. Smith, A. S. Gardner, E. W. Sackrider, Charles G. Bratenahl, R. R. Root, E. L. Dodd, B. Butts, W. D. Baker, George Whitelaw, H. A. Stephens, R. J. Fuller, C. E. Morse, J. Marchand, William Lowrie, Peter Diemer, Wm. Beckonbach, B. F. Rouse, S. Corning, C. S. Bragg, W. B. Hancock, George F. Mar shall, R. P. Cattrall, W. R. Mould, E. S. Willard, W. H. Truscott, Carlos Benton, Capt. D. P. Nickerson, E. C. Pope, P. W. Rice, Isaac A. Isaacs, E. M. Flynt, D. W. Cross, S. M. Cady, John E. White, J. H. Weed, M. Halle, Henry Hill.
ON WOOD AND COAL.
J. V. N. Yates, Chairman ; J. F. Card, James Farmer, John Hays, Allen Jones, J. P. Price, William McReynolds, E. N. Hammond, Capt. Lacey, W. W. Crawford, Freeman Butts.
ON BOOTHS AND FANCY TABLES.
Mrs. Fayctte Brown, Chairman; Mrs. A. B. Stone, Mrs. William Bingham, Mrs. D. P. Rhodes, Mrs. J. H. Chase, Mrs. E. B. Hale, Mrs. William Collins, Mrs. J. G. Hussey, Mrs. F. A. Sterling, Mrs. Robert Hanna, Mrs. H. M Chapin, Mrs. D. Chittenden.
ON FANCY ARTICLES.
Mrs. A. G. Colwell, Chairman; Mrs. A. W. Fairbanks, Secretary; Mrs. W. J. Boardman, Mrs. S. J. Miller, Mrs. W. D. Cushing, Mrs. George Willey, Mrs. F. J. Prentiss, Mrs. R.
F. Paine, Mrs. J. M. Sterling, Jr., Mrs. J. M. Richards, Mrs. A. Stone, Jr., Mrs. D. P. Eells, Mrs. D. R. Tilden, Mrs. A. A. Adams, Mrs. G. E. Herrick, Mrs. A. J. Moulton, Mrs. Joseph Perkins, Mrs. P. Roeder, Mrs S. B. Prentiss, Mrs. L. D. Rucker, Mrs. H. Iddings, Mrs. J. B. Meriam, Mrs. L. Buttles, Mrs. J. C. Sanders, Mrs. D. Howe, Mrs. A. G. Law rence, Mrs. W. W. Andrews, Mrs. A. G. Riddle, Mrs. W. P. Fogg, Mrs. Charles Lepper, Mrs. Isaac A. Isaacs, Mrs. A. Rettberg, Mrs. S. Chamberlain, Mrs. F. X. Byerly, Mrs. C.
G. Bratenahl, Mrs. Alfred Ely, Mrs. Fanny Parsons, Mrs. B. F. Peixotto, Mrs. J. H. De Witt, Mrs. Fitch Adams, Mrs. S. H. Boardman, Mrs. William Bradford, Mrs. E. I. Baldwin, Mrs. H. R. Hatch, Mrs. C. R. Evatt, Mrs. J. M. Hughes, Mrs. C. A. Crumb, Mrs. Robert Knight, Mrs. T. H. Hawks, Mrs. S. W. Crittenden, Mrs. J. A. Thome, Mrs. J. H. Rylance, Mrs. Thomas Bolton. Mrs. H. C. Luce, Mrs. H. Garrettson, Mrs. S. K. Davis, Mrs. J. V. Painter, Mrs. H. P. Weddell, Mrs. Wm. G. Williams, Mrs. E. C. Rouse, Mrs. A. T. Brins- made, Mrs. W. W. Wright, Mrs. S. O. Griswold, Mrs. H. C. Gaylord, Mrs. William Hil- liard, Mrs. L. Austin, Mrs. C. C. Cobb, Mrs. E. Ransom, Mrs. S. Brainard, Mrs. George W. Gardner, Mrs. W. D. Baker, Mrs. J. Singer.
Misses Prentiss, S. S. Hall, Sarah Fitch. M. J. Blair, Sarah Walworth, Sarah Stanley, Alice Fairbanks, Belle Carter, Nelly Russell, Nelly Wick, Florence Wick, Amelia Burton, Frances Foote, Agnes Foote, Emily Stair, Nelly Andrews, Hattie Colwell, Fanny Col- well, Marion Clark, Annie Clark, Kitty Worley, Mary Goodwin, Mattie Tilden, Kitty Kelly, Augusta Rhodes.
ON FLORAL HALL.
Mrs. Dr. E. Sterling, Chairman; Laura W. Sterling, Secretary; F. R. Elliott, Superin tendent ; Joseph Perkins, H. B. Hurlburt, S. Witt, H. F. Clark, C. G. Bratenahl, A. Mcln- tosh, William Rattle, Geo. A. Stanley, Dr. E. Taylor, Dr. W. H. Beaumont, J. Kirkpatrick, William Crowell, Geo. Hoyt, James Fitch, C. Chandler, Dr. G. F. Turrill, Morris Jackson, John L. Mclntosh, Henry Hoyt, William Root.
Mrs. S. Witt, Mrs. John Shelley, Mrs. H. B. Hurlburt, Mrs. W. H. Beaumont, Mrs. E. S. Root, Mrs. L. Prentiss, Mrs. E. Taylor, Mrs. C. A. Hayes, Mrs. J. H. Sargent, Mrs. Wm. Sinythe, Mrs. T. N. Bond, Mrs. F. R. Elliott, Mrs. G. F. Turrill, Mrs. J. D. Kurd.
456 APPENDIX E.
Misses Joeie Wheeler, E. Streator, M. Streator, Helen Cutter, Mary Stevens, Augusta Rhodes, Nelly Russell, Fanny Hoyt, Illie Crawford, Emma Witt, Laura W. Hilliard, M. Mclntosh, Lizzie Bolton, H. Doane, A. Doane.
Dr. J. P. Kirtland, Dr. and Mrs. Hoffman, Mrs. Lewis Nicholson, Mrs. Charles Pease, Gov. and Mrs. Wood, Mr. and Mrs. George B. Merwin, Rockport; E. P. Bassett, Mrs. J. A. Scott, Mrs. Israel Hall, Toledo; J. Storrs, J. J. Harrison. Mrs. Horace Steele, Jr., Mrs. P. P. Sanford, Rev. J. A. Brayton, Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Avery, Painesville ; C. L. Boalt, John Gardner, J. II. Beardsley, Mr. and Mrs. S. T. Worcester, Norwalk; Messrs. Luce & Strong, Ashtabula; Mr*. C. Arthur Ely, Mr?. Heman Ely, Elyria; H. S. Abbey, David L. King, Akron; E. N. Sill, J. H. Cook, Cuyahoga Falls ; S. B. Marshall, Mrs. L. Teller, Miss Jane Watson, Massillon ; J. P. Robison, Bedford ; H. B. Lum, H. Dewey, Mrs O. Follett, Sandusky; William Porter, Mrs. Henry B. Perkins, Mrs. Frederick Kinsman, Mrs. Barton Fitch, Mrs. O. Morgan, Warren ; H. Manning, W. S. Crawford. Youngstowu ; Hon. and Mrs. John Sherman, Mrs. Charles T. Sherman. Mansfield; S. Bieler, Zoar; S. W. Campbell, Delaware ; Mr. Bonsall. Salem ; E. Stone, Mrs. McClure, Milan ; M. B. Bate- ham, A. Hanneford, Columbus; Dr. Jcwett, Micldlebury ; Robert Johnston, Rootstown ; N. Kelly, Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter, Mrs. E. Huntington, Kelly's Island; Mrs. Ruggles Wright, Huron ; R. P. Fulkerson. Ashland; H. K. Morse, Poland ; H. H. Myers, Canton ; Charles Coit, Euclid ; Mrs. E. A. Slingluff, Canal Dover; E. Huidekoper, Meadville, Pa. ; Alfred Curtis, Sharon, Pa. ; T. L. Shields. Sewickley, Pa.
ON TABLES AND TABLE FURNITURE.
William Edwards and Mrs. M. C. Younsjlove, Chairmen ; John M. Sterling, Jr., J. B. Parsons, Capt. J. Ensworth, John A. Wheeler, E. S. Flint, C. R. Evatt, W. H. Sholl, M.
A. Hanna, W. R. Mould, George Stowell, M. A. Brown, Henry Bingham, Mrs. H. L. Cro- well, Mrs. N. W. Taylor, Mrs. J. G. Hussey, Mrs. L. Alcott, Mrs. S. Corning, Mrs. H. C. Blossom, Mrs. James Wade, Jr., Mrs. S. Starkweather, Mrs. E. S. Flint, Mrs. John Brough, Mrs. C. J. Ballard. Mrs. O. A. Brooks, Mrs. B. F. Rouse, Mrs. E. Cowles, Mrs. Jas. Mason, Mrs. L. F. Mellen, Mrs. Geo. Chapman, Mrs. T. R. Chase, Mrs. A. C. Keating, Mrs. D. P. Rhodes, Mrs. Dr. Cassels, Mrs. Geo. H. Russell, Mrs. L. A. Pierce, Mrs. C. L. Rhodes, Mrs. E. T. Sterling, Mrs. Win. C. North, Mrs, E. A. Scovill, Mrs. H. L. Whitman, Mrs. O. N. Skeels, Mrs. B. Butts, Mrs. Geo. B. Ely, Mrs. Wm. Robinson, Mrs. S. A. Jewett, Mrs. E. L. Knowlton, Mrs. J. E. Turner, Mrs. A. Fuller, Mrs. Edw'd Bingham, Mrs. J. Ross, Mrs.
B. F. Collins, Mrs. A. P. Winslow, Mrs. S. H. Sheldon, Mrs. J. A. Thome, Mrs. Carlos Benton, Mrs. G. W. Whitney, Mrs. A. J. Breed, Miss Annette Barnett, Miss Scott.
ON REFRESHMENTS.
Mrs. Thomas Burnham. Chairman ; Miss Anne Walworth, Secretary.
SOLICITING AND RECEIVING.— Mrs. William T. Smith, Mrs. E. F. Gaylord, Mrs. P. M. Weddell, Mrs. Philo Scovill, Mrs. Rob't Hanna, Mrs. Dr. John Wheeler, Mrs. Geo. Mygatt, Mrs. P. Thatcher, Jr., Mrs. J; A. Foot, Mrs. Silas Belden, Mrs. James Farmer, Mrs. John Crowell, Mrs. Wm. Lemen, Mrs. O. M. Oviatt. Mrs. A. S. Sanford, Mrs. C. Stetson, Mrs. Dr. Starkey, Mrs. Geo. C. Dodge, Mrs. L. Crawford, Mrs. H. Wick, Mrs. Harvey Rice, Mrs. H. Harvey, Mrs. H. Garrettson, Mrs. W. S. Streator, Mrs. Charles Wheeler, Mrs. T. S. Beckwith, Mrs. C. A. Dean, Mrs. J. M. Richards, Mrs. D. Chittenden, Mrs. J. H. Chase, Mrs. S. Raymond, Mrs. H. A. Hurlburt, Mrs. J. Eeverlin, Mrs. A. Quinn, Mrs. W. R. Henry, Mrs. D. G. Branch, Mrs. M. C. Arter, Mrs. W. D. McBride, Mrs. J. G. Hussey, Mrs. J. Stoppel, Mrs. Geo. A. Hyde, Mrs. C. Wason, Mrs. I. T. Stevens, Mrs. J. Dickinson, Mrs. J. Ensworth, Mrs. W. P. Southworth, Mrs. J. J. Rockefeller, Mrs. S. W. Johnson, Mrs. P. Roeder, Mrs. O. E. Huntington, Mrs. Alfred Ely, Mrs, M. Crapser, Mrs. Dr. Horton, Mrs. H. N. Bauder, Mrs. W. B. Hancock. Mrs. II. C. Gaylord, Mrs. Dr. T. P. Wilson, Mrs. D. W. Cross, Mrs. S. R. Beckwith, Mrs. L. C. Butts, Mrs. L. W. Curtiss, Mrs. George II
APPENDIX E. 457
Warmington, Mrs. H. Hurd, Mrs. G. W. Jones, Mrs. L. L. Deming. Mrs. Sam'l M. Strong, Mrs. C. L. Jones, Mrs. S. Jackson, Mrs. J. C. Buell, Mrs. C. C. Cobb, Mrs. Geo. Whitelaw, Mrs. Eobert Knight, Mrs. J. H. Sargent, Mrs. Bissett, Mrs. Harbeck, Misses Clara Hyde, Susie Northrup, Mary Stair, O. J. Bauder.
ICE CREAM AND CAKE. — Mrs. Joseph Lyman, Mrs. Henry Sizer, Mrs. Wm. Edwards, Mrs. J. C. Grannis, Mrs. H. Harvey, Mrs. J. M. Hughes, Mrs. S. J. Miller, Mrs. H. G. Abbey, Mrs. D. W. Cross, Mrs. Geo. W. Howe, Mrs. A. S. Gorham, Mrs. E. C. Mould, Mrs. E. N. Keyes, Mrs. L. B. French, Mrs. O. A. Knight, Mrs. S. O. Griswold, Mrs. C. A. Otis, Mrs. Thomas Bolton, Mrs. R. P. Ranney, Mrs. R. B. Dennis, Mrs. S. J. Lewis. Mrs. A. M. Harman, Mrs. H. S. Stevens, Mrs. C. L. Russell, Mrs. A. E. Adams, Miss Julia Newberry, Miss M. J. Blair, Miss Bowlesby.
OYSTERS.— Mrs. L. L. Lyon, Mrs. Wm. Mittleberger, Mrs. L. Rawson, Mrs. H. V. Will- son. Mrs. Horace Foote, Mrs. B. Butts, Mrs. S. D. McMillan. Mrs. T. M. Kelley, Mrs. Jas. Barnett, Mrs. S. J. Andrews, Mrs. D. P. Rhodes, Mrs. J. H. Wade, Mrs. G. W. Whitney, Mrs. L. Alcott, Mrs. John Coon, Mrs. Wm. Shepard, Mrs. Charles Whitaker, Mrs. J. M. Coflinberry, Mrs. W. J. Gordon, Mrs. George H. Burritt, Mrs, J. C. Calhoun.
COFFEE.— Mrs. Wm. Rattle, Mrs. James F. Clark, Mrs. O. C. ScovilL Mrs. R. F. Paine, Mrs. Charles Hickox, Mrs. C. D. Brayton, Mrs. H. D. Kendall, Mrs. R. C. Yates, Mrs. Daniels, Mrs. B. Harrington, Mrs. T. P. Handy, Mrs. F. T. Backus, Mrs. S. L. Mather, Mrs I. L. Clark, Mrs. Dudley Baldwin, Mrs. S. H. Mather, Mrs. George B. Senter, Mrs. S. H. Kimball, Mrs. J. A. Hart, Mrs. Henry Newberry, Mrs. G. A. Tisdale, Mrs. H. B. Tuttle, Mrs. John E Cary, Mrs. E. Shepard, Mrs. J. Merriam, Mrs. C. E. Gorhain.
ON MEMORIALS AND CURIOSITIES.
H. F. Brayton, Chairman ; Col. Chas. Whittlesey, Col. C. C. Goddard, T. R. Chase, H. W. Boardman, J. S. Perley, Dr. J. S. Newberry, George E. Beebee, Edwin Cowles, H. B. Hurlburt, R. C. Parsons, Dr. T. Garlick, John Coon, J. G. Graham, Carlos A. Smith, Henry A. Smith, Col. O H. Payne, Capt. B. A. Stanard, Dr. E. Sterling, R. K. Winslow, W. W. Chandler, W. L. Cutter, Capt. J. M. Lundy, H C. Luce, Geo. A. Stanley, E. Hessenmueller ; Dr. J. P. Kirtland, Geo. B. Merwin, Rockport ; Prof. H. E. Peck, Ober- lin ; Prof. N. P. Seymour, Hudson ; W. H. Upson, Akron ; Col. Huidekoper, Meadville, Pa.
Mrs. Dr. E. Cushing, Mrs. A. B. Stone, Mrs. Chas. Pease, Mrs. Dr. Hopkins, Mrs. Rum- ney, Mrs. H. M. Chapin, Mrs. C. C. Goddard, Mrs. Dr. J. C. Schenck, Mrs. W. L. Cutter, Mrs. E. M. Livermore, Mrs. Dr. J. S. Newberry, Mrs. Theodore Hocke, Mrs. K. Hays; Mrs. O. Follett, Sandusky.
Misses Belle Brayton, Julia Huntington, Sophie Hensch, Berta Sterne, Abby Rhodes, Charlotte Black.
ON FINE ART HALL.
Wm. J. Boardman, Chairman ; Geo. Willey, H. F. Clark, Dr. A. Maynard, R. K. Wins- low, F. W. Parsons, Rev. Dr. Goodrich, Rev. Dr. Starkey, Rt. Rev. Bishop Rappe, B. J. Cobb, Leonard Case, H. C. Gaylord, Joseph Perkins, Wm. Bingham, J. F. Ryder, W. C. North, C. W. Stimpson, J. M. Greene, J. W. Sargeant, H. B. Castle, J. Clough, D. O. Cole, Wm. Crowell, E. R. Perkins, A. Sharpies.
Mrs. Fayette Brown, Mrs. Wm. Bingham, Mrs. F. W. Parsons, Mrs. Geo. Willey, Mrs.
D. O. Cole, Miss Cleveland, Miss A. Walworth, Miss C. L. Ransom.
ON MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENTS.
T. P. Handy, Chairman ; F. X. Byerly, E. F. Sargeant, Geo. W. Brainard, J. Underner,
E. C. Rouse, J. M. Leland, J. A. Redington, E. B. Allen, E. Stair, J. G. Graham.
31
458 APPEKDIX E.
ON TABLEAUX.
Geo. Willey, Chairman ; Geo. H. Ely, Secretary ; R. C. Parsons, Dr. C. A. Terry, Dr. A. Maynard, Geo. W. Brainard, E. Cowles, Joseph Brainard, W. J. Boardman, C. W. Palmer, Carlos A. Smith, Dr. T. Garlick, Fred. C. Prentiss, Charles C. Carter.
Mrs. Geo. W. Brainard, Mrs. W. D. Cushing, Mrs. Joseph Brainard, Mrs. Geo. H. Bur- ritt, Mrs. Wm. Edwards, Mrs. Geo. Willey, Mrs. W. C. North, Mrs. J. V. N. Yates, Mrs. E. M. Livermore, Mrs. Geo. H. Ely, Mrs. D. P. Rhodes, Mrs. D. O. Cole, Mrs. W. B. Castle, Mrs. C. J. Woolson. Mrs. H. W. Boardman, Mrs. R. C. Parsons, Mrs. W. J. Board man, Miss E. L. Bissell, Miss Julia Mathews, Miss Anna Walters, Miss Woolson; Miss Annie Brayton, Painesville.
DRAMATICS.— Col. Z. S. Spalding, Dr. T. P. Wilson, Col. C. C. Goddard, F. W. Parsons, D. O. Cole, J. V. N. Yates, H. Clay White, Chas. Childs, Wm. Crowell, Mrs. William Edwards, Miss Vaughan, Miss Julia W. Terry, Miss Mary W. Benedict, Miss Mattie Til- den, Miss Carrie W. Grant ; Mrs. Stanley L. Noble, Painesville.
ON LECTURES.
D. P. Eells, Chairman ; J. B. Meriam, O. A. Brooks, Chas. W. Palmer, B. F. Peixotto. ON REGISTRATION.
John F. Warner, Chairman ; Col. C. C. Goddard, L. F. Mellen, A. T. Brinsmade, Col. Geo. S. Mygatt, O. N. Skeels, H. S. Whittlesey, Earl Bill, H. G. Abbey, Felix Nicola.
ON PRINTING AND STATIONERY.
A. W. Fairbanks, Chairman ; E. Cowles, J. A. Harris, J. S. Stephenson, J. Feather- etone, W. R. Nevins, C. C. Cobb, N. W. Taylor, A. Thieme, W. D. Baker, E. Sanford, C. S. Bragg, M. W. Veits, S. W. Savage.
ON MILITARY.
Col. W. H. Hayward, Chairman; Col. J. N. Frazee, Capt. F. W. Pelton, Capt. J. Ensworth.
ON POLICE.
Col. J. N. Frazee, Chairman ; T. N. Bond, N. P. Payne.
CASHIERS.
T. P. Handy, Treas.; James J. Tracy, W. E. Clarke, Henry W. Boardman, S. L. Severance, A. H. Wick, L. H. Severance, J. C. Buell ; J. Theodore Briggs, Titusville, Pa.
AUDITING COMMITTEE. H. M. Chapin, A. Stone, Jr.
APPEXDIX E. 459
TABLEAUX AND AMATEUR THEATRICALS.
BENEFIT OF SOLDIERS' HOME.
BRAINARD'S HALL, MARCH, 1865.
(Page 338.}
TABLEAUX COMMITTEE.
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Edwards, Dr. and Mrs. E. Sterling, Mr. and Mrs. Edward M. Liver- more, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. W. Brainard, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Brainard, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Willey, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. D. Cushing, Mr. and Mrs. Frank W. Parsons, Mr. and Mrs. J. V. N. Yates, Miss Atwater.
DRAMATIC CLUB.
Mr. and Mrs. S. K. Davis, Mr. J. H. Bessell, Mr. G. F. Bingham, Mr. H. B. DeWolf, Mr. G. McLaughlin, Miss E. Spangler.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS OF THE U. S. SANITARY COMMISSION APPOINTED Nov., 1861, CLEVELAND 0.
(Page 277.)
Dr. J. S. Newberry, Benjamin Rouse, Stillman Witt, Joseph Perkins, T. P. Handy. Wm. Bingham, M. C. Younglove, A. Stone, Jr., Dr. E. Cushing, Dr. Alleyne Maynard, E. S. Flint.
Dr. J. S. Newberry, President. Benjamin Rouse, Vice President and Treasurer. Dr. Alleyne Maynard, Secretary.
WARD RELIEF COMMITTEES.
(Pages 21 and 275.)
SECOND WARD.-Geo. A. Benedict, PRES. : Mrs. J. V. Painter, SEC. ; Mrs. F. J. Pren- tiss, TREAS. COMMITTEE.— Mrs. S. Williamson, Mrs. H. H. Little, Mrs. Wm. Mittleberger, Mrs. Chas. A. Terry, Mrs. Wm. T. Smith, Mrs. J. J. Rockefeller, Mrs. A. W. Fairbanks.
THIRD WARD.— Mr. and Mrs. Randall Crawford, Mrs. J. O. Seymour, Mrs. Peter Thatcher, Mrs. J. A. Harris, Mrs L. M. Cobb, Mrs. S. Belden.
FOURTH WARD.— Hon. R. P. Spalding, Mrs. Geo. H. Wyman, Mrs. N. W. Taylor. FIFTH WARD.— Joseph Perkins, PRES. ; L. F. Mcares, SEC. and TREAS. COMMIT TEE.— Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Stone, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. J. Boardman, Mr. and Mrs. A. Stone,
460 APPENDIX E.
Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Collirfs, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Hickox, Mr. and Mrs. T. P. Handy, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Buell, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Chisholm, Mrs. Geo. C. Dodge, Mrs. Capt. Jaffray, Mrs. T. M. Kelley, Mrs. Horace Kelley, Joseph Sturgis, Wm. Heisley, W. Lowrey, B. Tunte, N. P. Payne. Thomas Purcell.
Amount expended, $7,433.63.
EIGHTH WARD.— S. W. Johnson, Mrs. M. A. Brown, Mrs. W. B. Guyles.
NINTH WTARD.— Nelson Sanford, Mrs. D. P. Rhodes, Mrs. J. H. Sargent.
TENTH WARD.— Chas. R. Evatt, Mrs. Bissett.
ELEVENTH WARD.— Thomas Dixon, Mrs. F. B. Pratt. Mrs. A. H. Blake.
RECEPTION COMMITTEE.
(Page 350.)
FROM THE COUNCIL.— F. W. Pelton, Amos Townsend, Randall Crawford, Joseph Stur gis, G. W. Calkins.
COUNTY MILITARY COMMITTEE.— Wm. Bingham, Wm. Edwards, E. Hessenmueller, F. Nicola, Stillman Witt, Geo. B. Scnter, H. M. Chapin, Fayette Brown.
CITIZENS' COMMITTEE.— Col. James Barnett, Col. W. H. Hay ward, Col. O. H. Payne, Bolivar Butts, C. W. Palmer, Joseph Perkins. A. Everett, M. R. Keith, Nelson Purdy, Philo Chamberlin, Jno. C. Grannis.
APPENDIX F.
BRANCH SOCIETIES.
N
462 APPENDIX F.
BRANCH SOCIETIES.
AKRON, SUMMIT Co.
PRES., Mrs. C. P. Wolcott, Mrs. S. H. Coburn, Mrs. E. P. Green, Mrs. H. S. Abbey; VICE PRES.,Mrs. Capt. Howe, Mrs. Delos Smith ; SEC. and TREAS., Mrs. E. Oviatt, Mrs. C. Brown, Mrs. L. B. Austin, Miss E. B. Howe, Miss Sarah T. Peck, Mrs. W. B. Raymond.
ALBION, ERIE Co., PA. PRES., Mrs. Francis Randall ; SEC., Mrs. L. W. Flower ; AGENT, L. D. Davenport.
ALLIANCE, STARK Co.
PRES., Mrs. Dr. E. L. S. Thomas, Mrs. E. Amerman ; SEC., Mrs. A. C. Pickett, Miss Kate McKee ; TREAS., Mrs. Geo. M. Bates.
AMBOY, ASHTABULA Co.
PRES., Mrs. Electa A. Veits, Mrs. E. Hewit ; SEC., Miss Sylvia C. Barrett, Miss A. B. Greenlee ; TREAS., Mrs. Fannie E. Rathbun, Mrs. L. Hickock.
AMHERST, LORAIN Co.
NORTH AMHERST.— PKES., Mrs. H.Warner, Mrs. H. E. Mussey; SEC., Miss M. L. Shupe, Mrs. C. B. Carhart, Mrs. L. S. Oldfield ; TREAS., Mrs. H. Hirsching.
NORTH-WEST AMHERST. —PRES., Mrs. Curtis Bailey; VICE PRES., Mrs. William Onstine ; SEC., Miss Hattie Clough ; DIRECTORS, Mrs. A. Knowles, Mrs. W. Johnston, Mrs. Ann R. Blake.
SOUTH AMHERST.— PRES., Mrs. J. C. Jackson ; SEC., Mrs. R. P. Gibbs ; TREAS., Miss
D. A. Durand.
ANDOVER, ASHTABULA Co.
ANDOVER.— PRES., Mrs. P. C. Hyde; VICE PRES., Mrs. Phebe Putney ; SEC., Miss Ellen M. Wade ; TREAS., Miss M. A. Wade. NORTH ANDOVER— PRES., Mrs. P. Cook; VICE PRES., Mrs. S. Case ; SEC., Miss M.
E. Belden, Miss A. M. Sperry ; TREAS., Mrs. E. Smith. Estimated Contribution, $75.
WEST ANDOVER.— PRES., Mrs. Harriet O^born ; SEC., Miss Marcia Owen ; TREAS., Miss Bernice Galpine.
APPENDIX F. 463
ANNAPOLIS, JEFFERSON Co.
PRES., Mrs. Harriet M. Manning ; VICE PKES., Mrs. John Schultz ; SEC., Mrs. Amos Clo- man; TREAS., Mrs. Joshua Barnes.
ASHLAND, ASHLAND Co.
PRES., Mrs. Orlow Smith, Mrs. J. B. Coffin ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Wm. Osborn, Mrs. Wick; SEC., Mrs. J. O. Jennings, Mrs. J. H. McCombs, Mrs. Sophie Sprengle ; TREAS., Mrs. Thos. Arthur, Mrs. A. F. Topping.
ASHTABULA, ASHTABULA Co.
ASHTABULA No. 1.— PRES., Mrs. Wm. G Benham ; SEC. and TREAS., Mrs. H. Harris.
ASHTABULA No. 2.— PRES., Mrs. James Bonnar; VICE PRES., Mrs. H. E. Parsons; SEC., Miss Sara M. Schoonmaker ; TREAS., Mrs. J. B. Hurlbnrt ; DIRECTORS, Mrs. S. B. Wells, Mrs. J. P. Robertson, Mrs. J. Mansfield, Mrs. E. C. Strong, Mrs. H. C. Toombs, Mrs. G. Scoville, Mrs. Morton, Mrs. Weathenvax.
Disbursements estimated at $1,850.
EAST ASHTABULA.— PRES., Mrs. H. Field, Mrs. Watrous; SEC., Miss Anna E. Luce, Miss Emily C. Hall, Miss Cordelia Caldwell; TREAS., Mrs. G. Streeter.
ASHTABULA, NORTH RIDGE.— PRES., Mrs. John Sill ; VICE PRES., Mrs. P. Sweet ; TREAS., Miss L. Sweet. Cash expended, $40. Supplies valued at $150.
ASHTABULA, SOUTH RIDGE.-PRES., Mrs. P. B. Stevens ; SEC. and TREAS., Miss Nettie Stevens.
AT WATER, PORTAGE Co.
PRES., Mrs. Addison Wolcott, Mrs. H. E. Mansfield ; SEC. and TREAS., Mrs. H. E. Brush . Estimated cash disbursement, $300.
AUBURN, GEAUGA Co.
AUBURN.— PRES., Mrs. J. Mayhew ; SEC., Miss Laura Woods,
AUBURN CORNERS.— PRES., Mrs. R. P. Parkman; SEC., Mrs. O. S. Crane ; TREAS., Mrs. John Bowler.
SOUTH AUBURN.— PRES., Mrs. P. Rowland, Mrs. Charles Crocker; VICE PRES., Mrs. A. A. Snow ; SEC., Mrs. Frank Canfield, Mrs. James Dutton ; TREAS., Miss M. E. Reed.
AURORA, PORTAGE Co.
PRES., Mrs. Worthy Taylor ; VICE PRES., Mrs. R. P. Cannon ; SEC. and TREAS., Mrs. I. S. Graves, Mrs. F. B. Cannon ; DIRECTORS, Mrs. H. A. Waldo, Mrs. Charles Root, Mrs. Sally Parker.
Value of disbursements, $918.46.
AUSTINBURGH, ASHTABULA Co.
PRES., Rev. Mrs. Barber, Mrs. J. B. Beach; VICE PRES., Mrs. M. W. Pulis : SEC., Miss Emily Plumb, Mrs. D. S. Alvord ; TREAS., Miss M. Griffis ; DIRECTORS, Mrs. Julius Foote. Mrs. F. Pierce, Mrs. J. Reed, Mrs Miller, Mrs. Whiting, Miss N. Healy.
464 APPENDIX F.
AVON, LORAIN Co.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.— PRES., Mrs. M. A. B. Townshend; SEC. and TREAS., Mrs. J. B. Wood.
FRENCH CREEK.— PRES., Mrs. H. H. Williams ; VICE PRES., Mrs. James E. Brooks ; SEC., Miss A. M. Fleming, Miss Addie Sawyer; TRF.AS., Mrs. Frederick Whipple : DIRECT ORS, Miss R. Clifton, Miss S. J. Wilson, Mrs. J. M. Lent.
Aggregate value of Contributions, $1,262.15. Cash to Sanitary Fair, $72.40. To soldiers' families, wood, clothing and provisions, $606.
BAIN BRIDGE, GEAUGA Co.
PRKS., Mrs. Jeremiah Root, Mrs. Rufus Pettibone ; VICE PRES , Mrs. W. Howard, Mrs. Ambrose Bliss ; SEC., Miss Emma M. Root, Miss Clarissa Pettiboue ; TREAS., Mrs. H. J. Stowell, Miss Harriet Root.
Cash disbursed, $376,09.
BATH, SUMMIT Co.
BATH.— PRES., Mrs. S. B. Hard; SEC., Miss M. A. Salter; TREAS., Mrs. William Davis. WEST BATH.— PRES., Mrs. S. B. Kurd; SEC., Miss Lizzie Houston; TREAS., Miss Cor delia Shaw.
BAUGHMAN, WAYNE Co.
PRES., Mrs. J. Evans, Mrs. J. F. Wilson, Mrs. Mary Douglas; VICE PRES., Miss S. J. Noble; SEC., Miss Emma McFarland, Miss E. S. Latimer, Miss Kate M. Morrow; TREAS., Mrs. F. D. McFarland, Mrs. Sophia Keffer.
BAZETTA, TRUMBULL Co.
PRES., Mrs. Margaret E. Brown; VICE PRES., Mrs. Henry Freer, Mrs. Joel Casterline ; SEC., Miss Eliza Webb, Miss Celinda Wilmot ; TREAS., Mrs. Eben Faunce, Mrs. Aaron Davis.
Estimated value of supplies, $789,98. Cash given to soldiers1 families, $65. Total, $854,98.
BEDFORD, CUYAHOGA Co.
BEDFORD.— PRES.,- Mrs. M. L. Medary, Miss Cornelia Benedict; VICE PRES., Mrs. F. H. Cannon, Mrs. N. Hamlin ; SEC., Mrs. C. D. Purdy, Mrs. B. G. Streator, Miss Amelia Young; TREAS., Mrs. E. J. Parke.
Contributed to Sanitary Fair, $200. To Cleveland Soldiers1 Home, $44,50. Supplies no estimated.
NORTH STREET.— PRES., Mrs. R. Eldred ; VICE PRES., Mrs. William O. Taylor; SEC. and TREAS., Miss C. S. Libbey.
BEECH SPRINGS, HARRISON Co.
PRES., Mrs. S. Taggart; SEC., Miss Jennie R. Moore; TREAS., Miss Jennie Egleson.
BELLE VALLEY, ERIE Co., PA.
PRES., Mrs. S. A. Wood; VICE PRES., Mrs. A. B. Gunnisou; SEC., Mrs. F. Drown, Mrs. Barbara Arbuckle; TREAS., Mrs. T. Davidson.
APPENDIX F. 465
BELLEVUE, HURON Co.
PKES., Mrs. B. Wood; VICE PRES., Mrs. E. Sumner; SEC., Miss J. Moore; TREAS., Mrs. W. W. Stilson, Mrs. E. Y. Warner. Total disbursements, $3589.81.
BENTOX, HOLMES Co. PRES., Mrs. Susan Ewing; SEC., Miss Sallie Brown ; TREAS., Mrs. Eliza J. Hayes.
BENTOX TOWXSHIP, OTTAWA Co.
PRES., Mrs. A. Guernsey; SEC., Mrs. Mary Berry; TREAS., Mrs. E. E. Ferris. Estimated value of supplies disbursed, $500.
BEREA, CCYAIIOGA Co.
BEREA SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY.— PRES., Mrs. T. Barkdull; VICE PRES. Mrs. E. Mills; SEC., Miss Annie Hall, Mrs. Abby Parish; TREAS., Miss Jennie M. Clapp; MANA GERS, Mrs. Stevens, Mrs. Stratton, Mrs. A. Schtiyler, Miss Sara Watson, Miss Mary Chapman.
Cash disbursed. $342,63.
BEREA BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.-PREs., Mrs. S. J. Brown, Mrs. William Murphy ; VICE PRES., Mrs. N. M, Chapman, Mrs. Godfrey Brown ; SEC. AND TREAS., Miss C. A. Marsh, Mrs. L. S. McCullough, Mrs. E. S. Parker.
Value of supplies disbursed, $462.94.
BEREA GLEANERS, JUVENILE.— PRES., Miss Georgie Noakes ; SEC., Miss Gertie Sprague ; TREAS., Miss Nellie Adams.
BEREA JUVENILES.— PRES., Miss Jennie Sheldon ; SEC., Miss Kate Somers ; TREAS., Miss Lucy Berwick.
BEREA WIDE-AWAKES.— PRES., Miss Emma D. Clapp; VICE PRES., Miss Elsie J. Brown ; SEC., Miss Julia E. Brown ; TREAS., Miss Laura Morse.
BERLIN CEXTER, MAHONING Co.
PRES., Mrs. A. R. Beardsley ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Mary Wilson; SEC., Mrs. Lucy Test, Miss M. A. Wilson; TREAS., Mrs. Mary A. Hawkins; SOLICITOR, Mrs. C. S. Bartlett.
BERLIX HEIGHTS, ERIE Co.
PKES , Mrs. Stephen Kueeii, Mrs. Win. Tillenhurst; VICE PRES., Mrs. John Kyle, Mrs. Isaac Fowler ; SEC., Mrs. E. M. Cravath, Mrs. M. M. Johnson ; TREAS., Mrs. J. S. liowry!
Shipments of hospital stores not estimated. Cash and produce to N. O. Sanitary Fair. $453.30.
BERLIX, FLORENCE AND TOWXSEXD UNION.
PRES., Mrs. Caroline P. Tuller; SEC., Mrs. Orrin Seely, Miss Mary A. Norton ; TREAS., Miss A. Norton.
466 APPENDIX F.
BIG PRAIRIE, WAYNE Co.
PKES., Mrs. J. B. Ayleswortli ; VICE PRES., Mrs. E. Wells ; SEC., Mrs. L. L. Leidigh ; TKEAS., Miss Mattie Bell.
BIRMINGHAM, ERIE Co.
PRES., Mrs. Joseph Swift, Sen. ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Lcvi Lewis ; SEC., Miss Mary E. Ott; TREAS., Miss Juliette Ott ; DIRECTORS, Mrs. Hervey Leonard, Mrs. J. W. Ott, Mrs. C. Ennis, Mrs. H. Olds, Mrs. R. E. Boozer.
BLACK RIVER, LORAIN Co.
PRES., Mrs. Elizabeth Lampman, Mrs. T. H. Cobb ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Eveline Denison ; SEC,, Mrs. E. M. Rowley, Mrs. Wm. Jones ; TREAS., Mrs. S. Root. Estimated disbursements, $400. Cash to Sanitary Fair, $100.
BLOOMFIELD, TRUMBULL Co.
BLOOMFIELD.— PRES., Mrs. H. Andrews, Mrs. M. H. Cross ; SEC., Mrs. H. E. Pattee, Mrs. Libbie S. Morgan ; TREAS., Mrs. Lester King.
NORTH BLOOMFIELD.— PRES., Mrs. F. P. Green, Mrs. Mary Lewis ; SEC., Miss Ger trude C. Pond.
BLOOMING GROVE, HIGHLAND Co.
PRES., Annis Warner ; VICE PRES., Angeline Benedict, Elizabeth Hubley ; SEC.. Eunice G. Finch, Alice Macomber, Phebe Ma.comber ; TREAS., Eliza Reynolds ; DUIECTOKS, Phi- lena Stout, Elsie Macomber, Eliza Walker.
Cash disbursed, $95.56.
BOARDMAN, MAHONING Co.
PRES., Mrs. T. Agnew ; SEC. AND TREAS., Miss J. Stilson. Estimated disbursements, $80.43.
BOLIVAR, TUSCARAWAS Co. PRES., Mrs. J. Dickson ; SEC., Miss Lou Hodge; TREAS., Miss J. S. McMurray.
BOSTON, SUMMIT Co.
BOSTON.— PRES., Mrs. Alfred Wolcott ; SEC. and TREAS., Mrs. Lucy Ann Post.
BOSTON STATE ROAD.— PUES., Miss Lizzie Carter, Miss Angie Shields : SEC., Miss L. A. Bishop ; TREAS., Miss Emma Lillebridge.
BOWLING GREEN, WOOD Co.
PRES., Mrs. Lucia B. Van Tassell ; SEC., Mrs. A. A. Buell, Mrs. S. L. Boughton ; TREAS., Miss L. Lundy.
APPENDIX F» 46?
BRACEVILLE, TRUMBTJLL Co.
BRACEVILLE.— PRES., Mrs. Lucinda Smith ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Emily F. Rice, Mrs. C. L. Johnson ; SEC., Mrs. J. H. Ingraham ; TREAS., Mrs. Stowe, Mrs. Laura Wood. Estimated disbursements, $800.
EAST BRACEVILLE.— PRES., Mrs. F. E. Austin; SEC., Mrs. A. W. Parker ; TREAS.' Mrs. John Allen.
BRECKSVILLE, CUYAHOGA Co.
PRES., Mrs. H. W. Dunbar; VICE PRES., Mrs. Wm. Barr : SEC., Miss A. Xorville ; TREAS., Miss D. Billings.
BRIGHTON, CUYAHOGA Co.
PRES., Mrs. Dr. Palmer, Mrs. C. S. Gates ; SEC., Miss Julia A. Fish ; TRKAS., Mrs. 0. H. Babcock; COMMITTEE, Mrs. J. M. Clark, Mrs. Knowles, Mrs. G. \V. Brainard ; Mrs. P. A. Flint, Mrs. John Reeve, Mrs. Milo Fuller, Mrs. Emma Akin .
Cash disbursed, $289.70. Supplies not estimated.
BRIGHTON, LORAIN Co.
PRES., Mrs. A. Smith; SEC., Mrs. Wm. Battle; TREAS., Miss A. M. Battle. Estimated shipments, $497.75.
BRIMFIELD, PORTAGE Co.
BRIMFIELD.— PRES., Miss Eudocia Carter, Miss A. Lanphear ; VICE PRES., Miss Ophe lia A. Sawyer ; SEC., Miss Clemma Parsons ; TREAS., Miss Hannah W. Carter, Miss Bosgor.
BRIMFIELD, DISTRICT No. 2.— PRES., Miss Martha Risk ; SEC., Mrs. W. A. Boham ; TREAS., Mrs. Aurelia Munn.
WEST BRIMFIELD.— PRES., Miss Alice L. Carrier ; SEC., Miss Anne C. Tuthill; TREAS., Miss Lucy E. Wing.
Cash expended, $91.17. Supplies contributed, $479.55.
BRISTOL, TRUMBULL Co.
BRISTOL, NORTH CORNERS.— PRES., Mrs. Joseph Saiger; SEC., Miss Delia M. Perry.
BRISTOLVILLE.— PRES., Mrs. Laura McLean, Mrs. S. G. Bostwick ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Eliza More, Mrs. Imogene Case ; SEC., Mrs. E. L. Kibbee, Miss Mary Brockett ; TREAS., Miss Anna M. Pettingill, Miss Harriet Finney.
Estimate of shipments, $1,272.
BROOKLYN, CUYAHOGA Co.
BROOKLYN.— PRES., Mrs. L. J. Cogswell; SEC., Mrs. Joseph Poe ; TREAS., Miss Mary Wells.
BROOKLYN CENTER.— PRES., Mrs. Ozias Fish, Mrs. Dr. Galentme"; VICE PRES., Mrs. Carlos Jones ; SEC., Miss Cassie Allen ; TREAS., Miss Mary J. Storer.
468 APPENDIX F.
BROOKLYN, JACKSON Co., Mien. PRES., Mrs. Harriet A. Grosvenor ; SEC., Miss R. E. Felt ; TREAS., Miss Carrie Irwin.
BRONSON AND HARTLAND, HURON Co.
PRES., Mrs. H. H. Manahan, Mrs. D. T. Townsend ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Wm. Wooden, Mrs. C. H. Jackson; SEC., Miss Mary U. Manahan, Mrs. Bartlett Davis; TREAS., Miss Amanda Robbing, Mrs. C. O. Chaffee.
BROWNHELM, LORAIN Co.
BROWNHELM.— PRES., Rev. C. C. Baldwin; VICE PRES., Mrs. Harriet Locke; SEC., Mrs. Grace Goodrich, Miss Abbie Wood ; TREAS., Miss Lesba Wilson, Miss Sarah Perry ; DIRECTORS, Mrs. Catherine Cooley, Mrs. L. Perry.
BROWNHELM, DISTRICT No. G.— PRES., Mrs. A. R. Cooper; SEC., Mrs. L. A. Butter field ; TREAS., Mrs. A. C. Wood. WEST BROWNHELM.— PRES., Mrs. Electa Swift; SEC. and TREAS., Mrs. Mary W. Austin.
BRUNSWICK, MEDINA Co. BRUNSWICK.— PRES., Mrs. T. L. Waite, Mrs. E. R. Whipple ; SEC., Mrs. C. M. Preston.
BRUNSWICK, LIVERPOOL, COLUMBIA AND STRONGSVILLE FOUR CORNERS BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.— PRES., Mrs. Sarah Ashby ; SEC., Mrs. Amelia M. Lewis; TREAS., Mrs. Maria Durand.
BRUNSWICK, LIVERPOOL, COLUMBIA AND STRONGSVILLE FOUR CORNERS UNION SOCIETY.— PRES., Mrs. Lovina Cole, Mrs. Judith Barber; VICE PRES., Mrs. Betsey Ensign ; SEC., Mrs. Eliza Wilmot, Miss Bettie Ensign ; TREAS., Mrs. Betsey Free man ; AGENTS, Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Tompkins.
NORTH-EAST BRUNSWICK AND SOUTH-EAST STRONGSVILLE.— PRES., Mrs. Horace Carpenter, Mrs. J. Southworth ; SEC., Miss Donnie Perkins, Mrs. J. C. Aldrich, Mrs. H. C. Wyman; TREAS., Mrs. E. Crosby, Mrs. C. C. Morton.
BURTON, GEAUGA Co.
PRES., Mrs. Mary D. Witter; VICE PRES., Mrs. Richard Beach; SEC., Mrs. Mary E. Hotchkiss, Mrs. Mary D. Witter; TREAS., Mrs. S. Dayton. Disbursements in cash, $590. In supplies, $870. Total, $1,460.
BUTLER TOWNSHIP, ASHLAND Co.
PRES., Mrs. P. Latimer, Mrs. E. P. Smith; SEC., Miss Mary Johnston, Miss M. Cope- land ; TREAS., John Lawson, Miss Mary Smith.
BUTTERNUT RIDGE, SANDUSKY Co.
PRES., Mrs. J. Linton ; VICE PRES., Mrs. M. Babcock; SEC., Miss Nellie Hogg; TREAS., Mrs. William Lay.
APPENDIX F. 469
BUTTERNUT RIDGE, CUYAHOGA Co.
PBES., Mrs. Eliza Kurd , VICE PRES., Mrs. Robinson ; SEC., Mrs. Anna Stearns; TREAS., Mrs. Jane Carpenter.
BUTTERNUT RIDGE, LORAIN Co.
PRES., Mrs. C. L. Sexton ; VICE PRES., Mrs. R. Blain ; SEC., Mrs. William Drinkall ; TREAS., Mrs. S. McXeal.
CAMDEN, LORAIN Co.
PRES., Mrs. Mary J. Cole, Miss Eliza Hawkins, Mrs. Sarah Hovey ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Mary Wasbburn, Mrs. Melissa Hovey, Mrs. Agnes Morgan ; SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs. Ruth E. Alien. Mrs. Lydia Elclredge.
CANAL DOVER, TUSCARAWAS Co. PRES., Mrs. L. C. Blickensderfer ; SEC., Mrs. S. W. Demuth ; TREAS., Mrs M. J. Walton.
CANAL FULTON, STARK Co.
PRES.. Mrs. A. Cunningham, Mrs. Jacob Heffleman ; SEC., Miss Mettie Frazee, Miss M. R. Hanks ; TREAS., Mrs. John Mobley.
CAN FIELD, MAHONIXG Co.
PRES., Mrs. Sarah Canfield, Mrs. O. P. Bond ; SEC., Miss M. M. Pierson, Miss M. L. Lake, Mrs. P. T. Jones ; TREAS., Mrs. M. Sim-is, Mrs. H. Truesdale, Mrs. L. M. Biclwell.
CANTON, STAEK Co.
PRES., Mrs. J. G. Lester; VICE PRES., Mrs. Geo. Reynolds ; COR. SEC., Mrs. J. G. Les ter, Miss Cornelia Beach ; REC. SEC., Miss Emma Hazlette, Mrs. Thomas Saxton, Miss A. Bockins, Mrs. D. J. Beggs, Mrs. Dr. Lewis Slusser; TREAS., Mrs. James A. Saxton; DI RECTORS, Mrs. M. Wikidal, Mrs. C Aultman, Mrs. Geo. Dietrich, Mrs. Dr. Wallace, M>s, X. Pierong, Mrs. Thos. Patton; ADVISORY COMMITTEE, Mrs. Jos. S. Saxton, Mrs. A. Lynch, Mrs. Geo. Prince, Mrs. John F. Reynolds, Mrs. Geo. Fogle, Mrs. McCleary, Mrs. Platt, Mrs. Metz, Miss H. Bockins, Miss Medill.
The Canton Branch reports shipments to the value of $10,000, and a cash expenditure of $1,609.54, which is exclusive of its contributions to the Sanitary Fair. Two hundred and fifty-five packages of hospital goods were forwarded to Cleveland, many boxes were sent direct to regiments in the field, to hospitals at the front, and to State Relief agencies, with some supplies of money and stores to the Freedmen. The loyal citizens of Canton gave largely in fitting regiments for service, and in relief to soldiers in transit, and were extremely liberal in contributing through their Aid Society to the Northern Ohio Sani tary Fair.
CARROLLTON, CARROLL Co.
PRES., Mrs. Etta Stocken ; SEC., Miss Hattie Butler, Miss Kate Thompson; TREAS., Miss Helen Eckley.
470 APPENDIX F.
CENTERTON, HURON Co.
PRES., Mrs. C. S. Herrick ; SEC., Mrs. N. H. Nichols, Miss Adelaide Merriam ; TREAS., Mrs. M. S. Merriam.
CENTRAL STATE LINE, ASHTABULA Co.
PRES., Miss Lizzie E. Law ; SEC , Miss Kate Putney; TREAS., Mrs. Amelia \Vyman.
CHAGRIN FALLS, CUYAIIOGA Co.
PRES., Mrs. J. T. Sturtevant, Mrs. Samuel Poole, Miss Jane E. Church ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Phineas Upham, Mrs. Dr. Smith, Mrs. David Tenney; SEC., Miss Jane E. Church, Mrs. C. H. Hubbell; TREAS., Mrs. Thos. Shaw, Mrs. Charles Force, Mrs. Orson Bullard, Mrs. Hannibal Goodell, Miss Jane E. Church.
Cash receipts, $832.51. Value of supplies, $400.18. Sent through the Cleveland Sani tary Commission, forty-seven packages, valued at $758.93. Sent direct to the field and to hospitals, twenty-six packages, valued at $263.11. Expended in local relief to soldiers and their families, $22. Contributions to Cleveland Soldiers' Home and to Freedmen, not estimated. Value of articles sent to the Cleveland Sanitary Fair, $159.60. The balance in the treasury at the close of the Society's labors, $134, was appropriated to wards a monument to the memory of the fallen soldiers of the township, The organiza tion was continued till the sum of $1,325 had been raised, and in September, 1867, the soldiers' monument was erected and dedicated under the auspices of the ladies of the Chagrin Falls Aid Society, who thus appropriately brought to a close their long and faithful public services.
CHAMPION, TBUMBULL Co.
CHAMPION.— PRES., Mrs. H. L. Eutan ; SEC. AND TREAS., Miss Mary J. McCombs. WEST CHAMPION.— Miss Mary J. Prentice.
CHARDON, GEAUGA Co.
PRES., Mrs. C. P. Bisbee, Mrs. M. C. Canfield, Mrs. Austin Canfield; SEC., Mrs. J. O. Worrall, Miss Lovina Metcalf, Mrs. L. A. S. Cook ; TREAS., Miss Laura E. Williston, Mrs. L. E. Durfee, Mrs. Thos. Metcalf, Mrs. Mary Marsh.
Disbursements in cash and hospital stores estimated at $1,500.
CHARLESTOWN, PORTAGE Co.
PRES., Miss Jane Catlin ; SEC., Miss Emily Wetmore, Miss Eliza H. Curtiss ; TREAS., Miss Cynthia Coe, Miss Eliza H. Curtiss. Cash expended, $204. Value of contributions to Sanitary Fair, $24.
CHATHAM CENTER, MEDINA Co.
PRES., Miss Parmelia Ripley ; SEC., Mrs. Thos. S. Shaw, Miss Mattie Packard ; TREAS., Mrs. A. J. Dyer.
CHERRY HILL, ERIE Co., PA.
PRES., Mrs. Ira Marcy; SEC., Miss Jane B. Tuttle, Mrs. Addison Thompson; TREAS., Mrs. E. Sturtevant.
APPENDIX F. 471
CHERRY VALLEY, ASHTABULA Co.
PRES., Mrs. Kachel H. Green ; VICE PRES., Mrs. P. G. Sanford; SEC., Mrs. Celestia R. Colby ; TKEAS., Mrs. Hannah Roberts.
CHESTER X ROADS, GEAUGA Co.
PRES., Mrs. A. E. Janes, Mrs. C. Herrick; VICE PRES., Mrs. Phelps ; SEC., Mrs. A. E. Janes, Mrs. Kent ; TREAS., Miss Aurelia Gilmore, Mrs. H. Johnson.
BUSY BEES, (Juvenile).— PRES., Miss Amantha Smith; VICE PRES., Miss Tira Ames ; SEC., Miss Emma Ames ; TREAS., Miss Florence Lyman.
CHIPPEWA, WAYNE Co.
PRES., Mrs. Dr. Armstrong ; VICE PRES., Miss Margaret Frank; SEC., Mrs. Andrew Jackson, Miss C. A. Lyon ; COMMITTEE, Mrs. Carson, Miss Gettie Armstrong.
CLARIDON, GEAUGA Co.
CLARIDON CENTER.— PRES., Mrs. Col. Treat ; SEC., Miss Anna Taylor.
EAST CLARIDOX.— PRES., Mrs. J. B. Aylworth, Mrs. J. P. Lukins ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Emily Bradley; CHAPLAIN, Mrs. E. D. Taylor ; SEC. AND TREAS., Miss Artimissa Chace.
WEST CLARIDON.— PKES., Mrs. H. X. Spencer; SEC., Miss Celia Spencer; TREAS., Mrs. W. Wood.
CLARK'S CORNERS, ASHTABULA Co. PRES.. Mrs. Sarah Phelps; SEC., Mrs. M. Hayes; TREAS., Mrs. L. Clark.
CLARKSFIELD, HURON Co.
PRES., Mrs. Harriet E. S. Holley, Mrs. O. J. Husted, Mrs. Edwin D. Tyler; SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs. L. A. Lyon, Mrs. M. E. Bunce.
CLEVELAND, CUYAHOGA Co.
GERMAN SOCIETY.— PRES., Mrs. Schmidt ; SEC., Mrs. Glasser; TREAS., Mrs. Berg- holz.
ST. CLAIRROAD SOCIETY.-PRES., Mrs. A. Varian; SEC., MissM. O. Varian; TREAS., Mrs. H. E. Strong.
TEMPERANCE AH) SOCIETY.— PRES., Mrs. H. N. Bander; SEC. Mrs. L. White. COLORED AUXILIARY SOCIETY.— PRES., Mrs. Geo. Vosburgh ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Richard Hazel ; SEC., Mrs. Lavina Sabb ; TREAS., Mrs. Harriet Weaver. WARLNG STREET MISSION.— PRES., Mrs. Zina Needham ; SEC., Mrs. E. Wood.
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS SOCIETY.— PRES., Mrs. Francis Branch ; SEC. and TREAS., Miss Ruth Kellogg.
CLINTON, SUMMIT Co.
PRES., Mrs. Chas. Rhinehart, Mrs. A. M. Russell ; SEC. AND TREAS., Mise Maggie Russell.
472
APPENDIX F.
CODDINGVILLE, MEDINA Co. PKES., Mrs. L. C. Hills ; SEC., Mrs. Marilla Van Orman ; TKEAS., Mrs. Lydia Codding.
COLEBROOK, ASHTABULA Co.
PRES., Mrs. Harriet Gray, Mrs. R. Partridge ; SEC. AND TKEAS., Mrs. S. R. Beckwith, Miss Sarah J. Tuttle. Value of supplies disbursed, $450.46.
COLLAMER, CUYAHOGA Co. PKES. AND SEC., Mrs. Andrew Sharpe; VICE PRES., Mrs, Andrew Wemple.
COLUMBIA, LORAIN Co.
PRES., Mrs. M. Weeden, Mrs. E. H. Taylor; VICE PRES., Mrs. C. Nichols, Mrs. Anne Burr; SEC., Miss Sara C. Adams, Miss Martha Fish, Mrs. Helen E. Osborne ; TREAS., Mrs. S. Stock, Mrs. Caroline Reed.
COLUMBIANA, COLUMBIANA Co.
PRES., Mrs. Amanda Vogleson, Miss Anna E. Metzger; VICE PRES., Mrs. Vary A. Beeson, Miss Belle Vogleson ; SEC., Miss SallieE. Hines, Miss Lizzie M. Potts ; TREAS., Mrs. S. E. King ; COMMITTEE, Miss Belle Strickler, Miss Mary Marvin.
COMMERCE, OAKLAND Co., MICH.
PRES., Mrs. John Clark, Mrs. S. M. Leggett ; VICE PRES., Mrs. T. A. Smith ; SEC.. Mrs. S. M. Leggett, Mrs. Abram Allen ; TREAS.. Mrs. D. C. Goodwillie, Mrs. Harley Round. Value of contributions, $1,600.
CONCORD, LAKE Co.
PRES., Mrs. Roswell Burr; VICE PRES., Mrs. John H. Murray; SEC., Miss Matilda Winchell; TREAS., Mrs. Orson Willson.
CONNEAUT, ASHTABULA Co.
CONNEAUT.— PRES., Mrs. Alex. Bartlett; SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs S. M. Sanford ; DIRECTORS, Mrs. Capron, Mrs. Isaac Judsou. CONNEAUT BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.— PRES. AND SEC., Mrs. Julia Jacobs.
CONNEAUT VALLEY.— PRES., Mrs. Lydia Kennedy ; SEC., Mrs. Almira Paul ; T Mrs. Laura Paul ; COMMITTEE, Mrs. Janette Paul, Miss Adaline Kennedy. Cash and stores disbursed, $585.62.
CONNEAUT VILLE, CRAWFORD Co., FA.
PRES., Mrs. L. Montross ; SEC., Miss Clara M. Hitchcock.
APPENDIX F. 473
COPLEY, SUMMIT Co.
COPLEY.— PRES., Mrs. 11. F. Codding, Mrs. P. Arnold ; VICE PKES.. Mrs. B. Chapman: SBC., Mrs. J. Starr; TREAS., Mrs. M. D. Pratt, Miss Melissa Hall.
COPLEY, DISTRICT No. 3.— PRES., Mrs. A. Stimson : SEC., Miss M. Winkler: TREAS.. Mrs. W. Ball.
CRAB CREEK, MAIIONIXG Co. PRES.. Miss Hattie Beatley ; SEC., Miss Maggie Mahan: TREAS.. Mrs. Miriam Davis.
CROXTOX, JEFFERSOX Co.
PKES. AND SEC.. Mrs. D. Smith.
CUYAHOGA FALLS, SUMMIT Co.
PKES.. Mrs. Charles Clark, Mrs. Henry McKinney, Mrs. Goo. P. Upson ; VICE PREP.. Mrs. Dr. Clark, Mrs. L. L. Holden, Mrs. Gillette, Mrs. O. B. Beebe; SEC. ANDTREAP.. Mrs. Ed. Yeomans, Mr«. Geo. Sackett, Miss Eliza Baber, Miss Hattie A. Mize.
Cash disbursements, $998.81. Supplies not estimated.
DALTOX, WAYXE Co.
PRES.. Mrs. P. M. Sernple ; VICE PRES., Mrs. J. Erwin, Mrs. A. Cook ; SEC.. Mrs. M. H. Faust; TREAS., Mrs. A. Cameron. Estimated value of contributions. $1.175.
DAMASCUS, COLUMBIANA Co.
PRES., Mrs. J. M. Hale, Miss Mary Jobes, Miss Temp. Blackburn ; SEC., Mrs. J. B. Naylor, Miss Ella Preston ; TREAS., Seth Pennock. C. Walton. Estimate of contributions. $1,000.
DEERCREEK, PA.
PRKS.. Mrs. Alexander. SEC.. Miss Annie J. Shields: TREAS., Miss Ann Davidson.
DEERFIELD, PORTAGE Co.
DEERFIELD.-PRES. Mrs. M. Tibbies, Mrs. E. W. Gray: VICE PRES.. Mrs. White; SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs. Sarah Warner, Miss A. J. Gibbs. Estimate of contributions, $1,000.
DEERFIELD, SOUTH BRANCH.-PREs., Mrs. T. R. Mowen : SEC. AMJ TREAS., Miss M. Permelia Diver.
Cash expended. $90. Value of supplies forwarded, $203.88.
DENMARK, ASHTABULA Co. SEC.. Mrs. M. Palmer.
474 APPENDIX F.
DOVER, CUYAHOGA Co.
PRKS., Rev. Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Phinney, Miss Mary E. Northrup; SEC., Miss Lydia W. Brackett; TREAS., Mrs. Dr. Morse.
DOTLESTOWN, WAYNE Co.
PRES.. Mrs. A. M. Armstrong; SBC., Miss Maggie Graham; TREAS., Miss Lettie Armstrong.
EAGLEVILLE, ASFITABULA Co.
PRKS., Mrs. James Stone ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Horace Wolcott, Mrs. Eben Tuttle, Mrs. Oscar Lee ; SEC., Miss Abbie Stone, Miss Rosie L. Mills, Miss Mary A. Wolcott ; TREAS., Mrs. Alfred Mills, Mrs. A. Bartholomew, Miss Rosie L. Mills ; DIRECTORS, Mrs. A. How ard, Mrs. Newton Lee, Mrs. John Halliday, Mrs. Geo. Olmsted, Miss A. Y. Stanley, Mrs. Joseph McNutt, Mrs. Harvey Mills, Mrs. J. B. Bartholomew, Mrs. J. Morley, Mrs. John Stilson, Mrs. John Chapel,
Estimate of money and stores disbursed. $1. -240.41.
EARLVILLE, POUT AGE Co.
PRES. AND TREAS., Mrs. M. R. Haymaker; VICE PRES., Mrs. Almira Whitney, Mrs. Ruth Stratton : SEC.. Mrs. Lucy Russell, Miss Nancy Dewey, Miss Gertrude Lemmerman.
EAST CLEVELAND, CUYAHOGA Co.
EAST CLEVELAND.— PRES., Mrs. H. C. Ford, Mrs. Dr. Chipman, Mrs. Ilandley ; VICE PRES., Mrs. A. M. Richardson; SEC., Mrs. N. Post, Miss M. R. Post, Mrs. N. L. Post: TREAS., Mrs. E. P. Ingersoll, Miss S. J. Walters ; DIRECTORS, Mrs. D. E. Sprague, Mrs. F. Shenvin, Mrs. N. Cozad ; Mrs. Hickox, Mrs. Walters, Mrs. Watkins, Mrs. Hilclrcth, Mrs. Spaythe, Mrs. Millard.
Besides large contributions of hospital goods, and of articles for the Sanitary Fair valued at $100, this Society made one hundred and twenty-five garments from material furnished.
EAST CLEVELAND, DISTRICT No. !).— PRES., Mrs. E. Nott ; SEC., Mrs. Ben. Phillips.
EAST FAIRFIELD, COLUMBIANA Co. PRES., Miss L. Williamson ; SEC., Miss Lizzie Tullis ; TREAS., Miss Amanda Tullis
EAST MAYFIELD AND WEST CHESTER, CUYAHOGA Co.
PRES., Mrs. H. N. Battles ; VICE PRES., Mrs. A. M. Snow ; SEC., Mrs. M. A. Battles ; TREAS., Mrs. L. Ferry.
Value of supplies not estimated. 21!) articles made for Central Society. $10 contributed to the Sanitary Fair.
EAST ROCHESTER, COLUMBIANA Co.
PRES., Mrs. C. A. Messimore, Mrs. E. A. Henry; SEC., Miss Lizzie McDaniels, Miss M. J. Blanchard ; TREAS., Miss Sallie J. Evans.
APPENDIX F. 4
EDIXBORO, ERIE Co., PA.
PRES., Mrs. James Thompson, Mrs. John True ; VICE PRES.. Mrs. Isaac Rceclcr ; SEC. MissCollom, Mrs. Wm. Grassie ; TREAS., Mrs. Winters Campbell. Miss M A. Phelp* DIRECTORS. Mrs. Mary Rogers, Mrs. Phelps, Mrs. Hiram Johnson, Miss M. Phelps.
EDINBURGH, PORTAGE Co.
PRES., Mrs. J. B. Stilson ; SEC. AND TREAS.. Mrs. Virgil Goddard.
ELLSWORTH, MAHONIXG Co.
PRES., Mrs. E. Coit, Miss A. McKune, Mrs. Eli Miller, Mrs. Harvey Ripley ; VICE PRES., Mrs. H. Sill, Miss Sarah Dheld, Mrs. Ann Hughes ; SEC. Miss Mary Allen, Miss Ellen Huntington, Miss Fannie Coit ; TREAS., Miss H. Bingham, Miss A. Beardsley, Miss Sarah Dheld.
Estimate of contributions, $1.000.
ELYRIA, LORAIN Co.
PRES., Mrs. C. H. Doolittle, Mrs. A. A. Bliss, Mrs. Geo. Starr; VICE PRES.. Mrs. J. M. Vincent; SEC., Mrs. J. E. D. Laundon, Miss Mary E. Manter; TREAS.. Mrs. G. G. Wash- burn, Miss Sue M. Manter.
The Elyria Branch, one of the principal tributaries to the Cleveland Sanitary Commis sion, makes no estimate of the value of its shipments, but reports a cash expenditure of $2,509.85. The citizens of Elyria responded liberally to the calls of their Aid Society, which was ever efficient in rendering local relief, and in the direct care of the regiments recruited in Lorain county, as well as in the army work done through the Sanitary Com mission. This Society contributed to the Sanitary Fair articles valued at $400. and its members were actively interested in making the Lorain County Booth attractive and profitable to the Fair.
ERIE, ERIE Co., PA.
PRES., Mrs. C.I. Gara, Mrs. James Skinner; SEC., Miss Sarah L. Olmstoad ; THEAS., Mrs. Wm. F. Rindemecht.
EUCLID, CUYAHOGA Co.
EUCLID CREEK.— PRES.. Mrs. S. W. Dille ; SEC., Mrs. Jos. Phillips ; TREAS., Mrs. John Wilcox.
EUCLID RIDGE. -PRES., Mrs. Hannah Webster; SEC., Mrs. Mary Humphrey; TREAS., Miss Olive Sanders.
NORTH EUCLID.— PRES., Mrs. Wm. Treat, Mrs. Ellen Bail, Mrs. Sophia Russell ; SEC., Mrs. E. Parr, Mrs. Ellen Bail; TREAS., Mrs. J. Wilcox, Mrs. Emma Crosier.
FAIRVIEW, ERIE Co., PA.
PRES., Mrs. John Sturgeon, Miss Nancy Sturgeon ; SEC., Miss Effie Sturgeon, Miss Lizzie J. Moorhead ; TREAS.. Miss Jane McCreary.
476 APPENDIX F.
FARMINGTON, TRUMBULL Co.
PRES.. Mrs. A. D. Kibbee, Mrs. O. A. Pago; VICE PRES., Mrs. James Caldwell; SEC., Mrs. Sarah J. Taft, Miss Emma O. Kibbee; TREAS., Miss Rebecca J. Trew, Miss Sarah Palmer.
Total value of hospital stores, $918.08. Cash expended, $500.
FITCHVILLE, HURON Co.
PRES., Mrs. O. Burgess, Mrs. Nancy Palmer, Mrs. T. W. Thompson ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Burr; SEC.. Miss Olive Burgess, Miss Louisa Green, Miss Ellen Ward. Mrs. Julia Ward. Mrs. Eliza Palmer; TREAS., Mrs. Ann Palmer.
('a -h expended, $411.24. Supplies not estimated.
FLORENCE, ERIE Co.
PRKS.. Mrs. Dr. Osborn. Mrs. J. A. Darling; SEC. AND TREAS., Miss S. E. Heath, Mrs. II. A. P.lacknian.
FOOTVILLE, TRUMIJULL Co.
PRES.. Mrs. Hiram Spaftbrd; VICE PRKS., Miss Lotty Bacon: SEC.. Mrs. E. G. Foot; TREAS., Mrs. Maltby.
FOUR CORNERS, HURON Co.
PRES.. Mrs. Laura Read, Mrs. H. X. Allen, Mrs. A. Stone, Mrs. Henry Kingsley, Mrs. S. Atherton ; VICE PRES., Mrs. L. Bogardus, Mrs. A. Barnes, Mrs. C. Hawley, Mrs. Searles ; SEC , Mrs. E. J. Cook, Mrs. H. M. Hoyt, Mrs. S. L. Smith. Miss Sylvia Cornell, MIN. L. Bogardus; TREAS., Mrs. S. Salisbury.
Estimate of supplies forwarded, $075.
FOWLER, TRUMBULL Co.
FOWLER.— PRES., Mrs. Mary C. Andrews; SEC., Miss Amelia Tew, TREAS., Mrs. O. M. Baldwin ; DIRECTORS, Mrs. Esther Williamson, Mrs. Sarah Ross, Mrs. Margaret Alderman.
FOWLER, No. 2.— PRES., Mrs. Lavinia Jones ; SEC.. Miss Euretta Jones ; TREAS., Mrs. Frank Horton. Value of supplies sent, $900. FOWLER'S MILLS.— PRES., Mrs. H. S. Hazeu ; SEC., Mrs. E. E. Miller.
FOWLER RIDGE AND CHAD WICK CORNERS.— PRES., Mrs. C. Stewart, Mrs. Sarah J. Greenwood ; SEC , Mrs. Lucy M. Baldwin, Mrs. Hannah Doud ; TREAS., Mrs. Lucy M. Baldwin, Mrs. Adeline Chad wick.
Value of supplies, $100.
FRANKLIN, SUMMIT Co. PRES., Mrs. David Keller ; SEC., Mrs. H. C. Housman ; TREAS., Mrs. Wm. Sisler.
FRANKLIN MILLS, PORTAGE Co.
PRES.. Mrs. Justus Barr. Mrs. Dr. Crittendcn ; VICE PRES., Mrs. E. Hurlburt ; SEC. AND TREAS.. Mrs. H. A. Bradshaw.
APPENDIX F. 477
FREEDOM, PORTAGE Co.
FREEDOM.— PRES., Mrs. H. D. Curtis. Mrs. C. Burrows ; SEC., Mrs. II. Bryant ; TREAH., Miss Emma Bryant. Value of supplies, $500.
FREEDOM, WEST SIDE.— PRES.. Mrs. J. C. Parker; SEC., Mrs. Maria Kellogg.
FROGSVILLE, CUYAHOGA Co.
PRES, Miss Julia A. Moses; VICE PRES., Miss Kate Moses; SEC AND TREAS., Mias Libbie II. Mcllrath.
This Society, composed of school-girls, contributed about $70 in cash, and one hundred and fifty articles of hospital clothing.
GARRETTSVILLE, PORTAGE Co.
PRES., Mrs. E. A. Frisby, Mrs. W. White ; VICE PRES., Mrs. M. A. Adams, Mrs. C. M. Wight ; SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs. A. W. Lake ; COMMITTEE, Mrs. D. Peffers, Mrs. C. Willson, Mrs. M. Pierce, Mrs. A. Dunn, Mrs. M. Daniels, Mrs. L. White, Miss Abbie Ellinwood.
Cash expeiided, $344.91. Supplies not estimated.
GATES' MILLS, CUYAIIOGA Co.
PRES.. Mrs. Lucy Ann Gates ; SEC., Mrs. H. G. Spear; TREAS., Mrs. Win. Shuart.
GENEVA, ASHTABULA Co.
GENEVA.-PRES.. Mrs. J. E. Chapiu, Mrs. M. Fitch, Mrs. Richmond, Mrs. S. P. Fitch : VICE PRES., Mrs. Haskell. Mrs. Dickinson, Mrs. J. Condit, Mrs. J. Boughton. Mrs. H. Lane, Mrs. C. Wright : SEC., Mrs. E. H. Lindergreen ; TREAS., Mrs. J. Condit, Mrs. S. P. Fitch, Mrs. S. Stow, Mrs. H. Lane.
Value of supplies, $980. Cash expended. $878. Balance on hand at the close of the war, $50, which was distributed among the destitute families of soldiers.
NORTH GENEVA.— PRES.. Mrs. L. Carey; SEC., Miss Jerusha Ward; TKEAS., Mrs. Cornelia Castle. Cash disbursed, $153.97.
GIRARD, ERIE Co., PA.
GIRARD.— PRES., Mrs. David Olin ; SEC., Mrs. R. S. Battles. WEST GIRARD.— PRES., Mrs. H. Miles.
GOSHEN, MAIIOXING Co.
PRES., Miss Phebe James, Mrs. Isabel T. French ; SEC., Miss Sarah Townsend, Miss Hannah K. James ; TREAS., Mrs. Sarah A. Davis. Supplies valued at $1.319.-27. Cash to Sanitary Fair, $42.
GRAFTON CENTER, LORATX Co. PRES. AND SEC., Mrs. M. S. Lawrence.
478 APPENDIX F.
GRAND RIVER, ASHTABULA Co. PRES., Mrs. Thos. Baxter; SEC., Miss Mary Henry ; TREAS., Mrs. J. A. Chapman.
GRANGER, MEDINA Co.
PRES., Mrs. E. B. Low, Miss Frances Crisman; VICE PRES., Mrs. J. C. Brainard, Mrs Dnnkle; SEC., Mrs. M. C. Hickox, Mrs. L. E. Hopkins.
GREENFIELD, HURON Co.
PRES., Mrs. A. Tattle; VICE PRES., Mrs. T. Newberry; SEC., Mrs. S. Cleland; TREAS., Hiram Smith; COMMITTEE, Mrs. Hiram Smith, Mrs. Erastus Smith, Mrs. Barnott Roe. Mrs. J. M. Wright, Mrs. John Wheeler.
Value of supplies, $273.21. Cash disbursed, $115.21.
GREEN HILL, COT/UMBTANA Co.
AGENT, Miss Kachel Taylor. Value of supplies, $125.
GREENSBURGH, TRUMBULL Co.
GREENSBURGH.— PRES., Miss Eldah Gibbs, Mrs. Calista Chapman ; SEC., Miss Sophia Bartlett, Miss Flora McKee; TREAS., Mrs. M. M. Cooley.
GREENE, DISTRICT No. 3.— PRES., Mrs. R. Harrison; VICE PRES., Mrs. H. Bnrlin- game; SEC., Miss Roxa A. Bartlett; TREAS., Miss Amanda Harrington.
GREEN SPRINGS, SENECA Co.
PRES., Mrs. James A. Watrous ; SEC., Miss Marion Dana, Miss N. E. Watrous ; TREAS., Mrs. Fairchild.
GREENTOWN, STARK Co. PRES., Mrs. J. G. Reifsnider ; SEC.. Mrs. L. Kryder ; TREAS., Miss Matilda Smith.
GREEN TOWNSHIP, SUMMIT Co. PRES., Mrs. A. A. Tousley; SEC., Mrs. A. V. Perdue ; TREAS., Mrs. C. Hunsburger.
GREENWICH, HURON Co.
GREENWICH STATION.— PRES., Mrs. Martha Carl; SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs. Marcus Mead ; DIRECTORS, Mrs. Joanna Briggs, Mrs. Lucy Berry, Mrs. M. Hall, Mrs. J. Hopkins, Mrs. Anna Mead, Mrs. Mary Sheldon, Mrs. Harriet Carl.
EAST GREENWICH.— PRES., Miss Hattie Gorham; SEC. Miss Maria Doud ; TREAS., Mrs. Anna Doud.
YOUNG LADIES' WIDE AWAKE CLUB, GREENWICH STATION.— PRES., Miss Annie M. Smith ; VICE PRES., Miss Annie Mead ; SEC., Miss Anna S. Jenny ; TREAS., Miss Annie A. Barnes.
APPENDIX F. 479
GUSTAVUS, THUMBULL Co.
PKES., Mrs. Geo. W. Cowclen ; VICE PRES., Mrs. E. M. William*; SEC., Miss Phebc M. Barnes, Mrs. C. M. Wakefield; TKEAS., Mrs. J. S. Sheldon, Mrs. Mitchell Scott.
HALLECK, COLUMBIAXA Co.
PRES., Itev. James N. Swan; VICE PRES., Miss Maggie Falconer; SEC., Miss Kate McKenzie ; TREAS., Mrs. A. M. Swan.
This Society reports 14 boxes shipped to Cleveland, and articles valued at $50 with $44 in cash to Sanitary Fair, besides supplies to State Associations and to soldiers in camp.
IIAMBDEN, GEAUGA Co.
HAMBDEX.— PRES , Mrs. Clarinda Hale; VICE PRES., Mrs. Louisa Griste, Mrs. Martha Elliott; SEC. Miss Mary E. Field; TREAS., Mrs. Elizabeth Mead.
Cash to soldiers and their families, $1.125 ; supplies not estimated.
NORTH HAMBDEN.— PRES., Mrs. Esther A. Maynard ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Caroline Sheldon ; SEC., Mrs. Emma M. Brown ; TREAS., Miss Lizzie Shattuck.
HANOVERTON, COLOIBIAXA Co.
PRES., Mrs. Susan Arter; VICE PRES.. Mrs. Mary C. Arter. Mrs. Sarah Milbuni : SEC., Miss Jennie Voglesong ; TREAS., Mrs. Elizabeth Pritchard. Sent to the Sanitary Fair $176; supplies not estimated.
HARBOR CREEK, EHIE Co., PA.
PKE*., Mrs. L. II. Cousc, Mrs. John Dodge; VICE PRES., Mrs. B. F. Walker; Stc., Mrs. Wm. Besley, Mrs. J. Carter; TREAS., Mrs. J. Sherwin.
HARDY AXD MONROE TOWNSHIPS, HOLMES Co. PKES., Miss Maggie Finney; SEC., Miss Lizzie Korns; TREAS.. Mrs. Caroline Close.
IIARPERSFIELD, ASHTABULA Co.
HARPERSFIELD.— PRES., Mrs. F. E.Clemens; VICE PRES., Mrs. J. Hibbard ; SEC., Miss Sara M. Tuttle ; TREAS., Mrs. O. F. Gibbs. Estimate of disbursements, $550.
HARPERSFIELD, JTVEXILE.-PREs.. Miss R. W. Phillips ; SEC. -AND TREAS.. Miss Eliza J. Phillips.
HARRISBURG, STAKK Co.
PRES., Mrs. C. Stockburger; SEC., Mrs. P. A. Sheets; TREAS.. Mrs. E. Hoover. Value of supplies, $53.50.
HARRISONVILLE, ERIE Co., PA.
PRES., Mrs. Miranda Keep ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Mary J. Lewis ; SEC., Miss Lydia L. Cole ; TREAS., Mrs. Polly Keep.
480 APPENDIX F.
HARRISVILLE, HAKKI*ON Co.
PRES., Mrs. Mary J. De Vilbiss ; SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs. Helen E. Watson, Miss Lydia B. Hayhurst.
HARRISVILLE, MEDINA Co. PRES., Mrs. H. B. Tuttle ; SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs. L. M. Ford.
HARTFORD, TIUTMBULL Co.
PRES., Mrs. P. B. Miner, Mrs. B. Fenn, Mrs. D. Parsons, Mrs. J. Mattox. Miss Eliza Spear, Miss J. A. Bushnell; SEC., Mrs. Dr. Hart, Mrs. R. W. Johnson, Miss M. E. Beebe : • TREAS., Mrs D. Parsons, Mrs. J. Mattox. Miss Eliza Spear, Mrs. A. D. Drury. Estimate of disbursements, $1,000.
HARTLAND, HUIU>N Co. PRE?., Mrs. Almera F. Snow, Mrs. William Wooden ; SEC., Mrs. Thomas Stratum.
HARTSGROVE, ASIITABULA Co.
PRES., Mrs. M. O. Bailey ; VICE PRKS., Mrs. A. Flowers : SEC.. Miss Lucy Bahcock, Mips Ruth A. Hunt; TREAS., Miss Catherine Williams. Mrs. C. L. Parker.
HARTVILLE, STAIIK Co.
PRES., Mrs. Sarah Reed; VICE PRES.. Mrs. Louisa Hoover: SEC., Miss Lydia Kimmoll ; TREAS., Mrs. Lizzie Thompson.
HATCH'S CORNERS, ASHTA.KULA Co.
•
PRES.. Mrs. O. Abbott : SEC.. Miss L. A. Spauldinjr: TREAS.. Mrs. L. ^. Eaton.
HAYESVILLE, AISIILAKD Co.
PRES., Miss Belle Rose. Mrs. Jane McNeil: SEC.. Miss Mary J. A^H-nhurst. Miss A. M . Stafford; TREAS., Mrs. S. Glass, Mrs. J. Kinni^er. Estimate of disbursements, $2,000.
HENRIETTA, LOKAJN Co.
HENRIETTA.— PRES.. M'-s. E. Maey: SEC., Mrs. S. B. Dudley: THEAS., ^li^s Ar.gic Fuller.
SOUTH HENRIETTA.— PRES.. Miss Lina Bates; VU-E PRES.. Mrs. J. Lado\v. Mrs. C. Close; SEC., Miss Sallie Shook; TREAS., Miss Allie Bayles.
Cash expended, $115.50.
HINCKLEY, MEDINA Co.
EAST HINCKLEY.— PRES.. Mrs. Win. Searls : VICE PRES.. Mrs. J. Couch : SEC., Miss Julia K. Gouch; TREAS., Mrs. J. Porter.
APPENDIX F. 481
IIINCKLEY AND BRUNSWICK TOWN LINE.— PRES.. Mrs. Jerome Cruelty : VICF. PRES., Mrs. Horace Kennedy: SEC., Mrs. Horatio J. Chidsey ; TREAS., Mrs. Julius Phelps.
HIXCKLEY AND GRANGER TOWN LINE.— PRES., Mrs. O. Pen-in ; VICE PRES.. Mrs. D. Oviatt, Mrs. S. Newton ; SEC.. Mrs. John Musser ; TREAS., Mrs. John Kellogg. Value of supplies, $487.75.
NX)RTH IIINCKLEY BIDGE.— PRES.. Mrs. Nathaniel Porter; TREAS., Mrs. Rollin Eastman.
SOUTH EAST HINCKLEY.-pREs.. Miss Julia K. Gouch, Mrs. E. Marquitt, Mrs. J. E. Marquitt; VICE PRES., Mrs. A. G. Wilder, Mrs. E. Hall; SEC., Mrs. J. W. Parker. Mrs. S. Porter. Miss Julia K. Gouch : TREAS., Miss J. Bell. Mrs. S. Marquitt, Mrs. J. Porter.
HIRAM, PORTAGE Co.
PRES.. Mrs. Perry Reno; VICE PRES., Mrs. Buckingham; SEC., Mrs. Gen. Garfield. Mr?. Frederic Wilmot ; TREAS., Mrs. James I. Young, Mrs. John C. Rudolph. Cash expended. $411.88. No supply report.
IIOLMESVILLE, HOLMES C'o.
PKES., Mrs. Maria Griffin, Miss S. J. Sadler ; SEC., Miss Mattie Officer, Miss Emma McMonigal: TKEAS., Mrs. Sarah McMonigal, Mrs. Lewis Crawford.
HUBBARD, THUMBULL Co.
HUBBARD.— PKES.. Mrs. Samuel Hine; VICE PRES., Mrs. J. Jackson; SEC., Mrs. Augustus Dilley; TREAS., Mrs. John Eyster. Cash expended,
NORTH HUBBARD.— PRES.. Mrs. Joseph Patterson : SEC., Miss Amanda Bartholomew: TREAS.. Miss Adeline Hart.
HUDSOX, SUMMIT Co.
PKES.. Mrs. T. B. Fail-child, Mrs. N. P. Seymour, Mrs. M. C. Read ; SEC., Mrs. N. P. Seymour, Mrs. Van R. Humphrey, Miss Sarah Ashmun, Miss Fannie L. Trowbridge ; TKEAS., Mrs. N. P. Seymour.
HUNTINGTON, LORAIX Co.
PKES.. Mrs A. R. Clark. Mrs. J. A. Chapman, Mrs. S. S. Warner, Mrs. C. M. D. Perkins: VICE PRES.. Mrs. S. G. Bowker, Mrs. D. H. Austin, Mrs. O. T, Baker, Mrs. A. D. Perkins; COR. SEC., Mrs. C. M D. Perkins, Mrs. L. M. Sage, Mrs. J. A. Chapman, Mrs. E. West: R-:c. SEC.. Mrs. O. T. Baker, Mrs. S. S. Warner, Mrs. W. W. Wills, Mrs. R. Smith ; TKEAS.. Mrs. Win. June, Miss Delia Elder, Mrs. Wm. Mooney, Mrs. J. A. Snow.
Estimate of hospital stores, £1.525. Cash expended. $1(54.15. To Sanitary Fairs. $74 05. and a large amount of provisions and fancy articles.
HUXTSBURGII, GEAUGA Co,
PRES.. Mrs. Louisa Bridgman, Mrs. Smith Wright; SEC.. Mrs. L. W. Sharp. Mrs. Henry Strong ; TREAS., Mrs. Clias. Steer. 3-1
482 APPENDIX F.
HURON, ERIE Co.
PKES., Mrs. Otis Sprague, Mrs. Homan ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Tower Jackson; SEC., Mrs. Haggles Wright, Mrs. J. W. Sprague, Mrs. A. G. Brainherd; TREAS., Mrs. C. X. Ryan, Mrs. F. H. Wright.
INDEPENDENCE, CUYAUOGA Co.
INDEPENDENCE.— PRES., Mrs. Sarah A. Stafford ; SEC., Mrs. Sabina Brcwstcr.
INDEPENDENCE, DISTRICT No. 2.— PRES., Mrs. I. L. Gleason ; SEC., Mrs. C. L. Glea- POII ; TREAS., Mrs. I. Newton.
JAMESTOWN, CiiAUTAcquE Co., N. Y. PRES., Mrs. S. Seymour; SKC., Mrs. A. Fletdier; TREAS., Mrs. P. R. Marvin.
JEFFERSON, ASHTABULA Co.
JEFFERSON.— PRES., Mrs. William Goodrich; SEC., Miss A. Ilawlcy, Miss L. M. Gid- dinge, Miss H. S. Kellogg ; TREAS., Mrs. N. E. French.
NORTH JEFFERSON.— PRES., Mrs. H. J. Pease; VICE PRES., Mrs. Susan Loomis ; SEC., Mrs. Lavinia Jones ; TREAS., Mrs. Julia A. Sikes ; COMMITTEE, Mrs. Lois Udell, Mrs. T. A. Jerome, Miss Martha Bunnell.
JEROMEVILLE, AMJLAMJ Co. PRES., Miss Sarah J. Hargrave; SEC., Miss Addie Alleman.
JOHNSTONVILLE, TRUMBULL Co.
PRES., Mrs. Amelia V. Eells ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Levens ; SEC., Miss Emily Bartlett ; TREAS., Mrs. Marian Hine ; COMMITTEE, Miss Betsey Dickinson, Mrs. Harriet Brinsmade, Mrs. Celia Barnes, Mrs. Laura Thompson, Mrs. Louisa Holcomb, Mrs. Ellen Norcott.
Estimate of supplies, $600. Sent to Sanitary Fair, $100.
KANSAS, SENECA Co.
COMMITTEE, Miss Eliza Stamlish. Mrs. Barbara Ash. Estimate of supplies, $400.
KELLOGGSVILLE, AsiiTAuur.A Co.
PRES. A?JI> SEC., Mrs. R, P. Brown : VICE PRES.. Mrs. S. S. Bushnell : TKEAP , Mrs. A.
Kellogg.
KELLEY'S ISLAND.
PRES., Mrs. Datus Kollcy ; VICE PRES.. Mrs. M4 Titus ; SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs. E. K. Huntington. Cash disbursed, $173.42. Estimate of stores, $1.971.20. Total contribution. $2.194.62.
APPENDIX F. 4So
IIEXT, POKTAOF: Co.
.. Mr*. A. W. Botsford; SEC., Mrs. John C. Hart ; TRKAS., Mrs. L. Holden.
KIAXTOXE, CHAUTAUQUE Co., X. Y.
PRES., Mrs. E. O. Morgan ; SEC., Mrs. H. P. Carey; TREAS., Mrs. C. Sherman : DIRECTORS. Mrs. Chapin, Mrs. Jones. Estimate of supplies. $500.
KIXUSVILLE, ASIITABULA Co.
KINGS VILLE.—PKES., Mrs. Helen Murray, Mrs. E. M. Webster ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Dorla Luce, Mrs. A. B. Luce ; SEC., Mrs. Maria Nettleton, Mrs. E. M. Webster ; TREAS., Mrs. Lura Brown, Mrs. Oliver Barrett,
Estimate of supplies, $650. Cash expended, $115.
KINGSVILLE, LAKE SHORE.— PEES Mrs. Geo. Van Slyke ; SEC., Mrs. Lovina Wood- worth ; TREAS., Mrs. Louisa Smith. Cash expended, £CO.
NORTH KINGSVILLE.-PRES.. Mrs. E. D. Nettleton ; SEC., Mrs. D. C. Caughcy : TREAS., Mrs. Dow Crayton : DIRECTORS, Mrs. Chas. Crayton, Mrs. John Hotchkiss. Estimate of contributions, $?>•£>.
SOUTH KINGSVILLE.-PRES., Mrs. V. C. Fox ; SEC., Miss Laura A. Whitney; TREAS., Mrs. Lizzie Mullett ; DIRECTORS. Mrs. Whiton, Mrs. Ambrose Curtiss, Mrs. Almira Bugbee
KIXSMAN", TRUMBULL Co.
KINSMAN.— PRES., Mrs. Sophia B. Kinsman, Mrs. John S. Allen, Mrs. Sylvester Case ; VICE PRES., Mrs. John Yeoman s : SEC.. Miss Mary H. Christy.
Cash expended, £522.58. Cash value of new material, $702.42. Estimated value of sup plies, $2,450.40.
KINSMAN, No. 2.— PRES.. Mrs. Lucius Ailing; VICE PRES.. Sidney Miner, E^q. ; SEC.. Mrs. Mary A. T. Wood : TREAS.. Miss Abbie S. Wood. Estimate of contributions, £500.
KINSMAN, JUVENILE.— Miss Jenme Gib-en. Miss Becca P. Kinsman.
KIRTLAXI), LAKE Co.
KIRTLAND.— PRES . Miss Lucy Martindale, Mrs. Elvira A. Martin, Mrs. Lucy Morley ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Guy W. Smith ; SEC. AND TREAS.. Miss Belle G. Morse.
EAST KIRTLAND.— PRES., Mrs. Margaret Booth: VICE PRES.. Miss Anna Do; Long: SEC , Mrs. Ann White Harmon, Mrs. Mary E. Ladd : TKEAS., Mrs. Minerva Harmon.
NORTH KIRTLAND.— PRES., Mrs. E. Metcalf; VICE PRES., Mrs. M. Miliken ; S>c. Mrs. E. Markell. Mrs. P. M. Green ; TREAS., Mrs. C. Brown ; SOLICITORS, Mrs. S. Spjar, Mrs. P. M. Green.
Estimate of supplies, $200.
484 APPENDIX F.
LAFAYETTE, MEDINA Co.
PKES., Mrs. Brintnall, Mrs. John Chase, Mrs. Palmer; VICE PRES., Mrs. Goodrich, Miss A. Harrington, Mrs. John Williams ; SEC., Mrs. Brintnall, Miss Emma J. Phinney ; TREAS., Mrs. Brintnall. Miss Sarah E. Thomas.
LA GRANGE, LOHATN Co.
LA CHANGE.— PRES., Mrs. Matilda Humphrey, Mrs. C. Wilcox: SEC., Mrs. J. L. Rich- inond, Mrs. G. Wilcox ; TREAS., Mrs. Lucia Merriam, Mrs. N. P. Johnson. EAST LA GRANGE. -PRios.. Mrs. E. B. Baldwin ; SEC.. Mrs. David Clark.
LAMART1XE, CARROLL Co.
AGKNT. Ceo. W. Adams.
LA PORTE, LORAIN Co.
PIIES., Mrs. Sophia B. Briars : VICE PRES.. Mrs. II. Carpenter; SRC. AXD TREAS., Mrs. Phehe M. Ajrard.
LEICESTER, LIVINGSTON Co., X. Y.
PUKS.. Mrs. II. Tilnm : SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs. W. II. Sellew.
LENOX, ASHTABULA Co.
PRES., Mrs. J. A. Hyde, Mrs. A. D. Eddy; SEC.. Miss E. J. lien lerson. Mrs. B. L. Mosher; TREAS., Mrs. M. J. French. Estimate of contributions, $252.1)0.
LIBERTY, TUUMBULL Co., (UNITED PUKSBYTEKIAN CHURCH.)
PRES., Rev. David Goodwill™, Robert Stranahaii ; SKC.. Miss Mary Hark : TKEAS..MI-S. Margaret Gorley.
LIMAVILLE, STARK Co. PRES.. Mrs. A. Morss : SEC.. Miss Amelia D:iy : THKA-.. Miss Emma Morss.
LI rciIFIELD, MEDINA Co.
PRES., Mrs. Amy Delamater; VICE PRES., Mrs. Brinsmade ; SEC., Mrs. Mark S. Siblry, Mrs. P. C. Stranahan. Miss Mary S. Clapp ; TREAS., Mrs. Rice, Mrs. J. Brookcr.
LIVERPOOL, MEDINA Co.
PRES., Mrs. Fanny Parmelee. Miss Sallie U. Thermot ; SEC., Miss Juliette Howard. . Miss Emma Wilmot.
LOCUST POINT, OTTAWA Co. SKC., Miss Emma Nugent.
APPENDIX F. 485
LOTTS.VILLE, WAKKKN Co., PA. AGENTS, Mr?. S. M. Lott, Miss H. D. Lott.
LOUISVILLE, STAKK Co.,
PRES.. Mr?. E. Shopp.
LOWELL, SENECA Co. PRES.. Mrs. Emily Crockett : SEC., Miss Nellie Ho««j.
LOWELLSVILLE, MAIIONING Co. PRES.. Mis. P. J. Watson; SEC.. Mary A. Hunter.
McKAY, ASHLAND Co.
PRES.. Mrs. A. B. Case; SEC.. Miss Libbie Read; TKEAS.. Miss Jennie Read.
MACEDONIA, SUMMIT Co.
PRES., Mrs. H. O. Rutherford; VICE PRES., Mrs. M. Ranney, Mrs. W. Johnson, Mrs. J. Monroe ; SEC. AXI> TREAS., Mrs. E. E. Stone ; COMMITTEE, Miss L. Ranney. Mrs. D. II. W. Carley. Mrs. H. D. Clark. Miss A. Everest, Mrs. Chamberlin.
MADISON, LAKE Co.
MADISON.— PKES., Miss Susan Warner, Mrs. E. F. Ensign ; VICE PRE«.. Mrs. C. W. Torrey ; SEC. AND TREAS ., Miss N. Howard. Mrs. C. W. Ensign, Jr.
NORTH MADISON.— PRES., Mrs. J. E. Bailey, Miss Helen M. Wadsworth, Mrs. Betsey E. Baldwin, Mrs. S. G. Branch; VICE PRES.. Mrs. J. H. Whiting, Airs. R. R. Davis. Mrs. J. W. Crocker; SEC., Mrs. C. H. DeForest, Miss Nancy Bow, Miss Frank L. Branch : TREAS., Mrs. C. Wadsworth. Miss Gertrude Bailey.
NORTH MADISON. No. 2,-PnEs. Mrs. J. M. Green : VICE PUES.. Miss E. Toby ; SEC.. Miss Alice Fuller ; TREAS., Miss E. Warner.
NORTH MADISON, LAKE DISTRICT.— PRES., Mrs. Susan Doty; SEC.. Mrs. If. P. Thornburgh, Mrs. Emily Woodwortli ; TREAS , Mrs. John Dow.
NORTH MADISON, LAKE SHORE.-Piujs.. Mrs. Nathanii-1 Waterman; SEC.. Mrs. Thomas Blair; TREAS., Mrs. John F. Blair.
SOITII MADISON.-PKEs.. Mrs. Luman Wheel,-,-; SEC.. Miss Joanna K. Griswold.
MALVEKN, CAIMIOU. Co.,
PRES.. Miss Mary Latta ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Dr. A. Eakin ; SEC., Mrs. S. T. Tressell, Miss Liz/.ie Rukenbrod; TREAS., Mrs. S. J. Ross; FINANCIAL SEC., Mrs. H. J. Hardesty; COM- MITTEE, Mrs. Isabella Latta, Mrs. M. Amos.
Cash expended, $500. Thirty boxes of hospital stores shipped, value not estimated.
MANCHESTER, SUMMIT Co. PRES., Mrs. L. R. Sisler : SEC . Mrs. H. A. Housman.
48 6 APPKNI31X F.
MANTUA, PORTAGE Co.
MANTUA CENTER.— PRES., Miss S. R. Bump, Mrs. T. Ingell, Mrs. Dr. O. Ferris ; VICK PRES., Mrs. Dr. A. J. Squire, Mrs. M. Post; SEC., Miss Carrie M.Davis, Miss C. 8. Bump, Miss S. R.Bump; TREAS., Mrs. Dr. O. Ferris, Miss R W. Davis, Miss S. R. Bump.
Value of contributions. $421.07.
MANTUA STATION.— PRES., Mrs. P. M. Folger; SEC., Mrs. Adeline E. Gotldard; THEAS.. Mrs. Anne Farr.
NORTH-EAST MANTUA.— PRES., Mrs. Betsey W. Esty ; SEC., Mrs. Levi E. Carlton.
SOUTH MANTUA.— PRES., Mrs. E. P. Crooks; SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs. A. Frost.
MAPLE HILL, GEAUG.V Co.
PRES., Mrs. Milo Blakesley ; SEC., Mrs. Martha Bartlett, Mrs. Mary R. Hansard ; TREAS., Mrs. L. S. Blakesley.
MARLBORO, STARK Co.
PRES., Mrs. Mary Mendenhall ; Mrs. Nancy McElroy ; SEC., Mrs. H. W. Brooke, Mrs. R. Q. Savage; TREAS., Mrs. Louise M. Doering.
MARSHALLVILLE, WAYNE Co.
PRES., Mrs. L. L. Cunningham ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Elizabeth Wear ; SEC., Miss Catharine Keck; TREAS., Mrs. Catharine A. Cunningham.
Cash expended, $75. Two thousand pounds of hospital comforts shipped through the Cleveland Sanitary Commission.
MASSILLOX, STARK Co.
PRES., Mrs. M. Earl, Mrs. Geo. Harsh; VICE PRES., Mrs. T. S. Webb, Mrs. Chidester ; SEC., Miss H. A. Ricks, Miss E. L. Clark ; TREAS., Mrs. Lewis Pangborn, Mrs. James M. Brown ; COMMITTEE, Mrs. Thorn. Williams, Miss Lamina Focke.
Besides the regular duties of gathering and shipping large supplies, and a donation to the Cleveland Sanitary Fair, valued at $1,200, the Massillon Branch administered special relief to soldiers1 families to the amount of $785, furnished comforts to the hospitals of the 104th and 115th O. V. T., encamped in town, at an expense of $1,000 ; were active in hospitalities to passing regiments and squads ; and celebrated Thanksgiving days during the period of the war by providing abundant dinners for soldiers1 families, and distribut ing to them wood, coal and provisions, contributed by the citizens for that purpose.
MAYFIELD CEXTEK, CUYAHOGA Co. PRES., Mrs. Ellen B. Whitney ; SEC., Miss Belle (1. Miner; TIIEAS , Miss M. A. Atkins.
MEADVILLE, CRAWFOUD Co., PA.
PRES., Mrs. Hannah Moore, Mrs. Win. Thorp ; SEC., Miss Lizzie C. Callender ; TREAS., Miss Lizzie Huidekoper.
This society, though properly reporting its business to the credit of the State of Penn sylvania, was, for convenience of railroad transportation, a tributary to the Soldiers1 Aid
APPENDIX F. 487
Society of Northern Ohio. From its organization, October, 1861, to the close of the war. the Meadville Aid Society was an important auxiliary to the Cleveland Sanitary Commis sion. Besides'shipments of two hundred and sixty-one packages of choice hospital store?, and liberal supplies furnished to sick soldiers and their families in and near the city, its books show a cash disbursement of #6,681. 21.
The citizens of Meadville contributed through their Aid Society to the Cleveland Sani tary Fair article* val:ie:l at S74(i 00. and to the Pittsburg Sanitary Fair. $500.
MECCA. TKUMBCLL Co
MECCA.— PICES., .Mrs. M. D. Higbee, Mrs. Eunice McCuller ; VICE PKES.. Mrs. Abigail Holcomb, Mrs. Eunice Benton, Mrs. Nancy E. Case ; SEC.. Mrs. M. D. Higbee. Mrs. Rachael Love ; THE AS., Mrs. Eliza Love, Mrs. Chloe Abell.
SOUTH MECCA.-PiiEs.. Mrs. Millan Power*: SEC.. Mrs. Clarissa Craft : TKEAS.. Miss Anna Rose.
MECHAXICSVILLE, ASHTABLXA Co. PUES.. Antoinette Wakling; SEC.. Naomi Webb; TKEA?.. Eliza Warren.
MEDINA, MEDINA Co.
PUES.. Mrs. H. G. Blake; VICE PRES.. Mrs. N. II. Bostwick. Mr-*. S. J. Hayslip, Mrs. D. A. Grosvenor : SEC. AND TREAS., Miss Fannie E. Ticknor, Mrs. S Humphreville, Miss Mariette Butler, Mrs. S. G. Barnard, Mrs. A. L. Peak: DFRECTORS, Mrs. Paul Schuh, Mrs. Hiraui Ferris. Mrs. Timothy Clark, Mrs. S. B. Woodward, Mrs. A. W. McCIure, Mrs. Whipple, Mrs. C. T. Hill.
The stores disbursed to soldiers and iheir families are estimated at $3,640.38. Besides this, much was collected for direct distribution to regiments, aud for relief of the Freed- myn. The citizens of Medina loyally supported the cause of the soldier dnrinir the whole period of the war.
MELMORE, SENECA Co.
PRES.. Mrs. Dr. H. Ladd, Mrs. S. A. Kispaugh. Mrs. James Gibson. Mrs. Calvin Rogers, Mrs. Richard Baker; SEC., Mrs. A. H. Webb, Mrs. John Delamater, Mrs. Emma Brayman, Miss Lucy Arnold; TREAS., Mrs. Daniel Richards, Mrs. A. R. Webb, Mrs. Richard Baker.
Aggregate of money aud stores disbursed. $2,800.
MENTOR, LAKE Co.
PRES., Mrs. Matthew S. Clapp ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Abner M. Parmalcc : SEC., Mrs. Tru man P. Barber, Miss Carrie Clapp : TKEAS., Miss Maria Corning, Miss Christia Raddiffe, Mrs. Jacob Blish.
Money and store? disbursed. $2.315.47. exclusive of supplies sent directly to regiments in the fiehl.
MESOPOTAMIA, TUU.MBULL Co. AGENT, Mrs. Charlotte G. Sheldon.
MIDDLE BRANCH, STARK Co. PRES.. Mrs. John Byrnr : SEC.. Miss Xellie Warner: TREAS., Mrs. Jacob Byrer,
488 APPENDIX F.
MIDDLEBURY, SUMMIT Co.
MIDDLEBURY SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY.— PKES.. Mrs. Win. Dempsey. Mrs. T. II. Botsford; VICE PKES., Mrs. J. Robinson; SEC., Mrs. D. E. Hill. Mrs. E. T. Chapman ; TBEAS., 31rs. A. Kent.
Disbnrsed, cash, $1,003.95; 54 packages of stores, not estimated, besides supplies direct to the field and to soldiers1 families.
MIDDLEBURY RELIEF ASSOCIATION.— PRES., Mrs. James Irvin. Mrs John John ston; SEC. AND TBEAS., Mrs. Frank Adams, Miss Julia Coe, Mrs. John Johnston.
Cash expended, $103 Stores, provisions to Sanitary Fair and contributions direct to hospitals not estimated.
MIDDLEF1ELD, GKAUGA Co.
MIDDLEFIELD.— PKES.. Mr.-. Jennie Thompson; SEC. AND TUEAS.. Miss Alice M. Tracy.
NORTH-EAST MIDDLEFIELD.— Puss.. Mrs. Caroline Amcs:]SEc. AND TBKAS.. Mrs. Ruth Church. Mrs. L. S. Buell.
MILAN, ERIK Co.
PKES.. Mrs. K. Townseud, Mrs. J. C. Lockwoocl : SEC., Mrs. C. H. Choate, Miss Marie F. Mowry: TUEAS., Mrs. E. Bates.
MILLERSBURUII, HOLMES Co.
PRES , Mrs. Louisa Irvine, Mrs. H. F. Buttin. Mrs. John E. Koch: VICE PRES.. Mi>s Augusta Chipman ; SEC.. Mrs. II. F. Battin. MissM. J. Mower: TUBAS.. Mrs. A. Ingles. Mrs. Win. W. Gibson.
MINERAL RIDGE, TRUMBULL Co. AGENT. Miss Lucy A. Prevost.
MINERVA, STARK Co.
PKES., Mrs. Weygandt, Mrs. Mary Sweringen : SEC.. Miss Emma Speaker, Miss Annie Perdue: TREAS., Mrs. E. Dibble.
MOW A DO RE, SUMMIT Co.
PRES.. Mrs. A./M. Hale, Mrs. Arvilla Morris; SEC.. Miss E. Liurlenslager, Mrs. Win. H. Alexander: TBEAS., Miss Louise McCormiek.
MOXROE CENTER, ASHTAUUI.A Co.
MONROE CENTRE.— PRES., Mrs. F. A. Barge; SEC., Mrs. Linda M. Green : TRKAS.. Mrs. Sarah E. Kinney.
MONROE CENTER, GIFFORD'S CORNERS.— PRKS., Mrs. Mary J. Gilford : SEC.. Miss Iluldah Hicks ; TREAS., Mrs. Mary Farnham : COMMITTEE, Mi«s Cornelia M Gifford. Miss Maria Babbett, Miss Emeliue Adams.
Value of disbursements, $425.85.
APPENDIX F. 489
MONROEVILLE, HURON Co. AGENT, Mrs. J. W. Pararaore.
MONTROSE, SUMMIT Co.
AGENT, Mrs. Julia E. Wagar.
MOXTVILLE, GEAUGA Co.
MONTVlLLE.-Pr.Es., Mrs. A. Phelps, Mr?. Z. R. Sheldon: SEC., Mis? Caroline Shel- rlou, Miss S. S. Gould; TREAS., Mrs. E. Dayton.
WEST MONTVILLE.— PRES., Miss Adelia J. Gates, Miss Lizzie Spellman ; VICE PRE?.. Miss Annie J. Gates. Mrs. Leah Gish; SEC. AND TREAS., Miss Ecbecca U. Kennedy; DIRECTORS, Mrs. Delavan Gates, Mrs. Lois Eddy, Mrs. Ursula Kennedy, Mrs. Sarah McDonald.
MOUNT HOPE, HOLMES Co.
PRES., Mrs. Susan M. Russell; VICE PRES., Mrs. Catherine Pomerene, Mrs. Elizabeth Inks; SEC. AND TREAS., Miss Kate Kindlesperger.
MOUNT MORRIS, LIVINGSTON Co., N. Y.
PRES., Mrs. L. C. Sleeper; VICE PRES., Mrs. James B. Bacon ; SEC., Mrs. H. E. Browu ; TREAS., Miss Elizabeth Kellogg. Estimate of disbursements, $1.500.
MOUNT UNION, STARK Co. PREP.. Mr*. H. G. Clark ; SEC., Mrs. M. B. Park: TREAS., Miss Rachel Pettish.
MOUNT VICTORY, HARDIN Co.
PRES., Mrs. R. P. Howe; VICE PRES.. Mrs. M. S. Elder; SEC.. Miss Emma L. Mears : TREAS., Mrs. Sarah Smith. Shipped 25 boxes valued at $515.
MUNSON, GEAUGA Co.
MUNSON.— PIIES., Miss Jane Ashcrafr: SEC.. Miss Ann Miller: TREAS., Miss P. Lepper.
EAST MUNSON.— PEES., Mrs. Abram Woodward. Mrs. Eenj. S. Warner, Mrs. Amanda Gates: SEC., Mrs. S. A. Spencer. Mrs. Jane V. Bartlett, Miss Anna M. Gates: TREAS.. Mrs. O. R. Caufield, Mrs. Abram Woodward.
Cash expended. £200. Supplies not estimated.
NASHVILLE, HOF.MES Co.
PRES., Mrs. A. L-iylander; Sac.. Miss Hester Edwards; TREAS., Mrs. Esther Harris. Cash expended, $200. Estimate of stores, $500. 35
490 APPENDIX F.
NELSON, POUTAGE Co.
PKES., Mrs. Benj. Fcnu ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Tait ; SEC., Miss Celestia Gates ; TREAS., Miss Polly Hannahs.
NEW ALEXANDRIA, JEFFEBSON Co.
PKES., Miss Sue Hanlon ; VICE PKES., Miss Belle Hall ; SEC., Miss Mary E. Hall ; TKEAS.. Miss Lizzie McGrew.
NEW BALTIMORE, STARK Co.
PKES., Mrs. C. A. Taylor, Mrs. Eliza Nash; SEC., Mrs. Alvira Bissell; TREAS., Miss Sophronia Smalley, Joseph Lee. Cash expended, $215. 28.
NEW BERLIN, STARK Co.
PKES., Mrs. Rachel Holl; VICE PRES., Mrs. Sallie Lincl ; SEC., Mrs. Elizabeth Bitzer : TREAS., Mrs. Elizabeth Schick, Mrs. Nancy Everhart. Cash disbursed, $220.25. Value of shipments, $449.32.
NEWBERRY, GEAUGA Co.
NEWBERRY.— PRES., Mrs. R. K. Mmm ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Ann Punderson ; SEC. AM) TREAS., Mrs. R. Riddle, Mrs. J. Russell. Value of shipments, $1,000.
NORTH NEWBERRY.— PRES., Mrs. Elvira Lovelaml ; SEC., Mrs. Elizabeth B. Stone : TREAS., Mrs. Julia Smith, Mrs. S. Burnett.
NORTH-WEST NEWBERRY.— PRES., Mrs. Angeline Williams, Miss Mary A. Covell ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Harriet Black ; SEC., Mrs. Caroline Bittles, Miss Achsah Covell ; TREAS.. Mrs. Sarah Wiiliams, Miss Mary Sanborn.
NEWBURGH, CUYAIIOGA Co.
PRES.. Mrs. Eben Miles, Mrs. F. W. Woodbridge ; SEC , Mrs. F. W. Woodbridge ; TREAS., Mrs. Porter Jewett, Mrs. E. T. Burke.
NEW CASTLE, LA WHENCE Co., PA.
PRES., Mrs. A. Ross ; SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs. R. \V. Clendenin.
NEW II A VEX, HURON Co.
PRES.. Mrs. J. A. Young ; VICE PRES., Mrs. II. Richards ; SEC., Mrs. M. Gaming ; TREAS.. Mrs. M. Stuart. Value of stores, $150.
NEW LISBON, COLUMBIAKA CO.
PRES., Mrs. T. Starr, Mrs. S. Todd, Mrs. Thomas Hanna ; VICE PRES., Mrs. J. H. Shields : SEC., Mrs. H. B. Dibble, Miss Jessie W. Cornwell, Miss Louisa Briggs, Mrs. S. W. Orr : TREAS., Mrs. O. M. Todd.
APPENDIX F. 491
NEW LONDON, HURON Co.
PRES., Mrs. S. R. Johnson. Mrs. R. J. Robinson ; SEC., Mrs. L. B. Porter, Mrs. P. Robert son : TREAS., Mrs. Furlong.
NEW LYME, ASHTABULA Co.
PRES., Mrs. F. P. Rathbone, Mrs. J. Miller, Mrs. C. Brockway ; SEC.. Mrs. A. Pork, Mrs. F. P. Rathbone; TREAS., Mrs. C. Brockway, Mrs. A. M. Gee. Value of shipments, $1,337.45.
NEW PHILADELPHIA, TUSCARAWAS Co.
PRES., Mrs. C. Gross, Mrs. O. P. Taylor; VICE PRES., Mrs. J. Hance; SEC., Miss Annie Coventry; TREAS., Mrs. Beatty.
Cash expended, $704.63. Shipments to Cleveland and Columbus Agencies and direct to the front not reported.
NEWTON FALLS, TRUMBULL Co.
PRES., Mrs. H. K. Bronson, Mrs. Silas Culendcr, Mrs. James Reed ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Eunice Austin, Mrs. Lyman Soule, Mrs. A. L. Fowler; SEC., Mrs. Eunice Austin, Mrs. A. L. Fowler ; TREAS., Mrs. A. L. Fowler, Mrs. H. K. Bronson.
Value of shipments, $1,489.75. Contributed to the Sanitary Fair, in stores and money, $200.
NILES, TRUMBULL Co.
PRES., Mrs. James Ward ; SEC., Miss Phila Kingsley, Jos. G. Butler, Jr. : TREAS.. Mrs. A. M. Blackford. Cash expended. $450.93. Stores not valued. Sent to Sanitary Fair, $50.
NORTHAMPTON, SUMMIT Co.
NORTHAMPTON CENTER.— PRES., Mrs. E. M. Reynolds; SEC., Miss A. M. Lowrey, Miss Julia Jones, Miss Mary Reynolds ; TREAS., Mrs. H. N. Lowrey, Mrs. R. Jones. Estimate of shipments, $663.25.
NORTHAMPTON, DISTRICTS 7 AND 8.— PRES. Mrs. J. R. Brown ; SEC. AND TREAS.. Mrs. William Hardy. Estimate of shipments, $37. Cash to Sanitary Fair, $16.
NORTH BENTON, MAHONIXG Co. PRES.. Miss Polly A. Strattou ; SEC., Miss Lucy E. Hartzell ; TREAS., Miss Isabella Sproat.
NORTH EAST, ERIE Co., PA.
PRES., Mrs. Stephen Griffith, Mrs. R. M. Crawford; SEC., Miss Sarah Skinner, Miss Emma E. Elaine, Miss Mary T. Town ; TREAS., Miss Mary E Scoulku-.
NORTH EATON, LORAIX Co.
PRES., Mrs. M. K. Merrick, Mrs. Fidelia Chapman ; SEC. AND TREAS., Miss S. E. King, Miss S. L. Cooley.
APPENDIX F.
NORTH F AIRFIELD, HURON Co.
PRES., Mrs. E. B. Maybin ; VICE PRES., Mrs. E. L. Watrons. Mrs. J. Burns ; SEC., Mrs. J. L. Dickinson ; TKEAS., Mrs. Julia II. Edwards. Cash disbursed, $672.30 Supplies not estimated.
NORTHFIELD, SUMMIT Co.
PRES., Mrs. J. W. Logue ; VICE PRISS,. Mrs. Daniel Proctor ; SEC., Miss Llbbie Alexan der, Miss Ellen Bliss ; TKEAS., Mrs. Geo. Seidel.
Cash expended, $319.32. Contributed to Sanitary Fair, $140.37. Estimate of supplies sent to regiments, $150. Total. $618.69.
NORTH JACKSON, MAHONING Co. I'KES., Mrs. Mary J. Riddle : SEC.. Miss Maggie Johnston ; TREAS.. Miss M. S. Gault.
NORTH LAWRENCE, STARK Co.
PKES., Mrs. E. Fulton; SEC., Mis.? Nannie McCue, Miss Beccie Shull ; TBEAS., Mrs. G. Schaffer,
NORTH RIDGEVILLE, LORAIX Co.
NORTH RIDGEVILLE.— PRES., Mrs. Mark Humphrey ; VICE PRKS., Mr*. John Gaboon ; SEC., Miss Harriet Bryner ; TREAS., Mrs. Sydney Butler.
Estimate of supplies shipped through the Sanitary Commission, $1.355. Sent direct to regiments, $300. To the Sanitary Fair, $114.50. Total, $1,769.50.
NORTH RIDGEVILLE, JUVENILE.— PRES., Miss Emma Terrell ; SEC., Miss Theresa. Terrell ; TREAS., Miss Nellie Beebee. Estimate of contributions, $50.
NORTH RIDGEVILLE, WEST CREEK.— PRES., Miss Mary Byington ; VICE PKES.. Miss Carrie Hostlander ; SEC., Miss Mary Ho\vk; TREAS., Miss Mary Race.
NORTH ROYALTON, CCYAIIOGA Co.
NORTH ROYALTON.— PRES., Mrs. M. J. Carter; VICE PRES., Mrs. James Touslcy ; SEC., Mrs. S. W. Chandler; TREAS., Mrs. Win. Tousley.
NORTH ROYALTON, No. 2.— PRES., Mrs. Oliver Taylor; SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs. John Kingzett.
NORTH ROYALTON AND HINCKLEY.— PRES., Mrs. W. Wilber; SEC.: Mrs. P. A. Taylor; TKEAS., Mrs. E. Webber.
NORTH SPRINGFIELD, SUMMIT Co.
PRES., Mrs. L. Atchcson ; SEC., Mrs. J. Ewart, Mrs. E. H. Boyd ; TREAS.. Mrs. M. Fisher. Mrs. M. White.
NORTON, SUMMIT Co.
PRES., Mrs. Louisa Marshall; VICE PRES.. Mrs. Rebecca Vanderhoof: SEC.. Mrs. F. Weary; TREAS., Mrs. Sarah Miller.
APPENDIX F. 493
NOR WALK, Himox Co.
XORWALK, DISTRICT No. (5.— PUKS., Mis.- Rose Sherman : SEC.. Miss Jennie Jone«* : TREAS., Miss Lucy Sherman. Cash expended, $30. Value of hospital store? forwarded, £100.
XORWALK SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY.— (REPORTED BY MRS. S. T. WORCESTER.)— Very early in the year 1801 the citizens of Norwalk began to work for the soldiers. A part of the 8th Regiment had been collected, quartered and drilled there. On the Sabbath before they left, religious services were held in their camp, and the occasion, so new and affect ing, called forth the most profound sensations of sorrow and apprehension. Some days previously the ladies had been engaged in supplying these soldiers with such necessaries and luxuries as the deepest interest could suggest. Immediately after their departure, a society, of both sexes, was formed, the object of which was to follow those who went from the vicinity with aid and comfort, in any form, and by any means that could reach them, thus securing, as was hoped, an unbroken intercourse with them. A quarterly subscription among the gentlemen was established, the first instalment of which is dated May 18th, 1801. The officers elected were Charles B. Stickney, President; J. C. Curtis, Secretary: David H. Pease, Treasurer; Mrs. G. G. Baker, Mrs. J. W. Baker, Mrs. O. Jenney, Mrs, C. E. Pennewell and Mrs. S. T. Worcester, Board of Directors — the latter Secretary of the Board. From that time to November, 18«2, something was continually being done, but the difficulties in the way of reaching the regiments, after they went into actual service, and the consequent irregularity of the quarterly payments, seriously obstructed progress. In the meantime a Society had been organized in Cleveland, through which, as a medium, it was believed the regiments could be reached. Application was personally made to that Society by the Secretary of the Board, in Norwalk, for assistance in sending a box of hospital stores to the 8th Regiment, then in West Virginia, the Surgeon of that regiment having, by letter, applied for immediate aid. The request was cheerfully granted, the box- sent, received in time, and earnest thanks therefor returned. This occurrence awakened new life, and eventually led to the formation, in August, 186'?, of the Alert Club, to collect funds, and in November of the same year, to the transfer of all the offices to the ladies. At the time of the transfer Mrs. J. M. Fan- was elected President; Mrs. D. II. Pease. Secretary : and Mrs. S. T. Worcester. Treasurer. The work then went on prosperously, funds were ample, the contributions sent forward large and valuable, and mostly trans mitted through the organization in Cleveland. November 20th, 1863, Mrs. S. T. Worcester was elected President ; Mrs. W. O. Parker and Mrs. C. E. Pennewell, Vice Presidents ; Mrs. M. A. Corwin, Secretary ; and Mrs. N. S. Moulton. Treasurer. Before the close of the year Mrs. C. Gallup took the place of Mrs. Worcester, and Mrs. F. Sawyer that of Mrs. Moulton, those ladies having resigned. At the next annual meeting, November 19th, 1864. Mrs. J. F. Dewey was elected President ; and Mrs. E. E. Husted, Vice President. There were no other changes. Total funds received, $3,455.94. Total disbursed, $3,385.94. The remaining $70 were given to the Young Men's Library, to assist in its establish ment. No account of the stores sent forward before the transfer has been preserved, though they are known to have been creditable. Since that date, 235 boxes, barrels or kegs have been forwarded, with various and sometimes quite large sums in cash, to be disposed of by known and trusty agents. They were sent to the Sanitary Commission. Christian Commission, Relief Association in Washington, to Annapolis, Richmond, Get tysburg, Martinsburg, Winchester, Harper's Ferry, Alexandria, Hilton Head, to Gov. Brough, for the use of State Agents, and to the 8th, 55th, 101st and 123d Regiments, and occasionally to others. Many letters from many soldiers in different localities attest the fidelity of those to whom they were entrusted, and the donors rest satisfied with the result of their labors.
The Societv disbanded June 1st, 1865.
494 APPENDIX F.
NORWALK UNION.— PRES., Mrs. H, M. Wooster; VICE PEES., Mrs. Eli Peter*, Miss M. A. Watson; SEC., Mrs. J. M. Farr; TBEAS., Mrs. D. W. Newton.
The members of this Society had been active workers in the Soldiers' Aid Society ol' Norwalk until November 27th, 1863, and the results of their industry prior to that date are included in the foregoing report. On forming a separate organization they continued their labors for the soldiers with remarkable vigor and success, and with uniform loyalty to the Sanitary Commission.
In the year and a half of their independent organization, they disbursed in cash, $1.800.4 I and forwarded two hundred packages of hospital stores, valued at $1,000, making a total contribution of $2,883.44. The Hospital Garden at Chattanooga was an object of much interest to the ladies of this society, who frequently remembered it in their gifts, and in the spring of 1864 forwarded onion sets and garden seeds in great variety for its early cultivation. The preparation of "chopped pickle'1 was a specialty of the Norwalk Union, over one thousand gallons having been forwarded to the army in the course of one summer.
At the close of the war the surplus funds of this society were distributed as follows : $100 to the Columbus Soldiers' Home ; $100 to the Union Commission, N. Y.; $50 to the Cleveland Soldiers' Home, and the remainder, $80, to the Norwalk Young Men's Library Association.
NORWALK YOUNG LADIES' ALERT CLUB.— (REPORTED BY MRS. S. T. WORCES TER.)— The Alert Club commenced its labors in August, 1862, but was not fully organized until September 13th of that year, when the following officers were elected : Mrs. S. T. Worcester, President; Miss Lizzie Gallup, Secretary; Misses Mary Graves and Lucy Preston, Treasurers ; Mrs. T. W. Christian, Misses S. Rowland and C. Jenney, Direct resses, with an indefinite number of Collectors. The Soldiers' Aid Society had been in operation over a year, but was languishing for want of funds, the quarterly subscription, on which it depended, being irregularly paid. In this emergency thirty-seven young ladies, whose numbers soon increased to sixty, agreed to unite for one year, specially to raise funds for that society, but also to be on the alert, (hence their name,) to contribute in every possible way to the comfort of the needy soldier. They immediately revived the gentlemen's quarterly subscription and collected it, and without delay established a ladies' monthly, and, in October following, a gentlemen's monthly subscription. These three subscriptions they faithfully and promptly collected the entire year, and paid over the proceeds, $824.75, to the Aid Society. They held regular meetings, prepared large quantities of lint and bandages, made 180 pairs of slippers, over 600 handkerchiefs, 9(i towels, 2 quilts, and cut and dried 31 bushels of apples, all of which were passed to the Aid Society, besides sending many kind remembrances, in various forms, to the regi ments with which they were acquainted. They also collected a special subscription to pay the debt on the home of Bessie Lynch, her husband being the first Norwalk soldier killed in battle, and herself and three young children left destitute. This, with some small debts which the creditors, at their request, remitted, amounted to $60.00.
At the expiration of the year they voted to associate for another year. Miss C. Jenney resigned. Miss S. C. Mason was elected Recorder, a new office which the nature of the service soon to be entered upon, required. They now agreed to leave the subscription lists to the Aid Society, to raise their own funds by Festivals, Tableaux, Dramatic Enter tainments, &c., and to devote them to clothing the children of absent soldiers, and of poor widows, furnishing them with all the necessaries required by well conditioned scholars, looking after them, keeping them in school, &c. In this service they were greatly assisted by Mr. Stephenson, Superintendent of the Public Schools, and by a number of judicious married ladies. They had, from the 1st of September, 1863, to the 1st of November, 1864, forty-nine different families as beneficiaries, furnishing to each new material according to their need, in value from $2.52, the lowest sum, to $61.19, the high?st. Total amount raised during that time, $1.840.82. Total expended, $1.496.99.
APPENDIX F. 495
They also sent forward various contributions-, as sympathy prompted, to the soldiers. In November, 18W, they reorganized as a regular Soldiers'1 Aid Society, specially voting to retain their own distinctive name. Officers: Mrs. S. T. Worcester, President; Mrs. T. W. Christian and Miss S. Rowland Vice Presidents ; Miss Lizzie Gallup, Recording Secretary; Miss Mary Wickham, Corresponding Secretary, and Mrs. W. M. Cline, Treas urer. They began this year with $343.83, the overplus of last year. They continued to acquire as well as expend, so that at their last regular meeting, in May, 1865, they had forwarded, in all, 37 boxes, barrels or kegs of hospital stores, $330 in cash, and had, in possession or expectancy, $4(5J. To this sum they added the net gain of a, subsequent series of Tableaux, and eventually presented to the Young Men's Library, then being established, the sum of $900. With the remainder they purchased, framed and suitably lettered the two engravings entitled. ''The First Reading of the Emancipation Procla mation." and "Washington Irving and His Friends,'' and presented them to the Gram mar School, from which many of their Tableau performers had been taken. Total funds raised and expended, $3,932.93. The Club steadily refuses to disband, but contemplates holding re-unions annually, the officers remaining the same. The first re-union took place on the 20th of July, 1867; the second on the 231 of June, 1853.
OAK GROVE, HOLMES Co.
PRES.. Mrs. Elizabeth Allen; SEC., Miss Nannie J. Martin; TKEAS., Miss Li/a J. Armstrong.
OAK RIDGE, COLUMRIANA Co. PRES . Rev. J. Arthur; SEC., Miss Nancy Smith: TKEAS.. Miss Lizzie Noble.
OBERLIX, LOHAIX Co.
PKKS.. Mrs. M. C. Allen. Mrs. C A. Bostwick. Mrs. J. M. Fitch; VICE PKES.. Mrs. A. Biitl'.-r. Mrs. J. M. Fitch. Mrs. Allen ; SEC.. Mrs. It. B. Pearse, Mrs. M. E. Ellis ; TKEAS.. Mrs. R. B. Pearse, Mrs. C. C. Hudson : DIRECTORS, Mrs. Haynes, Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Wright, Mrs. A very, Mrs. Clark. Miss S. Hall ; COMMITTEE. Mrs. Terrell. Mrs. Clark. Miss S. Hall. Mrs. Royce.
The Oberlin Branch, organized at the opening of the war, for the outfit of Co. C, 7th O. V. I., continued active and efficient until its good offices were no longer needed, sparing no effort to send comfort to the soldier on the field or the sick in hospital. No estimate has been reported of its cash disbursements, or of the value of one hundred and fifty packages of choice stores shipped through the Sanitary Commission. The sales from the Oberlin Society's contribution to the Lorain County Booth at the Sanitary Fair netted $700.
OIL DIGGINGS, THUMIJULL Co.
PRES.. Mrs. A. Cobb. Mrs. R. Ilervcy : SEC.. Miss L. A. Barker. Mrs. Corresta T. Knapp: TREAS.. Mrs. C. A. Allen.
OLKXA, IIUKOX CO.
Puts.'. Mrs. E. Magee. Mrs. S. Burrass ; VICE PRES.. Mrs. L. Manahan. Mrs. J. Buffing- ton; SEC.. Mrs. W. H. Sykes, Miss Retta Magee ; TREAS.. Mrs. B. W. Green. Mrs. Wm. Levy.
496 APPENDIX F.
OLIVESBURGH. PRES., Mies Nettie Miller ; SEC., Miss Amelia Ozier ; TRES., Mies Millie Burgett.
OLMSTED FALLS, CUYAHOGA Co.
OLMSTED FALLS.— PRES., Mrs. W. S. Carpenter ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Elisha Fitch ; SEC.. Miss Hattie Dryden ; TREAS., Mrs. D. H. Perry, Mrs. O. W. Kendall; DIRECTORS, Mrs. W. B. Wormly, Mrs. John Wright, Mrs. J. Williams, Miss Margaret Fitch.
WEST OLMSTED.— PRES., Mrs. Phebe Adams, Mrs. Horace Tyler; Src. AND TKEAS.. Miss Lucia Briggs.
ONEIDA MILLS, CARROLL Co. PRES., Miss Carrie L. Hull; SEC.. Miss M. C. Pettorf.
ORANGE, ASHLAND Co.
ORANGE.— PRES., Mrs. S. A. Donley ; SEC., Mrs. M. A. White.
NORTH ORANGE. -PRES., Mrs. Rachel Phillips; SEC.. Mrs. Rachel Nunemaker ; TREAS.. Mrs. Amelia P. Feree.
ORANGE, CUYAHOGA Co.
PRES., Mrs. J. II. Abell ; VICE PRES., Mrs. H. Henry; SEC., Mrs. H. B. Boynton, Mrs. E. Lauder ; TREAS., Mrs. J. Whitlam, Mrs. R. Barber ; COMMITTEE, Mrs. Alvin Abell. Mrs. J . Cole, Mrs. C. Eddy. Mrs. P. Beach, Mrs. A. Jerome, Miss S. Smith.
ORANGEVILLE, TRUMBULL Co.
PRES., Mrs. Charles Hull, Mrs. Sheldon Palmer; VICE PRES., Mrs. Edward Jones. Mrs. Jesse Hahn ; SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs. Augustus Moffit. Mrs. Henry Reed. Estimate of supplies, $1.500.
ORRVILLE, WAYNE Co. PRES.. Mrs. H. Storrs ; SEC.. Mrs. S. J. Meek. Mrs. A. Gass'er : TKEAS.. Mrs. R. M. Storr*.
ORWELL, ASHTAJH-I.A Co.
PRES.. Mrs. Geo. A. Howard ; SEC., Mrs. Phebe [Morgan ; TRKAS.. Mrs. Sophronia Blair; DIRECTORS, Mrs. Hiram Goddard, Mrs. Maria Wolcott, .Mrs. C. A. B. Pralt, Mrs. Isaac Tuckerman, Mrs. Melinda Blachley.
Estimate of contributions. $1.518.1)0. Cash expended. $571. TO.
PAINESYILLE, LAKE Co.
PRJES., Mrs. Eliza M. Chesney ; SEC.. Mifs Aur.a M. Tisicy. *!h s Kli/n II. Wik< x ; TREAS., Miss Henrietta D. Sanford.
The Painesville Branch, one of the most valued tributaries of the Cleveland Sanitary Commission, has furnished no estimate of its large contributions. Its members were
APPENDIX F. 497
unwearied in their work through the whole course of the war, and in addition to their usual supplies were notably active in preparing canned fruits and vegetables and black berry cordial through the Summer months. They responded with great promptness to any special call for hospital stores, and constantly followed with their gifts those regi ments that had enlisted from Lake county.
PAINT VALLEY, HOLMES Co.
PRES., Mrs. Susan Buchanan ; SEC., Mrs. Julia A. Bigham ; TREAS., Miss M. J. Gorsuch. Sent to Sanitary Fair, $60. No estimate of hospital stores. Cash to different Associa tions, $60,
PARKMAX, GEAUGA Co.
PRES., Mrs. A. C. Waters, Mrs. S. A. D. Harris, Mrs. David Bundy; SEC.. Miss H. A. Converse, Miss Mary M. Williams, Mrs. S. A. D. Harris ; TREAS., Miss M. L. Burt. Contributed to the Sanitary Fair, $60. No estimate of hospital supplies.
PARIS, STAKK Co. PRES., Mrs. H. C. Hudson ; SEC., Miss Libbie Philips ; TREAS., Miss Celia Chapman.
PARISVILLE, PORTAGE Co.
PKES., Mrs. C. Selby. Mrs. H. Shaw; VICE PRES., Mrs. Sallie Black; SEC. AND TKEA?.. Mrs. E. C. Holcomb, Mrs. Anna S. Cutts ; COMMITTEE. Mrs. Sarah Williams, Miss Mary Chapman.
Cash expended. $93.12. Supplies valued at $138.65.
PARMA, CCJYAHOGA Co.
PRES.. Mrs. Oliver Emerson, Mrs. L. B. Meacham, Mrs. John A. Ackley, Miss Mary G. Cogswell ; VICE PRES., Miss M. Emerson, Miss J. Hodgman ; SEC., Miss L. F. Emerson. Miss A. M. Hutchinson, Miss Lydia Tyler ; TREAS., Miss H. L. Pebbes, Miss H. Hodgman.
Cash expended. $82.67. Sent to Sanitary Fair, $25. Xo estimate of hospital supplies.
PEXFIELD, LOKAIN Co.
PENFIELD.— PRES.. Mrs. H. S. Smith, Mrs. F. Richmond; VICE PRES., Mrs. L. P. Starr ; SEC., Miss Man- E. Have.?, Mrs. T. Penfield, Jr.; TREAS., Mrs. A. Crane ; DIRECTORS, Mrs. Dalgleish, Mrs. A. Lindsley, Mrs. E. Sheldon, Mrs. McGraugh, Mrs. L. Houghton, Mrs. George Norton.
PENFIELD AND WELLINGTON.— PRES., Mrs. Albina Allen ; SEC.. Mrs. L. Finch : TREAS., Miss Jane Long, Mrs. L. Roekwood.
PENINSULA, SUMMIT Co.
PRES.. Mrs. L. Wattermau, Miss Sylvia L. Edgerley, Mrs. R. Cole; VICE PRES., Mrs. H. Johnson ; SEC.. Mrs. F. C. Wetmore, Mrs. E. S. Haskell, Mrs. William McNeil; TREAS. Mrs. Frederick Wood, Miss Lydia Johnson.
Cash expended. $473 48. Hospital stores not estimated. 3G
498 APPENDIX F.
PENN LINE, CRAWFORD Co., PA.
PRES., Mrs. Mary E. Dewey ; VICE PRES., Miss Myra Barber; SEC., Miss Leouorc Platt; TREAS., Miss Augusta Barber.
PERRY, LAKE Co.
PRES., Mrs. Susan Harper, Mrs. Win. A. Davis; VICE PRES., Mrs. Ralph Tyler; SEC., Miss Sarah F. Wyman, Mrs. W. A. Wheeler; TREAS., Mrs. Milton Shepard, Mrs. M. A. Wire.
Cash expended, $752.25. Sent to Sanitary Fair, $S20. No estimate of hospital supplies furnished.
PERU, HURON Co.
PRES., Mrs. Charles Raskins, Mrs. A. Manley; VICE PRES., Mrs. Dr. Eaton ; SEC., Miss Libbie C. Sanders, Mrs. S. F. Deyo, Miss Ruth Atherton ; TREAS., Mrs. B. Wyman. Cash expended, $1,131.85. Value of shipments, $988.15.
PINE HILL, BATH AND COPLEY, SUMMIT Co.
PRES., Mrs. Hartwell Parker; SEC., Miss Alfe Capron : TREAS., Mrs. Eliza Sweet, Mrs. J. Brown. Cash expended, $200. Value of supplies contributed, $150.
PIERREPOXT, ASIITABULA Co.
PRES., Mrs. Sally Norton, Mrs. S. Woodruff; SEC., Mrs. Martha Beckwith, Mrs. N. B. Hawkins ; TREAS , Mrs. Lydia Goodrich, Mrs. II. L. Leonard.
PIONEER, WILLIAMS Co.
PRES., Mrs. James Morris ; VICE PRES.. Mrs. S. M. Boyd ; SEC., Mrs. L. P. Gaudern ; TREAS., Mrs. Lyman Shepard.
PITTSFIELD, LORAIN Co.
PRES., Mrs. Polly West, Mrs. C. C. Spooner, Mrs. D. Davies : SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs. 0. J. Bradley ; DIRECTORS, Mrs. J. Blackwell, Mrs. A. Bacon, Mrs. J. Powell, Mrs. G. Sherburn, Mrs. J. Round, Mrs. A. Whitney, Mrs. J. Gifford. Mrs. S. A. Clark, Mrs. R. Worcester, Mrs. J. R. Ward, Mrs. J. Barnard, Mrs. P. Hall, Mrs. D. Lucas, Mrs. J. Tuttle. Mrs. M. Kellogg, Miss J. Wilder, Mrs. J. Miles.
Value of supplies contributed, $620. Sent to Sanitary Fair, $89.78.
PLYMOUTH, ASIITABULA Co.
PRES., Miss B. Burnett ; SEC., Miss N. A. Morgan ; TREAS.. Mrs. L Hoffman. Value of supplies, $300. Cash expended, $100.
POLAND, MAIIOXIXG Co.
POLAND.— PRES., Mrs. Wm. Logan; VICE PRES.. Mrs. A. S. McMasters; SEC., Mrs. E. Hawkins, Mrs. C. M. Hawn, Mrs. L. Mansfield ; TREAS., Mrs. Wm. Courtney.
Value of stores shipped through the Sanitary Commission, $3,031.71 Supplies sent directly to the field estimated at $250.
APPENDIX F. 499
POLAND CENTER.— PRES., Mrs. N. Henderson. Mr?. Mary Slaven, Mrs. Rachel Anderson; SEC., Miss Mary E. Henderson, Mrs. E. A. Stewart, Mrs. Mary A. Smith; TREAS., Mrs. R. A. Smith, Mrs. Mary Slaven, Mrs. Annie Guthrie.
Cash expended, $67. No estimate of supplies. .
POLAND, JUVENILE.-PRES., Miss Lottie E. Truesdale ; SEC . Miss Mary K. Mans field : TREAS., Miss Lizzie T. Woodruff.
POLK, ASHLAND Co.
PRES., Miss Maria Kilgore, Mrs. W. S. Spencer; SEC., Mrs. Eliza Kuhn, Mrs. W. E. Byers ; TREAS., Miss Mary McFadden, Mrs. W. S. Spencer. Value of shipments, $1,400.
PORT CLIXTOX, OTTAWA Co.
PRES., Mrs. Wm. Johnson ; SEC., Mrs. Mary A. Dutcher ; TREAS., Mrs. James Kingham ; DIRECTORS, Mrs. C. Pollock, Mrs. Emily Baldwin, Miss Mary Lewis.
PUT-IX-BAY, OTTAWA Co. PRES.. Mrs. John Stone ; SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs. F. C. Clark.
RANDOLPH, PORTAGE Co.
PRES., Mrs. Maria Dickinson, Mrs. Harriet D. Brainard; VICE PRES., Mrs. Wm. Sted- man ; SEC., Miss Helen Stedman ; TREAS., Mrs. Hattie Carlton, Mrs. Franklin Sanford ; DIRECTORS, Mrs. Orsamus Stanford, Mrs. Myron Collins, Mrs. Hiram Fenton, Mrs. Hiram Austin, Mrs. Joseph Brainard.
Estimate of shipments, $2,641.34. Contributions to Sanitary Fair valued at $148,28.
RAVEXXA, PORTAGE Co.
PRES., Mrs. M. B. Skinner, Mrs. D. D. Pickett, Mrs. James E. Wilson ; VICE PRES., Mrs. R. A. Gillette ; SEC., Mrs. Helen B. Ranney ; TREAS., Mrs. S. J. Parmelee.
RAWSOXVILLE, LORAIN Co.
PRES., Mrs. T. H. Hand; VICE PRES., Mrs. C. W. Boughton ; SEC., Mrs. F. W. Preston, Mrs. J. T. Gardner ; TREAS., Mrs. H. B. Kelsey.
No estimate of shipments. Contributed to the Sanitary Fair, $83 in money and fancy articles.
REEDTOWX, SENECA Co.
PRES., Miss Sophia Silcox, Mrs. E. A. Owen; SEC., Mrs. R. R. Wilkinson. Mrs. Mary R. Raymond, Mrs. J. D. Coleman ; TREAS.. Miss Clara H. Bernard.
REMSEX CORXERS, MEDINA Co.
PRES., Mrs. Wm. P. Ingraham, Mrs. Julia Wiard ; VICE PRES., Mrs. S. J. Whitman; SEC., Mrs. S. H. Albertson ; TREAS., Miss Olive Hatch, Mrs. Nancy French.
500 APPENDIX F.
RICHFIELD, SUMMIT Co.
PRES., Mrs. E. C. Farnham, Mrs. Mary F. Oviatt ; VICE PRES.. Mrs. P. A. Carr; SEC., Mrs. Charlotte W. Oviatt, Mrs. E. A. Pixlcy; TREAS.. Miss Celia Payne. Mrs. Celia Wood. Miss Emily Hammond.
Estimate of supplies contributed, $2,000.
RICHMOND, ASHTABULA Co.
RICHMOND CENTER.— PRES., Mrs. M. Gaskill, Mrs. Elizabeth A. Ross : SEC.. Mrs. E. Rider, Miss A. Morse; TREAS., Mrs. E. B. Linn, Miss H. Morse.
SOUTH RICHMOND.— PRES. AND TREAS., Mrs. Geo. Summers: VICE PRES.. Mrs. M. E. Houghton; SEC., Mrs. Lucinda Prosser, Miss A. Smith.
Estimated contributions. $33(5.5(5.
R1PLEY UXIOX, HOLMES Co. PRES.. Mrs. K. Maxwell; SEC. AND TREAS., Miss M. A. Hill.
RIVER STYX, MEDINA Co.
PRES.. Miss Lizzie A. Heaton ; VICE PRES., Miss Antoinette Schlabach ; SEC., Misa Caroline A. Dean ; TREAS., Miss Mettle Wilson.
Estimate of contributions to the Cleveland Sanitary Rooms, $360.5(5. Sent to Sanitary Fair sundries and cash amounting to $135.84.
ROCHESTER, LOIIAIN Co. f
ROCHESTER CENTER.— PRES., Mrs. F. C. Elliott, Mrs. X. C. Boii-e ; SEC. Miss E. A. Hiimiston, Mrs. S. C. Boice ; TREAS., Mrs. S. E. Ogden. Estimate of stores forwarded, $1,000.34. Cash expended, $440.40.
ROCHESTER DEPOT.— PRES., Mrs. A. Welsher ; SEC.. Miss D. Vanxile ; TREAS., Mrs. E. Knapp.
ROCK CREEK, ASHTABULA Co.
PRES., Mrs. J. R. Stark; SEC., Mrs. A. M. Schafer; TREAS., Mrs. L. Champion; COM MITTEE, Mrs. D. Chapman. Mrs. E. Pinney. Mrs. Knowlton, Mrs. Wilcox, Mrs. Baldwin, Mrs. Dorsey.
Estimate of contributions. $725.
ROCKPORT, CUYAIIOGA Co.
EAST ROCKPORT.— PRES., Mrs. C, French, Mrs. Aurelia Munri ; VICE PRES., Mrs. John Johnson ; SEC., Miss McCrea, Miss Alice CoJaban, Miss Melissa Munn ; TREAS., Mrs. P. Hall. Mrs. Wagar.
SOUTH ROCKPORT.— PRES., Miss Abby N. Mastick ; SEC. AND TREAS., Miss Bessie E. Andrews.
WEST ROCKPORT.— PRES., Mrs. Reuben Wood ; VICE PRES., Mrs. M. Sprague, Mrs. Sarah Barnum ; SEC., Miss Lucy Jordan, Mrs. Lucy Murray ; TREAS., Mrs. J. H. Silverthorn. Cash expended, $400.77. No estimate of supplies.
APPENDIX F. 501
ROME, ASHTABULA CO.
ROME.— PRES., Mrs. ,1. Tinan ; SEC. AND TREAS.. Miss M. J. Crosby, Mrs. M. J. Douglass.
ROME. DISTRICT No. 1.— PRES., Mrs. J. Halliday; SEC., Miss B. Crowd!.
ROOTSTOWN, PORTAGE Co.
PRES., Mrs. Olive A. Munroe, Mrs. John O'Neal: SEC. AND TREAS., Miss Louise Reed, Mrs. Nelson R. Collins.
RUUGLES, ASHLAND Co.
PRES., Mrs. S. Bowman, Mrs. Electa Weston, Mrs. J. G. Sturtcvant ; VICE PRES., Mrs. S. L. Gault; SEC. Mrs. S. L. Gault, Mrs. D. G. Huffman, Miss Mary A. Crist; TREAS., Miss Mary Paine.
RUSSELL, GEAUGA Co.
PRES., Mrs. J. II. Cooper, Mrs. David Robinson : SEC., Mrs. A. C. Soule, Miss Rose M. Robinson ; TREAS., Miss Nabby C. Burnett.
SALEM, COLUMBIAXA CO.
SALEM.— PRES., Mrs. E. M. Williams, Mrs. E. P. Heaton, Mrs. L. Tolerton ; SEC., Miss Rose A. Prunty, Mrs. H. H. Bentley; TREAS., Mrs. M. T. Harris.
SALEM JUVENILE.— PRES., Miss Ella Webb; SEC., Miss Mary D. Sharp: TREAS.. Miss Mary Boyle.
SAVANNAH, ASIIL.\ND Co.
PRES., Mrs. A. C. Scott; VICE PRES., Miss A. M. Stern, Mrs. Harriet Slonaker; SEC., Miss L. M. Wherry, Miss S. E. Gault, Mrs. H. Slonaker; TREAS., Mrs. D. A. Hayes. Cash expended. $700. Thirty-three packages shipped, of which no estimate was made.
SAYBROOK, ASHTABULA Co.
SAYBROOK— PRES., Mrs. L. Munson, Mrs. C. Webster; SEC. AVD TREAS., Mrs. R. Harris ; DIRECTORS, Mrs. W. T. Simonds, Mrs. D. Webster, Mrs. A. Brockett, Mrs. J. Sutherland, Mrs. L. Anderson, Mrs. D. D. Turck, Mrs. H. Whipple.
Estimate of shipments, $834.75. Cash expended, $115.
SAYBROOK, JUVENILE.— PRES , Miss Belle E. Kelley; SEC., Miss Hattie Walker; TREAS., Miss Lottie Sherman.
SCOTTSVILLE, MOXKOE Co., X. Y.
SCOTTSVILLE.— PRES., Mrs. R. Miller; SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs. T. Shadbolt.
WHEATLAND SOCIETY OF SCOTTSVILLE.-PRES., Miss M. E. Mann; SEC. AND TREAS., Miss Jane Mann. Estimate of contributions, $40'2.
502 APPENDIX F.
SEVILLE, MEDINA Co.
PRES., Rsv. L. Whitney, A. R. Whiteside, Mrs. Wm. E. Lyon ; VICE PRES., Mrs. L. \V. Strong; SEC., L. W. Strong, E. P. Noyes, Wm. Porter, Miss Mattie Noyes, Miss Eliza Bell, Miss Emma Tamer, Mrs. E. P. Whitney, Mrs. J. K. Caughey ; TREAS., J. K. Caughey.
Cash expended, $1.031. Contributed to Sanitary Fair, $')2.G5. Shipments not esti mated.
S..IALERSVILLE, PORTAGE Co. PRES., Mr*. A. Harr; SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs. S. Kneeland, Miss M. J. Rhodes.
SHANESVILLE, TUSCARAWAS Co. PIIES., Mrs. Mary J. Reid ; SEC., Miss Angie M. Shultz ; TREAS., Miss Jennie dimming.
SHARON CENTER, MEDINA Co.
PRES., Mrs. Phebe Phinney, Mrs. Palmer; VICE PRES., Mrs. Amerman, Mrs. Bissell, Mrs. Hayden, Mrs. Mills ; SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs. M. A. Chatfleld, Mrs. Carr ; COMMITTEE, Mrs. E. Curtis, Mrs. Foltz, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Schonover.
Cash expended. $260. Sent to Sanitary Fair, $75. No estimate of supplies.
SHEFFIELD, LORAIN Co.
SHEFFIELD.— PRES., Miss M. L. Root; SEC., Mrs. E. P. Barrell ; TREAS., Mrs. Mary C. Day, Miss Kate Randall.
SHEFFIELD AND ELYRIA PLANK ROAD.— PRES., Miss S. A. Buck; SEC. AND TREAS , Miss Hannah E. Hecock, Miss C. L. Buck.
SHEFFIELD LAKE.— PRES., Mrs. Theron Moore; SEC., Mrs. S. C. Woodruff; TREAS., Miss Angeline Irish.
NORTH SHEFFIELD.— PRES., Mrs. E. Atwater ; VICE PRES., Mrs. J. Hardy ; SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs. C. E. Gage.
SHEXAXDOAH, HIGHLAND Co.
PRES., Mrs. Catharine Sanker ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Elizabeth Burgoync; SEC., Mrs. Cath erine Fickes ; TREAS., Mrs. Elizabeth Valentine.
SHEXAXGO, CRAWFORD Co., PA. PRES., Mrs. Kate Wilson; SEC., Mrs. J. C. French; TREAS., Miss Emily Fonner.
SHERMAN, HURON Co. PRTCS., Mrs. Geo. Bloomer; SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs. J. E. Le Barre.
SMITI-IFIELD STATION,' MAHONING Co. PRES., Miss H. E. Coppock, Mrs. S. Hartley; SEC., Miss L. A. L. Thompson.
APPENDIX F. 503
SOLON, CUYAHOGA CO.
SOLON.— PRES., Mrs. Win. Richards, Mrs. Jason Robbins ; VICE PKES., Mrs. 0. B. Smith, Mrs. C. Gilbert; SEC., Mrs. E. T. Robbins, Miss Anna Webster ; TREAS., Mrs. M. J. Hickox, Mrs. E. C. Parmalee.
Cash expended. $531. 7G. Stores not estimated.
NORTH SOLOX.— PRES., Mrs. S. H. Bishop; SEC., Mrs. J. Cannon; TREAS., Mrs. Francis Pike.
SOUTIIINGTON, TUUMBULL Co. Mrs. Sarah M. Goff.
SPARTA, STARK Co. AGENT, William L. Griffin.
SPENCER, MEDINA Co.
SPENCER.— PRES., Mrs. Mary Willey; VICE PRES., Mrs. Warner, Mrs. Electa Luce: SEC., Miss M. L. Hodge, Mrs. C. M. Stedman ; TREAS., Mrs. Ann Sweet, Mrs. E. A. Kilborn.
Estimate of shipments, $1,500.
SPENCER, DISTRICT No. 7.— PRES., Miss Alma Elclred; SEC.. Miss Arvilla Frank; TKEAS., Miss Anna Kitchen, Miss Martha Frank, Miss Augusta Myers.
SPRINGFIELD, ERIE Co., PA.
SPRINGFIELD X ROADS. — PRES., Mrs. II. Dickenson ; SEC.. Mrs. Sarah J. Mclntosh, Mrs. M. J. Cowles, Mrs. L. A. Bond; TREAS., Mrs. H. Johnson.
UNION GARDEN AID SOCIETY, SPRINGFIELD.— SEC., Florence D. Millar ; AGSNT, Kate R. Doty.
WEST SPRINGFIELD.— PRES Mrs. Mary Fonts, Mrs. Esther Gould ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Louisa Thomas; SEC., Miss Sarah M. Gould; TUEAS., Mrs. F. C. Powell, Miss Emily Thomas.
STATE LINE, THUMB ULL Co. PRES.. Mrs. William Cheney; SEC., Miss L. E. Thomas.
STOW, SUMMIT Co.]
PRES., Mrs. Josiah Wctmorc ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Albert Stow, Mrs. Silas Wetmore; SEC. ANI> TREAS , Miss Velonia Lemoine. Cash expended, $201.17. No estimate of supplies.
STREETSBORO, PORTAGE Co.
PUBS., Mrs. Elliott Osgood, Mrs. Horace Peck, Mrs. Eli Peck; VICE PRES., Mrs. Bar tholomew; SEC., Miss Nancy Russell, Miss Amanda Judd ; TREAS.. Mrs. P. Brewster. Miss Julia A. Peck.
Cash expended. $334.28. No estimate of supplies forwarded.
504 APPENDIX F.
STROXGSVILLE, CUYAHOGA Co.
STRONGSVILLE.— PRES., Mrs. Harvey Lyon, Mrs. Gardner, Mrs. Wood; VICE PRES.. Mrs. Orphie Pope, Mrs. K. Pomeroy, Mrs. E. H. Reed ; SEC., Mrs. A. C. B. Lyman, Mrs. A. H. Pomeroy, Miss Zelia A. Gardner, Mrs. C. F. Haynes; TREAS., Mrs. Gardner, Miss V. Pomeroy; DIRECTORS, Mrs. Gardner, Mrs. S.J.Whitney, Mrs. M. W. Haynes, Mrs. Merrick, Mrs. Wing, Mrs. Tupper, Miss Adams, Mrs. Hoyt, Mrs. Reed, Mrs. Wilkinson, Mrs. Welch, Mrs. Schley.
STRONGSVILLE, DISTRICT No. 2.— PRES., Mrs. S. A. Humiston ; SEC., Mrs. Electa Humiston.
SULLIVAN, ASHLAND Co.
PRES., Mrs. H. M. Thurston, Mrs. C. Goodyear, Mrs. Barrett, Mrs. Dr. Shaw, Mrs. Maria Johnson; VICE PRES., Mrs. De Mass, Mrs. James Campbell; SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs. Dr. Campbell, Miss A. J. Millis, Mrs. A. M. Parmely, Miss L. Thomas, Mrs. Celia Mann, Mrs. Ellen Gould.
Estimate of contributions. $2,050.
SULPHUR SPRINGS, CRAWFORD Co. PRES., Mrs. A. M. Fail-child; SEC., Miss Julia Musgrave ; TREAS.. Miss Charlotte Dix.
SUMMER HILL, CRAWFORD Co., PA.
PRES., Miss Addie J. McDowell: SEC., W. A.Walker; TREAS., Miss Sarah McClure, Miss Lottie L. Proctor.
SUMMITVILLE, COLUMBIANA Co. AGEXT, Mrs. G. M. Stewart.
TALLMADGE, SUMMIT Co.
TALLMADGE.-PRKS., Mrs. J. P. Sackett. Mrs. M. W. Ashman: SEC.. Mrs. A. F. Snider; TREAS., Mrs. C. C. Wright.
WELSH ASSISTANT AID SOCIETY, TALLMADGE.-PtiEs., David Lewis ; SEC., Wm. T Owen ; TREAS., Rees J. Thomas.
Cash disbursed, $258.30. Supplies forwarded. $100.
THOMPSON, GEAUGA Co.
THOMPSON.— PRES., Mrs. L. C. Mathews, Mrs. J. B. Goodrich; SEC., Miss E. L. Mathews, Miss Eleanor Tillottson; TREAS., Miss L. L. Fowler, Mrs. II. E. Strong.
SOUTH-WEST THOMPSON.— SOLICITORS, Mrs. C. M. Scott, Miss Sarah Tillottieou ; SEC., Miss Lucy H. Whipple.
TOWN SEND, HURON Co.
TOWNSEND.— PRES., Mrs. Phebe Miller; SEC., Mrs. Lucy Lowe.
EAST TOWNSEND.— PRES., Mrs. Maria S. Humphrey ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Abigail Fair- child; SEC., Mrs. Helen M. Stow : TREAS., Wm. Humphrey. Cash expended, $149.04.
APPENDIX F. 505
SOUTH TOWNSEND.— PRES., Mrs. C. C. Bowen, Mrs. L. Sherman ; VICE PKES., Miss Michie Harris : Mrs. H. M. Farman; TREAS., Miss Emma Bowen.
TROY, ASHLAND Co.
PRES . Mrs. C. Naylor, Mrs. Rachel Richards, Mrs. Harriet Peck ; VICE PRES., Mrs. P. Bruce, Mrs. C. Bishop, Mrs. C. Knauss; SEC., Mrs. S. M. Parmenter, Mrs. M. W. Price: TREAS., Mrs. J. Malcolm, Mrs. M. Stall, Mrs. S. Weedman.
Value of shipments, $850.
TROY, GEAUGA Co.
PHES., Mrs. M. L. Welsh, Mrs. B. H. Heath; VICE PRES., Mrs. Mary Tinkham ; SEC.? Mrs. S. C. W. Latham; TREAS., Mrs. M. James. The first box received at the Cleveland Aid Rooms was sent by this Society.
TRUMBULL, ASHTABULA Co.
TRUMBULL — PRES., Mrs. O. K. Nye, Mrs. Sally Johnson, Mrs. T. Cook, Mrs. Eliza Laugworthy, Mrs. Clara Judkins ; VICE PRES., Mrs. S. S. Humphrey, Mrs. B. Rich, Mrs. Win. Nelson, Mrs. Sarah Thompson, Mrs. T. Curtis ; SEC., Mrs. L. G Nye, Mrs. A. H. Dodge, Miss Julia Judkins; TREAS., Mrs, Wm. Fletcher. Mrs. B. Rich; COMMITTEE, Mrs. II. Aylsworth, Mrs. B. M. Aylsworth.
TRUMBULL AND MORGAN.— PRES., Mrs. Randolph Webster ; SEC., Mrs. D. L. Damon. TREAS.. Mrs. Alta Winney.
TWINSBURG, SUMMIT Co.
PRES., Mrs. A. L. Nelson, Mrs. Sam'l Bissell: VICE PRES., Mrs. E. Ailing, Mrs. E. Booth; SEC., Mrs. A. V. Bishop, Mrs. H. W. Hanchett ; TREAS., Mrs. S. A. Andrews, Mrs. H. W. Hanchett, Mrs. R. llerrick.
Cash expended in hospital relief, $608.05. Thirty-seven packages of hospital stores forwarded, value not reported. Contributed to the Sanitary Fair, $103,49. To Freed- men, supplies and cash, $ 63.25.
UNION MILLS, ERIE Co., PA. PRES.. Mrs. Oscar Black, Mrs. N. T. Hune ; SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs. II. Landsrath.
UNION TOWN, STAKK Co.
PRES., Mrs. Henrietta Sweedon, Mrs. A. M. Steese ; SEC., Mrs. Mary Tantliiiger ; TREAS., Mrs. Kate Mohler, Mrs. H. B. Richards. Estimate of supplies, $180.
UNION VALLEY, GEAUGA Co.
PRES., Mrs. S. C. Wilder; SEC., Mrs. E. F. Williams. 37
APPENDIX F.
UNION VILLE, LAKE Co.
PRES., J. C. Ford, Mrs. E. Stratton ; SEC. AND TREAS., Miss Amelia Guild ; DIRECTORS, Mrs. T. S. Baldwin, Mrs. E. Gale, Miss L. Bartram, Mrs. Couse, Mrs. E. Cleveland, Miss Elmina Stratton.
Estimate of contributions, $517.87.
UNITY, COLUMBIANA CO. PRKS., Mrs. D. Augustine ; SEC.. Miss Lavinia Early; TREAS., Miss L. Shook.
VERMILLION, ERIE Co.
VERMILLION.— PRES., Mrs. Lewis Wells; SEC., Mrs. Philo Morehouse ; TREAS., Mrs. Phebe Case.
VERMILLION, No. 2.— PRES., Mrs. A. B. Lyon ; VICE PRES., Miss S. Parsons ; SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs. J. W. Thompson.
VERMILLION, NORTH RIDGE.— PRES. AND TREAS., Mrs. C. Beardsley ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Benj. Summers; SEC., Mrs. A. C. Canclee.
VERNOX, TRUMBL-LL Co.
PRES., Mrs. Francis Haynes ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Sarah Bronson ; SEC., Mrs. W. E. Chap man ; TREAS., Mrs. Joseph Hooff. Cash expended, $198.40. Fourteen packages of hospital stores, value not reported.
VIENNA, TRUMBULL Co.
PRES., Mrs. Sarah Sandford, Mrs. John Williams ; VICE PRES., Mrs Laura Wooclford, Miss Kate Williams, Mrs. S. C. Treat ; SEC., Miss Dacia Squires, Miss Helen Betts, Mrs. Laura Woodford ; TREAS., Miss Libbie Wooclford, Mrs. J. J. Holliday ; COMMITTEE, Mrs. Judson Griffis, Mrs. Smith Scovill, Mrs. Calvin Williams, Mrs. Morrison Perkins, Miss Helen Betts, Mrs. Lucius Hull, Mrs. Dr. Spencer, Mrs. Matthew Mackey, Miss Lucia Squires.
Cash expended, $112.22. No estimate of supplies.
WADSWORTH, MEDINA Co.
PRES., Mrs. Julia Sprague ; VICE PRES., Miss Mary P. Eyles; SUPERINTENDENTS, Miss Mary H. Eylcs, Miss Eliza A. Folger ; SEC., Miss Almira S. Houston ; TREAS., Miss Lura Boyer.
Value of supplies. $500. Cash expended. $128. Cash to Cleveland Soldiers' Home, $50.
WAKEMAN, HURON, Co.
PRES., Miss Sarah Todd, Mrs. Julia Hanford; VICE PRES., Mrs. Amanda Johnson ; SEC., Mrs. E. J. Bunce, Mrs. Lydia Bennett ; TREAS., Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Vaughan.
APPENDIX F. 507
WARPiEN, TRUMBULL Co.
WARREN.— PRES., Mrs. Heman R. Harmon; VICE PRES. Mrs. Charles Howard; SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs. J. M. Stull ; COMMITTEE, Mrs. Junius Dana, Miss Clara Callender, Mrs. M. Bliss, Mrs. F. L. Leroy.
The Warren Branch worked zealously through the whole period of the war without change of officers, and with remarkable efficiency. Its earlier efforts are unrecorded. The amount of cash expended is $1,265.17. The shipments of hospital stores are reported as 24,450 articles, valued at $9,000.
WEST WARREN.— PRES., Mrs. Dorcas Gaskill, SEC., Miss C. A. Reed.
YOUNG LADIES' SOCIETY, WARREN.— PRES., Miss Frank P. Harmon; SEC.. Miss Mary Iddings ; TREAS., Miss Emma Taylor. Cash expended, $643.
WARREN, WARREN Co., PA.
PRES., Mrs. R. Brown, Mrs. S. P. Johnson; VICE PRES., Mrs. S. V. Davis; SEC. AXD TREAS., Mrs. R. P. King.
Cash expended for hospital stores, $741.46. Cash sent to Relief Commissions, and for benefit of soldiers' widows and orphans, $995.87.
WARREN SVILLE, CUYAHOGA Co.
WARRENSVILLE SOLDIERS' AID.— PRES., Mrs. W. H. Warren; SEC., Mrs. Mary Taylor, Miss Alantha Adams ; TREAS., Mrs. O. B. Judd.
WARRENSVILLE MITE SOCIETY.— PRES., Mrs. Geo. Kent : SEC., Mrs. C. W. Hiokox: TREAS., Miss Delia Putnam.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, COLUMBIAXA Co.
PRES., Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Coburn, Mrs. Nixon; SEC.. Mrs. S. C. Bracken, Miss Emily Montgomery; TREAS., Mrs. Irwin. Cash expended, $400. Supplies not estimated.
WATERFORD, ERIE Co. PA.
PRES., Mrs. Samuel Hutchins, Mrs. David Himrod ; VICE PRES., Mrs. H. R. Vincent, Mrs. Howe ; SEC., Miss Sarah H. Vincent ; TREAS., Miss Maria Wood, Miss Phebe Himrod. Cash disbursed, $2.633. No report of supplies.
WAYNE, ASHTABULA Co.
WAYNE CENTER.— PRES., Mrs. Parker, Mrs. A. S. Grey; VICE PRES,, Mrs. B. S. Decker; SEC., Miss Ellen Jones, Miss Hattie Fitts; TREAS., Mrs. Lucy Ward, Mrs. Chas. Hayes.
SOUTH WAYNE.— PRES., Mrs. Linus Mathews, Mrs. P. Fonner; SEC., Miss R. P. Dean ; TREAS., Miss Fannie Dean. Estimate of contributions, $500.
508 APPENDIX F.
WAYNESBURGH, STARK Co.
PRES., Mrs. Harriet Thomas, Mrs. J. G. Croxton, Mrs. S. K. Robinson; VICE PRES., Mrs. R. Blyth; SEC., Mrs. E. H. Page, Mrs. J. C. Mong; TREAS., Mrs. R. Morledge, Mrs. J. F. May; COMMITTEE, Mrs. J. N. Ross, Mrs. J. H. Creighton. Mrs. J. Morledge.
Estimate of contributions, $900.
WEATHERSFIELD, TRUMBULL Co.
PRES., Mrs H. T. Mason; VICE PRES., Mrs. S. Kingsley; SEC., Mrs. R. M. Robinson ; TREAS., Mrs. C. Van Wic.
WELLINGTON, LORATN Co.
WELLINGTON.— PRES., Mrs. Henry Phelps, Mrs. O. Sage, Mrs. J. P. Nichols, Mrs. F. M. Hamlin, Rev. L. F. Ward ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Aldin Star, Mrs. E. O. Foote, Mrs. C. S. Foote, Mrs. H. B. Franks, Mrs. J. H. Woolley; SEC., Mrs. J. H. Dickson, Miss M. A. Hamlin, Miss L. D. Runnells, Mrs. Horace WTadsworth ; TREAS., Mrs. M. D. Calkins, Mrs. N. Hamlin, Mrs. B. G. Carpenter, Miss Louisa Runnells.
Cash expended, $1,186.05. Contribution to Sanitary Fair, 115.66. Supplies not estimated.
SOUTH-EAST WELLINGTON.— PRES., Mrs. Helen Howk; VICE PRES., Mrs. Laura Russell, Mrs. S. A. Davison; SEC. AND.TREAS., Mrs. Hannah Bradley; DIRECTORS, Mrs. Esther Howk, Mrs. Electa Howk, Mrs. Mary Howk, Mrs. Esther A. Peabody.
WELLSBURGH. ERIE Co., PA. PRES., Mrs. Hiram Irish; SEC., Mrs. S. J. Godfrey; TREAS., Mrs. Titus Robinson.
WELLS' CORNERS, ERIE Co., PA.
PRES., Mrs. A. M. Compton ; SEC., Mrs. M. E. Merchant.
WELLSVILLE, COLUMBIANA Co.
PRES.. Mrs N. Murdoch, Mrs. House ; SEC., Mrs. E. H. Ayer, Mrs. S. L. Fisher ; TREAS., Mrs. P. F. Geisse, Miss Mary Hurst.
WELSHFIELD, GEAUGA Co.
PRES., Mrs. Jedidah Reed; SEC., Mrs. Sylvia .Hinckley.
WESTFIELD, MEDINA Co.
PRES., MRS. R. Gridley; VICE PRES., Mrs. H. Alden ; SEC., Mrs. H. Saxton, Mrs. C. Norton, Miss H. E. Bailey, Mrs. J. R. Collier, Miss Olive Gridley ; TREAS., Mrs. A. G. Ilawley, Miss Sarah Smith, Mrs. H. Farnham.
Estimated contribution through the Sanitary Commission, direct to regiments, and for home charities. $699.98.
APPENDIX F. 509
WESTERX STAR, SUMMIT Co.
PRES., Mrs. A. Brown; SEC., Miss 0. E Heustis, Miss Julia Nesmith ; TREAS., Mrs. E. Mattison. Estimate of contributions, $100.
WESTVIEW, CUYAHOGA CO.
PRES., Mrs. Phebe Adams, Mrs. T. L. Read ; SEC., Mrs. M. A. Vaughan. Mrs. E. M. Baker; TREAS., Miss E. Adams.
WEYMOUTH, MEDINA Co.
PRES , Miss Mary J. Packard ; SEC., Miss Jane Smedley, Miss E. Hobbs ; TREAS.. Miss E. Packard, Miss Maria Carrington. Estimated contribution. $300.
WHITE LAKE, OAKLAND Co., MICH.
PRES , Mrs. J. C. Clark ; SEC., Miss Amanda Caldwell, Miss Emma Voorhies ; TREAS., Mrs. Peter Voorhies; COMMITTEE, Mrs. Henry Clay, Mrs. Phipps, Mrs. Levi Crittenden' Mrs. Rev. N. Tucker.
Estimate of contribution, $800.
WICKLIFFE, LAKE Co.
PRES., Miss Louise Taylor; SEC., Miss Isabel Eddy; TREAS., Miss Alice Arnold. Cash expended, $100. Supplies not reported.
WILLIAMSFIELD, ASIITABULA Co.
WILLIAMSFIELD.-PRES., Miss Corinthia Smith; VICE PRES., Miss Louisa Barber; SEC., Mrs. Annette Clark; TREAS., Mrs. E. Horner. Estimate of contributions, $000.
WEST WILLIAMSFIELD.-PREs., Mrs. Ellen Brooks; SEC., Mrs. Mattie Cowdry ; TRES., Miss Lottie Wilcox.
WILLOUGHBY, LAKE Co.
WILLOUGHBY.-PRES., Mrs. Heman Losey, Mrs.E. A. Ward; SEC AND TREAS., Mrs. B. Scranton.
WILLOUGHBY, WAITE HILL.-PREs., Mrs. J. Hobart ; VICE PRES., Mrs. L. F. Waite; SEC., Mrs. H. G. Tryon ; TREAS., Mrs. I. H. Try on.
Estimate of contributions, $400. Sent to Sanitary Fair, $150.
WILLOUGHBY, DISTRICT No. 7.-PRES,, Mrs. Sarah Barnes ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Cath erine Holcombe, Mrs. Caroline Barnes ; SEC., Mrs. Mary Taylor, Mrs. Harvey Hall ; TREAS Mrs. Mary Harrington, Mrs. Harvey Hall.
Cash estimated at $142.95.
WILLOUGHBY AND MENTOR PLAINS.-PRES., Mrs. Maria S. J. Richardson ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Maria Jenks; SEC., Miss E. J. McLaughlin, Miss Maria Downing; TREAS., Mrs. Eliza Murch, Miss Sarah A. Hyde; DIRECTORS, Mrs. E. A. Griswold, Mrs. Lucina Campbell, Mrs. Frances McEwen.
Estimated contributions, $-258.91.
510 APPENDIX F,
WILLOUGHBY RIDGE.-PRES., Mrs. R. Fuller; VICE PRES., Mrs. D. Hills; SEC., Mi** Ollie M. Allen; TREAS., Mrs. A. A. Ferguson; COMMITTEE. Mrs. M. A. Gillett. Miss Katie Atkinson.
Cash expended, $3'2.92. Supplies contributed, $300.
WINCHESTER, COLTJMBIAXA Co.
PBBS., Mrs. S. A. T. Lee: SEC., Miss M. E. Dundass ; TREAS., Mrs. L. Bidleman, Mrs.
N. A. Hanna. Aggregate of supplies forwarded, $1,008.00. Contributed to Sanitary Fair. $11G. Total,
$1,124.0!).
WINDFALL, LOKAIN Co.
PBBB., Mrs. Win. Webster; SEC., Mrs. Mary J. French, Mrs. Alex. Frisbee ; TREAS., Miss Louise Crowell.
WINDHAM, PORTAGE Co.
PBBS., Mrs. James Shaw; VICE PRES., Miss A. Wales, Mrs. Brown; SEC. AND TREAS., Mrs. E. Kossman, Mrs. F. E. Jagger, Miss Hattie C. Snow ; EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, Mrs. Dr Applegate, Mrs. M. P. Higlcy, Mrs. O. Wadsworth, Mrs. N. Smith, Mrs. H. J. Noble, Mrs. E. W? Williams. Miss Mary Angel, Mrs. F. Alderman, Mrs. Grant, Miss E. Spencer, Miss L. Higley, Miss L. Snow.
Estimate of contributions, $2,38T».
WINDSOR, ASHTABULA Co.
WINDSOR.— PRES., Mrs. A. Rawdon, Mrs. E. St. John, Mrs. H. Pomeroy, Mrs. Asenath Dyer; VICE PRES., Mrs. Helen Cook, Mrs. H. Clapp, Mrs. Cordelia Dyer ; SEC., Mrs. H. G. Barnard, Mrs. Catherine Rawdon ; TREAS., Mrs. L. Hill, Mrs. Asenath Dyer.
Supplies forwarded, $423.87. Expended in local relief, $18. Total disbursements, $441.87.
WINDSOR, No. 2.— PRES., Mrs. Lucy Stevens ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Asenath Adams ; SEC., Mrs. Julia A. Grover; TREAS., Mrs. Caroline Adams.
Value of supplies, $435.
WINDSOR MILLS.— PRES., Mrs. Lucy Kinney ; VICE PRES., Mrs. Caroline Humphrey ; SEC., Miss Larissa C. Skinner; TREAS., Mrs. E. P. Skinner; CHAPLAIN, Mrs. Paulina Alderman ; DIRECTORS, Mrs. Jane Beard, Mrs. Irena Bartram, Mrs. Paulina Frazier, Mrs. Emily Wiswell.
SOUTH WINDSOR.— PRES., Mrs. Phebe Lathrop; SEC., Mrs. A. L. Sampson ; TREAS., Miss A. Lathrop.
WOODVILLE, SANDUSKY Co.
PRES., Mrs. A. Dunham; VICE PRES., Mrs. E. Kellogg ; SEC., Mrs. E. N. Baldwin, Mrs. C. Kellogg ; TREAS., Mrs. Geo. Brim. Cash estimated at $500. Supplies, $500. Total contributions, $1,000.
YORK, MEDINA Co. PRES., Mrs. A. II. Brintnall; SEC., Mrs. M. B. Pierce; TREAS., Miss Melinda Bowen.
APPENDIX F. 511
YOUXGSTOWX, MAJIOXIXG Co.
YOUNGSTOWX.-PRES., Mrs. P. W. Keller, Mrs. R. McMilleu ; VICE I'BES., Mrs. Caro line Garlick ; SEC., Miss Loraine Calvin ; TREAS., Mrs. Richard Brown.
The Youngstown Branch, organized early in the war, continued active till the calls for hospital relief ceased, with but slight change in its efficient organization. The amount of cash expended in the work of the Society is $1,810.50. The balance in hand at the close of the war, $01.08, was given to disabled soldiers or their destitute families ; making a total cash disbursement of $1,901.58. Of the value of nine thousand articles of hospital furnishings no estimate has been reported. This Society was represented in the Sanitary Fair by contributions which netted $900.
YOUXGSTOWN, FLINT HILL.— PRES. Mrs. Lyclia Gibson, Mrs. Nancy McKinney; SEC., Mrs. L. J. Mikesell, Mrs. Jane Morrell ; TREAS., Mrs. II. E. Knox, Mrs. Harriet Knapp.
YOrXGSTOWN, GRAMMAR SCHOOL.— PRES. Miss Mattie Arm? ; VICE PRES., Miss Belle Crawford; SEC., Miss Addie Garlick; TREAS., Miss Carrie Arms, Miss Allie Wick.
YOUXGSTOWX, HIGH SCHOOL.-PRES., Miss Zadie Barclay; VICE PRES., Miss Mattie Keller ; SEC., Miss Ada Murray ; TREAS., Miss Allie Baldwin.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY BERKELEY
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r"' 3 J952
, ox-
LD 21-95m-ll,'50(2877sl6)47G
YC 28106
291970
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY
IBr