USA > New York > Wayne County > Military history of Wayne County, N.Y. : the County in the Civil War > Part 54
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639
MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
48 Pillow Cases, IOC . $4.80
13 Sheets. 6.50
12 Blankets, 9S. 12.00
15 Comfortables
IO Canton Flannel Shirts, 6s. 22.50
40 Linen Towels, 5c.
I Woolen Wrapper, 8s.
1.00
5 Factory Shirts, 4S.
2.50
9 Pairs Canton Flannel Drawers 5.63
14 Pocket Handkerchiefs .42
15 Pillows.
12 Pairs Woolen Socks. 7.50
3 Bottles Currant Wine, 3S. 4.50
1.13
4 Bottles Canned Fruit. 1.76
6} Pounds Dried Fruit. 1.17
4 Pounds Lint 1.50
I Bed Tick. 1.00
18 Pounds Bandages 5.00
I Bottle Canned Pears .38
Total $89.24
HURON.
Mrs. A. Knight, of North Huron, writes for our work the following letter upon the womens' work in that town:
" When asked if I could remember anything about this work, I said to myself, can I ever forget? I sat down alone to see if I could recall the facts regarding the work of the women at that time ; and memory carried me back to the morning when the news reached us, that the first gun had been fired from Fort Sumter, which was an open declara- tion of rebellion ; and the events which followed passed before me in quick succession, like a swiftly moving pano- rama, and the scenes were so vividly and clearly depicted, that I for a moment forgot that they belonged to the dead things of the past, so like a present reality did they seem. A town society, of which there is no record, was organized in the summer of 1861, called the Soldiers' Aid Society, and Mrs. L. M. Shepard, wife of the pastor of the Presbyterian Church, was elected president. The Society met several times at the Town Hall, for the purpose of making various little articles, which it was hoped might add to the comfort and pleasure of our soldiers, when far from the convenien- ces of home. At each meeting there was a large attendance of loyal, true hearted women of all ages, and every one worked with an energy and cheerfulness worthy of the cause ; even those whose hearts were saddened by the
7.50
2.45
640
MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
absence of their own loved ones. For each soldier who went from this town, we made a house-wife, (we will sup- pose that everybody knows what that is,) which was furn- ished with scissors and thimble, needles, pins and thread, of different kinds and colors, and in one end was a little pocket, in which was placed the most precious of all the gifts of love, a small Testament. As I write, I can see the group of eager faces gathered around the table, upon which were spread the pieces of silks and ribbons, that each had given from their store, as they watched those who were the most skilled in arranging colors, as they laid this scrap and that together, to find which would blend the best, and be the most serviceable. We thought, at the time, that if our " Boys in blue" could have looked upon the earnest ani- mated faces, and the willing fingers as they plied the needles so untiringly in their labor of love, that they would have received a new inspiration. Several ladies of the Society were appointed at different times, to pass through the town, and solicit contributions, from every family, of bandages, lint, dried fruits, jellies, sheets, comfortables, or any articles which could be sent to the hospitals, to benefit or cheer the sick and wounded. It gives us great pleasure that we can truthfully say, that with but few exceptions, these calls for aid were cheerfully responded to. And it was noticeable that all objections, or refusals to contribute, came from men, and the wives of several of them gave such articles as they were able to, without their husband's knowledge or consent. The boxes were sent to the hospitals at Washington, we think, though some things may have gone to other places. The women of Huron were loyal and true, and while they could not respond to the call of their country in person, they cheerfully consented to a greater sacrifice in giving their husbands and sons; many of whom never returned to gladden the waiting, anxious hearts, which still hold them in loving remembrance."
LYONS.
The work inaugurated and vigorously prosecuted by the ladies of this town was of great magnitude. They felt the responsibility of the times and nobly met it. As Lyons was the county seat, and the headquarters of very much of the military work in the county, the efforts of the ladies there had a corresponding importance. A regularly organized Society met at the Court House, once in two weeks, through most of the war period. Miss Martha L.
641
MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
Ellis, was the Secretary during the greatest part of the Society's career. Circulars were issued over her signature, and letters of acknowledgment from abroad were addressed to her. June 11th, 1863, the following was the full list of officers. It probably includes the names of the most active ladies in the important work, though they evidently had numerous associates.
THE LADIES' SOLDIERS' RELIEF SOCIETY.
At a meeting of this Society, held June IIth, the follow- ing officers were elected for the ensuing year :
President-Mrs. J. M. Holley.
Vice-President-Mrs. S. B. Gavitt.
Treasurer-Mrs. Thurston.
Secretary-Miss Martha L. Ellis.
Directresses-Mrs. Murdock, Mrs. Brownson, Mrs Wel- ler, Mrs. W. F. Ashley, Mrs. Mohrardt, Mrs. Hano, Mrs. Randall, Mrs. Lewis, Mrs. Belden, Mrs. A. Waterman, Mrs. S. D. Holmes.
It is difficult to give within the limits that can be used for that purpose anything like a complete statement of the work of this Society. We can only offer samples. We give one report in full as a specimen of the variety of articles included in these soldiers' supplies.
LADIES' SOLDIERS' RELIEF SOCIETY.
" The Ladies' Soldiers' Relief Society, of Lyons, have sent to the sick and wounded soldiers, during the past three months, ending September 19th, 1863: two barrels, four half-barrels, and two packages. To Mr. John S. Poler, for the benefit of the suffering soldiers in Virginia, Maryland, and at Gettysburgh : two packages and two half-barrels. To the Sanitary Commission in New York, two barrels and two half-barrels. These packages contain in all the following articles: Eight pairs cotton pillow-cases, two pairs linen pillow-cases, three cotton sheets, one cotton bed-sack, five feather pillows, one flannel blanket, four bed-quilts, twenty- seven pairs cotton socks, seven pairs woolen socks, five cot- ton vests, five linen vests, three linen coats, sixty-nine cotton shirts, two flannel wrappers, nineteen pairs cotton drawers, twelve pairs flannel drawers, two dressing gowns, three pairs slippers, three pairs linen pantaloons, one hundred and six towels, napkins and handkerchiefs, thirty rolls of bandages, three parcels of lint, twelve palm-leaf fans, seven arm-slings,
43
642
MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
twelve rolls linen and cotton pieces, two half-barrels cucum ber pickles, forty-one pounds dried apples, twenty-three pounds dried cherries, eight pounds dried black currants, six pounds dried raspberries, twelve pounds dried plums, twelve pounds dried peaches, two and a half bushels dried fruit, (comprising apples, gooseberries, cherries, currants, elderberries, peaches and plums,) two cans cherries dried in sugar, one can currants dried in sugar, one can black cur- rants dried in sugar, one jar preserved peaches, five cans black currant jam, two cans raspberry jam, one can goose- berry jam, two cans fresh cherries, one can fresh currants, two cans fresh peaches, one bottle claret, one bottle black currant wine.
" Letters have been received by the Secretary, informing the Society of the arrival of all the barrels, half-barrels and packages, at their respective destinations, and all in perfect order. The average attendance at the meetings of the Society has been sixteen.
MARTHA L. ELLIS, Secretary."
In reply to a previous shipment, we find the following account of its reception and acknowledgment :
LADIES' SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY.
Miss Ellis, Secretary of the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society in this village, has received the following acknowledgment from John S. Poler, in behalf of the Sanitary Commission, dated Washington, August 8th, 1863 :
"MY DEAR MADAM :- Your letter of the 31st ult., was received in due time, and to-day the goods came to hand in good condition. They are very excellent, and the contents of the half-barrel were very timely. The hot weather makes it necessary to furnish the feverish, weak and pallid suffer - ers with many articles that are not found in the Hospital. It is most cheering to see how the sunken eye brightens at the approach of a stranger-friend, who sympathetically and kindly asks after their condition and proffers them some little act of kindness. There will be only a few, a very few of the many sad scenes of this most cruel war ever written. This is well. For could all that is seen and felt and suffered in one of these hospitals, for a single quarter, be written in full, no one would have the nerve to peruse the narrative. There have been but a few of the Gettysburgh wounded brought to this city. They are gathered into the General Hospital at Gettesburgh, and at Baltimore, Annapolis and Philadelphia ; and some have gone to New York.
Yours Truly, JOHN S. POLER."
643
MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
About the time of the battle of Gettysburgh, we have the following newspaper articles :
THE LADIES' SOLDIERS' RELIEF SOCIETY.
To those who fear a portion of the articles sent to our sick and wounded soldiers are appropriated by officials, the ladies are pleased to say, they send their goods to John S. Poler, Washington, who they are convinced is faithful in distributing them, not to the care of Surgeons, Matrons, Stewards, &c., but to the patient himself, with the counsel of the Surgeon in charge. The following is a letter from him to the Secretary of the Society :
WASHINGTON, July 8th, 1863.
" MISS. MARTHA L. ELLIS :-- Five thousand sick and wounded were sent forward from Fredericksburg, when our army moved from there. These together with the goods sent to the battle-field at Gettysburgh and Williams- port have completely absorbed our stock, so that we have no socks, no drawers, but very few shirts, few towels, little dried fruit, less canned fruit or jelly. By this statement you can judge whether you can aid us by sending to us any of your goods. The terrible battle that is going on will cast into our midst thousands more to be visited and cared for. When one of your family is ill, all the family, all the house and a portion of the neighborhood are taxed to care for the one sufferer. What think you then is our task when we have in each hospital 100, 500, 1200, 3700, each sick and many wounded men in these hospitals to visit as they should be daily ? But we shall do as best we can, and if your society feel willing to commit your contributions to our hands, we will try to so distribute the same that the largest number shall be helped by them. Our cause is now marching triumphantly to success, and I trust to a speedy termination of this cruel war.
Very truly yours, JOHN S. POLER."
" The ladies will meet at the Court House every Thursday, at 2 P. M. They ask that the gentlemen will send to them the worn and old-fashioned summer clothing they have thrown aside, shirts, drawers, pantaloons, socks, &c., and they urgently solicit a large attendance of ladies with thimble and needle to work a couple of hours for the com- fort of our afflicted friends. July 17th, 1863."
In the fall of that same year, the ladies gave a festival, as seen below.
644
MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
LADIES' SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY-FESTIVAL IN UNION HALL.
" We take this occasion to remind our readers, once more, of the approaching Festival of the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society, of this village, on Wednesday evening, of next week, the 30th instant. The Board of Education have very kindly consented to the occupation of Union Hall, on that occasion ; and unless present indications very much deceive us, that spacious apartment will be crowded to its utmost capacity. This Festival, it is intended, shall be the affair of the season. The 'exercises' will be somewhat varied. There will be substantials for the hungry, and delicacies for the dainty. There will be Tableaux, and there will be Music: in short, there will be everything that will be expected, and very much that will not be. And we venture to guarantee that no person will leave the Hall dissatisfied with the evening's entertainment. The admission-cards are to be sold at fifty cents each. The proceeds of the Festival are of course to be applied toward the purchase of material for hospital stores. Donations of provisions, groceries, &c., are solicited from our citizens. Such donations should be delivered as early as Wednesday morning, at the Hall-or earlier, if possible. December 25th, 1863."
Some one thought it necessary to issue a stirring appeal at one time as follows :
OUR PATRIOTIC WOMEN.
" MR. EDITOR :- Can you tell me where are our patriotic women ? I can tell you where some of them are-a devoted few-every fortnight, at least, at the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Rooms, at the Court House. But where are the many others who might as well be there as not? Alas! I fear they have forgotten the brave men who lie on beds of suffer- ing in the hospitals and in the camps, wearing their lives away, or slowly recovering from the effects of wounds received in the service of their country. Oh! good ladies, do you realize how much can be done, and how much needs now to be done for the comfort of those who are worn out by weariness, wounds and disease in the service to which we all urged them, and in which service we promised to cheer and sustain them? Many among us did well for a time, but have they done all they intended to do? Is it enough that we did well nine or twelve months ago? Did not our soldiers do well and suffer much then? And have they not done, and suffered, and died ever since? And do they not serve and suffer now,-aye, suffer and die because we do not care and provide for them as we easily can and
645
MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
verily ought to do? It is a matter of painful record that very many of the deaths among the volunteers from this county during the war, have resulted from a lack of care and proper hospital supplies; and so it will continue to be, until there is among us much more of the patriotism that does, and much less of the patriotism that only wishes to do. Lady readers, have you such a thing as a Bible? Of course you have. Then please read the 15th and 16th verses of the second chapter of James. Our soldiers truly want good wishes and earnest prayers, but they also want shirts, drawers and socks, jellies, jam, wine, pickles, dried fruit, onions and everything which the sick and convalescing need anywhere. And now don't let us falter when so much is wanted. Come, ladies, young and old-come in and help us. Hands that can and will work are what are now wanted most. Go to the Society's Rooms on Thursday and work, or get your arms full, and take it home, and get your neighbors to help you make it up, that supplies may be sent on where they are so much needed. September 4th, 1863.
MARIENNE." .
MARION.
From a memorandum furnished by Miss N. N. Henion, it appears that a Ladies' Aid Society was regularly organized soon after the commencement of the war. They met fre- quently at different places in the village and accomplished a great amount of work. The ladies brought out old linen and it was scraped into lint. Even the children were set at this work, and eagerly shared in the patriotic labor. Band- ages were made in great quantities and forwarded for hospital use. They filled boxes with dried fruit and with necessary articles of clothing, such as the government did not supply, but which would be greatly to the comfort of the soldier. Money was raised to pay freight, and to assist soldiers' families at home. All worked so faithfully that it would be difficult now to mention names without doing injustice to others. Miss Henion adds :
" I have not been able to find the names of the officers of the Society nor the amounts raised. If you were to publish the names of all who were earnest workers, it would form a long list. I have not even found the name of the Secretary, so I suppose the names of members will have to remain in obscurity along with the thousands of unknown soldiers who fought as bravely as those whose names are before the public."
646
MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
MACEDON.
Mrs. Mary J. Durfee, writes as follows :
" The women of Macedon Center responded to the call of the Sanitary Commission. There was a society organized on the 5th of November, 1861. The place of meeting was the Academy Hall. The names of officers I am not able to recall, but we were all workers for a time. From an old memorandum I see that I was treasurer and one of the purchasing committee. When our first box was packed, it was done at Mrs. Odell's. It was prized at fifty dollars. Then we paid express charges on the same-ten dollars. This was the labor of a month. But it did not end here ; we worked on. There were seven revolvers purchased for as many brave boys at an expense of fifty-six dollars. They were purchased by my husband for the committee. But the workers of that day are mostly gone. Mrs. Morsells took an active part in this work, but the family have moved away. The Center and the town raised money and placed tablets, with the names of the soldiers of this town inscribed on the same, at the entrance of the Cemetery grounds at Macedon."
ONTARIO.
During the year of 1861, there was a large amount of work accomplished by the women of Ontario. It was of a miscellaneous character. Little groups in various neighbor- hoods scraped lint, looked after the comfort of the departing soldiers, and ministered to their welfare in numerous ways. In 1862, there was' a regular Society organized, of which Mrs. Alvira Hill, was President; Mrs. A. D. Sands, Vice- President ; Mrs. O. F. Whitney, Secretary and Miss Harriet Hopkins, Treasurer. Of this, Mr. J. C. Houck writes :
" We are unable to find out the whole amount contributed or work done, but we have ascertained that ten barrels of supplies were sent to Company B, Ninth New York Heavy Artillery, at one time. More than 200 yards of flannel were made up into shirts and sent to the same company. Yarn was spun, and a large number of pairs of socks were knit and sent; ladies taking their knitting to war meetings, so as to improve the time during the speaking. Quite a number of bed quilts were made and sent. The ladies of the Soldiers' Aid Society, at their rooms in Rochester, said that the Society in Ontario did more work than any other sec- tion outside of the cities."
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
The records of the Society are not preserved ; officers of sub- sequent years cannot be given in order. At one time Mrs. A. D. Sands was President and Treasurer, and Miss Frank Har- ris, Secretary. Mrs. A. D. Sands writes of this noble work : " Our Society met every two weeks, and with willing hands made, prepared and forwarded clothing and hospital stores to the Soldiers' Hospitals. The ladies of this whole town took a lively interest in the work, and after doing so much as they did, regretted they could not do more. Many times when the Societies' work was getting low, and many willing hands ready and anxious to do more, I have gone to the Aid Society, at Rochester, and obtained work and distributed to all who desired it. Many others spent nearly their whole time in collecting and forwarding supplies for our brave soldiers. The amount during the war was enormous. No demand was made on our Society but what was supplied, and our Society was frequently applauded from headquarters for its large and timely aid. I much regret I cannot give you the exact amounts. I shall ever feel proud of the aid rendered the soldiers by the ladies of this town in saving the best Government on earth. Our Society was continued in aid of the freedmen for about two years after the close of the war. And several hundred dollars in money, and much clothing was forwarded to aid in caring for and educating the freedmen of the South."
PALMYRA.
Mrs. Eaton, wife of the late Rev. Dr. Eaton, furnishes the following excellent paper, constituting a worthy tribute to the women of Palmyra :
" The women of Palmyra have no reason to be ashamed of their record during the war of the rebellion. They gave to the cause of their country those dearer to them than their own lives,-their husbands, brothers, sons. The wife who in 1861 penned the following lines, expressed the feel- ings of many a Palmyra woman :
" Don't stop a moment to think, John, Your country calls, then go ; Don't think of me or the children, John, I'll care for them, you know.
" Leave the corn upon the stalks, John, Potatoes in the hill, And the pumpkins on the vine, John, I'll gather them with a will.
" So take your gun and go, John, Take your gun and go,- For Ruth can drive the oxen, John, And I can use the hoe."
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MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
" Ingenuity, constancy in labor and toil for those who had left them for the front, were but lesser offerings of our women included in the greater. There was a taint of selfish ambition and vain-glory in the last words of the Spartan mother to her son as he left her for the war, 'Return with your shield or upon it.' Higher, purer, holier were the sentiments of our women, as with moistened eyes, but with serene and Heaven-lit countenances, they spoke the ‘God bless you,' 'God cover you in the day of battle.' With amasing self-control they smothered at parting the bursting sob, the choking sigh, lest the dauntless purpose of the soldier should falter and lest an additional twinge of pain should pierce the already over-burdened hearts of those they loved. When the train that bore the men away had sped on and the curling smoke of the engine was all that could be seen, then came the strong crying and tears. And as weeks and months passed into years, only the Recording Angel can tell of ' the fellowship of suffering' cherished by our Palmyra women with those in camp and field.
" With what tremulous anxiety they watched the mail as it was distributed, and listened to the post-boys as they shouted the latest news from the army, while all they could catch would be the two horrible words, 'Another battle!' What nervous trepidation when there was a knock at the door, when a telegram was delivered, or when they saw men gathering silently in knots in the streets. When long inter- vals elapsed and no letters came, and 'Libby,' ' Anderson-
ville,' 'Salisbury' were whispered, how did appetite fail as they sat down at the home-board only to think, 'They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger, for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field.' It was hardest of all when the other boys came back to their own roof-tree, but their's never, never came more. Experiences like these wet their pillows and held their eyes waking. They wrinkled the brow, blanched the hair, shrunk and faded the beautiful cheek. But in those perilous times that tried our women's souls, there were vouchsafed to many of them a self-renun- ciation, a strength and fortitude beyond mere heroism. Their's was the Christ-spirit. They knew, they felt that some how, in some way, the lives of their beloved ones were to prove 'a ransom for many.' At a meeting of our ladies in Union School Hall, one mother, Mrs, George Jessup, was seated with the rest, working for the soldiers. She had that morning bade farewell,-as it proved, a last farewell,-to her first-born son, a brave boy of seventeen summers. ‘I am glad Eddie feels like going,' she quietly said ; 'I wish I
649
MILITARY HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.
had other sons to give to my country and to the cause of freedom.' We regret that the records of our Soldiers' Relief Association have been lost so that we can not furnish the exact amounts contributed in dollars and cents, or the number and value of boxes sent.
"Company B, Thirty-third Regiment N. Y. Volunteers, left our town on the 16th of May, 1861. Our women supplied them with every thing they were unable to pur- chase, besides generously assisting their families. 'Nothing was so moving, nothing so vividly realized to our minds the nature of the occasion, as the sight of women marching by the side of the ranks. It told the whole story.' At the depot the ladies gave each man a nice lunch, a pin cushion, needle book, a pocket handkerchief, pair of socks, bandages and lint. From another source all received Testaments. Soon the women remembered they had no flag to unfurl to the breeze. They procured money, went to Rochester, selected the best silk, prepared one, and in front of the hotel at 7 P. M., June 4, 1861, they presented it to Captain Corning for his company. This banner, given by our women, 'that it might be displayed because of the truth,' came back in shreds, but it is reverently preserved by the Garfield Post. Company A, One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment, left us July 31st, 1862. 'It was made up from the best class of young men of which our town could boast. Wives, mothers and sisters were every where to be seen, holding a farewell conversation with their loved ones, and slipping into their hands some parting testimonial of affection.' While the great conflict lasted other companies were formed and recruits sent out, for all of whom our Palmyra women labored thought fully, indefatigably and enthusiastically. They did not grow weary in well-doing, but as the combat deepened, their benefactions increased. In the winter of 1862, the boys of Co. B were found barefoot. Their money had not been paid them. Mrs. Henry Draime ascertained the sizes worn by the men, purchased boots and forwarded them at once. It is thought that no Thanksgiving or Christmas day passed during the war that our ladies did not send either directly to our soldiers, or through the Sanitary or Christian Commissions, boxes freighted with comforts and luxuries. Our Society was organized anew July 25, 1862. Including extra boxes, some of great value, forwarded immediately after hearing of heavy engagements, it is believed we averaged from this date one box a month to the end of the war. The claims of fashionable society were in a measure ignored. The frivolous developed into the earnest and self-sacrificing. The almost universal feeling among our
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