USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Pittsburgh > Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania > Part 68
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For Pittsburg. For Allegheny.
Pittsburg
2,495
1,16I
Allegheny
12
5,972
Boroughs.
267
1,156
Townships
530
4,026
Totals.
3,304
12,315
Majority for Allegheny
9,01 I
A fair held by the ladies was the means of increasing the monument fund to $26,600, which sum was promptly put out at interest. The foundation of the monument was commenced on or about April 1, 1870, and on Decoration Day of the same year the cornerstone was laid with imposing ceremonies. The total fund at this time amounted to $28,000, raised by the ladies' committee, $5,000 presented by the park commissioners, and $5,000 donated by the county commissioners. The monument was erected during 1870 and 1871, and on Decoration Day of the last-named year the structure was appropriately dedi- cated by an immense concourse of citizens. The monument was built of Massillon (Ohio) sandstone. Its principal features were the four monuments on either side, representing artillery, cavalry, infantry and navy. Surmount- ing all was a colossal statue representing Fame. General George G. Meade and Governor John W. Geary were present and delivered brief addresses. John M. Kirkpatrick, orator of the day, delivered an eloquent oration, extolling the martyrdom of the 4,000 soldiers of Allegheny County who had sacrificed their lives on the altars of secession.
The first steps to furnish relief to the families of volunteers were taken by the Committee of Public Safety, which appointed a subcommittee of relief, with branches in every ward, two days after the large meeting of Monday, April 15, 1861. On April 23d the Allegheny Council appropriated $5,000 for the relief fund, and about the same time Pittsburg doubled the amount. So many volunteers left during April, May and June, 1861, that the committee was stimulated into vigorous and effective action to provide necessaries for their families. Previous to May 6th the committee received in cash and in orders for fuel and provisions $11,374.25, of which amount seven banks gave $3,000, and $10,065.75 was cash. On May 8th the ladies, to the number of about fifty, met to take action, in response to the request of Miss Dorothea L. Dix of Washington, to furnish shirts, socks, etc., for the volunteers. The ladies began active and organized work at once. Calls from the Allegheny County companies already in the field came for similar supplies. The ladies furnished large quantities to the companies in Camp Wilkins. Section 16 of the Three Million Loan Bill, passed by the Legislature early in May, consti- tuted the associate judges and the county commissioners of each county a Board of Relief, whose duty was to furnish the families of volunteers with neces- sary assistance; and section 17 of the same bill authorized county authorities
594
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
lo levy a tax not exceeding two and a half mills on each dollar for the relief of volunteers or their. families. By May 21, 1861, a little more than one month from the time of commencing, they had collected and paid out $18,483.38; and by June 4th were providing regularly 502 families with the necessaries of life, such as flour, meat, coffee, sugar, clothing, etc. By October 20, 1861, the county had so many volunteers in the field that the number of families requiring relief was as follows: Pittsburg 687, Allegheny 366, boroughs 508, townships 471; total, 2,032. At this time $4,500 was paid out each week for relief. It was apparent to the committee that unless the county tax of two mills -which raised about $50,000-was increased or renewed in some way within eight or ten weeks, the families of volunteers would be cut off entirely from this source of livelihood. On November Ist the Relief Board made the fol- lowing report:
Districts.
Number of Applicants.
Amount Paid Out.
Pittsburg
772
$6,600.50
Allegheny .
402
3,564.00
Boroughs.
599
5,712.54
Townships
529
5,100.00
2,302
$20,977.04
On June 25th the Committee of Public Safety requested the County Com- missioners to levy a tax of at least two mills on the dollar for the year 1861 for the purpose of creating a fund for the support of the families of volunteers. The Commissioners conditionally promised to do so on July 25th. Agreeably to promise, the county levied the required tax but no provision was made for its speedy collection, and hence the Relief Board of the Committee of Public Safety was left to furnish the necessary assistance, and nobly met the emergency. Late in November, 1861, the fund for the relief of soldiers' families became exhausted and a large crowd of women assembled at the Commissioners' office and demanded bread or the means to buy it. They were sent to the Treasur- er's office, where they were informed that that functionary had not collected the tax because the Commissioners had not turned over the tax duplicates until two days after the time for giving legal notice had expired, so that he had never had legal possession of the books; that the Commissioners had either failed or neglected to collect the tax through collectors, and that if the Commissioners would do their duty under the two-mill act, the Treasurer would negotiate a loan in one hour of $30,000. Prior to December 28, 1861, there was paid out by the county to the families of volunteers the sum of about $38,000, of which $28,000 was county fund and $10,000 was borrowed from the banks. It was the design to appropriate the $28,000 from the county treasury, so that the full two-mill tax of about $50,000, less the $10,000 hor- rowed from the banks, could be used as soon as collected, for further relief. Earnest calls upon the Commissioners for help during the winter of 1861-2 were made by many families whose support was in the army. During the year 1861 the State spent in Pittsburg and Allegheny for clothing, meat, bread, lumber, drugs, shoes, stoves, hardware, coal, chairs, mattresses, etc., for the army, the sum of $73,995.04, as shown by the report of the Auditor of State. Large quantities of hospital supplies of every description were collected from all parts of the county and sent to the regiments and companies in the field in November and December, 1861. Owing to mismanagement in collecting funds for the relief of soldiers' families, much suffering was experienced by them in the spring of 1862; so much so in fact that on one occasion in April a
Forman w. Fehlen
597
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
number of the wives of volunteers presented themselves at the houses of prominent citizens and imperatively demanded relief, representing that they and their children were starving. A large meeting or convention was held on April 30th, on which occasion the County Commissioners were asked to negotiate a loan sufficient to meet the present exigency of the county relief fund. A number of the boroughs appropriated money for the same purpose. Plans of all kinds were instituted to raise funds: lectures, aid societies, per- formances, suppers, contributions, festivals, etc.
In October, 1861, Jacob Glosser was appointed Government agent here for the collection of blankets, quilts, pillows, socks, etc., for the army. He at once appointed in every ward, borough and township committees of ladies, who were authorized to form societies to carry out the wishes of the Government societies. This was the first installation here of the great Sanitary Commission that was destined to confer so much comfort upon the soldiers in the field and the hospitals. Contributions were placed with Postmasters S. F. Von Bonnhorst of Pittsburg, and Samuel Riddle of Allegheny. On January 22, 1862, a public meeting held here, of which S. F. Von Bonnhorst was chairman, considered the most efficient means to assist the United States Sanitary Com- mission in providing necessary supplies for sick and wounded soldiers. Com- mittees were appointed and other steps taken to meet this important require- ment. Early in April, 1862, when the news of the great battle of Shiloh (or Pittsburg Landing, as it was then called) was received, the Board of Trade wired to Secretary Stanton and to General Halleck: "We will send one or two of our best steamboats, with surgeons and nurses, to Pittsburg, Tenn., to return with wounded soldiers, to be taken care of in this city;" and further appropriated $1,000 for the furtherance of that object. Two boats were hired, many nurses-men and women-and surgeons, and large quantities of sup- plies, were loaded thereon and dispatched down the river on the IIth. The expedition was placed in charge of Felix R. Brunot, who went in advance to the scene of the battle by rail and stage. About the 23d of April a telegram was received from him to the effect that the two boats, Hailman and Marengo, would soon reach Pittsburg on their return, having on board about seventy wounded soldiers. A large meeting of the citizens was called on the 24th to make preparations to receive them. The boats took on board at Pittsburg Landing about 240 sick and wounded, but left all except about seventy at other points along the river. Upon the arrival of the boats on the 26th and 27th all the wounded, except seventeen, were placed in the Marine Hospital; the others were provided for at Passavant Infirmary and Mercy Hospital.
On June 17, 1862, the Pittsburg Commission sent twenty-six delegates to the hospitals of the Army of the Potomac. Six were left at Fortress Monroe and the others reached Savage's Station on the 23d, and at once had all they could do in caring for the wounded brought from the bloody fields before Richmond. When the army fell back, eleven of the delegates, among whom was Felix R. Brunot, fell into the hands of the enemy, but were permitted to continue their labors until July 8th, when they were sent to Richmond and confined in Libby Prison until duly exchanged. This was but one of many similar efforts made to care for the wounded and sick in the field. Scarcely a battle was fought during the war, in which Allegheny County men par- ticipated, that was not followed either by the sending of delegates, surgeons and supplies to the field, or by bringing the sick and wounded home to be cared for. . The United States General Hospital in the Ninth Ward rendered great assistance. Almost every church had its special committee to secure cash and supplies. The same was true of the cities, boroughs and town- ships. The Committee on Quartering Troops and Furnishing Provisions,
31
598
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
consisting of Samuel McKelvey, John W. Riddle, William Robinson, Jr., R. Patterson, T. J. Gallaher, Joshua Rhodes, Alexander Speer, William Holmes and W. Howard, made arrangements in April, 1861, to care temporarily for volunteers here, preparatory to their departure to the field.
On Sunday morning, July 25, 1861, the ladies of the Subsistence Com- mittee, a branch of the Committee of Public Safety, commenced operations by furnishing the Twenty-fourth Ohio Regiment with coffee and ham sandwiches while waiting at the depot to take the train for the East. The lunch was handed to the soldiers as they stood in the street. At this time the committee had no room or building; but the next week the old Leech warehouse was secured and opened and used until October, 1861, when they moved into the old City Hall, pursuant to an order of the City Councils. The first work of the committee was informal, but a regular organization was effected August 3, 1861. From July 25, 1861, to April 1, 1862, they fed over 43,000 men passing through the city to the seat of war. In the meantime, but after January 15, 1862, they sent to the fields and hospitals immense quantities of socks, com- forts, towels, dressing-gowns, pillows, blankets, mittens, neckscarfs, sheets, drawers, finger-stalls, handkerchiefs, books, slippers, bandages, canned and dried fruits, etc .- a total of 7,031 articles. In January, 1862, when they began sending hospital stores to the field, they opened a depot for the reception of such supplies, and continued to receive and forward immense quantities until April, 1863, when the United States Christian Commission, having established a branch in Pittsburg, was given possession of the storeroom and stores, and thereafter such field relief was furnished by that organization. From January, 1862, to April, 1863, the local Subsistence Committee received and forwarded to the field $65,000 worth of hospital stores. These stores were not procured with the ease that plums are obtained from a tree by shaking, but cost the members of the committee persistent labor in all localities where supplies were likely to be furnished. The men and women composing the com- mittee cannot be given too much credit for their heroic efforts, self-denials and sacrifices to afford comfort to the sick and wounded soldiers of both great armies.
Before turning the stores and the management of that department of relief over to the Christian Commission, the Subsistence Committee, on Janu- ary 18, 1863, established a Home for sick and wounded soldiers who could not otherwise be properly cared for. At first a small room was opened at 34 Liberty Street, and on the first day forty-five soldiers, ten of whom were on crutches, and twenty-one had no means to obtain a meal, were received and provided for. At first the committee had only a miniature cookstove upon which but one article could be cooked at a time. By July 23, 1862, it had furnished meals to over 50,000 troops passing through here, of whom about 350 were sick or wounded and were furnished with medical attendance. A grand total of 24,27I articles had been contributed by this and surrounding counties and sent to the field. Cash to the amount of $1,297.71 had been collected and judiciously expended. On the night of September 28th and morning of September 29, 1862, the Pittsburg Subsistence Committee fed 4,340 troops passing through this city. Previous to the night of the 28th and of the midday of the 24th they fed 3,671, a total of 8,011 men in four days. This was but one of many such splendid accomplishments by this grand Subsistence Com- mittee during the bloody four years of war.
When the news of the battle of Stone River, the last of December, 1862, reached Pittsburg, immediate preparations were made to dispatch a large quan- tity of supplies to the hospitals of that sanguinary field. Negley's Brigade had lost heavily in that struggle. In one day $12,000 in money and supplies was
599
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
brought to the committee. One merchant furnished, 300 pairs of woolen socks. An old woman insisted that the committee must take her last fifty-cent piece. Scores of such instances occurred. During the year ending January 15, 1863, the committee collected in round numbers $50,000 in cash and hos- pital stores. During the year 1862 they sent to the field the following articles: 818 comforts, 2,310 pillows, 2,382 pillow-cases, 1,950 sheets, 5,434 towels, 2,543 pads and rings, 17,579 bundles of lint, 9,483 rolls of bandages, 2,240 bundles of muslin, 174 blankets, 2,536 drawers, 6,290 muslin sheets, 1,350 flannel shirts, 232 bedticks, 442 neckbands, 279 dressing-gowns, 3,001 pairs socks, 223 pairs mittens, 567 pairs slippers, 6,885 handkerchiefs, 4,696 cans fruit, 2,419 pounds crackers, 1,345 quarts of wine, 1,148 pounds of butter, 2,118 dozen eggs, 13,307 books, 212 pounds of soap, 6,135 pounds dried fruits, 1,876 pack- ages corn starch, farina and tobacco. "You can say unhesitatingly to the donors at Pittsburg that by this one shipment (175 barrels of onions and potatoes), setting aside all questions of humanity, they have done more to increase the efficient fighting strength of the army than they would have done by securing a full regiment of new recruits" (v). After the Soldiers' Home had once been started, it grew in usefulness very rapidly; the wonder was how they had man- aged to get along so many months without it. In October, 1863, a sleeping- room was added. On May 5, 1864, a new Home was opened with due cere- mony, comprising the second, third and fourth stories of the building at 34 Liberty Street, opposite the Central Depot, all fitted with dining-room, kitchen, sitting-rooms, sleeping apartments; in fact, a home in the truest sense of the word. It was said of the ladies of the committee:
"Stitch, stitch, stitch! From morning until night! Stitch, stitch, stitch! While the weather is warm and bright! Oh, but to breathe the breath Of approval would be most sweet, And not take the snarl of a fault-finding set And be worked nearly off their feet.
"Work, work, work! Their labor, it must not flag; And what are its wages? the growls of those Who have not given a rag. Oh, ladies, ladies, work on; . Do not take respite brief, You will have leisure for love and hope And not any cause for grief."
When the Soldiers' Home of the Pittsburg Subsistence Committee was . opened in May, 1864, several ladies here signed the pledge agreeing not to purchase articles of foreign manufacture during the war. They formed a society and elected Mrs. F. A. Brunot president, Mrs. F. Volz vice-president, and Miss M. M. Maitland secretary. The wording of the first pledge was considered too strict, so, in October, 1864, it was amended to read, "We will not purchase any article of foreign manufacture for which American can be substituted, and will not purchase any imported articles of luxury, such as silks, velvets, laces, embroideries, etc." By March 1, 1865, they had received $61,580.60, and had disbursed $54,334.40.
(v) Extract from a letter of M. C. Read, Sanitary Agent at Murfreesboro, Tenn.
600
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
Previous to May 9, 1863, the committee fed 102,460 soldiers, and on that (late had under their care in the hospital here nearly 200 sick and wounded. Previous to May 1, 1864, they fed 206,457. At this time W. P. Weyman, Joseph Albree and H. M. Atwood were the executive board of the Subsistence Coin- mittee. During the months of January and February, 1864, the committee furnished meals for 14,346 soldiers, the most of whom were veterans home on furloughs. By December 31, 1864, they had fed 325,248 men; by March I, 1865, over 350,000, and by July 1, 1865, 420,107. They fed a grand total of not less than 460,000 men.
The Pittsburg branch of the United States Christian Commission, as before stated, was organized April 6, 1863. Previous to January I, 1864, its labors are shown by the following figures:
Cash contributions. $21,348.81
Value of stores donated .. 45,708.79
Value of stores sent to armies 54,079.0I
Value of reading matter
4,635.29
Total. $125,771.90
The branch here, ealled the "Army Committee of Western Pennsylvania," ranked fourth in the United States in point of usefulness. It had sent to the armies previous to January I, 1864, seventy-two earnest men, who devoted their time to the relief of the siek and wounded soldiers. It received great assistance from the Pittsburg Subsistence Committee. Money was received by Joseph Albree and stores by W. P. Weyman. During the year ending April I, 1864, the Army Committee sent to the armies, and distributed at home, hospital stores and reading-matter to the value of $80,910, of which three- fourths went to the Army of the Cumberland, which was placed under the special care of the Pittsburg branch. In the fall of 1863 a station was estab- lished by them at Camp Howe, and early in March, 1864, another at Camp Copeland. Every week they visited and supplied the United States General Hospital here. The ladies of the Subsistence Committee continued to give them great assistance. By April, 1864, the Army Committee had sent to the field 130 delegates, and on April 13th there were yet with the armies thirty of these earnest workers.
The first annual meeting of the Pittsburg branch of the Christian Com- mission was held in the First Presbyterian Church, on Wood Street, the even- ing of Sunday, May 8, 1864, and a great assemblage of earnest men and women workers gathered. George H. Stewart of Philadelphia, president of the National organization, was present. Rev. Herrick Johnson, president of the Pittsburg branch, presided. These two gentlemen and Rev. Dr. Priestly delivered elaborate and eloquent appeals for assistance, which met with instant response from the great assemblage. In subscriptions and eash there was secured $21, 145. William Frew, who had previously agreed to give $1,000, arose to his feet under his own splendid patriotism and generosity and the electrical effeet of the addresses and raised the amount to $5,000. T. S. Clarke subscribed $2,000, and James O'Hara, Chares Loekhart and William Thaw $1,000 each. This was a wonderful meeting and did inealeulable good. The sum subscribed that night was the nueleus for continued donations during the remainder of the war. By May II, 1864, it amounted to $28,500, and on that date $10,000 was sent to the National Commission. By July 2d the amount reached $80,308.82; December 6, 1864, $104,482.87; March I, 1865, $139,945-35; April 1., 1865, $142,636.66; July 1, 1865, $159,361.70, and probably three times that
601
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
amount in supplies. On June 10, 1865, a new Soldiers' Home on Liberty Street was opened and occupied, and a short time afterward contained forty- one orphans. Later, the care of soldiers', orphans was transferred to the State. On March 5, 1864, it was decided at a public meeting of the citizens to hold a Sanitary Fair, to commence not later than June Ist. Later, another meeting was held and a thorough organization and complete arrangements were made. The Executive Committee appointed consisted of Felix R. Brunot, chairman, Thomas M. Howe, John H. Shoenberger, J. I. Bennett, John W. Chalfant, Charles W. Batchelor, B. F. Jones, James O'Connor, James Park, Jr., Mark W. Watson, James Watt and W. S. Haven. The Ladics' Committee con- sisted of Miss Rachel W. McFadden, chairman, Mesdames F. R. Brunot, Tier- nan, Paxton, Price, William Bakcwell, Kaye, John Watt, Brady Wilkins, Alger- non Bell, and Misses Susan Sellers and Mary Moorhead. Calls were promptly issued to Western Pennsylvania particularly, and the whole North generally, for anything that could be "eaten, worn, sold or was curious to look at." Ten carloads of lumber for the building were received in one lot in April. After much discussion it was decided to hold the Fair on the West Common in Allegheny, and soon Floral Hall, Ladies' Bazaar, Refectory, Exhibition Hall, Monitor Hall, Mechanics' Hall and other buildings began to show their forms and proportions under the free labor of carpenters. The Art Gallery and Old Curiosity Shop were established in the City Council Chambers. The Sanitary Fair Fund was started at the commencement, and by May 26th amounted to $46,711.35. Under an urgent call from J. K. Moorhead, from Washington, early in May, $2,000 of the fund was sent to the battlefields of the Army of the Potomac; and a total of $40,000 was anticipated and pledged from the same fund if needed. When the Fair opened on June 1, 1864, Nathaniel Holmes, the treasurer, had on hand $84,059.37; and at this time enough more was promised to raise the amount to $101,029.77, of which the iron firms gave $15,750 and the banks $12,350. It was decided at the outset that ten per cent. of the net proceeds of the Fair should be used in building a Soldiers' Home for the Subsistence Committee, and that twenty-five per cent. should be donated to a house for disabled soldiers and their orphans, unless the same should be needed for the sick and wounded during the progress of the war.
The opening day was a grand affair, though the ceremonies occurred late in the afternoon. An immense procession, led by General Negley, chief mar- shal, and composed of Governor Curtin and his staff, officials of the two cities and the boroughs, all the fire engines and crews, the members of many societies and unions, and a large number of citizens, started from the Monongahela House at 4 o'clock p. m. and marched through Smithfield, Fifth, Market, St. Clair and Federal streets, over the suspension bridge to the Fair Grounds in Allegheny, where the opening speech was made by Governor Curtin. It was estimated that 5,000 people were present. The first day of the Fair was June 2d, and the receipts amounted to $14,454.23. Great success attended every effort of the management. Contests for flags to regiments and steamers, pistols to General Herron, a fine chair to Mrs. General Hay, gowns to Generals Grant and McClellan, a sword of Pittsburg steel to General Sheridan, and an immense fruit-cake to President Lincoln were settled by votes, and large sums realized. The big 20-inch cannon was exhibited by Mr. Knapp and $753.50 realized, that gentleman giving half. A grand total of $54,973.67 was realized from the Ladies' Bazaar, and over $8,250 from Floral Hall. The great event closed on June 18, 1864. The Sanitary Fair realized from all sources $363,570.09, or net pro- cceds of $3.47 for every man, woman and child in the two cities and all the adja- cent boroughs. Of the cash receipts Venango County contributed $18,555.70; Lawrence County, $8,144.16; all other counties of Western Pennsylvania
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