Sangamon County Illinois Ladies' Soldiers Aid Society
1861-1865
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By Mrs. Eva Munson Smith
There were none more brave than you, Illinois."
The above couplet which was intended by the author, Charles H.
Chamberlin, to refer to the men who took up arms in defense of their
country, and who so beautifully glorified them in his famous song,
"Illinois" applies also to the women of the State.
Sangamon County was not behind her sister counties, in the display of
patriotism and exercise of sacrifice to aid fathers, husbands, sons and
sweethearts who responded to their country’s call, and to keep going the
business in store and on farm which they felt called to leave for
awhile, and perhaps forever, as it indeed proved in many cases.
In nearly or quite all the towns and hamlets, aid societies were
organized. Unfortunately the records, in many instances, were not
preserved, so that at this late date, including a lapse of fifty years,
the historian can say little in regard to some of the societies, save
that they did well their part, sending or bringing their generous
contributions in to the Springfield Society, to go out with its
supplies, so that they were virtually tributary or auxiliary to the
Springfield organization as a central point.
The opening of the war found women unskilled in business methods. They
had never had occasion to keep books and balance accounts, but they
possessed warm, sympathetic mother hearts, and they soon found a way to
do substantial deeds, and to keep financial accounts, in a systematic
manner.
Monday, August 19, 1861, the following anonymous article was printed in
the Illinois Daily State Journal: "Women of Illinois, the cold weather
will be advancing after a little time. Let us do all in our power for
the comfort of our soldiers. They should be supplied with flannel
undergarments and woolen socks, and the sick and suffering with every
comfort. I would recommend that committees of ladies be chosen in every
city and town, whose duty it shall be to ascertain the number of
garments needed, take the responsibility of purchasing materials, seeing
that they are properly made up and sent on. Let the elderly ladies knit,
and if funds are needed, let the younger ones collect them." In accord
with the above call, the pastors of all the churches announced from
their pulpits the next Sabbath, August 25, that there would be a mass
meeting of the ladies of the city on Wednesday, in the basement of the
Baptist Church, then on Seventh and Adams Streets.
In response to this announcement a meeting was held which was opened
with prayer by Rev. Francis Springer, who presumably stated the object
of the gathering, no chairman's name appearing on any existing record.
Mrs. John W. Chenery was chosen temporary secretary.
It was voted that the name of the proposed society should be "The Ladies
Soldiers' Aid Society," and the object should be to furnish needed
supplies for our soldiers during the winter months.
A nominal membership fee of ten cents was decided upon, and a sufficient
number paying the required fee, the society was launched, manned by the
following officers, in the election which immediately followed:
President, Mrs. W. W. Watson
Vice-President, Mrs. Henrietta Ulrich
Treasurer, Mrs. W. Miner (wife of the Baptist minister)
Secretary, Miss Mary E. Springer
A committee of four from each ward was appointed to solicit
subscriptions to purchase materials.
There were six thousand troops stationed at Camp Butler, and calls for
aid on the society soon showed the necessity of securing a larger
membership. At the next meeting one hundred and sixty names were added
to the roll of members. The society continued to meet in the Baptist
Church, until the last of September, when Mr. W. W. Watson offered
gratis the second floor of his confectionery store on the south side of
the Square. Meetings for work were held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Saturdays, which were often supplemented by evening meetings for making
bandages and scraping lint.
December 18, 1861, several ladies accepted an invitation extended by
Col. John Williams of the Sanitary Commission, to go to Cairo and
personally distribute clothing and delicacies to the sick in hospitals
at that point and adjacent camps, among them being Mrs. E. B. Zimmerman,
Mrs. Isaac Nutt, Mrs. Lotus Niles and Miss Mary Springer.
The enlarged field of work demanding a larger board of directors, the
following were added:
Mrs. E. H. Beach
Mrs. John W. Chenery
Mrs. J. D. Chenery
Mrs. John McCreery
Mrs. O. B. Babcock
Mrs. J. C. Conkling
Mrs. P. A. Dorwin
Mrs. J. C. Ives
Mrs. James L. Lamb
Mrs. N. W. Miner
Mrs. Paul Selby
Miss Matilda Babcock
Mrs. M. E. Halbert
A new election of officers to fill vacancies also occurred at this time,
resulting in:
Vice-President, Mrs. P. C. Latham
Treasurer, Miss Catherine P. Tilton
Secretary, Mrs. Lucien Tilton
Mrs. W. W. Watson still retaining the presidency. The account of one
month's work, printed below and taken directly from the treasurer's
book, serves to give some idea of what was done by these faithful women:
Receipts
Membership fees and contributions $ 64.40
General contributions 378.04
Government work 157.83
Two concerts 304.40
Tableaux exhibition 201.00
Loami Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society 5.00
Sale of rags 5.40
Sale of miscellaneous 8.00
Total $1,214.07
Disbursements
To material for hospital bedding and clothing $939.99
To materials for slippers 19.50
To articles for hospital 90.61
Clothing for female nurses 58.70
Spinning and washing yarn 39.84
Miscellaneous goods 9.99
Postage and stationery 4.16
Expressage and cartage 14.20
Total
1,176.99
Balance on hand , $37.08
It was while the "boys in blue" were encamped in the malarious region of
Cairo that much severe illness was endured, from which a large number
never recovered. Besides the everywhere present "chills and fever,"
there were many cases of measles and mumps which left some of those who
survived, in debilitated condition for life. A few had to be honorably
discharged and sent home, after weeks and months in hospital, with the
parting message from the medical staff, "Nothing but mother's nursing
can ever fully restore you. We have done the best we could, with what we
had to do."
It was during this period that Mother Bickerdyke came down from the
northern part of the State, with her chickens and cows, and doubtless
did more than any other one person to bring comfort to the sick soldier
boy. Our own Central Illinois women bless her name, and were proud of
her. Perhaps no name among women of our State is today spoken with more
loving reverence, than that of Mother Bickerdyke. Sangamon County women
did not confine their ministrations to Alton, but as the war went on,
and the soldiers were advanced to other points, they were personally
followed, when appeals for relief came, with food, delicacies, bandages
and lint.
The long weary hours of watching, the patient, persistent endeavor, the
furnishing of money when it was scarce, for it was, in those war days,
all this and much more, can never be estimated. It is told only in the
blessed words, "She hath done what she could."
After the battle of Fort Donelson, February 14, 1862, ten thousand
prisoners of war were divided between Camp Douglas at Chicago, and Camp
Butler. A government contract secured in the summer of 1862 for
furnishing prisoners' hospitals at Camp Butler with needed supplies
greatly increased the work and the demand upon the funds of the society.
Liberal donations of money and material were given by patriotic
citizens, and substantial aid poured into the society's rooms from
neighboring towns of Mechanicsburg, Wolf Creek, Loami, and Chatham. Many
public entertainments were given, and the proceeds turned over to the
Springfield society's treasury. The first annual report showed, in
addition to the work done in the hospitals of Camps Yates and Butler
that twenty-nine boxes of supplies were forwarded to the hospitals of
Cairo, Birds Point, Mound City, Paducah, Cape Girardeau, Shawncetown,
Keokuk, the Mississippi Harbor Fleet, and the wounded upon the field
after the battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh.
August, 1863, Mrs. W. W. Watson resigned, and at the next annual meeting
the following officers were elected:
President, Mrs. P. C. Latham
Vice-Presidents, Mrs. P. A. Dorwin and Mrs. R. B. Zimmerman
Treasurer, Miss Katie V. Tilton
Secretary, Mrs. Lucien Tilton
Miss Mary Beach and Miss Lucy A. Starne were added to the directors.
On Thanksgiving Day, the regular routine was changed by giving a
sumptuous dinner to the soldiers at Camp Yates. A committee consisting
of Mesdames Mendell, J. D. B. Salter, John W. Chenery, J. E. Brown, Joel
Johnson, W. W. Watson, C. A. Higgins, Dr. Brown, O. H. Miner and Robert
Officer met with great success in obtaining supplies.
More than seven hundred soldiers sat dawn to that dinner, and after
doing full justice to the bountiful repast, there were upwards of thirty
turkeys and chickens remaining untouched.
Soon after the first invasion of the Northern troops in the Southland,
the North began to be overburdened with destitute contrabands and white
refugees, as ignorant as they were needy. Possibly a few knew that
Jackson was not still President of the United States. Very many firmly
believed that Abraham Lincoln was a Negro; but all were quite sure that
the North was overflowing with milk and honey, and if they could only
reach that Canaan land, their happiness and comfort would be assured.
In order to properly care for Springfield and Sangamon County's share of
these unfortunate and undesirable people the society appointed a
committee to solicit aid, consisting of Mrs. O. M. Brinkerhoff, Miss
Mary Springer, Mrs. Mary E. Nutt, Mrs. A. W. French, Mrs. Paul Selby,
and Mrs. J. P. Reynolds.
To still further extend the work, the local society joined hands with
the Ladies' Loyal League, to" which many of the members already
belonged. Acting with a Citizens' Committee of gentlemen, the city was
canvassed by wards to ascertain the number of needy ones and supply
their wants. Even this added strenuous work did not tax to the utmost
the endurance of this band of earnest, patriotic women, for in response
to invitations far and wide they extended aid to other cities in
conducting fairs to help the National Sanitary Commission. Mrs. George
N. Black, together with Mrs. and Miss Tilton, were elected delegates
from the joint organizations to represent Springfield at the
North-western Sanitary Fair held at Chicago during a large part of
October, 1863. They went to the Fair taking with them liberal donations.
As a matter of interest, to present day housewives who complain of the
now existing high prices, the following is quoted from the advertising
columns of the Illinois Daily State Journal, by the purchasers of the
mentioned articles. Mrs. J. D. B. Salter quotes choice Rio coffee, 2½
pounds for $1; white sugar, 5 pounds for $1; yellow C. sugar, 5½ pounds,
$1; young Hyson tea, $1.50 per pound. Another mentions good butter at 90
cents a pound.
In June, 1864, so many wounded in recent battles were arriving at Camp
Butler, sixty poor fellows from Red River coming in one day, and more to
follow, that preparations were made to build four more hospitals.
Governor Yates called for donations of vegetables, fruits and wines,
stating that two-thirds of our losses were from disease and exposure,
and that our veteran soldier saved and nursed back to health and
strength, was worth two raw recruits. Springfield and Sangamon County
generously responded with necessary supplies, and in addition on July 4,
1863, gave a dinner to the inmates of the hospitals, some one or more
members almost daily thereafter visiting the sick and wounded carrying
with them jellies, fresh eggs, etc., and writing letters home for them,
and speaking the welcome word of cheer and sympathy, and this in more
than one instance reached the immortal soul of the recipient, often
pointing them to Christ as the Great Physician and healer. This was the
sweetest work of all, and was appreciated by the poor boys so far from
home and loved ones.
During the week ending July 27, 1864, the record shows that there were
given to the general hospital, twenty-four rocking chairs, one barrel of
vegetables, thirty-three cans tomatoes, much fruit, and a dozen fat hens
for broth and stew, which with the cheerful assistance rendered from the
outlying towns, supplied much comfort, and doubtless was the means of
saving many lives. Among the contributions were many gallons of
blackberry cordial, so useful in certain ills incident to life in camp.
The Ladies' Loyal League of Mechanicsburg, held a fair September 1,
1864, which netted $200, which was at once turned over for hospital
supplies. The Sanitary Fair at Loami was a grand success, netting $1,100
dollars, which was also used for hospital supplies.
Thus was the government nobly and ably assisted by the women all over
the land, and although there were numerous so called Copperheads among
both men and women, their refusal to aid, though a few did give
reluctantly, did not stay the wheels of bounty and beneficence which
revolved with unabated power until the cruel but just war was over.
About a year before the sounds of "Victory" were wafted on the happy
breeze, a soldiers' home was built where the post-office is now located.
The Ladies' Aid Society, with its broad, generous mother heart,
believing that a hen can scratch as successfully for a brood of a dozen
chicks as for one, took the home under her maternal wing, and returning
soldiers were given a hospitable welcome, whether coming singly or by
regiments. Mr. T. C. Schreeve, superintendent of the home made the
following statement, still on record: "Largest number of meals served at
the Soldiers' Home in one day, was during October, 1864, to 605 men ;
smallest number, 188; total number of meals served during October,
10,564.
When sweet peace was proclaimed, but which alas! found scarcely a home
without some one or more loved one's vacant chair, the society
discontinued its meetings for some twenty-five years. It was then
decided to reorganize, this time not for war, but to perpetuate old
memories, and for social intercourse which could not be indulged in
while every effort was bent toward furnishing relief to suffering
soldiers.
In August, 1887, the reorganization was effected, with the following
officers:
President, Mrs. P. C. Latham
Vice-President, Mrs. Josephine Stonebarger
Treasurer, Miss Mary E. Springer
Secretary, Mrs. M. E. Halbert
Mrs. Latham was continued as president until her death a number of years
later, when Mrs. P. A. Dorwin was elected to fill the vacancy. A few
years later, Mrs. Dorwin, too, was called to the reward beyond, and Mrs.
Lotus Niles was chosen to preside, which she did most acceptably until
her "going away" some years later, since which time the indefatigable
Miss Anna Clinton has occupied the position to the eminent satisfaction
of all. The secretary, Mrs. Halbert, was succeeded by Mrs. Lida A.
Oldroyd, a daughter of Mrs. Stonebarger, deceased. Mrs. Olyroyd made an
ideal secretary, but removing to Washington, D. C, some thirteen or more
years ago. Miss Mary E. Springer has since filled the office. Mrs. J. M.
Garland is the present treasurer.
Although, of the twenty-one original members still living in this and
other towns and states, only about nine active members remaining, the
organization still keeps up its regular monthly meetings, always having
an elaborate luncheon and excellent program, in which one or more old
war incidents, which are of intense interest, especially, perhaps, to
the invited guests who are generally descendents of the deceased
original members or those who did a similar labor of love elsewhere
during the war.
One never tires hearing the story of how Mrs. Charles G. Averill, when
she was little Julia Ordway, had one of her curls clipped off by a
zealous and admiring soldier boy, to take as a sort of mascot to the
wars.
Oh, many a tale stranger than fiction might here be told. In this
article no further reference will be made to these incidents, save to
retell the well known story of how seven-year old Jessie Loose,
afterwards the wife of Dr. Jacob F. Price, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.
C. Loose, went to the proper authorities to enlist, giving as her
qualifications that although she could not fight, she could nurse sick
soldiers, make bandages and scrape lint, and she wanted to help put down
the war." Col. John Williams "swore her in," and she was the happiest
little girl in all the land.
At these regular meetings someone always has something to relate or read
which is new to the others. While there is yet an inexpressible sadness
connected with these gatherings, there is also ever present the sweet
satisfaction of having done something that really counted for good
during those dark days of internecine warfare, which helped to bring
about the liberation of more than four million slaves, and preserved Old
Glory to wave on high victorious, the most beautiful banner in all the
world.
Your flag and my flag!
And oh how it flies today
Your land and my land
And half a world away
Rose red and blood red
Its stripes forever gleam
Sky blue and true blue
With stars to gleam aright
A gloried guidon in the day
A shelter through the night.
Your flag and my flag!
And oh how much it holds
Your land and my lands
Secure within its folds.
Your heart and my heart
Beat quicker at the sight,
Sun kissed and wind tossed,
The red and blue and white.
The one flag, the great flag.
The flag for me and you
Glorified all else binds
The Red and White and Blue.
Although only a small remnant of the original two hundred remain, they
still faithfully keep filled the vases or urns around the soldiers'
monument, remembering Memorial Day by decorating the graves of deceased
members, and contributing flowers for the graves of veterans. Miss Susan
P. Enos is always a liberal contributor of flowers, and the florists of
the city are commendably generous with the most beautiful of fragrant
blossoms, whenever occasion comes. They also donate to charitable and
benevolent institutions.
As W. D. Nesbit sings:
The names of those known to be living at this time October 14, 1912, of
the two hundred members of the Springfield Ladies Soldiers' Aid Society,
are the following:
Misses Anna Clinton
Jennie Chapin
M. Lou Moran
Elizabeth Harris
Mary E. Springer
M. Fannie Chenery, (or Frances, if you prefer)
Lucy Salter
Mesdames O. H. Miner
M. A. Ordway
Nellie Harris-Tresize
A. W. French
Sarah S. Chatterton
Elizabeth J. Matheny
Mrs. J. M. Palmer
E. M. Nafew
A. S. Edwards
Martha E. Lord
J. M. Garland
Sarah Dickerman
Eleanor M. Chenery
Jennie Salter-Wolcott
The years will come and the years will go. Much will be forgotten; but
the memory of the noble work done by the soldiers' aid societies all
over the land will stand on historic record as long as time endures.
"Not without their worthy story
Can be writ the nation's glory, Illinois, Illinois."
Eva Munson-Smith (Mrs. George Clinton Smith), Member of Springfield
Chapter D.A.R., and former Historian, four years.
October 14, 1912. I am indebted to the Daily Illinois State Journal,
Daily Illinois State Register, Miss Elizabeth Harris, Mrs. Eleanor
Chenery, Miss Mary Springer, and Miss Anna Clinton for most of the data
in above article. Much that never found its way into print, was in the
possession of Miss Tilton, one of the secretaries, now deceased, whose
trunk containing the society's records, was burned in the great Chicago
fire of 1871, where she was stopping at that time. Mrs. G. C. S.
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