Iowa History Project
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Collection and
Distribution of Supplies
Not long after
the establishment of the Western Sanitary Commission, notices asking for
assistance in carrying on its work were inserted in the St. Louis newspapers.
In addition a few lines were sent for publication in the Boston Transcript,
asking the New England women for donations of “knit woolen socks”. Such notices
continued to be published thereafter about every six months, this being the
only means used by the Commission to reach the people of the Nation and secure
contributions. No regular system of raising and collecting money and stores was
maintained. No local societies were organized as auxiliaries, and no agents
were sent out by the Commission to work in its behalf.104 The
Commission was, however, absolutely dependent upon public support for money and
supplies, and although the movement which brought this support was “spontaneous
and self-directing”, it resulted in a “continued, uninterrupted stream of
gifts” which kept the Commission’s warehouses full and its treasury
replenished.105
…Like the other Sanitary Commissions, the western organization was granted railroad and transportation facilities and many similar services, free of charge, which meant a great saving in expenses. “From St. Louis to New Orleans, from Pea Ridge to Chattanooga, by every commander of the Department of the Missouri and every general in the field, by the head of the Western Medical Department and the various medical directors, by quartermasters and transportation-masters, and all other officers, the Commission and its agents have been most kindly recognized, and have scarcely ever solicited a favor in vain.”108
104 Loyal Work in Missouri in The North American Review,
Vol. XCVIII, pp. 523, 524.
105 Loyal Work in Missouri in The North American Review,
Vol. XCVIII, pp. 523, 524.
108 Loyal Work in Missouri in The North American Review,
Vol. XCVIII, pp. 521.
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The
people of Iowa were not behind the citizens of other sections of the country in
shouldering their share of the burdens occasioned by the outbreak of the Civil
War. No sooner had the men of the State begun to answer the call to arms than
those who remained behind commenced to plan and to work for the purpose of
making army life as agreeable as possible.
The Keokuk Ladies’ Aid Society
The
first movements were unorganized, separate communities attempting to make
provision for their own troops. Large quantities of supplies were collected and
sent by individuals directly to their friends and relatives in camps and
hospitals; and in many places local soldiers’ aid societies were organized to
supply the company or regiment which represented those particular localities.
An effort to systematize and unite the work of the whole State was first made
by the women of Keokuk, under the leadership of Mrs. Annie Wittenmyer. The
Keokuk society, organized in behalf of the men who were serving their country
in the army.115 One of the first steps taken by the organization was
to send Mrs. Wittenmyer, the corresponding secretary, to visit Iowa soldiers in
their camps and ascertain their greatest needs in order that the work at home might
be directed along the most efficient lines. The first of August found Mrs.
Wittenmyer in St. Joseph, Missouri, whither she had gone to visit the Second
Iowa Regiment; but not finding the regiment there, she followed it to St.
Louis.116 That the women at Keokuk were busy is shown by the report
of an entertainment given during August by the Aid Society in order to raise
funds for their work, at which the net proceeds amounted to something over one
hundred and fifty dollars.117
Once
the work at Keokuk was well under way, the Aid Society reached out in an effort
to obtain the cooperation of the women of the entire State. Soldiers’ Aid
Societies had already been formed in some other towns and they were urged to
work with the Keokuk forces. Where no steps had as yet been taken to launch
such enterprises the people were asked to do so. On the thirtieth of August,
Mrs. Wittenmyer, acting for the Keokuk organization, sent a letter to the women of Des Moines inviting them “to
effect a similar organization, and cooperate with them in supplying articles of
comfort to the Iowa Volunteers, and especially in providing their hospitals
with such comforts and conveniences as the Government does not provide.”118
Early in September a Keokuk paper carried a message addressed “To the Ladies of
Iowa”, with a request that it be copied by papers throughout the State. In this
address the women were urged to organize societies in their respective
districts and work in conjunction with the Keokuk society. It explained that
the members of the latter organization would be in direct communication with
the State troops and could keep their auxiliaries posted concerning all items
of interest. Packages were to be sent, express prepaid, to the Soldiers’ Aid
Society of Keokuk, whence they would be forwarded free of charge to their
destinations.119
Notes
115 Muscatine Weekly Journal, November 6, 1863.
116 Des Moines Valley Whig (Keokuk), August 5, 1861.
117 Des Moines Valley Whig (Keokuk), August 19, 1861.
118 Council Bluffs Nonpareil, September 14, 1861.
119 Des Moines Valley Whig (Keokuk), September 16, 1861.
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Early
in October, Governor Kirkwood “conceived the idea of an organized and united action
that should excite and direct the whole work of the State.” The existing
situation, the Governor thought, “was attended with so much expense and large
losses of goods, and was so uncertain in its operations” as to need
strengthening.120 Accordingly on October 10, 1861, he sent the
following letter to Rev. A. J. Kynett of Lyons:
I
have observed with pleasure that at various points in this State voluntary
associations are being organized with a view to provide our sick and wounded
soldiers with articles essential to their comfort and not furnished by the
Government, while in hospitals. In order to encourage the formation of such
societies and make them efficient, I request that you will form such societies
in the various communities in the State, and perfect a system by which
contributions thus made will reach those of our citizen soldiers who may be in
need. I desire that societies already formed, and hereafter organized, will
cooperate with you in your mission.
Mr.
Kynett, after consulting friends who were interested in the movement,
recommended the creation of a State Sanitary Commission, similar to the United
States Sanitary Commission. To avoid the loss of time and to eliminate the
necessary expense attached to the holding of a convention of citizens of the
State, and since both the United States Sanitary Commission and the Western
Sanitary Commission had been established by appointment, Mr. Kynett advised
that the Governor appoint the members of the Iowa Commission. Accordingly on
October 13th 1861, Governor Kirkwood named as members J. C. Hughes,
M. D., of Keokuk, president; Rev. Geo. F. Magoun of Lyons, secretary; Hiram
Price of Davenport, treasurer; Rev. A. J. Kynett of Lyons, corresponding
secretary and general agent; Hon. Elijah Sells of Des Moines; Rev. Bishop Lee
of Davenport; Hon. George G. Wright of Keosauqua; Rev. Bishop Smyth of Dubuque;
Hon. Caleb Baldwin of Council Bluffs; Rev. G. B. Jocelyn of Mt. Pleasant; Hon.
Wm. F Coolbaugh of Burlington; Ezekiel Clark of Iowa City; and Hon. Lincoln
Clark of Dubuque. In his letter appointing these men, the Governor styled the
new organization the Army Sanitary Commission for the State of Iowa, but it was
usually referred to thereafter as the Iowa Sanitary Commission.121
Mr. Kynett at once commenced the
organization of local societies. On the 25th of October he issued
through the press an appeal to the women of Iowa in behalf of the sick and
wounded soldiers, in which he stated that, although the United States Sanitary
Commission had served the East very effectively it did “not seem to have been
intended” to bring relief to the suffering of the men in the armies of the
West. There was, however, great need for relief, as some of the Iowa regiments
had already been declared unfit for service; and it was the plan and purpose of
the State Commission to see that the soldiers from Iowa were cared for. The
appeal recommended that societies be formed immediately “in every town, village
and neighborhood in the State”; that committees be appointed to solicit subscriptions
of cash and supplies “from every loyal citizen”; and that a portion of time in
each week be set apart for the making of such articles as might be needed. A
uniform constitution for such societies was proposed, and the secretary of each
local organization was requested to report to the State Commission, as soon as
organized and each month thereafter, the amount of money in the treasury and
the number and value of articles on hand. Each society was instructed to hold
its money and supplies subject only to the order of the president and secretary
of the State Commission to be forwarded from time to time as directed by them.122
Notes
120 Report of the Iowa Sanitary Commission, 1866, p. 3.
121 Report of the Iowa Sanitary Commission, 1864, p. 3.
122 Muscatine Weekly Journal, November 1, 1861.
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Soon
after the issue of this call by Mr. Kynett of the Army Sanitary Commission
there was sounded the first note of the discord which later hampered the
sanitary work of the State. The call had made no reference to those local
societies already at work, nor to the broader activities of the Keokuk
organization, the supporters of which resented this neglect and voiced their
criticism of the new body through the public press. An article appeared in one
of the Keokuk papers, reviewing the accomplishments already achieved by the
women of Keokuk and the State, and containing a severe criticism of the Army
Sanitary Commission. For three or four months, the article stated, the women
had been devoting their time and energy to organizing Soldiers’ Aid Societies
and collecting and preparing sanitary goods. As a result of these efforts,
societies had gradually been formed all over the State and a general interest created
in the work, until at the time when the Army Commission was established the
local aid associations were “in very fair working order, and, in the hands of
the benevolent women who initiated them and rendered them effective, gave
promise and assurance of being equal to the work they had taken in hand.” Under
the patronage of these societies delegates had been sent to the hospitals in
Missouri and at Cairo, where they investigated the conditions and wants of the
Iowa soldiers and reported the situation by correspondence to the Aid Societies
of the State. As a result “very considerable supplies of all articles needed”
were forwarded to the hospitals in Missouri. “The women were all earnestly
interest and were doing up matters in their own way, without sounding a trumpet
before them or magnifying their efforts by eliciting the services of the
Honorables of our State in order to blazon them abroad.”
Then,
continued the article, “an idea seems to have struck our State authorities.
This thing must be stopped; there is a great deal of glory running to waste in
this matter; and we must make haste to bottle it up for distribution amongst
our HONORABLES. Besides, there is a chance for salaries and fees in carrying
out this benevolent measure which may be parceled out to the wealthy men of the
State, and then there are printing jobs for which the State can pay and thereby
secure the services of the editors of Iowa to puff our Honorables and glorify
our tardy benevolence to our sick and wounded soldiers.
“A
Sanitary Commission has been constituted, two Bishops, two or three or four
Honorables and three or four Bankers constitute the corporators and ostensible
members of this Commission and they are to take control and direction of the
entire subject matter.” In issuing their appeal to the women of Iowa, declared
the article, the members of the Commission ignored “the existences of any
Soldiers’ Aid Societies and scold because nothing has been done in the
State by the ladies to relieve the sick and wounded soldiers. And we presume
that the gentlemen constituting that Commission have taken so little interest
in the subject that they were substantially in entire ignorance of what has
been done.” In closing, the article referred to the Army Sanitary Commission as
being “without a parallel in the annals of peace or war in the history of the
world, ancient or modern” in that not a single medical man was named as a
member of the body.123
Such
a criticism represented a prejudiced view rather than the actual circumstances.
It is true that the appeal issued by the Army Sanitary Commission did not refer
to the societies already in operation, but in the letter of Governor Kirkwood,
in which Mr. Kynett was asked to systematize the sanitary work of the State,
reference was made to the societies which were then under way. Since the Army
Sanitary Commission was created for the purpose of collecting and distributing
supplies, and not for the rendering of preventive service as was the United
States Sanitary Commission, it does not seem essential that the medical
profession should have been represented; and yet the president of the
Commission, Dr. J. C. Hughes, was at the time Surgeon-General for the State of
Iowa.
As
a matter of fact another representative of the press of Keokuk expressed a more
favorable view of the Commission. This writer announced the appointment of the
Commission, giving as its duty the investigation of “all things connected with
the condition, position and general welfare of the regiments”. The success of
the Commission was also predicted by the writer. “It seems to be expected”, he
declared, “that this movement will have important results in its influence upon
soldiers, officers, and the State authorities.”124
Thus
the formation of the Army Sanitary Commission, instead of centralizing all the
relief work of the State under a single head, introduced a new agency without
absorbing the organization already in existence at Keokuk under the leadership
of Mrs. Wittenmyer. As a result there were for the next ten months two distinct
organizations in the State working for the same cause, but not always working
in harmony. Soldiers’ Aid Societies were organized in nearly all the large
cities and towns, some sending their contributions to the soldiers through the
Commission and others through the Ladies’ Aid Society of Keokuk.125
That
Mrs. Wittenmyer and the Keokuk society had exerted considerable influence over
the State is shown by the reports made by Mrs. Wittenmyer upon the condition of
the camps and the needs of the soldiers were sent over the entire State and
brought many returns. The first report of the Cedar Rapids Soldiers’ Aid
Society stated that the women of that city had sent their first box of stores
on November 23rd “to the parent Society at Keokuk”. The report also contained
the following statement:
We
know that these articles will reach those for whom they are intended as the
Keokuk Society is in correspondence with the proper authorities at the
hospitals and has arrangements for sending them to the places where they are
most needed.
We are in correspondence with the agent of that Society,
who has lately returned from a visit to the hospitals, and are thereby directed
what way to make our labors most effective.126
Early
in December the Council Bluffs Society, which had been in operation since
August under the name of the Mite Society, held a meeting to consider the
organization of an auxiliary to the State Sanitary Commission. A proposition to
merge the Mite Society into a society to assist the Army Sanitary Commission
was presented and defeated. It was decided to continue the Mite Society as
formerly conducted, except that future proceeds were to be sent to the society
at Keokuk “for the benefit of all the regiments, instead of remitting direct to
the 4th, as heretofore”.127
The
importance of relief work among the soldiers was recognized by Adjutant General
Baker, as is shown by the following statement from his report of 1861:
More
soldiers are lost by death from disease, by sickness in the Hospitals, by
discharges from service on account of disability, occasioned by exposure in
camp, and on the march, and for the want of sufficient protection and proper
care, than by deaths and wounds on the battlefield.
Anything and everything that can be done for the benefit
of the soldier, to make him comfortable on the march, in the camp, or in the
hospital, are of the highest importance, and should be promptly attended to by
National and State Legislators.128
Three
days after the Army Sanitary Commission had issued its appeal to the people of
Iowa, asking for cooperation, the Adjutant General appointed a committee to
visit the Iowa volunteers wherever they might be found, to report upon their
sanitary condition, and to ascertain their needs. The men composing the
committee were Surgeon-General Hughes, president of the Sanitary Commission,
and James J. Lindley and George H. Parker of Davenport. These men set out
immediately to visit the Iowa regiments stationed in Illinois and Missouri. A
careful survey was made of the conditions surrounding all the Iowa soldiers and
a full report was made to the Adjutant General. Although this committee was
created by order of the Adjutant General, it was very generally considered as
an agent of the Sanitary Commission. This idea was probably due to the fact
that Surgeon-General Hughes, president of the Commission, was chairman of the
committee.129
In
November, 1861, Mrs. Wittenmyer visited the hospitals in the West as agent for
the Keokuk society. Upon her return she made a report to the women of Iowa,
telling of the poor condition of the troops and giving suggestions for more
effective work.130 Chief among her recommendations was that two experienced
women nurses should be sent to each regiment to assist in caring for the sick
and wounded. She criticized the work of the Army Sanitary Commission,
complaining that “some of the Surgeons are intemperate, lacking in moral
character, overbearing, and exhibiting but little concern for the comfort and
cleanliness of the sick.”131 Some of the surgeons, she declared,
would “best secure the interest of themselves and their fellowmen by resigning
immediately.”132
People
were urged to forward their contributions to the Aid Society at Keokuk, from
whence they would be taken immediately to the place of greatest need.133
Towards
the close of November Mrs. Wittenmyer again set out to visit the troops in the
field, this time going to Missouri and Illinois, where she distributed supplies
valued at $785, which were not nearly sufficient to relieve the great destitution
existing among the soldiers. The report of the Keokuk Ladies’ Aid Society for
the period from November 15 to December 15, 1861, again suggested that women
all over the State should organize societies and cooperate with the women of
Keokuk, since the latter had the advantage of being situated on the Mississippi
River and through their corresponding secretary kept in close touch with the
needs of the army. The report acknowledged the receipt of supplies from Council
Bluffs, Warren, Bentonsport, Des Moines, Indian Prairie, Muscatine, Davenport,
Cedar Rapids, and Dubuque.134
Upon
her return from visiting the hospitals at Helena and Vicksburg in March, Mrs.
Wittenmyer was asked by Governor Kirkwood for a report on the conditions which
she had found to exist. The condition of most of the Iowa troops she reported
as being “very unfavorable”. The absence of vegetables in the food supply had
resulted “in scurvy, debility and a general depreciation of the strength” of
the forces and it was urged that steps be taken to supply the men with
“vegetables, stimulants and antiscorbutics.” The articles most needed were
“potatoes, onions, sourkrout, corn meal, pickles, dried fruit, cranberries,
molasses, soda crackers, toasted rusk, butter, eggs, condiments and stimulants.—Cider
vinegar would also be acceptable.” Upon receiving this report the Governor
appealed to the State to supply these necessities, stating that the report of
Mrs. Wittenmyer had been more than corroborated by other reliable testimony. He
proposed that “every locality see to the good work through their own local
agencies, and do it at once”, and directed that goods from any part of Iowa put
on board any of the lines of transportation, and addressed to Mrs. Wittenmyer,
in care of Partridge and Company of St. Louis, would be sure to go where most
needed, all charges being paid by the government.135
The
report of the Keokuk organization for June, 1862, showed that goods had been
received from Salem, Bentonsport, Keosauqua, Kirkville, Des Moines, and Denmark,
which indicated that the Keokuk society was receiving the support of many local
societies.136
Early
in May, 1862, a call was issued for the local Aid Societies of the State to
send delegates to a convention to be held at Davenport on the 28th,
in connection with a meeting of the Army Sanitary Commission. At that time but
little interest in relief work was manifested in the State, and it was the
purpose of this convention to awaken a greater response. The call for the
convention to awaken a greater response. The call for the convention was
distributed in circular form and through the newspapers, so as to cover the
whole State, but the attendance was small, only the counties of Des Moines,
Louisa, Scott, Clinton, Dubuque, Jackson, and Delaware being represented. The
Iowa Soldiers’ Relief Association was formed with Col. William B. Allison of
Dubuque, president; John Collins, vice president; and D. N. Richardson and
Edward Russell, secretaries. Mr. Kynett made a full report of the work of the
Army Sanitary Commission and requested the convention to establish an executive
committee to have control of the business of the Commission. It was hoped that
by thus giving the people a part in the direction of their work, their interest
would be greater. The convention, however, declined to take such action, but
passed a resolution expressing their confidence in the Commission, stating that
they considered it indispensable and recommending all the Soldiers’ Aid
Societies in Iowa to “assist and facilitate its operation.”
The
report given at the convention by Mr. Kynett showed that supplies and stores
for the army, contributed by Soldiers’ Aid Societies of the State, had been
distributed by the Army Sanitary Commission to the amount of $18,600, in
addition to $589.66 in cash which had been received. Before the convention
adjourned a committee on hospitals, consisting of Dr. S. O. Edwards, Rev. A. J.
Kynett, and John G. Foote, was elected and an address to the people of Iowa was
sent out by a committee composed of Rev. R. W. Keeler, Hiram Price, and Dr. J.
Cleaves. The address stated the purpose of the Commission and described what it
had accomplished. It pointed out that while several societies, such as those at
Keokuk, Dubuque, and Davenport, had done much to relieve the wants of the
soldiers, they had evidently “labored under disadvantages to which they would
not have been subjected, had they operated” in connection with the regularly
authorized State Commission. A recommendation was made that all local Aid
Societies work through the Army Sanitary Commission. The Muscatine Journal in
commenting upon the convention concluded after a careful examination of the
proceeding “that it appears to have been a very lame affair.”137
Notes
123 The Weekly Gate City (Keokuk), November 25, 1861.
124 Des Moines Valley Whig (Keokuk), November 4, 1861.
125 Anamosa Eureka, November 22, 1861; Newberry’s The
U. S. Sanitary Commission in the Valley of the Mississippi, p. 239.
126 The Cedar Valley Times (Cedar Rapids), December 7,
1861.
127 Council Bluffs Nonpareil, August 24, December 7,
1861.
128 Report of the Adjutant General of Iowa, 1861, pp. 5,
6.
129 Muscatine Weekly Journal, November 1, 1861; Report
of the Adjutant General of Iowa, 1861, pp. 481-487.
130 Council Bluffs Nonpareil, November 30, 1861.
131 Anamosa Eureka, December 13, 1861.
132 The Cedar Valley Times (Cedar Rapids), December 5,
1861.
133 The Weekly Gate City (Keokuk), November 25, 1861.
134 The Weekly Gate City (Keokuk), November 2, 23, 1861.
135 Shambaugh’s Messages and Proclamations of the Governors
of Iowa, Vol. II, pp. 507-511.
136 The Weekly Gate City (Keokuk), June 25, 1862.
137 Report of the Iowa Sanitary Commission, 1864, p. 19;
The Weekly Gate City (Keokuk), July 9, 1862; Muscatine Weekly Journal,
June 8, 1862.