Iowa History Project
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Union of the Two Forces
During the
first week in July, 1862, upon returning from a six weeks tour among Iowa regiments in Tennessee, Mrs. Wittenmyer called a convention to be
held at Davenport to devise a plan for uniting the relief
agencies of the State. The result was the appointment of a delegation,
including Mrs. Wittenmyer, to request the Governor to appoint someone to assist
her in her work—someone who might act as agent of all the sanitary interests in
the State, and go into the field to take charge of supplies and assist in their
distribution. A few days after the close of the convention, when speaking
before the Iowa City Ladies’ Aid Society, Mrs. Wittenmyer described the
relation which then existed between the Army Sanitary Commission and the Aid
Societies of the State. They had not been cooperating thus far, she said, and
while many of the contributions from the principal towns of the State appeared
in the Commission’s report as having been sent out by its auxiliaries, they
were in fact sent to her to be distributed. Mrs. Wittenmyer further stated that
while the Commission received funds from the State, they kept no agent in the
field, while she had more work than she could do and received no compensation
in any way. She was recognized by both Sate and Federal governments as a
sanitary agent; had free conveyance for herself and goods; and enjoyed the
confidence and assistance of the General Medical Directors.138
As a result
of the Davenport convention the opposing factions seem to
have agreed upon a plan of cooperation. In a letter from Mrs. Wittenmyer, the
public was informed that the Iowa Army Sanitary Commission and the Ladies
Soldiers’ Aid Societies had united their efforts, and that thereafter the
correspondence would be carried on by Mr. Kynett, corresponding secretary of
the State Commission and Miss L. Knowles, corresponding secretary of the
Ladies’ Aid Society of Keokuk.139
In August,
1862, Governor Kirkwood assigned Lieutenant Colonel Ira M. Gifford of Davenport, one of his special aids, to the duty of
looking after the wants of the Iowa soldiers. Gifford, who had already been in
the field and was acquainted with the conditions and needs of the troops, was
to visit the camps for the purpose of distributing stores and caring for the
general comfort of the soldiers. According to the Governor’s instructions he
was to cooperate with or act as an authorized agent of the “different Sanitary
Commissions, Aid Societies, or other benevolent associations throughout the
State, having in view the relief of our citizen soldiery.”140 A law
was passed on September 11th, authorizing the Governor to appoint
two or more agents, one of whom was to be Mrs. Wittenmyer, as sanitary agents
to visit the troops in the field for the purpose of furnishing special relief.141
For some time Mrs. Wittenmyer was the only State agent in the field, and it was
not until early in 1863 that Dr. Ennis of Lyons, was named by the Governor to
work with her. He was later succeeded by Mr. John Clark of Cedar Rapids, who served for three or four months,
followed by Dr. A. S. Maxwell of Davenport. They spent their time among the men in
camps and hospitals, where they acted as agents of the various organizations,
although they were paid by the State. A big field was open to them and their
labors were “well received in the army, and their efforts in behalf of our sick
and wounded soldiers have proved invaluable.”142
For about a
year the various factions continued to cooperate. There were many demands for
fresh vegetables because of threatened attacks of scurvy. At Harrison’s
Landing, where some Iowa soldiers were in camp, ten cents was the price of a
single onion, so great was the demand for these vegetables.143 At
the soldiers’ hospital at Keokuk there were over thirteen hundred patients from
many States and they were constantly in need of supplies.144 Mrs.
Wittenmyer visited the regiments in Arkansas and reported that there were four
thousand soldiers sick and unprovided for.145 A letter from Governor
Kirkwood to State Agent John Clark, written near the close of the year 1862,
stated that Mr. Gifford had just returned from Missouri and reported a
deplorable condition among the troops at Springfield. The Governor ordered Clark to stay in Missouri as long as necessary in order to see that
the soldiers were given proper care. “See the Medical Director, Gen. Curtis, Gen. Herron”, he directed. “You need not be backward or
mealy-mouthed in discussing the state of affairs, and in cursing everyone who wont do his duty. Talk right hard, and have our boys cared
for.”146
In August,
1863, Mr. Kynett recommended to the Governor that a branch of the Iowa Army
Sanitary Commission be established at Dubuque, to direct the work in the northern part
of the State. The Governor followed this suggestion and appointed Mrs. P. H.
Conger, Mrs. J. Clement, and Mrs. S. Root to take charge of the branch. All
towns west and northwest of Dubuque were requested to send their contributions
to Dubuque, from whence they were shipped to the
central depots with less delay and fewer mistakes.147
Notes
138- The State Press (Iowa City), July 12, 1862. The Iowa
City Ladies’ Aid Society voted their confidence in Mrs. Wittenmyer and decided
to continue to distribute their goods through her organization.
139- The Weekly Gate City (Keokuk), August 6, 1862.
140- Shambaugh’s Messages and Proclamations of the Governor
of Iowa, Vol. II, p. 503.
141- Laws of Iowa (Extra Session), 1862, pp. 47, 48.
142- Senate Journal, 1864, p. 200; The
State Press (Iowa City), August 9, 1862.
143- The State Press (Iowa City), August 9, 1862.
144- The Weekly Gate City (Keokuk), October 15,
1862.
145- Dubuque Semi-Weekly Times, September 1, 1863.
146- Lathrop’s The Life and Times of Samuel J. Kirkwood,
p. 235.
147- Report of the Iowa Sanitary Commission,
1866, p. 7; Dubuque Semi-Weekly Times, October 23, 1863.
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