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From the beginning of the relief work in Iowa, many
complaints concerning the work of the various agencies were made and circulated
by soldiers and others who visited them in their camps. Soldiers wrote letters
home stating that they never received supplies which were supposed to have been
sent; and the charge was frequently made that such goods were either used by
the army officials and men higher up or were given to their favorites. Such
charges did much to discourage donors and caused many people to ignore the
State organizations and endeavor to send their donations directly to the
soldiers.
Early
in the year 1863 Father Emonds of Iowa City visited the Catholic soldiers in
the hospitals with a view to administering relief. In a letter from Arkansas he
charged that Mrs. Wittenmyer had tried to sell butter and eggs to the Sisters
of Charity, who were caring for a great number of sick and wounded soldiers,
and when they would not buy she refused them sanitary supplies, although there
was great need for them. Mrs. Wittenmyer answered that there was no foundation for
such charges; that she had never offered to sell butter or eggs or anything
else; and that she had never refused to give the Sisters sanitary stores.
Father Emonds did not drop the matter, but in a second letter reiterated his
previous charges. He declared that Mrs. Wittenmyer had declined to five aid to
the Sisters’ hospital at Memphis, when the Sisters refused to buy butter and
eggs. Furthermore, he said that Mrs. Wittenmyer had furnished military stores
to the Third Iowa Cavalry only after they had bought a liberal share of butter
and eggs from her. When the Captain had asked how she could sell these
articles, she explained that there was a slight margin of profit which went to
the Sanitary Commission. Father Emonds declared that many of the Iowa regiments
never received “a cent’s worth of sanitary stores”, and many did not know who
Mrs. Wittenmyer was.148
A
Chicago paper stated in Jun, 1863, that “the many favors of our Iowa women”,
about which so much was written in the newspapers were never received by the
Iowa troops. The supplies were either given to favorites or someone was
“practicing rascality for their own benefit.” The writer advised that in the
future supplies be sent personally or kept at home and used for the benefit of
soldiers’ families.149 In March, 1863, the Muscatine Journal
contained a notice that “as there are so many scoundrels in the hospitals… the
ladies will send some one in charge of the articles, to see them properly
used.”150
On
the other hand, many letters were written by men in the army denying the misuse
of sanitary stores and praising the work of the women at home. One Iowa
soldier, in writing on the subject, gave as his opinion that the Aid Societies
were supplying all the hospitals alike as far as possible, and although improper
use might be made of some of the stores, sufficient good was being accomplished
by the sanitary work “to encourage all its friends to give it all the support
they can.”151 A letter written by General Grenville M. Dodge in
answer to a criticism of the relief work of the State can probably be accepted
as a true representation of the actual conditions. General Dodge stated that he
had had command of many of the Iowa regiments, and that very few regiments had
left the State with which he had not come in contact. He declared that all the
regiments which he had observed he had not seen one that did not receive great
and lasting benefit from the noble efforts of the Ladies of Iowa through the
Sanitary Commission.” Moreover, General Dodge had met most of the field agents
of the Commission and was positive that they were honest. They had worked long
and hard, he said, and could never be repaid for the good which they had done.152
Undoubtedly
a large quantity of the contribution sent to the armies never reached their
destinations, and thus it was often assumed that they had been misused. One
explanation was that many time donations were sent by river, by express, or by
freight directly to hospitals, officers, or private soldiers. As there were no
government permits or persons to vouch for them, these contributions were often
stopped enroute and confiscated by United States officers employed to prevent
smuggling. Goods were in some cases sent out marked as sanitary goods when
intended for speculators or for the Confederate forces, and this fact led to
the seizure of goods not properly vouched for. Again, many things were sent by
express and the charges were so high that the men refused to accept them. Large
amounts of sanitary stores collected in express offices and depots because they
were never delivered to the camps, and the soldiers receiving no notice that
they were at the office, never called for them and they were finally sold at
auction.153
Mrs.
Wittenmyer pointed out that it was not surprising that complaints should arise,
when consideration was given to the large number of troops in the field and the
comparatively small supply of goods furnished for their use. The demand for
sanitary stores had always greatly exceeded the supply, and the absence of such
articles as the Commission furnished was often taken as evidence that they had
been misused before reaching the soldiers. Furthermore, potatoes, onions,
fruit, and pickles were sometimes furnished by the commissaries when condition
were favorable and hence, when such things were furnished by the Sanitary
Commission, the soldiers often supposed them to be government goods.154
Notes
148 Report of the Iowa Sanitary Commission, 1866, p. 7; Dubuque
Semi-Weekly Times, October 23, 1863.
149 The State Press (Iowa City), February 7, March 14, 28, 1863.
150 Muscatine Weekly Journal, March 6, 1863.
151 Muscatine Weekly Journal, August 7, 1863.
152 Dubuque Semi-Weekly Times, September 25, 1863.
153 Dubuque Semi-Weekly Times, September 15, 1863.
154 Senate Journal, 1864, pp. 201, 202.
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The Iowa Army Sanitary Commission had not been long in
operation before it realized the impracticability of attempting to maintain
separate relief service for the Iowa soldiers, and almost from the first it
cooperated with the Federal commissions. For the first year the Iowa commission
operated through the Western Sanitary Commission, for the reason that most of
the Iowa soldiers were located west of the Mississippi, in the territory
covered by the Western Commission. Moreover, the stores could be sent from Iowa
to St. Louis by the Northern Line Packet Company, free of charge. When
navigation was closed, however, it was necessary to turn to other channels of
distribution, and the Iowa Commission then placed itself in the relation of a
branch of the United States Sanitary Commission, through which it thereafter
operated. Supplies were shipped to Chicago and from there were sent out, under
the care of agents, free of charge on all railroads and on river boats
furnished by the government and devoted exclusively to sanitary work. The
United States Sanitary Commission made no distinctions along State lines, but
treated all soldiers alike, since they were all engaged in a single common
cause—the preservation of the Union. To cooperate with the united States
Sanitary Commission, said the Dubuque Times, was “the only feasible
manner for the people of Iowa to act”.155
Mrs. Wittenmyer, on the other hand, although supposed to be working with the Army Sanitary Commission, seemed to favor distribution through the Western Sanitary Commission at St. Louis, and with Mr. Maxwell, the only other State agent at that time, was cooperating with the latter association as far as possible. The attitude of Mrs. Wittenmyer tended to favor the personal distributions of supplies directly to the Iowa soldiers. Although the Western Sanitary Commission put all goods into a single fund to be distributed without regard to State lines, yet the territory over which it operated was small and it dealt only with the troops of a few States. Thus goods sent from Iowa were more likely to reach Iowa soldiers through the Western Commission than through the United states Sanitary Commission. The development of this division of opinion concerning methods finally led Mrs. Wittenmyer to issue a call to the women of the State to meet and organize a new association for the handling of relief work.156 “Sanitary and Relief Societies, Union and Loyal Leagues, Good Templars’ Lodges and all other organizations that have lent assistance to the good work” were urged to send delegates.157
The
Iowa State Sanitary Commission
Muscatine was chosen as the meeting place of the convention because it was the “banner war county” and “the Ladies’ Aid Society the banner society of the State”. The women met on October 7, 1863, the papers referring to the gathering as the convention of the “loyal ladies of Iowa”. Soon after the opening of the meeting a discussion arose as to “the precise object of the convention, from which it appeared that many entertained vague and conflicting views in regard to it.” One delegate from northern Iowa declared that the society which she represented and other organizations in that region had pledged their aid to the Northwestern Sanitary Commission of Chicago and she thought all the supplies from Iowa should be distributed in that manner. Another woman, from the southern part of the State, took an entirely opposite view and favored the formation of an independent State organization. “She thought Iowa was able to take care of its own soldiers, and that Illinois should not meddle with us, especially when it is a well known fact that Illinois has tried to rob Iowa soldiers of honors won on battle-fields.”
Mrs. Wittenmyer then stated her views and offered the following resolution which was adopted: “That we unite ourselves into a State Sanitary Organization, for the purpose of promoting the Sanitary interests of the State and of building an orphan asylum.” The new body was named the Iowa State Sanitary Commission, to distinguish it from the Army Sanitary Commission, a constitution and by-laws were adopted, and officers were elected, Mrs. Wittenmyer being made president.158
The preamble of the constitution stated that the organization would work to secure “a large and constant supply of Sanitary goods, and a faithful application of the same,” and for the establishment of a Soldiers’ Orphans’ Home. The approaching “Northwester Fair” at Chicago was discussed and it was decided that any auxiliary societies wishing to contribute to the fair might do so. Mrs. Ely of Cedar Rapids and Mrs. N. H. Brainerd of Iowa City were named as the Iowa committee for the Fair. A resolution was also adopted requesting all the churches to take up collections on Thanksgiving Day for the use of the new Commission, and a committee was appointed to ask the State legislature for further aid.
Mr. Kynett of the Iowa Army Sanitary Commission, who had been referred to as being opposed to the organization proposed by this convention, was present and asked permission to speak, which after some debate was granted. He said it was impracticable to distribute supplies in the field to Iowa soldiers only, and therefore the Commission which he represented, turned their donations over to the Chicago branch of the United States Sanitary Commission. He denied being opposed to the object of the convention, but regretted that the two organizations could not unite their efforts. Mrs. Wittenmyer in reply stated that she had reason to feel offended because of Mr. Kynett’s conduct towards her as State agent. She claimed to have higher authority than Mr. Kynett, inasmuch as he was appointed by authority of the legislature, while he was chosen by the Governor. In addition, her appointment was made subsequent to the appointment of Mr. Kynett.159 There were now two organizations in the field once more, both aiming at the same end; and the two Commissions and the two agents seemed “to be in competition”.160
Such a situation soon caused dissatisfaction among the people who were supporting the relief work. Early in November one of the State papers commented upon the complicated status of sanitary affairs in Iowa, and attributed the unsatisfactory conditions “to the conflicting interests of different organizations having the same object in view.” Such inharmonious action, it pointed out, tended “to alienate the sympathies of the people from the good cause which all have in view.” It recommended that everyone should support eh Iowa State Sanitary Commission.161 Not only was there general dissatisfaction in the State over the unsatisfactory situation due to the opposition of the various factions, but for some time there had been but a single organization, it was not so constituted as to secure the desired results. With the added drawback of two competing associations this complaint became more insistent.
Mrs. James Harlan, who had from the beginning of the war been caring for the sick and wounded in the hospitals and upon the battlefields, summed up these defects in a letter to the Dubuque Times. Many time she had ministered to the soldiers upon the field “before the smoke of the conflict had passed away”, having had permission from the Secretary of War to visit the armies and the field hospitals. Thus she was in a position to observe the work and relative efficiency of the various organizations. In many instances she had distributed goods for them and was in touch with their agents. In this published communication Mrs. Harlan stated that she had at an early period noticed defects in the system of distributing supplies. There was no real head to the system; no home office at which accounts could be kept; no arrangements for the regular visitation of the Iowa regiments; and no business arrangement for the shipping of goods. “The friends of the soldiers in the State,” declared Mrs. Harlan, “who have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of stores, demanded a more perfect system.”162 So complicated had become the relief work of the State that Governor Kirkwood himself admitted that the situation was very discouraging. In a letter written on November 13th to Rev. C. G. Truesdell of Davenport, who was later made secretary of the Iowa Sanitary Commission, the Governor wrote that at times he felt “almost disheartened in regard to sanitary affairs. There seems to be so much jealousy and ill will among those engaged in the matter that it discourages me and will I fear discourage those who have been contributing so liberally for this purpose.”163
Notes
148 The State Press (Iowa City), February 7, March 14, 28, 1863.
149 The State Press (Iowa City), June 27, 1863.
150 Muscatine Weekly Journal, March 6, 1863.
151 Muscatine Weekly Journal, August 7, 1863.
152 Dubuque Semi-Weekly Times, September 25, 1863.
153 Dubuque Semi-Weekly Times, September 15, 1863.
154 Senate Journal, 1864, pp. 201, 202.
155 Report of the Iowa Sanitary Commission, 1864, p. 11; Dubuque Semi-Weekly Times, September 15, November 3, 1863.
156 Report of the Iowa Sanitary Commission, 1866, p. 24; Dubuque Semi-Weekly Times, September 15, 1863.
157 Muscatine Weekly Journal, September 25, 1863.
158 Muscatine Weekly Journal, October 2, 9, 16, 1863.
159 Muscatine Weekly Journal, October 16, 1863.
160 Dubuque Semi-Weekly Times, October 16, 1863.
161 Muscatine Weekly Journal, November 6, 1863.
162 Dubuque Semi-Weekly Times, December 4, 1863.
163 Kirkwood Military Letter Book, No. 4, p. 173; Clarks’ Samuel Jordan Kirkwood, pp. 237, 238.
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