OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Ohio in the Civil War Pt 9c *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 November 4, 1999 *********************************************************************** Historical Collections of Ohio Diaries of S. J. Kelly Plains Dealer Know Your Ohio by Darlene E. Kelley *********************************************************************** Ohio Women in the Civil War --part 9-C Quilts-- In times of National emergency, Ohio quiltmakers mobilized to make quilts for relief.During the Civil War they transformed their church sewing circles into Soldiers' Aid Societies to collect and make clothing, quilts and bandages for Union soldiers. Thes groups affiliates of regional branches of the U.S. Sanitary Commission ( forerunner of the American Red Cross and an organization of Northern women who contributed needed articles of food and clothing to the Union Troops), were admirally effective. They organized immediately and efficiently, since their goals and structure as charitable sewing societies had existed for years. The Strongsville society, for instance, simply changed a few words in its consitution, retained its membership, and instantly became a soldiers' aid Society, fifty eight members strong. The need for bedcoverings in military camps and hospitals was so great that Soldiers Aid societies began by collecting existing quilts from their communities. A week after the war began and two months before the Soldiers Aid Societies officially organized, Cleveland women collected 729 quilts, comforters, and blankets in a single day to answer an emergency at nearby Camp Taylor. In the first fifteen months of its existence the Cleveland Soldiers Aid Society, to which Strongville and other nearby communities sent their work for disbursal, received 6,830 comfortables and blankets, the category that included quilts. Northern women contrbuted more than 250,000 quilts to the Union cause. The figures for Cleveland and Cincinnati alone totaled 27,369. As is true of other quilts contributed directly for benevolent causes, we found none of those thousands given by ohio women to the Sanitary Commission and know about them only by written records. " I particularly noticed a large invoice of quilts from your society, received here just when fly-blown blankets could not be endured another day, and one of the most timely of your favors." Surgeon A.G. Hart to U.S. Sanitary Commission, Cleveland Branch ( Cuyahoga County, Ohio ) 1862" ********************************************* Secretary's Report of Ladies Aid Society. Arnsville, Ohio From Sept 16th 1862, to June 15th 1863. In the fall of 1862 some of the ladies of Arnsville, and vicinity, feeling desirous to cast their might for our country's defense in the hour of her peril, began to cast about in their minds to find what would do the most good, and finding that the lows of the land, and their own feelings pre-vented their entering into a struggle now going on, but knowing that to comfort and cheer was their legitimate sphere, they concluded that they could render the most efficient service by working for those who are so nobly standing as a living wall between " their loved homes. and war's desolation." and seeing that it would be unwise to rely on the spasmodic efforts of a community as put forth in times of excitement as that would soon become wearisome, and not be a steady good. So they determined to form an association to be called the Ladies Soldier's Aid Society of Arnsville, Ohio and to send their contributions to the Cincinnati Branch U.S. Sanitary Commission. The Society was formed a Mrs Mary Henry's Sept. 1862. Mrs Mary Henry was elected President, Miss M. A. Rice, Secretary, Annie L. Dean, Treasurer. There was also a committee of three appointed whose special business it was to solicit funds for the Society. Mrs Ida Boyd, Misses E.C. Rice and S.E. McCollom. The members paid an admittance fee of .05 each for a time, but was discontinued Dec 23rd,1863. The committee, and society generally worked with a will and with determination that now, they had embarked in an enterprise to carry it forward. Some looked with distrust upon our efforts, who would ( we think ) have helped us had they fully understood our objects and aims, but still the society has movd forward although some of its best friends and helpers have all been called away are providentialy detained from meeting with us so that through the winter the attendance was very small, still we have suceeded in sending two valuable boxes to the Sanitary Commission, an account of which will be found in the Treasurers report. We constantly receive from the Society Commission their Monthly Bulletin, a report of their receipts and expedtures. We constantly read of the great good they are enabled to do by means of the contributions of the Soldier's Aid Societies in different parts of the country,we take courage and strive to do all we can. We would call upon everyone to aid in this great work, all have a personal interest in this as there are but few who have not friends away in a enemies country an ( Happen ) to fall a victim to the missiles of their foes or the ravages of disease. Come then and help us. There is a great call upon everyone to aid in this great work. There is a great call for vegetables. Will you give them? Let every family form themselves into companies and pick and dry fruits. They call for dried fruits rather then canned. See to it that there are pickles prepared to send in abundance and you who have friends or sons in te Army, will you not pick out your longest row of potatoes and cultivate them nicely and when ripe, dig them and send to the Sanitary Commission. Or any other vegetables, you may have, will be acceptable. Bring them on, we will send them for you. Any contributions can be left at Mr. A.B. Glazer's store so they will go safely and you will have no expense. Will you help us and prove that it is more blessed to give then to receive.!!! Annie L. Dean Sec. Pro Temp. Many Ohio Societies and covered needs-- Societies sprung up all over Ohio, all working for one goal; to ease the burden on their husbands and sons and relatives. Bandages were made by specific instructions. Splints and canes carved by those who could. Children learned to knit so they could help knit socks. All collected yarns. Woolen or cotton flannal for bed gowns, wrappers, undershirts and drawers; small, hair and feather pillows and cushions for wounded limbs and slippers. Delicacies for the sick-- such as farina, corn starch, cocoa, condensed milk, and nicely dried fruit, jellies strewn with white sugars half an inch thick and stout paper ( not brandied) pasted on top. Checkers and backgammon boards for the amusement of the wounded men, books, magazines, and illustrated papers, served to while away many a weary and idle hour. Poppies grown for the medicinal effect for easing pain, Letters, long and newsy to fill the need of home. Quilts and blankets to warm the body and ease the cold. Dried Cheese and beans, and potatoes helped fill the hunger of hungry men. Money for needed supplies and to help in some of the costs. Candies to fill the need of sweetness. Jerkies for the much needed protein. Homemade lotions to protect from the weather. Tea's for warming the stomach. The women all came together and helped as much as they could, knowing full well their loved ones could come home maimed or crippled, or not at all. Then there were the ones who volunteered their time to help organize all the effort and pack the boxes and transported them to where they were needed to be sent. The women who visited the local hospitals to help to wash the clothes and give aid where needed. Time was all they could give and the women of Ohio did give. As President Lincoln once stated " He knew he could count on Ohio to give their all." ********************************************** To be continued in part 10.