I informed him as to my mission. He laughed heartily.
“That, madam, is a little beyond my prerogative. I don’t feel authorized to give away the property of the government.”
I put myself at once in telegraphic communication with Mr. Stanton. He asked some questions as to the legal status of the institution, and that was all I heard that day.
The next morning I took another requisition to the War Department. It was for hospital supplies. I distinctly remember the first few items, 1,800 blankets; 2,500 sheets; 3,000 pillow-cases; 1,500 pillows, and so on, till everything I could remember that could be of use to the Home were enumerated.
When I handed the document to Major Eccles, I said,—
“Here is a small requisition I should like to have go in with the application for the property.”
“This is a small requisition,” and he laughed heartily as he read the list aloud.
“Yes, sir,” I said with great gravity. “This is a small requisition; but with the help of the generous people of Iowa, I hope we shall be able to get along with that.”
“Now seriously, on what grounds have you a right to ask these supplies from the government?”
“Well, sir, I call your attention to the fact, that at the beginning of the war the government had very few hospital supplies. The loyal people of the North helped to fit them up. The loyal State of Iowa sent nearly $200,000 worth of supplies into the military hospitals. Now, all I ask is that you give us back a few of the supplies that we gave you, as you no longer need them.”