(Especially prepared for this volume by her ex-secretary, W. H. Sears)
ACHIEVEMENTS
1. Organized, conducted and popularized Free School System, Bordentown, N. J., at her own expense. Commenced her school with six pupils, all boys, and in one year had six hundred; secured five teachers to assist and had promises of a new building, if she would continue. It was built for her and is still in use. “Pauper Schools,” that is, Public Schools at public expense, were ridiculed by the people. The six boys were renegades from private schools. Third week, room filled and assistant required. Such was the success that the private schools were discontinued and a four thousand dollar school house, three stories of brick, was built and Miss Barton inaugurated the Free Public School of Bordentown, N. J. With six hundred pupils and eight teachers, impetus was given to the cause of free education over the State, 1852–4.
2. First Woman Clerk in Government Office, Washington, D. C. A place of trust at $1,400 per year, in charge of caveats, Patent Office, which position she gave up at the opening of the Civil War to work in the field. 1854–’61, under Mr. Charles Mason, Commissioner of Patents. Discharged when Buchanan came in; but recalled under Lincoln; resigned when war came on.
THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
3. Met and furnished relief at “Old Infirmary,” where Judiciary Square Hospital now stands; first day and next day at Capitol, in Senate Chamber (Senate not in session) to wounded soldiers of the 6th Mass. Volunteers in Washington, on arrival from the Baltimore attack by mob, April 19, 1861. First Civil War Field.
4. Met and furnished relief to sick and wounded soldiers, brought from the front on trains and boats to Washington, D. C., May 1, 1861 to July, 1862.
Afterwards she was on the following fields of battle and relief:
5. James Island, battlefield, July 7, 1862.
6. Cedar Mountain, battlefield, August 9, 1862, 3,700 killed and wounded.