In June, 1861, the association met with a great loss in the departure of Mrs. d'Orémieulx, for Europe. Of her Dr. Bellows said: "It would be ungrateful not to acknowledge the zeal, devotion and ability of one of the ladies of this committee, Mrs. d'Orémieulx, now absent from the country, who labored incessantly in the earlier months of the organization, and gave a most vital start to the life of this committee." This lady resumed her duties after a year's absence, and continued her characteristic force and persistency up to the close.
At this time, Mr. S. W. Bridgham put his broad shoulders to the wheel. He had been a member of the board from the beginning, but not a "day-laborer" until now. And not this alone, for he was a night-laborer also. At midnight, and in the still "darker hours which precede the dawn," Mr. Bridgham and his faithful ally, Roberts, often left their beds to meet sudden emergencies, and to ship comforts to distant points. On Sundays too, he and his patriotic wife might be easily detected creeping under the half-opened door of Number 10, to gather up for a sudden requisition, and then to beg of the small city expresses, transportation to ship or railroad. This was often his Sunday worship. His heart and soul were given to the work.
In November, 1862, a council of representatives from the principal aid-societies, now numbering fourteen hundred and sixty-two, was held in Washington. The chief object was to obtain supplies more steadily. Immediately after a battle, but too late for the exigency, there was an influx, then a lull. The Woman's Central therefore urged its auxiliaries to send a monthly box. It also urged the Federal principle, that is, the bestowment of all supplies on United States troops, and not on individuals or regiments, and explained to the public that the Sanitary Commission acted in aid of, and not in opposition to the government.
In January, 1863, all supplies had been exhausted by the battles of Antietam and Fredericksburg. Everything was again needed. An able letter of inquiry to secretaries of the auxiliary societies with a preliminary statement of important facts, was drawn up by Miss Louisa L. Schuyler, and issued in pamphlet form. Two hundred and thirty-five replies were received, (all to be read)! which were for the most part favorable to the Sanitary Commission with its Federal principle as a medium, and all breathed the purest patriotism.
In February, the plan of "Associate Managers" borrowed from the Boston branch was adopted. Miss Schuyler assumed the whole labor. It was a division of the tributary states into sections, an associate manager to each, who should supervise, control and stimulate every aid-society in her section, going from village to village, and organizing, if need be, as she went. She should hold a friendly correspondence monthly, with the committee on correspondence (now separated from that on supplies) besides sending an official monthly report. To ascertain the right woman, one who should combine the talent, energy, tact and social influence for this severe field, was the difficult preliminary step. Then, to gain her consent, to instruct, and to place her in relations with the auxiliaries, involved an amount of correspondence truly frightful. It was done. Yet, in one sense, it was never done; for up to the close, innumerable little rills from "pastures new" were guided on to the great stream. The experience of every associate manager, endeared to the Woman's Central through the closest sympathy would be a rare record.
An elaborate and useful set of books was arranged by Miss Schuyler in furtherance of the work of the committee "on correspondence, and diffusion of information." Lecturers were also to be obtained by this committee, and this involved much forethought and preparation of the field. Three hundred and sixty-nine lectures were delivered upon the work of the Sanitary Commission, by nine gentlemen.
State agencies made great confusion in the hospitals. The Sanitary Commission was censured for employing paid agents, and its board of officers even, was accused of receiving salaries. Its agents were abused for wastefulness, as if the frugality so proper in health, were not improper in sickness. Reports were in circulation injurious to the honor of the Commission. Explanations had become necessary. The Woman's Central, therefore, published a pamphlet written by Mr. George T. Strong, entitled: "How can we best help our Camps and Hospitals?" In this the absolute necessity of paid agents was conclusively vindicated; the false report of salaries to the board of officers was denied, and the true position of the Sanitary Commission with reference to the National Government and its medical bureau was again patiently explained. A series of letters from assistant-surgeons of the army and of volunteers, recommending the Commission to the confidence of the people, was also inserted.
About this time a Hospital Directory was opened at Number 10, Cooper Union.
In the spring of 1863, the Woman's Central continued to be harassed, not by want of money, for that was always promised by its undaunted treasurer, but by lack of clothing and edibles. The price of all materials had greatly advanced, the reserved treasures of every household were exhausted, the early days of havelocks and Sunday industry had gone forever, and the Sanitary Commission was frequently circumvented and calumniated by rival organizations. The members of the Woman's Central worked incessantly. Miss Collins was always at her post. She had never left it. Her hand held the reins taut from the beginning to the end. She alone went to the office daily, remaining after office hours, which were from nine to six, and taking home to be perfected in the still hours of night those elaborate tables of supplies and their disbursement, which formed her monthly Report to the Board of the Woman's Central. These tables are a marvel of method and clearness.
To encourage its struggling Aid-Societies, who were without means, but earnest in their offers of time and labor, the Woman's Central offered to purchase for them materials at wholesale prices. This was eagerly accepted by many. A purchasing Committee was organized, consisting of Mrs. J. H. Swett, Mrs. H. Fish, Mrs. S. Weir Roosevelt.