Woman's Work in the Civil War: A Record of Heroism, Patriotism, and Patience

by L. P. Brockett; Mary C. Vaughan

They opened a correspondence with leading women in all the cities and prominent towns of the Northwest. They prepared and circulated great numbers of circulars, relating to the mode and necessity of the concentrated efforts of the Aid Societies, and they visited in person very many towns and large villages, calling together audiences of women, and telling them of the hardships, sufferings and heroism of the soldiers, which they had themselves witnessed, and the pressing needs of these men, which were to be met by the supplies contributed by, and the work of loyal women of the North. They thus stimulated the enthusiasm of the women to the highest point, greatly increased the number of Aid Societies, and taught them how, by systematizing their efforts, they could render the largest amount of assistance, as well as the most important, to the objects of the Sanitary Commission.

The eloquence and pathos of these appeals has never been surpassed; and it is no matter of wonder that they should have opened the hearts and purses of so many thousands of the listeners. "But for these noble warriors," Mrs. Hoge would say, "who have stood a living wall between us and destruction, where would have been our schools, our colleges, our churches, our property, our government, our lives? Southern soil has been watered with their blood, the Mississippi fringed with their graves, measured by acres instead of numbers. The shadow of death has passed over almost every household, and left desolate hearth-stones and vacant chairs. Thousands of mothers, wives and sisters at home have died and made no sign, while their loved ones have been hidden in Southern hospitals, prisons and graves—the separation, thank God, is short, the union eternal. I have only a simple story of these martyred heroes to tell you. I have been privileged to visit a hundred thousand of them in hospitals; meekly and cheerfully lying there, that you and I may be enabled to meet here, in peace and comfort to-day.

"Could I, by the touch of a magician's wand, pass before you in solemn review, this army of sufferers, you would say a tithe cannot be told."

And then with simple and effective pathos she would proceed to tell of incidents which she had witnessed, so touching, that long ere she had concluded her entire audience would be in tears.

By two years of earnest and constant labor in this field, these ladies succeeded in adding to the packages sent to the Sanitary Commission, fifty thousand, mostly gifts directly from the Aid Societies, but in part purchased with money given. In addition to this, over four hundred thousand dollars came into the treasury through their efforts.

Early in 1863, Mrs. Hoge, in company with Mrs. Colt of Milwaukee, at the request of the Sanitary Commission, left Chicago for Vicksburg, with a large quantity of sanitary stores. The defeat of Sherman in his assault upon that city, had just taken place, and there was great want and suffering in the army. The boat upon which these ladies were traveling, was however seized as a military transport at Columbus, and pressed into the fleet of General Gorman, which was just starting for the forts at the mouth of the White River.

General Fisk, whose headquarters were upon the same boat, accorded to these ladies the best accommodations, and every facility for carrying out their work, which proved to be greatly needed. Their stores were found to be almost the only ones in the fleet, composed of thirty steamers filled with fresh troops, whose ranks were soon thinned by sickness, consequent upon the exposures and fatigues of the campaign.

Their boat became a refuge for the sick of General Fisk's brigade, to his honor be it said, and these ladies had the privilege of nursing hundreds of men during this expedition, and undoubtedly saved many valuable lives.

Early in the following spring, and only ten days after her return to Chicago, from the expedition mentioned above, Mrs. Hoge was again summoned to Vicksburg, opposite which, at Young's Point, the army under General Grant was lying and engaged, among other operations against this celebrated stronghold, in the attempt to turn the course of the river into a canal dug across the point. Scurvy was prevailing to a very considerable extent among the men, who were greatly in need of the supplies which accompanied her. Here she remained two weeks, and had the pleasure of distributing these supplies, and witnessing much benefit from their use. Her headquarters were upon the sanitary boat, Silver Wave, and she received constant support and aid from Generals Grant and Sherman, and from Admiral Porter, who placed a tug boat at her disposal, in order that she might visit the camps and hospitals which were totally inaccessible in any other way, owing to the impassable character of the roads during the rainy season. Having made a tour of all the hospitals, and ascertained the condition of the sick, and of the army generally, she returned to the North, and reported to the Sanitary Commission the extent of that insidious army foe, the scurvy. They determined to act promptly and vigorously. Mrs. Hoge and Mrs. Livermore, as representatives of the Northwestern Sanitary Commission, by unremitting exertions, through the press and by circulars, and aided by members of the Commission, and by the noble Board of Trade of Chicago, succeeded in collecting, and in sending to the army, in the course of three weeks, over one thousand bushels of potatoes and onions, which reached them, were apportioned to them, and proved, as was anticipated, and has been universally acknowledged, the salvation of the troops.

Again, in the following June, on the invitation of General Fuller, Adjutant-General of the State of Illinois, Mrs. Hoge visited Vicksburg, on the Steamer City of Alton, which was despatched by Governor Yates, to bring home the sick and wounded Illinois soldiers. She remained till shortly before the surrender, which took place on the fourth of July, and during this time visited the entire circle of Hospitals, as well as the rifle-pits, where she witnessed scenes of thrilling interest, and instances of endurance and heroism beyond the power of pen to describe.