an account, and whose husband having been the first State Auditor of Iowa, was drawn to her not only by the bond of a common benevolence, but by State ties, which led them both to seek the good of the soldiers in whom both felt so deep an interest. Mrs. Harlan continued her labors for the soldiers till after the close of the war, and has been active since that time in securing for them their rights. Her health was much impaired by her protracted efforts in their behalf, and during the year 1866 she was much of the time an invalid. NEW ENGLAND SOLDIERS' RELIEF ASSOCIATION. HE "New England Society," of New York City, is an Association of long standing, for charitable and social purposes, and is composed of natives of New England, residing in New York, and its vicinity. Soon after the outbreak of the war, this society became the nucleus of a wider and less formal organization—the Sons of New England. In April, 1862, these gentlemen formed the New England Soldiers' Relief Association, whose object was declared to be "to aid and care for all sick and wounded soldiers passing through the city. of New York, on their way to or from the war." On the 8th of April, its "Home," a building well adapted to its purposes, was opened at No. 198 Broadway, and Dr. Everett Herrick, was appointed its resident Surgeon, and Mrs. E. A. Russell, its Matron. The Home was a hospital as well as a home, and in its second floor accommodated a very considerable number of patients. Its Matron was faithful and indefatigable in her performance of her duties, and in the three years of her service had under her care more than sixty thousand soldiers, many of them wounded or disabled. A Women's Auxiliary Committee was formed soon after the establishment of the Association, consisting of thirty ladies who took their turn of service as nurses for the sick and wounded through the year, and provided for them additional luxuries and delicacies to those furnished by the Association and the Govern ment rations. These ladies, the wives and daughters of eminent merchants, clergymen, physicians, and lawyers of the city, performed their work with great faithfulness and assiduity. The care of the sick and wounded men during the night, devolved upon the Night Watchers' Association, a voluntary committee of young men of the highest character, who during a period of three years never failed to supply the needful watchers for the invalid soldiers. The ladies in addition to their services as nurses, took part in a choir for the Sabbath services, in which all the exercises were by volunteers. The Soldiers' Depôt in Howard Street, New York, organized in 1863, was an institution of somewhat similar character to the New England Soldiers' Relief, though it recognized a primary responsibility to New York soldiers. It was founded and sustained mainly by State appropriations, and a very earnest and faithful association of ladies, here also bestowed their care and services upon the soldiers. Mrs. G. T. M. Davis, was active and prominent in this organization. |