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6, they increased their previous donations by the donation of 3,000 pounds of beef, and over 200 splendid harns; 1,200 pounds butter, and 1,600 pounds of cheese, were among the first liberal donations.

May 8th it was reported that Dorchester voted $20,000 for the war; fifteen for single, and twenty for married men enlisting during the war. Middleton voted $7,000; Mansfield, $5,000; Woburn paid liberally; Dedham voted $10,000; Melrose, $3,000. All these were voted, besides other liberal provisions.

The citizens of Roxbury, on the evening of May 8th, held an enthusiastic meeting in Institute Hall, to enjoy an entertainment prepared for the families of the volunteers. Children gave the music; also Gilmore's Band added to the pleasure of the occasion. The Hon. Alexander H. Rice made a few elegant remarks, and then the Hon. Edward Everett gave one of his characteristically polished and eloquent addresses, saying that "Wide as the summons has gone forth, it has been obeyed, with an alacrity and unanimity that knew no parallel in our history; and the volunteers of Massachusetts have been the first in the field."

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The Donation Committee.

This is one of the institutions of the city,- benevolent, useful, energetic, and skilful; it has work to do, and does it. The soul of this committee is its originator and agent, the indefatigable Mrs. Harrison Gray Otis. Immediately after the breaking out of the war, she set about to see what her hands could find to do; and it occurred to her that she could best assist the Old Bay State in the cause in which it had enlisted, by throwing open her own house, and making it a general depot for receiving and distributing conveniences and necessaries to the soldiers of Massachusetts. This fact became known to the city government, and Mr. Evans, the proprietor of the Evans House on Tremont Street, opened his house gratuitously for this purpose. As soon as Mr. Evans signified his intention to give Mrs. Otis his house for this purpose, she entered it, about the last of April, and has been there every day since not had one holiday, or day of rest, save the Sabbath. She receives anything and everything for the soldiers, shirts, drawers, socks, sleeping-caps, blankets, pin-cushions, towels, groceries, teas, coffee, sugar, wines, &c. Articles are sent to her from all parts of the Štate, made and unmade, and by her distributed, to her order only, to all the soldiers who apply. They come in from the camps and get complete outfits. On their return from the seat of war, on furlough, they call, and give most hearty thanks for the things they have had to supply their necessities, and receive such things more as they may require. Every article is marked, no matter what, with the mark of the committee, as follows:- "Donation Committee, Mrs. Harrison Gray Otis, Agent, City of Boston; so that any soldier can tell whence comes his donation. It is impossible to give an estimate of all that has been distributed in ten months of the operations of the committee. Among others may be stated, 20,000 pin-cushions, 30,000 rolled bandages, 30,000 books, tracts and Testaments; and, perhaps, 100,000 articles have been sent out; and all articles are of the best kind and pattern. Several thousand dollars have been donated in money; and the fame of the committee has extended so far that remittances have been received from London, Paris, China, Siam, Norway, Sweden and St. Petersburg. Mr. Ashton, of London, a native and property-holder of Boston, among liberal donations from other parties, gave $500. Many of the merchants of whom flannel and material for under-clothing are bought make a liberal discount upon their prices. All who send in, leave it entirely to the judgment of Mrs. Otis as to the distribution, as nothing is sent without her order. The committee is entirely self-sustaining, -neither State or City have given it a copper. Mrs. Otis is not alone in her devotion to its purposes, four young ladies of position have devoted their whole time to the enterprise, and one has cut all the shirts that have been made. Other wealthy ladies are constantly in attendance, and giving money, and purchasing material to supply special wants as they occur, and which cannot readily be otherwise supplied. Each person who makes a donation receives a printed certificate, with the signature of the agent, and an acknowledgment through the newspapers. In this way these ladies have given up dress, parties, social entertainments, where time and expense are necessary, and devoted themselves to this work of humanity and of defence of the good old Union of the fathers. Long live the ladies of the Old Bay State !

Massachusetts Soldiers' Fund Society.

April 23, a great movement was commenced by the leading merchants of Boston, great, because it comprehended a wider field of action than had been hitherto attempted. They held a meeting at the rooms of the Board of Trade, and appointed a committee to effect an organization; and, on the 24th, that committee reported that, in view of the liberal contributions by towns, cities and individuals, in aid of soldiers called into active service, it was proper to leave the present wants of the soldiers to still continue to be supplied in this way. But, in view of the fact that the contest might be prolonged, and that their generosity might find itself incapable of giving further aid, they deemed it advisable to establish a more permanent fund. Hence, they recommended a committee of one hundred to raise and keep a fund, and to apply it for the soldiers and their families, at their discretion. They also reported a list of officers, commencing with the governor, the chief justice, and all the living ex-governors of the State, and continuing with the most prominent names of the citizens of the State.

On the 27th this Committee of One Hundred met, and adopted the following rules: The Committee of One Hundred who met on the 27th, to correct any public misapprehension as to the objects of this fund, published the following in the Boston

papers: "Our object is, 'to receive contributions for the benefit of soldiers, and the families of soldiers, who have been or may be called into active service, to be held in trust as a fund in reserve, to be applied at the discretion' of the Executive Committee of Fifteen.

"No part of the fund can be used, just at this juncture, without departing from the original design, and, as it would seem, without a violation of faith to the contributors. The endeavor to provide means for the future, cannot, we think, but be approved by every thoughtful person. The exigencies of war are almost innumerable; and, while towns, cities, and neighborhoods meet the immediate necessities of those, and the families of those, who are called to the field in this hour of our country's awful emergency, we feel disposed to commend the wisdom of the gentlemen who look beyond present needs, and who, by the creation and care of this fund, hold out to the war-worn and the afflicted the promise of such pecuniary remembrance hereafter as the extent of the contributions will allow. That the Massachusetts Soldiers' Fund' is in the hands of citizens who are known for their integrity, financial skill, and deeds of benevolence, our readers need no assurance of ours. We may add, that, while the Executive Committee, as we are advised, decline to commit themselves to any course of action, as relates to the time of beginning to disburse the money placed at their disposal, as well as decline to define what indeed is not possible now to do - the rules which may be adopted in appropriating the funds, yet they do intend to be alive to every passing event, and to take cognizance of such calls as shall be made from time to time, keeping steadily in view, however, the final amount of the fund, and the principles of organization of the Committee of One Hundred.

"It is also of moment to observe, that, since contributions have been solicited in all parts of our glorious old Commonwealth, so will distributions of the funds be made as universally by the Executive Committee; for, it is to be remembered that, in constituting this body, Boston has but six members, while other and different parts of the State have nine. Upon this point, we would speak with distinct emphasis; - for example, Bostonas bound to do will doubtless contribute more than any other single place, but will still share in exact proportion only to the cases presented and disposed of under the rules recognized everywhere else, however near to or distant from that city. The towns and cities, then, not now doing to the extent of their ability in fitting off soldiers and caring for the wives and children of soldiers, may rest entirely content, that, if they do but transmit money to ROBERT M. MASON, the Treasurer, at Beston (No. 17 Milk Street, or 10 Pemberton Square), they will provide for the future wants of the present objects of their duty and sympathy, in the precise sense of contributors in the metropolis itself. "We have purposely made no appeal to our citizens to aid this fund, because we deemed a single word on that subject quite unnecessary. So, too, we have refrained from dwelling upon the startling movements of the hour, for the reason, that, as remarked at the outset, we designed merely to correct existing, and, as circumstances induce us to believe, somewhat extensive misapprehensions as to the objects of the fund."

December 9th, a circular announced that a sub-committee had then addressed circulars to the various banks and savings institutions of the Commonwealth, to know if they would receive and disburse, without charge, such funds as might be sent to them by the soldiers. Most, or all, replied that they would.

From this we see the care of the "solid men" for the interests of the soldier. With such assistance, there need be little suffering in the families of those who are fighting the battles of their country.

New England Woman's Auxiliary Association; Authorized Branch of the United States Sanitary Commission.

The ladies and committee of this Commission, in Boston, issued a circular to the women of New England, of which the following is a production:

"We appeal to you in behalf of the UNITED STATES SANITARY COMMISSION. This Commission has its head-quarters at Washington, and agencies in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Cincinnati, Wheeling, St. Louis, and Louisville. It originated, at the beginning of the war, in the desire to meet and avoid, for our army, the terrible evils which decimated the Crimean army. Its duties are partly preventive-such as inspecting and reforming camp arrangements, where bad situation, bad drainage, and bad cooking are worse foes to the soldier than those met in battle. It makes good, in a measure, the deficiency of government supplies to the hospitals - those supplies being limited, in many cases, to bed and pillow-so that the men lie in the clothes in which they were wounded. It gives its aid whenever and wherever it is most needed; furnishing clothes to the naked, and decent comfort to the sick; getting pay for those unable to attend at official hours; following in the steps of the government- allevi ating, where it cannot prevent; working in season and out of season, for humanity's and mercy's sake.

"The Commission appeals to the women of the country for its support. It is authorized, but not paid by government; it has not an article or a dollar supplied to it by government. Let us, in our fortunate and well-ordered New England, give freely to this agency, which works for the whole country. We are proud of sending our troops well provided; our governors and mayors go to Washington, to look after our sick and wounded; let us then work for the Commission, which is the friend of the sick and wounded from the whole Union, and give thankfully, if not for our own sons and brothers, for those who are sons of our country, and brethren of all loyal women."

The Auxiliary Association commenced work December 13, 1861. All packages made up in New England, and forwarded to No. 22 Summer Street, are opened by them, and repacked-each class of articles by itself-in boxes, marked, numbered, and kept in store until ordered from Washington. When ordered, they are readily selected and forwarded; so that no mistakes can occur. Before this association was formed, articles were continually sent by the friends of the soldiers; and, when opened, perhaps, would not contain single article wanted. At the hospitals this caused much annoyance. For seven weeks up to February 1st, 788 packages had been forwarded, all of which have been opened and re-packed, save those which have been marked for some particular regiment. This shows the labor and the responsibility which the managers have taken upon themselves. We cannot give all the articles which have been forwarded, but mention, among others, 20 cases hospital stores, food, such as farina, &c.; 27 cases of books, 24 cases of wine, 2,592 towels, 3,553 pairs of mittens, 2,574 pillows, 7,049 pairs woolen socks, 2,286 cotton shirts, 2,669 pillow-cases, 1,005 bed-sacks, 1,370 flannel shirts, 1,912 quilts, and so on, ad infinitum. The industrial department cuts and furnishes garments to parties that will make them, and also sends patterns to a distance, to those who will cut and make. The association is conducted exclusively by the ladies of Boston, who have associates all over New England. The receipts increase as its importance becomes known. All donations are thankfully received, and the donors can be assured that nothing will be wasted. All honor to the ladies of Boston!

Ladies' Industrial Aid Association.

This association was organized early upon the breaking out of the war, by the ladies of Boston. In July it was re-organized, with Mrs. C. R. Lowell for President, Miss Anna Lowell, Vice-President, and with a board of thirteen directors. The object of this association is to furnish work- the making of soldiers' shirts-to the wives of the soldiers in the field who need assistance. They stand between the contractors and the women; take the garments from the contractors to cut and make, receiving a certain sum for making, and paying a certain sum to the needlewomen for the sewing. The association has succeeded beyond expectation.

To obtain an idea of what they have accomplished, we gave the figures: From July 6th, 1861, to January 1st, 1862, they received, in donations, in sums varying from five cents to five hundred dollars, $3,229.28; for shirts gratuitously made, $300; and for work done by the needlewomen (paid for), $3,044-making a total of $6,573.28. They had disbursed to the work women, for sewing, $5,705.94, and had on hand, Jan. 1st, $767.89. The number of articles made are as follows:

The whole number made,

Made gratuitously, or by workwomen sent,

Made by the volunteers' families,

Of the 40,542 made, shirts for the United States' Army,

Flannel shirts and drawers, cotton drawers, blouses, and jackets,

Shirts and drawers for private persons,

Sheets and pillow-cases "

66

40,542

4,283

36,259

32,817

7,323

383

419

When they first commenced, they received eight cents for making shirts, and paid sixteen; after that they received ten cents from the contractors, and paid twenty to the needlewomen. The number of women employed is about 700-about one-third of whom are Americans. They accomplish another end than simply furnishing work to the women they teach them to sew, and to do it well. If a garment is returned poorly made, a less number is given out next time; so that they must work well if they would obtain the employment.

We cannot give too much praise to the ladies who have carried forward this truly useful enterprise. It has received their constant attention, and that with an immense amount of vexatious and fatiguing labor. The object is good; it is to furnish labor to the unemployed wives and families of the volunteers, and to teach them how to labor. The ladies hope to make it a self-sustaining institution; and, if they succeed, they will have accomplished a noble work.

State Aid to Families of Volunteers.

In March, 1862, the Legislature perfected the law aiding the families of volunteers. As it is of general interest, we give it entire:

AN ACT

In addition to an Act in Aid of the Families of Volunteers, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:·

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SECT. 1. Any town or city may raise money by taxation, or otherwise, and (if necessary) apply the same, under the direction of its Selectmen, or Mayor and Aldermen, or City Council, for the aid of the wife, each child, parent, brother, and sister of, and dependent upon, any one of the inhabitants of said town or city, who, as a part of the quota of this Commonwealth, has been, or hereafter shall be, duly enlisted and mustered into the volunteer service of the United States.

SECT. 2. Any town or city may raise and apply money, as aforesaid, for the aid of such wife, child, parent, brother and sister, of any one of its inhabitants who had been duly enlisted and mustered into said volunteer service as a part of the quota of any other State, before the passage of this Act.

SECT. 3. Money raised, as aforesaid, may be applied, as aforesaid, from and after the time of such enlistment, and while such inhabitant has been, or shall hereafter be, actually in said volunteer service; and all appropriations and expenditures heretofore made, or which shall hereafter be made, by the Selectmen, or Mayor and Aldermen, or City Council, of any town or city, for any of the purposes expressed in the foregoing sections, for any persons who have been, or are now, in the said service, notwithstanding any actual or supposed irregularity in their original enlistment, are hereby declared valid.

SECT. 4. Of the sums applied, as aforesaid, there shall be annually reimbursed from the State treasury, to the town or city so applying the same, a sum not exceeding one dollar per week for the wife, and one dollar per week for each child and parent aforesaid: provided, that the whole sum so reimbursed shall not exceed twelve dollars per month for all persons named in this section, dependent upon any such inhabitant at the time he was, or shall be, duly enlisted and mustered into said volunteer service.

SECT. 5. On or before the fifth day of January, in each year, there shall be deposited in the office of the Auditor of the Commonwealth, by each town and city raising and applying money, as aforesaid, a full and particular report, setting forth the names of the inhabitants of such town or city, for the aid of whose families money has been applied, as aforesaid, the names and ages of the several persons for the aid of whom money has been applied, as aforesaid, the relation such persons severally bear to such inhabitants, the sums paid to each of such persons, and the time when the same were paid. And no reimbursment shall be made from the State treasury to such town or city, as provided in Section Four of this Act, until such report has been sworn to by a majority of the Selectmen of such town, or the Mayor and a majority of the Aldermen of such city, deposited as aforesaid, and carefully examined, scrutinized, and approved by said auditor.

SECT. 6. This Act shall not authorize reimbursing money applied for the aid of any wife, child, or parent aforesaid, of any commissioned officer in said volunteer service, nor for the aid of any person dependent upon any volunteers from this State, enlisted into regiments of any other State, who receive aid from such other State. SECT. 7. All Acts, and parts of Acts, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed.

SECT. 8. This Act shall take effect upon its passage.

The Commissary-General's Department.

The Governor appointed a commissary-general, according to the Act of the Legisla ture in May. The Commissary-General, by consent of the Governor and Council, and aid of the military department of the State, commenced labor with the idea of economy, and not liberal expenditure. They organized a plan for subsisting the soldiers, in place of the more expensive one of commuting their rations. The contracts for stores were made on advantageous terms. Fifteen regiments of infantry, one regiment of cavalry, and three companies of artillery, together with numerous companies, have been subsisted by the department. The efforts of those connected with the department have been direct to the promotion of health, comfort, and satisfaction among the troops all causes of complaint being removed as promptly as practicable. Now, the volunteer corps raised in this State are subsisted by the general government, through officers detailed for that purpose. The total expenditure of the department was $103,146.25; liabilities, $10,000.00. In this, as in the other administrative departments of the State, since preparations for the war, Massachusetts has shown practical ability, humanity, and true loyalty to the soldiers' interest, as well as to the Union.

Three Months' Volunteers.

It is an interesting item to see the counties which furnished the three months' men, who first rallied to meet the front of rebellion. Old Middlesex bears off the palm in numbers. She sent 939 commissioned officers and men-882 privates, and 57 commissioned officers. Essex stands along close by her side; for she sent 71 commissioned officers, and 857 privates - being 928 in all. Norfolk came next, sending 21 commissioned officers, and 391 privates-making 412 in all. Franklin County sent one private and no commissioned officers; still, no one can doubt the loyalty of that county, and that she will respond to her utmost capacity in the war. The total number of commissioned officers furnished by the State was 244; privates, 3492-making an aggregate of 3736 men. These men went to Washington, many of them, through Baltimore, under Butler. They subdued that city, held the State of Maryland in check, and showed a wealth of mechanical skill, bravery, intelligence, and heroism, that makes one of the brightest pages in American history.

The Arming of the Troops.

To carry on war, men must have arms. The science of the day makes it necessary that the first-class arms should be used, in order to make anything of an equality in fighting. By the foresight of the authorities in power, $25,000 had been expended for overcoats and the munitions of war. They had immediate command of 3,500 rifled muskets. 500,000 cartridges had just been completed at the Cambridge arsenal, and rifled cannon were expected soon to be ready, with plenty of ammunition. With these stores in the ordnance department, the authorities were enabled to arm and equip the three months' volunteers, and dispatch them immediately to the seat of war. To December 24th, the number of the United States' rifled and smooth-bore muskets on hand

and received was 19,636; and of these, 18,449 have been distributed to the troops of the State. In addition to these, 14,700 Enfield rifled muskets have been purchased, and 13,185 have been distributed to the troops. There have been 1,200,000 cartridges made at the State arsenal, and these, with the stock on hand, gives an aggregate of 1,722,000; and from this quantity there has been distributed 1,084,000. Among the amounts paid by the State authorities, during the summer and fall, are the following: $223,715.56 for Enfield rifled muskets; $23,617.83 for infantry equipments; $30,642.28 for guns and munitions; $27,624.00 for Enfield rifled muskets, with cases, &c. ; to the aggregate amount of $559,876.25; and, in addition to this, $2,572.05 has been paid for office hire, clerk hire, and other necessary contingents. It appears that the State has 3,662 of the Springfield rifles, 7,690 of the Springfield smooth-bore, and 13,185 of the Enfield rifles in the field, distributed among the various regiments.

Boston City Aid to the Families of Volunteers.

The city of Boston is paying out from $16,000 to $18,000 per month, as aid to the families of volunteers. All this is in addition to the regular pay of the soldiers. The amount paid to each family varies from $4 to $8 and $12 per month. This money is again reimbursed to the city by the State, with the exception of what extra aid the city extends to persons more than usually needy. The number of persons assisted is about 2,200. The applicants first go to the State House, get a certificate of the enlistment of the husband, father, or brother, and apply to the Relief Officer, in Court Square; from thence they are sent to the Ward Committee, and, if approved, their application is signed by the Alderman of the ward; it is then returned to the Relief Officer, and the draft is received for the money. It is the opinion of the agent in charge that this munificent assistance has added one-third to the enlistments of the city.

The Surgeon-General's Report.

From the 16th day of April to the 16th of June, the medical supervision of the volunteer regiments was under the direction of an informal medical board-gentlemen whose loyalty and patriotism moved them to render their services to the State. Under their supervision, the physical fitness and medical wants of the soldiers were well supplied. The cost of medicines and hospital stores, for all the camps in the State, was $1,862.07; the cost of the same for three months' outfit, $8,719.25; and the outfit for surgical instruments, dressings, and furniture, $12,102.40-making an aggregate of $22,441.60. The resident physician of the Massachusetts General Hospital, with his department, and the city of Boston, through the City Physician, gave great assistance in the sanitary and medical departments of the service. These were gratuitous and patriotic offerings a cheerful sacrifice for the interest of the soldier and the country. The Medical Commission, also, -appointed by the Governor on the order of the Secretary of War, for the examination of candidates for the medical staff, - gave their services to the State without compensation. The physicians of Massachusetts have done themselves honor in their free-will offerings.

Town Action.

At the commencement of the war, the whole State of Massachusetts was nerved to patriotic action. Almost all the towns raised money, men, and supplies to aid the war. To give an idea of that labor, without attempting any unpleasant comparisons, we give the work of a few towns, as an index of all.

Acton.

In April, 1861, the citizens of Acton met, and voted the sum of $5000, to aid the volunteers and their families. They sent out a volunteer company of fifty-six men, called the Davis Guards, in honor of Davis of Concord Bridge and Revolutionary memory. This company was attended by the care and the blessings of the citizens. It returned at the expiration of three and a half months. Subsequently they raised another company of seventy men, to serve for three years or during the war.

Ashfield.

This town, on May 4th, held a town meeting, and voted "that the town pay those persons who have enlisted, or who shall hereafter enlist (being inhabitants of this town) as volunteers in the military service of the United States, the sum of twenty-six dollars per month each, while in such service, inclusive of what the Government shall pay them."

Amherst.

This town voted that the Selectmen borrow $5000 for the aid of all those who enlisted from the town. The Rev. Mr. Merrick gave five dollars to each man who enlisted from his parish. About two hundred dollars were also raised by subscription, and five dollars was given to each man who volunteered. A ladies' society was also formed to aid the families of the volunteers; and they also sent a box of clothing, valued at one hundred and thirty-one dollars, to the hospital at Washington. This was the practice of Andover theology.

Plymouth.

This good Old Colony town heard the guns of Sumter, and felt that her integrity and honor were attacked. She immediately raised and sent two companies to the seat

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