Vienna Soldier's Aid Society Letters

Letter, Vienna Soldiers' Aid Society to Soldiers' Aid Society of Northern Ohio, November 1861

Vienna [in red]

Mrs. B. Rouse,

Dear Madam,

The ladies of Vienna have organized themselves into an association for the purpose of aiding in the great and good work—that of providing supplies for the comfort and relief of those who have so nobly gone forth to maintain the honor of our “stars and stripes.”

The people of this township have contributed their–mites—and have sent away two boxes containing blankets, woolen wrappers and drawers and socks. Their estimated value being nearly two hundred dollars. The Ladies Aid Society now wish to furnish a box for the use of the hospitals and in behalf of that Society I wish to ask what articles are the most needed or what would be the most acceptable. We wish our labor to do as much good as possible—for no doubt our soldiers need all the help of all patriotic women of the north—and could you send us the required information either by letter or by sending us a circular we should be deeply indebted to you. We furthermore wish our Aid Society to be auxilliary [sic] with yours. Our Society was organized by choosing the following officers.

For President Mrs. Sarah J. Sanford
Vice “ Mrs. Newton Woodford
Secretary Miss Docia W. Squires
Treasurer Miss Lizzie Woodford

Committee of Arrangements,
Mrs Smith Scoville
Mrs Calvin Williams
Mrs Morrison Perkins
Miss Judson Griffis
Miss Hellen Betts

I ask pardon for trespassing so long upon your time and patience, and hope you will excuse the liberty to a stranger have taken in addressing you. With the best wishes a friend can wish for the success of your noble institution in Cleveland.

I remain yours truly,
Docia W Squires
By order of the President Secretary.

Nov. 26th 1861

Please send as convenient and direct, Box 15, Vienna, Ohio.

Mrs. Rouse—One question more. Is it so, that the Quartermaster takes blankets & other articles sent by Aid Societies to the soldiers, and sells them out to the soldiers and they pocket the money. I was prompted to ask this question by hearing at this moment of an instance where a lady took to the Quartermaster in Cleveland a lot of blankets and donated them to the soldiers, and he sold them, to them, for $2.50 a peice [sic] and pocketed the money. I hope this is untrue. Please inform us.

Yours &c.

At top: “Wrote Mar. 30”
On back: [ ] 26th /can’t find a list / 1861

Letter, Vienna Soldiers' Aid Society to Soldiers' Aid Society of Northern Ohio, Cleveland, April 10, 1862

Mrs. B. Rouse
Pres't Soldiers Aid Society, Cleveland

Dear Madam:

After so long a time we have prepared a small box of hospital stores for our sick and suffering soldiers. We fear that the articles are not such as they should be, but we made them best we could according to our ability and knowledge and most humbly ask you to accept of them, hoping that they may do some good where they are needed. The shirts were made before we had any directions and if too small, do not censure us too hardly as we knew not what size to make them. We have rolled some bandages and picked some lint. Have we done them correctly?

Miss Sanford (our president) received a letter from your secretary a few days ago reminding us as she said that you were still in the field and glad to receive subscriptions from any. You err greatly if you think we have forgotten our soldiers on the tented field as in the crowded hospital.

We owe you an apology for our inactivity in doing for them, and which is this:--There has been so much sickness and so many deaths in our usual quiet town the past winter that it has been almost impossible to do aught for benevolence out of our own limits.

Our Society meets at private houses and there could not be found places to meet where there was not sickness in the family. Part of the community is discouraged thinking that we have done considerable and that we should not be weary in well doing and I know I speak the determination of the Society when I say "we will do all we can."

If this box is acceptable, please inform us and also of the "articles" most needed at present. We intend sending some "Concentrated Chicken" soon as possible.

Yours loyally,
Docia W. Squires,
Sec.

By order of the President.
S. J. Sanford

Vienna, Ohio,
April 10^th, 1862

Enclosed you will find a list of the articles in our box.

Letter, Vienna Soldiers' Aid Society to Soldiers' Aid Society of Northern Ohio, Cleveland, April 16, 1862

Vienna, April 16th, [1862] 11 o’clock, P.M.

Mrs. B. Rouse,

Dear Madam,

Our soldiers Aid Society met to day and I will now give you the pr[o]ceeds of our days’ work as we intend sending them tomorrow morning. We have been very busy indeed to day and for no object less worthy than the relief and comfort of our sick and wounded soldiers could we have been induced to labor as we have this day and evening. It was the intention to have canned chickens to day (and we have them ready to can) but were sadly disapointed [sic] in procuring suitable cans and therefore defer it until to-morrow. Perhaps they will not reach you for a day or two but they will come. Look out for them if we do not write you by mail respecting them. Did you receive a “box” from Vienna last Friday? The contents in “the boxes” which we have prepared to day are as follows:

In “box” No 1 you will find—
20 lbs Maple-Sugar
9 lbs Dried-Elderberries
1 Can Maple-Molasses
5 lbs Dried Peaches
21 lbs Dried Currants
10 lbs Dried-Beef
Also a small bag of dried plums, cherries, Raspberries & Strawberries.

Box No. 2nd
2 Pced-quilts
14 Pillows
34 Pillow-cases
12 Sheets
100 Linen Towels
5 Shirts (half worn)
6 Boxes Lint
540 Yds Bandages
2 Prs Socks
Also some pieces cotton.

What think you of our days [sic] work in a small town?

3rd 1 bbl. Dried Apples 80 lbs.

Please write us whether you receive “our boxes” or not and tell us if gratefully received, and if the contents are what they should be. It will tend to encourage us perhaps. Our society earnestly hope that may do all the good possible not because it cost no labor to send them but because we think that “our soldiers” need them.

Respectfully submitted,
Docia W. Squires,
Secretary.

Mrs. S. J. Sanford,
President.

[in pencil] Soldier’s Aid Society,
Vienna, Ohio

Mrs. Rouse—Again we were disappointed in sending our boxes this morning and now have our boxes of Concentrated Chicken ready nicely soddered up and in good order. Therefore our box No. 4 contains—

79 cans of Concentrated Chicken
1 can of Apple Butter

[on back] [missing line]

All of them we have We have to send them 9 miles to the cars and it s a very busy time just now. But we have just got word that they will go.

Yours,
Docia W. Squires

Letter, Vienna Soldiers' Aid Society to Soldiers' Aid Society of Northern Ohio, Cleveland, April 23, 1862

Vienna, Apr 23rd 1862

Mrs B Rouse,

Again we trouble you with another box of hospital stores what a few of us ladies prepared this afternoon and thought it better to send them now than now to wait for more even if the box was small. Your letter of advice came to [sic] late about the chickens—we had prepared and sent them off and we are anxious to hear what state they were in when they reached you. I do not know why they could not keep. Please tell us how large those “pad-cushions” ought be made.

If the articles we send are not right please inform us and greatly oblige us. If not too much trouble will you not inform us about the chickens also and if you receive this solitary box and oblige us,

Docia W. Squires,
Sec.

Sarah J. Sanford, Pres.

Letter, Vienna Soldiers' Aid Society to Soldiers' Aid Society of Northern Ohio, Cleveland, May 8, 1862

Vienna, May 8, 1862

Mrs. B. Rouse,

Dear Madam,

Accompanying this you will recieve [sic] a box containing the following articles, 6 pillows, 4 pair socks
4 lbs currents [sic]
" " elderberries
" " dried apples, 17 linen towels, 2 1/2 lb. cotton cloth, 1 1/2 lbs dish cloths, 1 dozen lemons, 3 lbs. lint, 1 quilt, 484 yds. cotton bandages, 2 dozen eggs, 5 abdominal bandages, [illegible] pair pillow cases. At our last meeting but one a change was made in the trustees of the Society. The former secretary Docia Squires is about to commence school and I am now acting in her place. We will be glad to hear from you often.

A trembling hand and an aching head made sad traces and mistakes, but pardon.

truly yours,
Helen A. Betts
Vienna, Trumbull Co
Ohio

Letter, Vienna Soldiers' Aid Society to Soldiers' Aid Society of Northern Ohio, Cleveland, June 26, 1862

Vienna, June 26th, /62

Miss May C. Brayton,

Dear Madam, You will please recieve [sic] accompanying this a box containing the following articles; 8 pillows, 7 quilts, 5 hospital shirts, 5 pair pillow cases, 1 pair socks, 14 yds bandage, 1 abdominal bandage, 14 pinballs, 3 lbs. lint, 2 1/2 lbs. currants, 10 magazines, 10 handbills, 18 tracts, 1 doz. copies N.Y. Independent, 1 doz. copies N.Y. Observer.

Although our society is a small our offering too and our means limited, still those who do give give cheerfully, and many cannot [missing line] petitions [missing] who [missing]-ing for us, that a generous spirit may be put into many more hearts that they too may help in the course we are trying to forward.

I wish our boxes were worth more they would be if I could draw the purse strings to a richer purse, so they would.

Your willing helper,
Helen L. Betts, Sec.

Letter, Vienna Soldiers' Aid Society to Soldiers' Aid Society of Northern Ohio, Cleveland, August 28, 1862

Vienna, August 28th 1862

Miss Mary C. Brayton Sec.

Dear Madam,

Please receive soon box containing these articles vis. 4 quilts, 16 sheets, 22 linen towels, 7 pillow covers, 4 pair drawers, 1 pair white pants, 2 pair sheets, 2 1/2 lbs linen, 84 yds bandage, 1 pair mittens, 1 pair slippers, 1 pin ball, 1 linen coat. The mittens have been in the soc. for some time and we send them thinking when the time comes they will be useful.

I expect to go soon to Tallmadge to school and so can no longer fulfill the duties of Sec. but you and our worthy cause will neither be forgotten.

truly yours, Helen L. Betts

Letter, Vienna Soldiers' Aid Society to Soldiers' Aid Society of Northern Ohio, Cleveland, October 22, 1862

Vienna Ohio Oct. 22 [1862]

Mrs. B. Rouse.

Pres’t Soldiers’ Aid Soc.

Dear Madam

We forward to you one box hospital supplies, containing the following articles (viz, 1 quilt, 12 shirts, 17 prs drawers, 4 pillow cases, 38 yds bandages).

One box is very small this week. We have some more things prepared but cannot send them this week as this is the largest box we can get to-day. We find it rather more difficult to obtain cotton cloth since the prices here raised which accounts in part for our not sending more supplies lately. Some Soldiers from the hospitals in Kentucky and bring rather discouraging accounts about the patients getting any of our dried & canned fruits—Jellies, &c. we have often heard such reports but these last reports seem to discourage people about sending such things more than [sic] any previous report. I hope we may be able to do considerably for our suffering soldiers. There are but few who take or seem to take much interest in helping us. I write these things that you may know why we have sent so little lately. I shall not often weary you with so long a letter.

Respectfully,
Laura Woodford. Sec.

Letter, Vienna Soldiers' Aid Society to Soldiers' Aid Society of Northern Ohio, Cleveland, December 3, 1862

Vienna, Ohio, Dec. 3, 62

Miss M. C. Brayton,

We forward to you another small box of hospital supplies containing the following articles 25 yds bandages, 1 pr mittens, 2 shirts, 10 prs. drawers, 1 pr pillow cases, 4 quilts.

We hope to be able to send more things then [sic] we have done. When your last letter came we were out of funds and about out of work. We send this week the remainder of our cotton goods, last week we held a festival and have some money on hand now, we would be glad to have you inform us what is most needed and if we shall buy flannel for drawers & shirts.

When I wrote before I mentioned those discourageing [sic] stories because we have so little to send, and I wished you to know the reason. There are a few who are not discouraged and are willing to do all in their power to help in this cause. There are only ten ladies out this afternoon and you can judge how much we can accomplish. Although we are willing to do all in our power. Hoping you will receive all our small donations.

I remain
Truly,
Laura Woodford Sec.

Letter, Vienna Soldiers' Aid Society to Soldiers' Aid Society of Northern Ohio, Cleveland, January 14, 1863

Vienna, Ohio, Jan. 14, 1863

Mrs. B. Rouse

Dear Madam,

Enclosed please find the report of our society for the past year. We feel thankful that we have been able to contribute our mite to help alleviate the suffering of our sick and wounded soldiers, and would be glad if we could greatly increase our donations this coming year if they are needed for so long a time.

Very Respectfully,
Miss Laura Woodford, Sec.

Letter, Vienna Soldiers' Aid Society to Soldiers' Aid Society of Northern Ohio, February 26, 1863

Vienna Feb. 10th 26th, 1863

Miss Mary C. Brayton,

We send you a small box today containing the following articles, Four canton flannel shirts, 12 pairs of drawers, 9 prs of mittens and reading matter. We wish our offering was a greater one and will do all in our power to forword [sic] so good a cause.

Helen L. Betts, Sec.

Letter, Vienna Soldiers' Aid Society to Soldiers' Aid Society of Northern Ohio, Cleveland, March 23, 1863

Vienna, March the 23, 1863

Dear Madame Our society has ajourned [sic] a few weeks for want of funds but we intende to meet again the first of Aprile [sic] if you can inform us what articles is [sic] most neaded [sic] we will work accordingley [sic]

Yours Truley [sic]
Mrs. L. R. Williams, President

Letter, Vienna Soldiers' Aid Society to Soldiers' Aid Society of Northern Ohio, Cleveland, January 20, 1864

Vienna, Jan. 20th / 64.

Miss Mary B. Brayton,

Your notice or rather the notice from your Com. of Arrangements, reached me last mail, but did not have time then to attend to it, but answer now to say that if you will send the blanks we will do all in our power to forward so good a cause. Have become engaged in teaching for some time and can not devote the time I would like to to the war but will see that all is done that can be done.

Truly yours, Helen L. Betts, Sec.
Vice President