Tag Archives: United States Sanitary Commission

“large hearts and corresponding purses”

[I missed this last month.] During the war many fairs were held to benefit the Sanitary Commission. On February 22 and 23, 1866 the Young Ladies’ Aid Society of a small town on one of the Finger Lakes in New … Continue reading

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taunts

Couldn’t folks have been a little more bipartisan 150 years ago? From a Seneca County, New York newspaper in July 1865: Employment for Soldiers. The Auburn Advertiser days the scarcity of help among the farmers, should induce the returned soldiers … Continue reading

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Big Data

The average Union soldier had more girth than the average Rebel? Recently I read about the importance of statistics and statisticians to the British government during World War II. Here’s some evidence that during the American Civil War a Northern … Continue reading

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onions, pickles …

and water The United States Sanitary Commission was accepting donations of produce for the Army of the Potomac. From The New-York Times June 30, 1864: ONIONS FOR THE ARMY Arrangements having been made for the transportation of vegetables to the … Continue reading

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heavens almost “hung in black”

150 years ago this week President Lincoln with Mary and Todd visited the Great Central Fair in Philadelphia, one of many sanitary fairs held throughout the North. The president acknowledged that war is terrible, but he wasn’t wavering from his … Continue reading

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Christian Commission

we brought up with us nearly three thousand letters, written for disabled soldiers by the delegates of the commission. The New York Times column at left features a matter-of -fact telegram dated May 26, 1864 from Secretary of War Stanton … Continue reading

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banning “the wolf’s dictionary”?

150 years ago Sanitary Fairs were held throughout the North to support the work of the United States Sanitary Commission. President Lincoln spoke a few words when Baltimore opened its version on April 18th. There might never be an authoritative, … Continue reading

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aiming for $1,250,000

150 years ago cities throughout the North held fairs to raise funds for the healing work of the United States Sanitary Commission. A fair opened in Brooklyn back on Washington’s birthday. 150 years ago today the Metropolitan Sanitary Fair began … Continue reading

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flags, fireworks, and a fair

150 years ago today New York City celebrated George Washington’s birthday, and a sanitary fair opened in Brooklyn to support the United States Sanitary Commission. From The New-York Times February 23, 1864: WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY.; CELEBRATION IN THIS CITY AND VICINITY. Opening … Continue reading

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skating … or not

Here a Northern newspaper acknowledged the huge contrast between the suffering soldiers and the still luxurious life at home. For all the people in New York could tell, the fighting might just as well have been in China. The least … Continue reading

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