The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-08-26
Soldiers, Aid Societies.

The third quarterly report of the
Soldiers Aid Societies of Iowa, begin
ming April 1st, and ending July LIST,
1862, has been received by us. The re-
port is made to the women Of Iowa by
Mrs. Anna Wittenmeyer of Keokuk, a
lady who has been engaged for nearly a
year past in looking after the comfort Of
sick and wounded Iowa soldiers, and dis
tributing hospital supplies, furnished her
by the several Aid Societies of this State.
In her report Mrs. Wittenmeyer says ::
We have received nearly all the goods
coming from this State, during the past
year, and we can assure the donors that
the goods coming into our hands have
been well taken care of, and judiciously
distributed, as our books and papers will
show. 1t has been our earnest endeavor
to secure to the sick soldiers the com
forts and delicacies sent them by the
| lauleS OF our State.
The State Sanitary Commission, and
all other Sanitary Associations, are now
pledged to cooperate with the Soldiers
Aid Societies, and an agent has been
appointed by the Governor and assigned
to the special duty Of looking after the
interests of our Iowa troops and coop
Grating with the commission in the dis
tribution Of hospital supplies. This
agent, Ira M. Clifford, of Davenport, has
already entered upon the duties of his
office, and is now at Corinth, Mississippi,
where most of our troops are quarlered.
A great deal has already been done
towards organizing the medical depart
ments and supplying hospital comforts.
but there is still great work to do
Sickness is on the increase in the west
ern army. The summer season is upon
US, and our troops must remain in the
malarious districts oflhe South. Scurvy,
that subtle and most fatal of army dis
eases, has already made its appearance.
Milk, butter, eggs, and all articles Of
food SO abundant and cheap in our north
ern markets, and so essential to the re-.
covery of the sick, cannot be obtained at
any price. Those who are very sick or
are convaescing hare nothing to sustain
their sinking energies, while the heat,
flies and vermn are intolerabe. The
facts are before us. The government does
not, cannot, provide against the evils.
What shall we do? Shall we sit at home
in ease and affluence and eat the fruits OF
this goodlv land, while those who carry
our flag and nobly stand between us and
the belhcing cannon Of our enemies, are
enduring countless hardships aad priya-
tons, and sinking down 10 die, unpro-
vided for amidst the flies and yermin Of
a pestilental cline. Our country is in
need of men. Every sick soldier restor-
ed TO health is one added to the federal
army, every life saved is home jea0el
that some mother wife or sister will
value more highly than diamond of The
first water.
articles IN demand The articles OF
hospital clothing mostly in demand are
cotton shirts and drawers. The weather
in the South is now, aad will be for some
time, exceedingly hot. Men are brought
into the hospital in their heavy wooden
clothing, which is often infested with
yermin; An immediate change is ALSO
lutely necessary for their comfort. The
Government makes no provision for such
changes, and the supplies in the hospit-
al is greatly inferior TO the demand.
Other articles, such as sheets, pillows,
pillow cases, towels, DC, may be sent as
eretofore.
In view of the facts made known to
US in Mrs. Wiltenmeyer's statement OF
the condition OF the sick and wounde d
Of our army, and information gained from
other reliable sources, the ladies Of Inde-
pendence Aid Society have resolved
upon renewal of their labors. There
will be meeting of the Society at
Morse's Hall on Friday afternoon of this
week, at o'clock. Donations are solio-
tied of such articles as are needed by the
sick, namely butter and eggs, also old
shirts, sheets, pillows, &c, &c. Butter
and eggs are in great demand, and we
wish to send off quantity OF both the
last OF this week. ALI persons willing
TO contribute either of these, or any other
articles needed for the comfort Of on,
sick soldiers, will please bring them a,
our next meeting. Persons from the
country wishing TO contribute butter and
eggs, can, il more convenient to BRING
bring before Friday, leave them with
some friend in town who will deliver