The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1863-11-20
Ole gadv's department.
Patriotism of the Women of the
Revolution


Revolution.
An interesting incident, illustrative of fe-
male patriotism and activity, is given by Mr..
Headley as occurring in the church at Litch-
field, Connecticut The pastor, Judah Cham
pion, was an ardent patriot and on certain
Sabbath was earnestly preaching and pray
ing for the success of the American arms
During the service messenger arrived, an
nouncing that st. Johns-which had been
besieged six weeks, and was regarded as the
key to Canads-was taken. THANK God
for the victory !" exclaimed the patriot preach
er, and the chorister, clapping his hands, Wig
orously shouted" Amen, and amenl'
The communication of the messenger an
nounced that our army was in suffering
condition, destitute Of olothing, without stock
ings or shoes. Sorrow and pity took the
place of exultation, and generous sympathetic
eyes filed with tears on every side. There
was scarcely dry eye among the females of
the congregation, As soon as the audience
was dismissed, they were soon gathered to-
gether in excited groups, and it was evident
that some scheme was on foot that would not
admit of delay. The result was, that when
the congregation assembled in the afternoon,
not roman aoas 10 be seen. The men had
come to church, but their earnest, noble wives
and daughters had taken down their hand
cards, drawn forth their spinning set
in motion their looms, while the knitting and
sewing needles were piled as they never were
before. 1t was a strange spectacle to see that
Puritan Sabbath turned into a day of secular
work. The pastor was at the Westinghouse,
performing those duties belonging to the house
Of God, and the voice of prayer and hymns of
praise assembled as usual from devout and
solemn hearts; but all through the usually
quiet streets of Litchfeld the humming sound
OF the spinning-whsel, the clash of the shut
tie flying to and fro, were heard, making
strange harmony with the worship of the sane
tuary. But let it not be supposed that these
noble women had gone to work without the
knowledge of their pastor. They had con-
suited with him, and he had given them his
sanction and blessing.
swimming eyes and heaying bosoms were
over their work, and lips moved in prayer for
the destitute and suffering soldier. The pas
tors wife contributed eleven blankets from
her own stores to the collection"
The women of the Revolution were active
in their service of relief and comfort to the
armies of the country. "The supply of do
nestle cloth designed for families was in
short time, by the labor of the females, con-
verted into coats for the soldiers. sheets and
blankets were fashioned into shirts; and even
the iannels already made up were altered
into mems habiliments. Such aid was rem
dered by many whose deeds of disinterested
generosity were never known beyond their
own immediate neighborhood."
Weights of clocks, pans, dishes, pewter
services of plate, then common, were melted
by the women and given to the army to be
used in defense of freedom.
In l776, Lafayette passed through Balti-
more, and was honored with public recep-
ton. In the gayeties of the scene he was
seen ia be sad "Why SO sad?" said a gay
belle. IL cannot enjoy these festivities"
said Lafayette, "while SO many Of the poor
soldiers are without shirts and other neces-
saries." "They shall be supplied" respond
ed the fair ladies; and the scenes of the fes-
tive hall were exchanged for the service of
their needles. They Immediately made up
clothing for the suffering solders-one of the
ladies cutting out five hundred pairs of pam
falcons with her own hands, and superintend-
ing the making.
In 1850, cold and dreary winter, when
the soldiers greatly suffered, the ladies of
Philadelphia formed an Industrial Associa-
ton for the relief of the American army
They solicited money, sacrificed their jewelry,
and labored with their own hands. Mrs.
Baehe, daughter of DIR. Franklin, was a lead
ing spirit in these patriotic efforts. "Shs
conducted u.s." said French nobleman, in
describing the scene, Unto room flied with
work lately finished by the ladies of Philadel
phia 1t was shirts for the soldiers of Penn
sylyania. The ladies bought the cloth from
their own private purses and took pleasur,
in cutting them ont and sewing them togeth
er. On each shirt was the name of a Marie,
or unmarried lady who made it; and the,
amount to twenty-five hundred" During
the cold winter that followed, thousands 0
poor soldiers in Washington's camp had oc
casion to bless the women of Philadelphia TO
these labors of love-"