The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-07-30
RELIEF CORPS NEWS.
Gleanings from National Headquar-
terS--Notes from the Departments.
HEADQUARTERS WoMAN's RELIEF CORPS,
Boston, MASS.
SARAH e. FULLER, National President.
ELEANOR b. WHEELER National Secretary.
DEATH OF GEN. GRANT.

ELEANOR d. w WHEELER. National Secretary.
DEATH OF GEN. GRANT.
HEApo'Rs WoMAN's RELIEF CoRPs
AUXILIARY TO THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC,
IA Temple Place CRoom 10y, Boston, July %, 1885.
General Orders No. g.
On this bright Summer morning the bells are
tolling the requiem of our country's noble dead
Ex-President Ulysses s. Grant has closed his
eyes and lain him down to rest The long weary
months of pain and suffering over, and our
brave. lion-hearted commander and comrade is no
more.
Nation is in tears, and the people sit in sad
ness. He whose courage and devotion to his coun-
try in her great hour of need led the people to look
TO him to lead us to victory has heard the last
"roi call" and in answering has laid down the
weapons of warfare, wrapt his nantcl about him,
and is now numbered with that grand army
whose term of service is completed" No more
will the bugle call arouse his sumbers. His is a
sleep that knows no earthly waking.
. AS an auxiliary TO the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie, who to-day mourn the loss of their eomrade; it
is fitting that we. the members of the Woman g
Relief Corps, should unite with them in our ex-
pressOns of sorrow and mourning.
Therefore, in recognition of the faithful services
of this patriot. soldier and friend and tribute
of our respect and love for the hero of Appomat-
toX" and our grateful remembrance of his heroic
deeds, the charters of all Corps throughout our
Order will be draped in the emblems of mourning
for 60 days, and that ut the first regular meeting
after the receipt of this order all Corps shall set
apart one hour for special services commemorative
OF his life and glorious deeds a soldier.
In this hour of great affection and sorrow would
tender to the widow and family of this deceased
comrade the loving sympathy and respect of the
members of this Order. Twenty-Five thousand
women who are banded together to work for the
interest of the veteran soldier and sailor of the late
rebellion will bear them on their hearts, praying
the consultations of Heaven may be theirs.
Department and Corps Presidents are charged
with a prompt distribution of this order.
BY command of SARAH E. FULLER, National
President.
ELEANOR B. WHEELER,
National Secretary.
RELIEF OF ARMY WORKERS.
The Third Annual convention expressed their
approval of the action of the Past National
President, Mrs. Sherwood, in starting the Ten
Cent Fund for the benefit of disabled army
workers. and it will be continued the coming
year. Great good has been done the past year
by its kindly provisions and the need still
continues. A cOmrade from Marblehead, Mass,
who heard Gen. Logans warm words of COM
incubation of the Relief Corps and praise of
works, and wrote out check for S. and sent
Mrs. Sherwood. Will he kindly send her his
name (Which was not altogether legible), that
he may receive due acknowledgment?
Just prior to convention, $2.70 was received
at National Headquarters from Abraham Lin
coin Corps. Chicago, through the Treasurer,
Jennie NJ. st. John, So Douglas Avenue. 1t is
gratefully acknowledged.
We know we voice the desires of many when
we reproduce this excellent report made by the
committee to the Portland convention. The
chairman of the committee, Mrs. Gannett, who
was the working arm of the National Presi-
dent in this wise benefoence, deserves great
praise for her quiet and unselfsh labOrs, so
thoroughly performed. Largely to her efforts
is due the fact that the Court of Claims at
Washington has recommended to Congress to
reimburse Miss Carroll for moneys expended
during the war in the service of her country,
they having fully investigated her claims.
With an adequate appropriation for Miss Car
roll and a pension for Mother Bickerdyke, to
which the Grand Army pledged itself in En-
campment the Woman's Relief Corps will take
new courage in their self-imposed work.
RELIEF FOR ARMY WORKERS, WIDOWS AND
ORPHANS.
National Secretary WR.C.:
BY authority OF the Second Annual Convention,
Womans Relief Corps, at Minneapolis, Mimi,
National Relief Committee was formed. The fol-
President Abbie NJ Gannett Maiden Mass; Annie
Wittenmeyer, Philadelphia, Pa; Juliet q. Howe,
York, Neb. The special object of this committee
was to consider the cases of the women who, as
nurses otherwise, had rendered service to their
country during the war, and were now in crcum-
stances demanding pecuniary aid
The case of Miss Anna Ella Carroll, OF Maryland,
whose distinguished services to her country have
never been recognized or rewarded by the Govern
" Mother" Bickerdyke, who has not even been
pensioned, had been presented before the Conven-
ton, directly leading to the formation of this COM
mittee. These cases are but instances of many de-
serving sympathy and assistance.
The Wonan's Relief Corps having given heed to
needs of soldiers and their families. would next
regard the members of their own who have
been of inestimabie assistance both to comrades
and to country during the wars dark days,
like their brothers. hardships and trials
at the high call of patriotism. Heartily as we
joice that the first spontaneous acts of the WOmans
Relief Corps were noble and womanly. we yet
rejoice as heartily that nurses and other army
hero md of to,
receive as ample q share OF attention as the COM
rades of whom they were the tender and minister
ing companions
The first work of the Relief Committee, accord
ing to instructions of the National President was
to prepare two papers to lay before the Pension
Committee of the Grand Army of the Republic;
the first outlining the services of Miss Carroll and
asking that an appeal be made to Congress in her
behalf for generous appropriation: the second
papers were TO precede call for fund to be raised
by Posts and Corps for these women and for other
army nurses They were at once prepared. and,
after few changes, We're approved by the Ma
tional President. Copies OF them accompany this
report.
l was issued from National Headquarters. 1t asked
for a l0-cent contribution from each Postand Relief
Corps member Thus the relief fund estab-
lished Of which Miss Carroll has received S5SS.14
Mrs. Bickerdyke. S3OS 16; Mrs Mack, of New York,
s27 so. Balance joint fund in treasury. $685.
In Miss CAROLS case this aid has brought great
good. She was greatly suffering invalid in the
little town of Church Creek, Md, where she
could not have suitable medical care She was as
soon means became sufficient, removed to Bati-
more, where she is now living in better state of
health. The Relief Committee earnestly urge that
after Posts and Corps convene again in the Autumn
be continued to the relief fund, in
order that Miss Carroll be maintained in comfort
until Congress legislates in her behalf. They are
particular i'll urging this in view of Miss Carrolls
services having been unique and remarkable.
For woman to write the State papers she pre-
pared, to outline the plans of of the greatest
of the war, so that she won high
coniums from President Lincoln and Secretary
Stanton and other leading men of the time. is an
event to be remembered in history. And 1t would
be as culpabe for the Womans Relief Corps to let
her suffer it would be for the Grand Army to let
the noble Sherman or Sheridan exist in want.
In Mrs. Bickerdykes case the relief has been
timely though her great desire is that the Womans
Relief Corps would aid her in securing the pension
to which she is richly entitled by reason of long
and important services in the hospital and on the
battlefield.
Mrs Mack, the INDECENT nurse in New York. be-
assistance from Relief Corps in her State from
time to time, have many others. This fund
should be made permanent i'll order that all such
wants shall be supplied.
The National President advised this committee
TO prepare further paper setting forth the need OF
increase of pensions for widows and orphans. This
was done, and copy accompanies this report.
These three papers were printed, the first asking
for appropriation from Congress for Miss Car
roll second, asking for pension for Mrs. Bicker-
widows and orphans Copies of each were placed
in the hands of each member of the Grand Army
Pension Committee. From the Chairman, Past
Chief George L. Merrill and from
strong efforts would be made to render these papers
But owing to the shortneos of the Con-
session, the Pension Committee decided
That it would be useless to urge for any pension