The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-13

COUNTY, ALA, IN THE WAR
BY HENRY S. HALBERT.

On Sunday, April IA, 1861, at time
| when thousands of Christian people,
| Catholic and Protestant, all over the coun-
tinent of America, were engaged in their
service to the Lord, Abraham Lincoln,
President of the United States, with pen
in hand, wrote his famous declaration
of war against the southern states. While
this document, the parent of an ilaid of
woes to the people of the south, was
composed and penned on the holy Sabbath.
from a lingering sense of decency 1t was
not issued until the following day.
Tt is needless to detail the effects OF
this proclamation or rather declaration
of war, which was necessarily met by a
counter proclamation from President JEFF
| ferson Davis.
Macon county, in common with her sis
ter counties, promptly made preparations
to bear her part in meeting this unconsli-
tutoinal war against the south. Mr.. Lin
coins proclamation was scarcely read
when public notice was issued for the
citizens of the county to meet Monday,
| April q, in the court house in Tuskegee.
The day came and the meeting was large
ly attended. A committee was appointed.
| suitable resolutions were introduced and
| passed and the sum of $1,000 was sub
| scribed on the spot for the equipment of
two military comprehensive 'Tuskegee
Light Infantry and the Alabama
zouaves,' and for the support of their
families during their absence. Such was
Macons patriotic response to Lincoin's
proclamation.
By midsummer six companies all told
had gone forth to the seat of war
The Friday and Saturday after the
| Tuskegee mass meeting, the women OF
| Tuskegee and vicinity worked necessarily
| in preparing clothing and uniforms for
the Light infantry and the zouaves. On
Saturday the last stitch was taken and
| that evening the two companies took
! their departure for the seat of war.
The women of Macon county early re-
! quested the especial privilege of making
the uniforms and completing the neces-
sary outfit of the soldiers of their county.
And they labored actively and abund-
antly in the good cause. In July they
began a more systematic work within
the Soldiers Aid societies which they
organized agreeably to Governor Moores
recommendation. But many of the aid
societies in Alabama had in reality been
| In existence for some time before his
| proclamation. Governor Moore saw and
| recognized the useful work of these So
cieties and wishing to increase this num-
| Der and efficiency, he issued proclams-
| ton, recommending the women of each
| county, city, town, village and neighbor-
| hood In Alabama to form Soldiers Aid
societies." and that each society inform
| him by letter, as early as possible of the
! number of wooden uniforms, flannel shirts
| and cotton-hannel drawers 1t can make
| or supply; and that each family make
| contributions of blankets for the use
| of the troops of the state, to the Judges
| of probate court in their counties, who
, will register the name of the contributor
| and the number contributed, In book to
be kept by him specially for that purpose,
and who will box up and forward blankets
| whenever a sufficient number is obtained,
| to the governor, who will defray the ex-
pense of boxing and forwarding.
| There can be no doubt but Governor
| Moore's proclamation was prompted by
the patriotic work of the southern women,
which they began Immediately after Mr..
| Lincoln's declaration of war.
| The records extant have preserved tho
! names of two soldiers aid societies In
| Macon county with some details of their
labors.
| The Tuskegee Ladies Soldiers Aid So
| ciety" was organized in Tuskegee early
in July. Mrs. John Swanson was elected
president and Mrs. j. w. Hunter sec
rotary. The stated object of this society
was Ito meet and supply the urgent ne
cessties of our brave soldiers, as they
may arise, and is intended to be used i'm
partially for the good of all"
| Within ten weeks after it's organization,
the Tuskegee society made up and dis
posed of 651 under garments, and 1870 pairs
of socks. OF these 463 under garments
| and twenty-nine pairs of socks were sent
to the Tuskegee Light infantry; $50 under
garments and Ill pairs of socks to the
| Alabama Zouaves, and 10 garments and
| fifteen pairs of socks to the Macon Rifles
The remainder was given out to other
| companies as they were needed.
| The "Notasulga Aid society was or
ganized July u, 1861, at which time Mrs
| Ann W. Simpson was elected president
Mrs. A. DUR. vice president; Miss Lou
Roberts. secretary; Miss e. L. Armstrong,
| assistant secretary and Mrs. NJ. e.
Phillips, treasurer
The following is an account of the ten
weeks work of the Notasulga society by
its secretary, Miss Lou Roberts, under
the date of September "a, 1861:
ION the 26th of July we forwarded to
| Loachapoka Rifles 1o5 garments. and
| seventy-hve pairs of socks, and since the
1st OF August, by the perseverance of
| our president and the energy of other
| members of the society, we have raised
| a fund and bought with money belonging
| to the society. 1875 yards or flannel, 81
| yards of hickory shifting and Jos yards
of domestic, out of which, and other
cloth that has been furnished us, we have
| made 100 garments, some Of them vet to
| forward, together with forty overcoats,
forty pair pants and forty coats, to be
| made and sent early in October. We have
in the society ninety pairs socks, mostly
wooden, and are knitting gloves, suspen-
| ders and comforters. We have just fin
ished thirty garments, for Capt. III. Clay
Armstrong; company now at Auburn.
"Our society has forwarded to the Ala
bama Hospital at Richmond Va, two
large boxes containing comforts, quilts,
coyerlets, pillows and pillow cases. sheets,
| towels. linen and cotton bandages, lint,
dried fruit, wine, etc.
where all have done nobly, we do
not wish it understood that we are draw
ing any comparison whatever in the
| labors or efforts of the members of our
society. / am sure l will be pardoned
J for mentioning that young lady belong
| ing to the society made trimming and
| sold II, bought wool with the money and
| presented the society with four pairs
beautifully knit socks. Another young
lady about Is years old knit three pairs
socks In one week, and her mother has
brought into the society twenty-five pairs
| socks, all wool.
1.-THE society raised a small fund last
| Tuesday from a tabeau, for a special
| purpose for the soldiers. We expect to
have another, and perhaps several, as a
| means to keep money in our treasury to
assist those for whom we work, who are