William Schouler, A history of Massachusetts in the Civil War: Volume 2

The amount of money raised and expended by the town during the war for State aid to soldiers' families, and repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $10,348.57; in 1862, $40,738.49; in 1863, $54,683.97; in 1864, $46,000.00; in 1865, $25,000.00. Total amount, $176,771.03.

The ladies of Charlestown began their soldiers' work with the war. The Bunker-Hill Soldiers' Relief Society originated April 19, 1861, and as it was undoubtedly the first which was organized in the loyal States we propose, therefore, to give the names of its first officers, as follows: President, Mrs. Horace G. Hutchins; vice-president, Mrs. William L. Hudson; secretary, Mrs. Henry Lyon; treasurer, Miss Almena B. Bates.

Executive committee, Mrs. Peter Hubbell, Mrs. George E. Ellis, Mrs. W. W. Wheilden, Mrs. James B. Miles, Mrs. T. T. Sawyer, Mrs. R. Williams, Mrs. George W. Little, Mrs. Richard Frothingham, Mrs. John Hurd, Mrs. George Hyde, Mrs. Arthur W. Tufts, Mrs. S. T. Hooper, Mrs. Frederick Thompson, Mrs. O. C. Everett.

Committee on work, Miss Louisa Bray, Miss L. J. Walker, Mrs. S. T. Hooper, Mrs. Nathan Merrill, Mrs. B. Edmunds, Mrs. George Edmunds, Mrs. J. A. Bates, Mrs. C. S. Cartee, Mrs. Henry Edes, Miss Hannah Osgood, Miss Elizabeth Bray, Miss R. Edmunds.

Mrs. President Hutchins, in her excellent address at the first annual meeting of the society April 19, 1862, says: ‘When, one year ago, we were all agitated and excited by the news of the rebellious attack made upon our government, feeling willing and anxious to do something, and yet not quite clear in our minds what our duty demanded of us, a young woman of our city, one of New England's active and spirited daughters, saw and pointed out a way in which we could render service in the noble cause without entrenching on the duties of others. It was proposed to form a society of the women of our city, for the purpose of rendering aid and sympathy to the families of the patriot soldiers who at the first call of their country left their peaceful homes for the untried duties of the camp and ’