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

It is not necessary for us to speak, in this place, more in detail of what was done by the women of Massachusetts in forwarding contributions to the New-England Sanitary Commission, or to the institution for soldiers' relief which, during the whole of the war, was watched over and superintended by that distinguished and accomplished lady, Mrs. Harrison Gray Otis, to whom we have the honor to dedicate this book, as we have spoken of them as they deserve in the first volume of this work. A few facts, however, concerning the Massachusetts Christian Commission would not be out of place, as no especial reference was made to it in our previous publication. It was through this and the Sanitary Commission that a large part of the contributions made by the women of the Commonwealth found their way to the army and to the hospitals, and were properly distributed; but the Christian Commission received large benefactions likewise from men, as well as from the women, as the following brief abstract of its doings will abundantly prove.

The work of the Christian Commission in Massachusetts was under the charge of Charles Demond, Esq., of Boston. He devoted a large portion of his time during the war to this work, in the performance of which he visited many of our towns, addressed assemblages of the people, and organized local societies. In the Young Men's Christian Association of Boston he found a vigorous and useful ally. The receiving-ship at the Charlestown Navy Yard, where upwards of twenty-six thousand enlisted sailors were received during the war, was regularly visited by members of the Association, and articles of comfort and reading matter were distributed. They also held religious meetings every night on board the ship. The camps at Readville and at Gallop's Island were visited for similar purposes.

The amount of money received by the Treasurer of the Commission at Boston was $330,197.86; and at Springfield, $33,553.17. In addition to these amounts, more than $15,000 were sent direct from Massachusetts to the office of the Commission at Philadelphia,—thus making the total amount of