Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 10.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[735] comfort, and cheer to thousands of men. This labor has taxed our resources to an extent, of which, in the beginning, we did not even dream. The vast and novel experience of the years through which we have just passed demanded far more than could be done by the constituted public authorities. To follow such armies as it put into the field, beyond the usual provision for ordinary expenses, or, at most, beyond the most pressing need of sickness and disaster, was not in its power. The love and sympathy of the people, for whom these gallant men suffered, was left to do the rest. To step in between the provision which official authority could make, and the eager readiness of personal affection, to hand over tenderly the subject of disease and suffering from the one to the other, to supply the lack of home and love to those for whom no home and no love waited and watched, was left to the considerate wisdom and the prompt and diligent kindness of hearts glowing with a generous patriotism and Christian devotion. To do this great work the New England Soldiers' Relief Association was organized in April, 1862. A suitable building was provided, and the work placed in trustworthy hands. I am sure that a concise statement of the duties this Association has performed, as the almoner of their bounty, cannot be wearisome or uninteresting to those whose liberal and unsparing charity has furnished the means of all its usefulness.

From the ninth day of April, 1862, to the first day of September, 1865, we have received, registered, lodged, fed, aided, and clothed sick, wounded, and disabled soldiers, coming from almost every State, to the number of 86,073:

Maine	11,330
New Hampshire	7,216
Vermont	5,420
Massachusetts	18,546
Rhode Island	2,655
Connecticut	5,451
New York	11,850
New Jersey	1,253
Pennsylvania	5,783
Delaware	391
Maryland	285
District of Columbia	334
Virginia	189
West Virginia	18
North Carolina	56
South Carolina	46
Georgia	50
Alabama	19
Mississippi	625
Louisiana	65
Texas	22
Ohio	2,523
Indiana	1,514
Illinois	1,366
Michigan	442
Wisconsin	1,035
Minnesota	163
Florida	10
Iowa	219
Kentucky	140
Tennessee	20
Arkansas	6
Missouri	77
Kansas	5
California	31
Vet. Res. Corps	4,234
U. S. Navy	74
U. S. Troops	2,097
U. S. Colored Troops	509
Total	86,073

We also received, welcomed, and entertained New England regiments passing through our city on the way to the field, caring and providing for their wants to the aggregate number of 278,496 men. In like manner it has been our privilege to welcome, of the returning veterans of our glorious armies, 34,383 men, bearing upon their standards the names of those memorable battle-fields upon which they have won such immortal renown.

The foregoing figures are made irrespective of detachments of men otherwise provided for, and of a very large number of outside recipients, whose names do not appear upon our records, but who have, from time to time, received our aid.

This does not include the regiments which have passed through the city from the States of Connecticut and Rhode Island, the care, reception, and entertainment of which has devolved upon their energetic and able military agent, Colonel John H. Almy, whose entire time has been so industriously devoted to their interests, and whose early and constant co-operation with me has been of infinite value to the association.

We beg leave to call especial attention to our Hospital Record, the value of which will be evident upon a moment's consideration. Herein we have secured and recorded, from personal visitations at the bedsides of our suffering soldiers in hospitals in and near this city, the names, company, regiment, residence, hospital, date of admission, wound, disease, and final disposition of every soldier who has been admitted within their wards.

The countless inquiries that came to us from burdened hearts, and the eager, painful, and often disappointed search for some single sufferer, led us to the adoption of this complete and systematic record, which has amply recompensed us.

Of the labor and care bestowed upon this portion of our work, some estimate may be formed from the fact that it contains the names, regiments, company, residence, date of admission, wound or disease, and final disposition of 91,609 soldiers. They were from the following States:

Maine	5,123
New Hampshire	3,103
Vermont	2,191
Massachusetts	8,635
Rhode Island	1,174
Connecticut	3,920
New York	27,233
New Jersey	7,300
Pennsylvania	5,661
Delaware	143
Maryland	369
Virginia	97
Ohio	5,307
Indiana	1,247
Illinois	2,052
Michigan	2,128
Wisconsin	1,576
U. S. Troops	3,013
Vet. Res. Corps	1,326
Pris. of War	3,007
District of Columbia	39
North Carolina	35
South Carolina	43
Alabama	29
Louisiana	18
Kentucky	157
Tennessee	35
Iowa	633
Minnesota	18
Florida	4
Missouri	132
Georgia	14
Mississippi	5
U. S. Colored Troops	1,635
Signal Corps	25
Miscellaneous	524
Total	91,609