That this institution, under the management of this most excellent and patriotic lady, has been of incalculable benefit to the soldiers of our army. By her untiring perseverance and benevolence, our volunteers have been supplied, not only with substantial, well-made clothing necessary for a campaign, but with many of those smaller articles, calculated to render their camp-life more comfortable, and which only could have been provided by womanly kindness and forethought. Without entering into details, some idea of her labors and the generous donations which have been received and distributed by Mrs. Otis may be derived from the fact, that five thousand four hundred dollars have been received in cash, and two hundred and fifty thousand six hundred and seventeen articles have been distributed; many donors presenting well-filled boxes and barrels ready for hospital use, with the assurance that they were properly packed for transportation, the package, with its contents, having been considered but a single article in the enumeration.Mrs. Otis's report to the Donation Committee of the City
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management; her practical and administrative ability, together with her high position, eminently fitting her for it.
The plan of placing a woman in communication with the soldiery outside of hospitals being entirely original, and a novelty, it was regarded, by many persons, wholly impracticable, and prophesied a failure, as well as insecure from insubordination and rudeness; but, in Mrs. Otis's first report to the committee, she states that nothing could surpass the exceeding respect, deference, and boundless gratitude, with which she had been treated.
A Bank of Faith was at once established; not one cent or shred was begged for the great cause, the enormous demands being supplied entirely by voluntary contributions of goods and money.
Mrs. Otis gave her personal superintendence to every thing, assisted by three persons only, not absenting herself a single day, summer or winter, excepting on Sundays, and days of religious festival.
An important part of this novel plan was, that the donations of wearing apparel, books, &c., should be personally made.
The Committee on Military Donations passed the following resolution, Dec. 22, 1862:—
1868. E. P. DUtton and Co. Boston,.
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