Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Massachusetts in the Army and Navy during the war of 1861-1865, vol. 2

The hospital-car service was established between Boston and New York, under the direction of the soldiers' home committee. Two first-class cars were appropriated and fitted for the purpose by the several companies forming the railroad line, via Worcester, Springfield, Hartford and New Haven. Each car was furnished with nine portable litter beds, suspended by stout rubber bands; twelve folding easy hospital chairs; twelve ordinary railway car seats; a hospital store closet, supplied with medicines, stimulants and other appliances for the medical and surgical treatment of soldiers, a culinary apparatus and a supply of hospital clothing.

One of these cars left Boston and New York daily, in charge of a military hospital steward and a nurse, for the conveyance of soldiers. The necessary funds for the support of this special relief service were drawn from the treasury of the Boston branch, and at one time $10,000 were donated for the same purpose by the New England society. These hospital cars transported from Boston to New York 21,729 soldiers, and furnished them 57,413 meals.

In December, 1863, the women of the New England society held a large sanitary fair in Music Hall, Boston, which netted them nearly $146,000. Preparations for the fair had been going on for months. The canvassing, soliciting, advertising and correspondence taxed the members of the society very heavily, for 1,050 cities and towns co-operated in this fair. But all the while the regular work of relief and supply for the soldiers was steadily continued, with no remission of effort.

As the people at large had a very inadequate conception of the great work of the Sanitary Commission and its needs, the New England society sent out lecturers who had been engaged in the active service of the commission among the soldiers in the field. They were welcomed by the people, who listened to them with intense interest. Between two and three hundred of these lectures were delivered in Massachusetts in three months. They were productive of much good. Churches of all denominations exerted themselves to increase the treasury of the society. Many schools made special efforts in its behalf; the directors of railroads, express companies, newspapers and business firms befriended them most liberally; and private individuals of both sexes, all ages and conditions, volunteered their help in ways too numerous to mention.

In April, 1864, the society was obliged to change its quarters to 18 West Street, where generous friends offered them, rent free, a central and suitable office. The work of the industrial department had so increased that it had become necessary to separate it from the executive department, and it was furnished with rooms perfectly suited to its needs, free of rent, in the Savings Bank building, Temple Place, Boston. The receipts of the year were $179,622.93. There were spent for materials $48,325.40, and 39,664 garments were manufactured.

The receipts of the year 1865 were $41,163.78, of which $28,630.69 were spent for materials, and 29,285 articles were made from them. The total receipts of the New England society were $314,874.07. In addition to the regular hospital supplies, the society distributed in the hospitals 168,476 books and pamphlets.

A vast deal of relief and supply work was done by Massachusetts women during the war, besides that accomplished under the auspices of the Sanitary Commission. The same is true of men, not only in Massachusetts, but throughout the North.