husbands, sons or brothers. Mrs. S. C. Williams, of Society Hill, undertook to make the clothes for the company of her son. He met with a sudden death, under most tragic circumstances, before his company was ready for service-but this made no difference. The company was uniformed by his mother. We give here part of a letter, written by her at our request:

Letter from Mrs. S. C. Williams, 1899.

"I am much obliged to you for wanting to put anything that I have done on record, but I do not think it is worth recording in history. I envy your zeal and patriotism. At eighty-eight one has outlived the enthusiasm of youth.

"My memories of secession and its consequences are most mournful and sad.

"My son George was on his plantation in Louisiana when Port Royal was taken. He had just time to get to my house Friday night, and to the courthouse Saturday. The colonel called for volunteers, and my son was one of the first to step out. Sixteen men went to him and asked him to form a company; he declined, but, others joining, he was finally induced to agree. He had been for eight years away from home, at school and college, and had few acquaintances in our district, and we were quite surprised. He soon had his eighty-five men. We gave each of the men two pairs of socks, two pairs drawers, two pairs trousers, two shirts, a blanket, a pair of shoes, and a hat. One of the men was a widower, with two children—a little boy, and a girl. My son asked me to take the children, which I did.

"Their father returned unwounded from the war.

"The first time my son drilled his men, the first sixteen told him that another captain claimed them, but they said they did not belong to him. George told them that he would not take them if the other man had a right to them. They told him that this captain had written to the adjutant-general, who told them if they joined my son's company, he would send a file of soldiers to take them to Columbia in irons. My son told them he would write to the adjutantgeneral, and read to them his answer the next time he drilled them. He drilled them the next week, and afterwards was seated on the back steps of a closed hotel, when he was shot. He was shot through the throat, and was unable to speak, though conscious. He lived about ten minutes. The man who shot him stood looking on.

"They brought him home that night, and the mail brought the letter from the adjutant-general, saying that he had written no such

letter, and that the men were at perfect liberty to go with George if they would.

"After my son's death, the company called themselves the Williams Guard. The first lieutenant was made captain. I do not remember his name. He was a stranger in the country. Edward C. Stockton was made lieutenant. He was a cousin of Mrs. Nelson, and the company joined Nelson's Battalion. I never heard anything of them after they went to Virginia."

The company was for a while on the coast, and in the papers of the day we see acknowledgements of articles sent by Mrs. Williams to them and to others.

Papers by Mrs. T. H. Brooks, 1900.

Mrs. Whitfield Brooks equipped the company commanded by her son, Capt. T. H. Brooks.

Letter from Mrs. I. Keitt Hane, 1901.

Mrs. L. S. McCord equipped the company commanded by her son, Capt. L. Cheves McCord.

We now return to the chronological record of events, as gathered from the newspapers of 1861-65.

Charleston Courier, May 29, 1861.

H. T. Sloan, Chaplain of Orr's Regiment, acknowledges books and tracts, etc., sent by the Young Ladies' Christian Association, of Charleston, and by others.

Charleston Mercury, August 8, 1861.

The concert on the Battery, that had been proposed some days before, was brilliantly successful. Two hundred and seven dollars and seventy-three cents had been made, and was to be distributed between the different societies of ladies.

Charleston Mercury, August 8, 1861.

The Rev. R. W. Barnwell, at Charlottesville, Virginia, acknowledges boxes sent on by Dr. Bissell, from the Ladies' Auxiliary Christian Association, of Charleston.

Charleston Mercury, August 10, 1861.

The Soldiers' Relief Association, of Charleston, report the following articles sent to Virginia :

To Mr. R. W. Barnwell, at Charlottesville, six packages.

To H. A. Dudley, Richmond, Culpeper Hospital, seven packages. Orange Courthouse, seven packages.

Also clothing sent to two of the crew of the Privateer Savannah, in the Tombs in New York, and to soldiers in many directions.

Donations received from friends in the country, $121.00, money from Edisto.

It is mentioned that the ladies of Grahamville have formed an Auxiliary Association.

Further donations had been received from Summerville Auxiliary Association, from Eutawville, Upper St. Johns, and Wadmalaw Auxiliary Associations.

From the little girls of St. Philip Street Public School, a box of needlebooks and pincushions.

From the children of Friend Street School, $91.00.

Eight thousand four hundred and sixty-four yards of various materials have been purchased during the past week for distribution in the different wards.

Charleston Mercury, August 12, 1861.

The ladies of Mount Pleasant send $115.00 and three boxes to the Rev. R. W. Barnwell, for sick and wounded soldiers in Virginia.

Charleston Mercury, August 13, 1861.

A list is published of the officers of the Soldiers' Relief Association, of Chester.

Mrs. James Hemphill, President.

Mrs. A. Q. Dunnovant, Vice-President.

Mrs. A. G. Stacey, Vice-President.

Mrs. S. W. Mobley, Treasurer.

Miss Mary E. McKee, Corresponding Secretary.

Mrs. John J. McLure, Recording Secretary.

Mrs. Eliza J. Hinton, Mrs. John A. Bradly, Mrs. A. P. Wylie, Mrs. John R. Allen, Executive Committee.

Before going further, it is proper that we should give a fuller and more correct account of the Hospital Aid Association of South Carolina, formed of gentlemen of the State. While this work does not come under the head of that of women, still the two were so associated, and were so dependent upon each other, that a knowledge of both is necessary.

Written by Miss E. LaBorde, 1901.

"At the close of the college sessions, in June, 1861, Mr. Barnwell and Dr. LaBorde went to Virginia, with the view of devoting the vacation to the relief of the sick of our army. (Dr. LaBorde and Mr. Barnwell were professors of the South Carolina College.) Mr. Barnwell conceived the idea of an Aid Association, consisting of gentlemen of Carolina, of establishing a bureau of supply, hospitals

for the sick and wounded, which was soon accomplished and placed in a condition of the highest efficiency.

"The headquarters were at Charlottesville, and no hospital of the time was more perfect in its appointments and better conducted. The association extended its aid to Orange, Culpeper, Manassas, Fairfax, and other places. Mr. Barnwell directed every movement and assumed all the responsibility, remaining in Charlottesville by leave of the board of trustees.

"The progress of the war made Richmond a more favorable place for Mr. Barnwell's operations, and he removed there during the year 1862."

As we have seen, nearly all hospital stores were sent by the women's associations to Mr. Barnwell.

Charleston Mercury, August 14, 1861.

The Ladies' Clothing Association, of Charleston, acknowledges the receipt of $14.00 from the children of the primary department of the Morris Street School.

Charleston Mercury, August 15, 1861.

This interest and effort on the part of school children was not uncommon, and we see in the paper the next day an acknowledgement of $33.00 sent to the Ladies' Auxiliary Association, of Charleston, from the primary department of St. Philip Street School.

"This sum was got by the exertions of a little boy and girl." The same association also acknowledges $31.00 from the Friend Street School, collected by a little girl.

This association reports 1,820 garments ready for soldiers, in addition to large shipments lately made.

The large associations were helped by contributions from smaller ones. In this instance, a letter from the society of Legareville is reported as having been received, enclosing a consignment of boxes.

Charleston Mercury, August 16, 1861.

We are glad to find at this date a full report of the Ladies' Relief Association, of Aiken, as given below:

Report of the Ladies' Relief Association of Aiken.

"Aiken, S. C., Aug. 14, 1861. "Your board of managers would respectfully report to the society that, on Wednesday, the 17th instant, they forwarded to Colonel Bacon's Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers, the following articles, viz. Eighty-six pairs cotton jeans drawers, sixty flannel shirts, twelve cotton shirts, thirty-six pairs knitted socks, twentyfour bottles jamaica ginger, twelve bottles Davis' pain killer, six

bottles mustang liniment, four bottles cherry cordial, one jar blackberry jam, sage, dried ginger, books and papers, and old linen, with the request that these stores should be distributed to the most needy members of Captain Denny's and Captain Hand's companies. They would also report that they are now engaged in making up heavy plains into pants and jackets, having cut one hundred and fifty garments of the same, in knitting socks, and making various other articles which they trust will contribute to the comfort of our brave volunteers.

"It affords your board much gratification to announce the general interest manifested by our community in the objects for which this society was formed. Feeling assured that the consciousness of being prayerfully and carefully and lovingly remembered 'at home' will nerve the soldier to deeds of daring and bravery, and will strengthen the hands and cheer the hearts of the brave men who are now enduring the hardships and privations incident to camp life, we would earnestly solicit the continued exertions of all the members of this association in order that we may be enabled to send repeated substantial souvenirs to the noble defenders of Southern independence. "M. A. FARRINGTON,

"Secretary and Treasurer L. R. A. A.”

Charleston Courier, August 29, 1861.

First monthly report of the Ladies' Clothing Association, of Charleston:

"This association was organized on July 24th, at the South Carolina Hall.

"A large attendance promised success, and we gratefully acknowledge the kindness the community has exhibited, thereby assuring us of their approbation and interest.

"We trust we shall be able to continue in well-doing as long as there is need.

"At our first meeting, nearly three hundred became members by subscriptions and donations. Seven hundred and forty-nine dollars was received. Up to this date, $1,743.18 has been received. The German Band has liberally given us their services. All are laboring with cheerfulness and assiduity to protect our gallant soldiers from the severities of the coming season. Our purchases of flannel, Graniteville drill, thread, and sundries, have been very large, and since the 29th ult. we have cut and made 2,301 pieces-834 pairs of drawers, 822 flannel shirts; 1,606 sent away on the 26th inst.—200 flannel shirts, 200 pairs of drawers (given to German Fusiliers,