The Hospital at Florence.

Written by Dr. P. B. Bacot, Surgeon C. S. A.

According to my recollection, the hospital at Florence was established as a wayside home, by the ladies of the Pee Dee section, for the relief of needy soldiers passing over the lines of roads passing through Florence.

The home was supported by the ladies of Florence, Darlington, Society Hill, and Cheraw, and probably other localities.

In the latter part of 1862, or the first of 1863, it was found that, owing to the number of sick and wounded soldiers who had to be taken into the home, a medical officer was required to attend them. The home was then turned over to the Confederate government as a Wayside Hospital.

Dr. Theodore A. Dargan, of Darlington, was appointed surgeonin-charge; Mrs. Chandler was appointed matron, and Mr.

Lawrence Prince, of Cheraw, steward.

During the summer of 1863, I was assigned to the hospital as assistant to Dr. Dargan. Some time during the winter of 1863, Mrs. Chandler resigned the position of matron, and Mrs. Martha Jordan was appointed to her place. After serving in that position for a few months, she resigned, and Miss Harriet Black, of Cheraw, a very estimable lady, was appointed to fill the position.

In April, 1864, my command being ordered to Virginia, I had to leave the hospital. After that, it became necessary to enlarge the hospital, and the building afterwards known as the restaurant was added. The original hospital was in the Norris building, on the corner of Front and Coit streets.

Our office was a small building, across the railroad track, in front of Gamble's Hotel.

The office is still standing-the only building left that had any connection with the hospital.

After the increase of the hospital, Dr. appointed to assist Dr. Dargan.

Washington was

After the government took charge, the ladies still continued to visit the hospital, and render such aid as was in their power.

Many poor soldiers had cause to remember the maternal aid rendered them by the kind and patriotic ladies of the Pee Dee section. (Signed) P. B. BACOT, M. D., Acting Assistant Surgeon, Florence Hospital.

Woman's Work at Sumter.

Written in 1901, unsigned.

The churches in Sumter were used as hospitals.

Mrs. Montgomery Moses daily visited the hospital at the Baptist Church, carrying waiters of delicacies for the sick. One of the men was so pleased at her kindness, and felt so sure she could help in anything, that he appealed to her to get him a furlough.

She had a very ill soldier removed to her house, in hopes of saving his life, but, notwithstanding all the good nursing, he died. In his

delirium, he kept calling, "Sue, Sue, I am only four miles off; I am coming." It was never known who he was!

Many soldiers from the hospitals came at meal times to the houses of the ladies to be fed; also, many brought their rations to be cooked and, of course, the ladies made many additions to what they brought. An old lady-Miss Rachel Suares-used to board the trains each morning, as they passed, and wash the sick soldiers on board, returning home by the next train.

At one time, the ladies used to set tables of food at the depot, for the soldiers, as they passed through.

Mrs. M. Moses and her daughter-Miss A. P. Moses-did much good work at the Baptist Church Hospital, taking a servant daily to attend the sick, mending the surgeons' clothes, making lightwood tea, rolling quinine pills, stuck together with flour and hominy. Hominy was used, too, to seal letters, during the war.

One soldier, to show his gratitude, would wait on Mrs. Moses' cook, bringing her wood, etc.

The flag used at Manassas and other battles, by Kershaw's men, was made by Mrs. Bossard, Miss A. P. Moses, Miss Garden, the Misses Bartlett, and other ladies of Sumter.

Woman's Work at Union.

Letter from Miss F. M. Blamyer, dated August, 1901.

Miss Blamyer was the secretary of the Soldiers' Relief Association, of Charleston, but made her home in Union during a part of the war.

She writes: "As to the association in Union, it was formed when there was no time for red tape. Mrs. W. H. Wallace was the president; Mrs. Jeter, treasurer. I was the vice-president. We bought cotton in bale with great difficulty, as the planters refused to let us have it. They said, with true country honesty, that they had pledged themselves not to let their cotton run the blockade. Yet, through the influence of Mrs. Wallace, the president, we bought the cotton and sent it to the factory in exchange for homespun, sending part of this to the Soldiers' Relief Association in Charleston; and with the rest, in Union, we made clothes for our men.

We then got a large, empty room, put some beds in it, and collected what supplies we could.

When Governor Magrath could no longer find a refuge in South Carolina (at the end of the war), he disbanded his bodyguard, formed of boys from the Arsenal in Columbia, and told them they

must make their way home. Some of them came to us, tired and muddy, and the ladies immediately sent them ready-made soldiers' clothes, but found they had to be shortened and the seams taken in. When Cheatham came through, we had some of his sick men. One poor fellow, who they thought could not swallow, when I gave him a few spoonfuls, said: "It takes a gal to feed me.”

Black Oak Soldiers' Relief Association.

Minutes of Black Oak Soldiers' Relief Association.

In the South Carolina Room of the Confederate Museum, in Richmond, marked on the catalogue as No. 312, is another old book, the Minutes of the Proceedings of the Black Oak Soldiers' Relief Association of St. John's, Berkeley Parish, Charleston District, South Carolina.

This book was sent to the Museum by Miss Edith Waring, now of Florence, daughter of the president of the association, Mrs. Morton (Anne) Waring.

A few items from it have been sent us. On the first and fifth pages are the name of the association and the dates of its organization, first at Pinopolis, August 9, 1861, and again at Black Oak, August 14, 1861.

The officers were: Mrs. Morton Waring, President; Mrs. Isabella S. Porcher, Vice-President; Mrs. Thos. F. Porcher, Secretary and Treasurer; Directresses, Mrs. C. L. Porcher, Mrs. T. P. Ravenel, Mrs. W. H. Markley, Mrs. J. C. Cain, Mrs. H. L. Stevens. Miss Louisa A. Porcher was appointed Treasurer on August 23, 1861, Mrs. Porcher having resigned.

On pages seven and eight there is a list of fifty-nine members.
Some reports of the work had been sent us, as follows:

September 5, 1861.-Eighty dollars spent for purchase of ma

terial.

October 2, 1861.-One hundred and eighteen pairs drawers and three hundred shirts were cut out and made.

September 24, 1861.-Made up for Hampton's Legion, three hundred overcoats.

October 2, 1861.-Made for Ladies' Christian Association, sixtyseven shirts, thirty-five coats, and twenty uniforms.

December 3, 1861.-One hundred and thirty-eight articles made. January 1, 1862.-Two hundred pieces of clothing made.

January 19, 1862.-Two hundred and fifty pieces of clothing made.

February 12, 1862.-One hundred and twenty-one articles made. December 11, 1861.-Sent to Coosawhatchie Hospital, $100.00. September 23, 1862.-Sent to Virginia, for sick and wounded, $133.50. To soldiers in the West, $245.00.

Twelve boxes, containing wine, brandy, whiskey, and food, sent to hospitals.

June 21, 1864. The last entry of a box sent to the sick and wounded in Virginia is on June 21, 1864.

But it must not be supposed that the work ended there.

Miss Waring, Mrs. R. Y. Hennegan, 1901.

"The work of the association was continued until the close of the war, but, owing to the unsettled state of the country, they were unable to hold the usual meetings, and no minutes were kept. Supplies of socks, clothes of every kind, and also of cooked provisions, were kept in hand, ready to supply any passing soldiers, or to send off, in case of need."

This is the testimony of the daughters of the president.
Another member writes:

Miss Marianne Porcher, 1901.

"It would be impossible, at the end of thirty-six years, to give the number of boxes and articles of clothing and cash contributed during the whole war, for, besides what was sent by the association proper, quantities were contributed by individuals.

"After the war, we were requested to send our book to Richmond, where it is entered on the Catalogue as No. 313."

Miss Waring also writes:

Miss S. C. Waring, 1899.

"Soldiers' Relief Associations were formed all over the Confederacy, and a great deal of needlework accomplished by mistress and maid throughout the country. At Black Oak and Pinopolis was organized the society called the Ladies' Auxiliary of Black Oak.

"This society first bought material and made a quantity of clothing for soldiers, then offered to help other societies in Charleston, and on some occasions made as many as one thousand pieces in three weeks.

"The ladies knit and kept supplied many companies in socks and gloves, caps, shirts, and comforters. For four years we worked unceasingly, and even at evening parties the knitting needle was a regular attendant.

"Work for our soldiers was nothing but pleasure, and while the cards were being dealt, our knitting proceeded rapidly-tongues and