W. Morris, Miss H. and Miss Anna Blanchard, Miss E. P. Hawley, and Miss M. J. Moss.

Of Mrs. Grier's labors in this position, one of the Associates of the Sanitary Commission, a gentleman who had more opportunity than most others of knowing her faithful and persistent work, writes:

"When the Women's Branch was organized, Mrs. Grier reluctantly consented to take the head of the Supply Department.. In this position she continued, working most devotedly, until the work was done. To her labors the success of this undertaking is largely due. To every quality which makes woman admired and loved, this lady added many which peculiarly qualified her for this post; a rare judgment, a wonderful power of organization, and a rare facility for drawing around her the most efficient helpers, and making their labors most useful. During the whole period of the existence of the Association, the greatest good feeling reigned, and if ever differences of opinion threatened to interrupt perfect harmony, a word from Mrs. Grier was sufficient. Her energy in carrying out new plans for the increase of the supplies was most remarkable. When the Women's Pennsylvania Branch disbanded, every person conected with it, regretted most of all the separation from Mrs. Grier. I have never heard but one opinion expressed of her as President of the Association."

A lady, who, from her own labors in the field, and in the promotion of the benevolent plans of the Sanitary Commission, was brought into close and continued intercourse with her, says of her:

"She gave to the work of the Sanitary Commission, all the energies of her mind,—never faltering, or for a moment deterred by the many unforeseen annoyances and trials incident to the position. The great Sanitary Fair added to the cares by which she was surrounded; but that was carried through so successfully and triumphantly, that all else was forgotten in the joy of knowing how largely the means of usefulness was now increased. Her

labors ceased not until the war was ended, and the Sanitary Commission was no longer required. Those only who have known her in the work, can form an idea of the vast amount of labor it involved.

"With an extract from the final report of the Women's Pennsylvania Branch, made in the spring of 1866, which shows the character and extent of the work accomplished, we close our account of this very efficient organization.

"On the 26th of March, 1863, the supply department of the Philadelphia agency was transferred to the Executive Committee of the Women's Pennsylvania Branch. A large and commodious building, Number 1307 Chestnut Street, was rented, and the new organization commenced its work. How rapidly the work grew, and how greatly its results exceeded our anticipations are now matters of pleasant memory with us all. The number of contributing Aid Societies was largely increased in a few weeks, and this was accompanied by a corresponding augmentation of the supplies received. The summer came, and with it sanguinary Gettysburg, with its heaps of slain and wounded, giving the most powerful impulse to every loving, patriotic heart. Supplies flowed in largely, and from every quarter; and we found that our work was destined to be no mere holiday pastime, no matter of sudden impulse, but that it would require all the thought, all the time, all the energy we could possibly bring to bear upon it. We had indeed put on the armor, to take it off only when soldiers were no more needed on our country's battle-fields, because the flag of the Union was waving again from every one of her cities and fortresses. Then came the bloody battles and glorious victories, with their depressing and their exhilarating effects. But, through the clouds and through the sunshine alike, our armies marched on, fought on, steadily and persistently advancing towards their final triumph. And so in the cities, in the villages, in the quiet country homes, in the luxurious parlor, in the rustic kitchen, everywhere, always, the women of the country too pursued their

patriotic, loving work, content if the toil of their busy fingers might carry comfort to even a few of our bleeding, heroic soldiers. And as they labored in their various spheres, the results of their work poured into the great centres where supplies were collected for the Sanitary Commission. Our Department came to number over three hundred and fifty contributing Societies, besides a large number of individuals contributing with almost the regularity of our auxiliaries. Associate Managers, whose business it was to supervise the work in their own neighborhoods, had been appointed in nearly every county of the entire Department, fifty-six Associate Managers in all. The time came when the work of corresponding with these was too vast to be attended to by only one Corresponding Secretary. The lady who had filled that office with great ability, and to whose energetic zeal our organization owed its first impulse, was compelled by ill health to resign. Her place was filled by a Committee of nine, among whom the duty of correspondence was systematically divided. The work of our Associate Managers deserves more than the passing tribute which this report can give. They were nearly all of them women whose home duties gave them little leisure, and yet the existence of most of our Aid Societies is due to their efforts. In one of the least wealthy and populous counties of Pennsylvania, one faithful, earnest woman succeeded in establishing thirty Aid Societies. When the Great Central Fair was projected their services were found most valuable in the counties under their several superintendence, and they deserve a share of the credit for the magnificent success of that splendid undertaking.

"The total cash value of supplies received is three hundred and six thousand and eighty-eight dollars and one cent. Of this amount, twenty-six thousand three hundred and fifty-nine dollars were contributed to the Philadelphia Agency before the formation of the Women's Branch. The whole number of boxes, barrels, etc., received since the 1st of April, 1863, is fifty-three hundred and twenty-nine. Of these packages, twenty-one hun

dred and three were received, from April 1st, 1863, until the close of the year; twenty-one hundred and ninety-nine were received in 1864; and one thousand and twenty-seven have been received since January 1st, 1865. During the present year, three hundred and ninety-six boxes have been shipped to various points where they were needed for the Army, and sixteen hundred and ninety-nine were sent to the central office at Washington City. The last item includes the transfer of stock upon closing the depôt of this Agency. The total number of boxes shipped from the Women's Pennsylvania Branch, since April 1st, 1863, is two thousand and ninety-five. This means, of course, the articles contributed by Societies, and does not include those purchased by the Commission, excepting the garments made by the Special Relief Committee.

"At length our work is done. Our army is disbanding, and we too must follow their lead. No more need of our daily Committee and their pleasant aids, to unpack and assort supplies for our sick and wounded. God has given us peace at last. Shall we ever sufficiently thank him for this crowning happiness? Rather shall we not thank him, by refusing ever again to be idle spectators when he has work to be done for any form of suffering humanity? And if our country shall, after its baptism of blood and of fire, be found to possess a race of better, nobler American women, with quickened impulses, high thoughts, and capable of heroic deeds, shall not the praise be chiefly due to the better, nobler aims set before them by the United States Sanitary Commission?

"The following is a list of the expenses of the Supply Department, from the time of its organization to January 1st, 1866. These charges were incurred upon goods purchased in this city, as well as upon those contributed to the Women's Pennsylvania Branch. Their total value is five hundred and ninety-six thousand four hundred and sixty-eight dollars and ninety-seven cents."

Rent of Depository

$2,876 66

Wm. Platt, Jr., Superintendent, for expenses incurred by him on

RELIEF COMMITTEE.-This Committee was organized in April, 1863, and had for its object, during the first months of its existence, the relief of the wants of soldiers; but finding a Committee of women unequal to the proper performance of this duty, and at the same time having had brought before them the great necessities of the families of our volunteers, they resigned to other hands the care of the soldiers, and determined to devote themselves to the mothers, wives, and children, of those who had gone forth to battle for the welfare of all.

The rooms in which this work has been carried on, are at the South-east corner of Thirteenth and Chestnut streets.

Two Committees have been in attendance daily to receive applications for relief, work, fuel, etc. Persons thus applying for. aid are required to furnish proof that their sons or husbands were actually soldiers, and are also obliged to bring from some responsible party a certificate of their own honesty and sobriety. It then becomes the duty of the Committee in charge to visit the applicant, and to afford such aid as may be needed.

The means for supplying this aid have been furnished principally through generous monthly subscriptions from a few citizens,