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Civilian Impression of a Ladies Aide Society |
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During the Civil War, the Southern Women of the Confederacy served in many capacities. They could be found in hospitals serving as nurses, matrons, and even washwomen. In their own homes, they served as heads of households in the absence of their husbands, fathers, and brothers.
They could be found making useful articles to distribute to the soldiers. They also collected money, food and items that could be used to alleviate the soldiers' suffering. They worked as Seamstress, manufacturing socks, gloves and other pieces of clothing.
These brave women dealt with both Confederate and Union occupation, as the South was marched through many times by both armies. They held their own against these occupations and tended to the ailing soldiers of the Confederacy, while keeping the home fires burning. We hope to portray the bravery and strength of these great women from the past.
We, the ladies of Indian Territory, desiring to lend all the aid in our power to assist the people of the South in establishing their independence, and the securement of their rights, and to the attainment of this end, we form ourselves into a Society, to be known as the "Indian Territory Ladies Aid Society." The object being to assist in making out-fits for the Volunteers, who are going to fight the battles of our country, and for the government of this Society.
The Ladies brought clothing, personal supplies, and homemade food to supplement the everyday diet of Soldiers. They passed out these items personally and stopped to visit the Hospital patients. They sat down to help write a letter home, and to listen to the stories told by lonesome and homesick warriors.
Bandages and Lint
Many soldiers were wounded in battle and the need for medical supplies was great. Women and children in Indian Territory helped by tearing cloth into bandages and collecting lint. That's right, lint. A sharp knife was used to scrape fabric, removing the lint. You could also pull, or unravel, the cloth. It was placed in small bags as packing to help stop the bleeding of wounded soldiers. |
