For the Immediate Relief of our Sick and Wounded  Soldiers.
U.S.  SANITAEY  COMMISSION.
CINCINNATI  DEPOT.
    BRANCH OF THE U. S. SANITARY COMMISSION,
   OFFICE AND DEPOT, MECHANICS' INSTITUTE, S. W. CORNER OF
                      SIXTH AND VINE.
                                 Cincinnati, December 13, 1861.
 To the Women of Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky :
     There is a service you owe your country, which she now calls
 upon you to perform.   It is to make  full provision for the relief
 and comfort of our sick and wounded soldiers.  From every city,
 and town, and neighborhood these brave men have gone to defend
 our National honor,  and we feel assured that you—their wives,
 mothers, sisters,  daughters—will need no other appeal to awaken
 all your interest and activity than  the simple statement that many
 of them are now lying sick and wounded in the military hospitals,
 enduring sufferings and privations which it is in your power to relieve.
 Our Government, although earnestly desiring to make ample pro-
 vision for all her soldiers, both in health and in sickness, has thus far
 failed to accomplish fully this result.  The United States Sanitary
 Commission at Washington, a volunteer and unpaid Bureau of the
 War Department, has been for  months engaged in  earnest efforts
 to supply these deficiencies, and with a  success most encouraging
 for the future.
  Such a Commission has been organized in Cincinnati as a Branch
 of the United States Sanitary Commission.  We have already sent
a Committee of two of our number to visit and thoroughly inspect
the various camps and hospitals in  and near our State—and it is,
therefore, from personal knowledge of the urgent necessities of our 
2
soldiers that we earnestly beg you to co-operate with us in affording
them relief.
  For  the purpose of receiving and promptly distributing all arti-
cles sent to us from this city and from abroad, we have obtained,
free of rent, a  convenient and centrally  located room in the Me-
chanics' Institute,  corner of Sixth and Vine streets, which  will be
used as our office and depot.   The room  will be open all day, and
a clerk will always be there to receive and  register  contributions,
which  will be carefully acknowledged each week in the city papers
of Thursday, and  a  copy will be forwarded  to each  donor.  Our
supplies  are especially intended for the  soldiers  who are  now in
the West, and from  their distant and widely-separated camps  we
are  constantly  in  receipt of reliable information of  the  supplies
needed; and, therefore, while we will comply with the requests of
those who desire their packages to be sent to any particular Regi-
ment, we would still respectfully suggest that it would ordinarily
be better to leave their distribution  to  our judgment, assuring our
friends that we will hold ourselves individually responsible  for. all
contributions made, and will guarantee their prompt  and judicious
appropriation.
  We  append a list  of articles needed for the hospitals, carefully
drawn  up, with plain directions for preparing them, and  explicit
directions for packing, marking  and shipping; also, a few  simple
suggestions to aid  in organizing and conducting  Societies  for  ac-
complishing this object.
                  Very Respectfully,
                R. W. Burnet, President,
                Hon. Geo.  Hoadley,  V. P.,
                B. P. Baker, Rec. Sec,
               C. R. Fosdick, Cor. Sec,
                Thomas C. Shipley,  "]
               Robert Hosea,        [ Finance
                W.  W. Scarborough, [ Com.
                Henry Pearce,       J
     Gen. O. M. Mitchell,         Dr. W.  H. Mussey
     Hon. B.  Storer,               "   John Davis,
      "   J. B. Stallo,             ■"   D. Judkins,
     Rev. E. T. Collins,            "   Edward Mradb,
      "   Wm. A.  Sniyely,          "   E. Y.  Robbhjs,
      *'   M. L. P. Thompson,       E. S. Brooks,
     Larz Anderson,                 A. G. Burt.   {Mi, ~*\
G. K. Shoenberger,
 
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    LIST OF SUPPLIES WANTED  FOR THE HOSPITALS.
                         BEDDING.
  1.—Bed Sacking—7 feet long and 3 feet  wide; leave one  end
open, and sew on four tape strings.
  2.—Sheets—7 feet long and 4 feet wide.
  3.—Comfortables—same size as sheets, of cheap dark material.
  4.—Quilts—second-hand.
  5.—Blankets—for single beds.
  6.—Pillow Ticks—24 inches long and 16 inches wide.
  7.—Hair  Pillows.
  8.—Feather Pillows.
  9.—Pillow  Cases—30  inches long and 18 inches wide.
                          CLOTHING-.
   10.—Shirts—of bleached or unbleached muslin, or  cotton flan-
nel, 1^ yards long, j of a yard wide, open 10 inches at  the bottom ;
length of sleeve f of a yard;  wrist-bands 10  inches long; depth
of arm-hole 12  inches ; neck-band 18 inches  long and 2 inches
wide ;  length of slit in front | yard, a piece 2 inches wide,  lapping
under, to fasten with buttons.   A few shirts should be  left  open all
the way down, and the sleeves open on the outside to the shoulder,
with strings.  Second-hand shirts, with the first bosom removed,
and plain cotton inserted, with firm buttons and buttonholes, will
be acceptable.
   11.—Flannel Undershirts—red, white or gray ; 1 yard long, |
yard wide ; open all the way down in front, to  fasten with strings ;
sleeves 10 inches wide, and  | yard long, sloped and hemmed at the
wrist; gussets at the neck and narrow band.
   12.__Drawers—loose, cotton flannel or woolen.   Second-hand
flannel shirts, or drawers, or wrappers, will be very acceptable.
   13.—Knit Woolen Socks — the yarn  should  be  as heavy as
No. 20, and the needles of  size No. 15, with 24 stitches on each
needle ; the leg should be 13 inches long, and the  feet  in the pro-
portion of one-half 11 and one-half 12 inches long.
  14.__Dressing Gowns or Wrappers—of flannel or double calico.
  15.__Slippers—of  drugget  or heavy cloth,  lined with  drilling
and soled with stout canvas or felt.
  16.—Handkerchiefs and Towels. 
                              4

  17.—Mittens—one finger and thumb, knit or made of cloth.
  N. B.—It is very important that the sewing be strong; that the
buttons be firmly sewed on, and  the buttonholes well stayed.
  Patterns of above can be seen at our room.
                    SURGEONS' SUPPLIES.
  18.—Compresses, or pieces of old soft linen and cotton, without
seams, selvedges, or starch ; wash the pieces thoroughly, iron them,
and roll them into  smooth bundles.
  19.—Small Pads or Cushions—stuffed with hair or feathers, for
wounded limbs.   Cases of muslin or  calico 20 in. long by 8 in. wide.
                          EDIBLES.
  20.—Dried Apples, Dried Peaches, Dried Plums, Dried Berries,
in bags or barrels.
  21.—Fruit,  Jellies,  Tomatoes.  Over every vessel  containing
Jelly, strew white sugar to the depth of half an inch,  and paste
stout paper (not brandied) over the mouth.
  22.—Tea, Rice, Corn Starch, Farina,  Sago, Oat Meal, Tapioca,
Arrow Root, Cocoa, Pearl Barley, Yeast Cakes, Yeast Powders.
  Every package should be distinctly labelled, with the  weight or
quantity of each marked upon it; and for  convenience of hospital
use, it will be well to put small quantities of farinaceous articles in
small cotton bags.
                         SUNDRIES.
  Castile Soap, Sponges, of any size, old pieces of soft Cotton or
Linen, Cotton Batting, old Silk, low Tables or Desks, to be placed
on the beds  of convalescing patients, on  which food, books, or
writing materials may be laid ; Chess-men, Draughts, Backgam-
mon Boards, back numbers of Magazines, and  recent  secular  and
religious Papers and Books that are entertaining and useful; Picto-
rial Papers, Pin-cushions, well filled, Needle-cases, each containing
a few coarse needles, say assorted  sizes, Nos. 4, 5, 6, and 7, coarse
thread, and buttons ;  Fine-tooth Combs, Lead  Pencils, Pens  and
Pen-holders,  Writing Paper and Envelopes. 
5
DIRECTIONS FOR PACKING, MARKING AND FORWARDING.
  All articles should  be  closely packed in wooden boxes, or very
strongly wrapped bales.   On  the top of  the center of each box,
under the cover, a full list of what it contains  should be placed,
arid a copy of this list should be sent by  mail,  with the railroad
receipt.   If possible, put on the cover with screws.  On one corner
of the cover of the box state from where it comes, and direct clearly
as follows :
Cincinnati	Sanitary	Commission,	
	S. W. Corner Sixth and Vine Sts.,		
		CINCINNATI,	0.
From			
  The following Railroads, centering in Cincinnati, have kindly con-
sented to bring, free of expense, all packages marked  and receipted
for according to the above directions:
         COVINGTON AND  LEXINGTON R. R.
         LITTLE MIAMI R. R.
         MARIETTA AND CINCINNATI R. R.
         CINCINNATI, HAMILTON AND DAYTON R.  R-
         OHIO AND MISSISSIPPI R.  R.
         INDIANAPOLIS AND CINCINNATI R. R,
         LOUISVILLE AND CINCINNATI MAIL LINE.
  All letters should be addressed,
         "CINCINNATI SANITARY COMMISSION,"
                                             Cincinnati, 0.
DIRECTIONS  FOR FORMING  "SOLDIERS' RELIEF CIRCLES."
  In order to make it perfectly easy  in towns and  villages where
no Association exists, to form a society to work  for the benefit of
the soldiers, in connection- with the " Cincinnati Sanitary Com-
mission,"  we here furnish some plain directions :
  1.—Let the first woman whose heart is stirred with yearnings
to do something in her own town, or for the relief of the sufferings
of the sick and wounded among our soldiers, go to two or three
of her neighbors and take counsel. 
6
   2.—Let them agree upon some convenient day and hour  for a
 meeting of ladies in the lecture room of some place of worship, or
 in the town-house or school-house.
   3.—Let notices of this be written  and carried to the pastors of
 all the churches  in town, with a request that they be read, with
 comments by the pastor, in each society.
   4.—Let the ladies meet, select a President and  Secretary; then
 let such  portions of this Circular be read by the President as will
 explain the nature and workings  of this society, and the immediate
 wants of our soldiers.
   5.—Let then the ladies present  form themselves into  a "  Soldiers1
 Relief Circle," to meet once a week, from 1 to 4 p. m., the time to
 be spent in sewing or knitting for the soldier.
   6.—Let them, in addition to the President and Secretary already
 elected,  choose a Treasurer and  two committees, of  three ladies
 each, one on  supplies  and  work, and one on general  business, as
 correspondence, forwarding, <fec.
   7.—The duties of the Officers  shall be as follows :
   1.—The President to call and preside at all meetings, and have
 a general charge  of the interests of the Circle.
   2.—The Secretary to enroll the  names  of the  members (each
 lady simply pledging herself to give three  hours  per  week, either
 in the meeting or at home, to the relief of the soldier,) to keep a
 record of the meetings, the amount of work  done weekly, the num-
 ber and names of those present, and to make a  monthly report, to
 be read at the first meeting in each month.
  3.—The Treasurer to keep all donations of money, collections
 in churches, or funds raised by other means, and disburse  them at
 the order of the President, or  vote of the Circle, and to  make  a
 monthly report of receipts and expenditures.
  4.—The Committee on Supplies—to solicit donations from stores,
 farmers,  and  citizens generally, in yarn, flannel, cotton cloth, cali-
 coes, and other articles, to be made up by the industry of the Circle ;
also, to determine the kind of work to be engaged  in by the Circle,
and to distribute  it properly ;  to  put out work to  those willing to
receive it at home, but unable to attend, and to see to its collection ;
to form,  with the President's advice, plans of work, and endeavor
to get the largest  possible stock of goods against the monthly reck-
oning.  This committee, on the first meeting in each month,  shall 
7
report a plan of work for that month, and report in full the result.
of the work of the last month.
  5.—The C6mmittee on General  Business, as  correspondence,
forwarding, storage, &c, shall have for their duties, first, the cus-
tody, care and storage, then the packing and  forwarding  of the   r
goods, and, finally, all the correspondence with the  " Cincinnati
Sanitary Commission," either for instructions, counsel, sympathy,
or business.
  Will not these simple hints aid every town and neighborhood in
Ohio, Indiana and  Kentucky  in  forming an  association through
which relief can be  brought to our brave troops ?  Will not the
individuals to whom this Circular comes, immediately endeavor to
interest their friends and neighbors in this cause ?  Let none con-
sider their efforts too  feeble, or their  contributions  too  small to
aid in  this noble work.   By  the small donations  of the  many,
rather than the large gifts of the few, is this work to be achieved.
  We  leave  this  subject with  the benevolence and patriotism of
the ladies of  Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.
  "The Sanitary Commission is doing a work of great humanity,
and of direct practical value to the nation, in this time of its trial.
It is entitled to the gratitude and the confidence of the people, and
we  trust it will be generously supported.   There is no agency
through which voluntary offerings of patriotism can be more effect-
ively made."                     ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
                                 WINFIELD SCOTT.
  Washington, September 30, 1861. 
c
 DAILY JWMMERCiAL

  StATURDA. V, JANUARY 4, 186?.

  We append a list of articles needed for "tH*
hospital?, carefully drawn up, with plain di-
rections  for preparing them, and explicit di-
rections  fujr packing, marking and shipping-
atfOj h few simple euggfeattena t« aid in or-
gamzirg and conducting Societies for accom-
plishing  this object.
    Very respectfully,
     B. W. Bcimbt* President;
     Hod. Gio. Hoadlv, V. P.;
     B.  P. Baker, Rec.Sec;
     0.  P. Fospick, Cor. Sec: ■
     Thqh. 0 Shipley,   )
     Pvt.BKUT H0SKA,  ,   J
     W. W. Scarborough, \ Financs Com.
     Henry Pbabcb,
     Amu ham Avb,     J
Gen. 0. M.  Uehel,  Dr. W. H. Musaey,
Hon. B. Storer,      Dr. John Davis,
Hon. J. B. gtallo, '   Dr. D. Judkin*,   ,
Rev. K. T. Collinn,   Dr. Edward Meade,
Rev. Wm. A. Snivcly,Dr. B. Y. Robbing,
ReT. M L P Thompson, B. S. Brooks,
Larz Anderson,      A. G. Bnrt,
G. K. Shoenberger,   Dr. Geo. Mendenaall.
W.Bui lay,