What was the U.S.S.C. ?

Headquarters of the USSC in 1864 (Brady)

June 18, 1861 - President Lincoln signs a bill making the United States Sanitary Commission an official agency. The President reluctantly signed, stating that the USSC could well become the "fifth wheel to the coach", obviously not yet seeing the need for these women's efforts. His mind would soon be changed. During the next fours years of civil war the volunteer work of thousands of women in the U.S. Sanitary Commission would cut the disease rate of the Union Army in half, and raise around twenty-five million dollars in support of the Northern war effort.

In the spring of 1861 a collection of very well to do ladies from New York and the Women's Central Association of Relief along with a group of highly influential gentlemen met in New York City. This meeting was the beginnings of what was to be known as the U.S. Sanitary Commission, whose roots came initially from the work done by the British Sanitary Commission during the Crimean War, years earlier.

Despite the skepticism of men in general and often blatant defiance from physicians, surgeons, the military and the Federal government, the work went on. Women tirelessly canvassed neighborhoods for donations, worked as nurses, organized diet kitchens in the camps, ran hospital ships, knitted socks & gloves, sewed blankets & uniforms, baked food, and organized Sanitary Fairs that raised millions of dollars worth of goods and funds for the Federal army.

"Depots" were set up to collect, organize and repack food and supplies being sent by wives, sisters, mothers, and sweethearts who had joined together in thousands of ladies aids societies all over the north. Sanitary agents prowled the camps, inspecting the living conditions and the hospitals and setting standards for the hiring of medical personnel. An added accomplishment of the USSC was that it allowed women to hone organizational and administrative skills during their experience with the commission, which was an important advancement for women, as they entered the world of business, more and more.

After the war, the USSC worked with Union Veterans to secure their bounties, back pay, and apply for pensions, until it was finally disbanded in May of 1866.

Our Goals

• To make the public aware of the work of the USSC during the American Civil War, and in particular women’s roles in this organization.
  
  
• To maintain a high standard of authenticity and accurate portrayal of the roles women played during the war years, through our field living history presentation and attire.
  
  
• To promote a better understanding of the feelings of civilians in the north during the Civil War, and how that has affected our present day roles as women and as Americans.

Accomplishments

• Living history presentations
• School presentations
• Sanitary Fairs
• Raising of funds toward the rebuilding of the Ft. Tejon hospital
• Republishing of The Soldier’s Friend
• This web site!

 

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