In the association reports, we see that these committees were formed in the latter part of the year to visit at the Marine and Relief Hospitals.

December 4, 1861.-There are many letters in this collection from officers of all ranks, among others one from Gen. R. E. Lee, from Coosawhatchie, where he was then stationed.

Some of these are letters of thanks from captains of companies who have been helped, and are most touching, written, as they were, with the zeal and hopefulness of youth.

Feb. 17, 1862.-A list is given of the visiting committee for Rikersville Hospital, Charleston, as follows:

April 21, 1862.-The report of the Soldiers' Relief Association mentions the Soldiers' Relief Hospital, under the care of Dr. Wm. H. Huger; also speaks of committees visiting, almost daily, the Marine, Roper, and Rikersville Hospitals.

This report also says that, at the meeting, members of the association had contributed $437.00 for the Ladies' Gunboat, and that Miss C. P. Chapman had sent eleven surgical pads, made of carded hemp rope.

A pathetic item of this report is the acknowledgement of the receipt from Dr. Leslie Owen of the uniform of his deceased son, late sergeant of the Washington Artillery.

May 2, 1862.-There is another programme of an entertainment given for the Soldiers' Relief Association. This was a soiree musicale, and the performers were Miss North, Miss Petit (now Mme. Barbot), Miss Walter (now Mrs. W. J. McCormack), Mrs. Warley, and Mr. Walker.

May 5, 1862.-Miss Hester T. Drayton, President of the Ladies' Clothing Association, writes to Mrs. Robertson that, being about to move from Charleston, she sends to the Soldiers' Relief Association the clothes and materials belonging to her society. She congratulates the Relief Association on the success of their work, and prays for the "blessing of God on our cause."

Women's Activities at the Capital.

1861.-Columbia, our State Capital, was not laggard in working for the soldiers.

Early in the summer of 1861, a Soldiers' Relief Association was formed there, of which Mrs. David J. (Louisa S.) McCord was the first President. This association met first, and for some time, at Gracey's store, in Main Street-afterwards at Kinsler's Hall, and later at the chapel of the Theological Seminary. The Seminary was then emptied of its students, and gave a home to many lowcountry refugees.

Much work was done free, as well as that done for the quartermaster, for which pay was received. This pay work was given to the wives of poor soldiers, many of whom would walk into town to get it, long distances from the neighboring sandhills. On one occasion, a young woman begged that she might be given work for a certain company, of which her husband was a member. A garment was handed her with the kindly but jesting speech, "I shouldn't wonder if that were for him now." As the poor thing opened the parcel, she saw, sewed to the garment, a little tag, put there by the tailor, with the name of her husband. She began to cry pitifully, and there were few dry eyes about her.

Mrs. Campbell Bryce's Reminiscences.

Mrs. Bryce recalls Mrs. Parker and her daughter Lena, Mrs. G. M. Goodwin, Mrs. Nurse, Mrs. Beard, as faithful in this work, as well as many others whose names she cannot remember.

Others mentioned to us Mrs. Howe, Mrs. James P. Adams, two Mrs. Bryces, Mrs. Reynolds, Mrs. Fisher, Mrs. Bachman, Misses Elmore, Miss LaBorde, Misses Goodwyn, Mrs. Jeff Goodwyn, Misses Stark, Miss Lucy Green, Mrs. Macfie, Misses Reynolds, and Palmer, as earnest workers, either in this association or others.

Mrs. Thomas Taylor.

Mrs. Thomas Taylor says: "At Gracey's store, I remember 'cutting out' with Mrs. Samuel Beard, Mrs. Rufus Johnston, and Miss Louisa Graeser."

Mrs. J. P. Adams. Letter written 1901.

Another member says: "In those days, we had no sewing machines, and the work was done by ourselves and our seamstresses. Mine made fourteen pairs of drawers in a week for that association, and never seemed hurried. The negroes were faithful and kind, They did not believe our troops would ever be beaten."

Mrs. Adams remembers that "this association made the uniforms for the company commanded by Capt. L. Cheves McCord, his mother, Mrs. McCord, furnishing the material"-gray cloth. “I remember my suit was stitched with silk, and that the company presented a most attractive appearance. Mrs. Dr. Parker did most of our cutting."

Not only did the elder women of Columbia work hard for this association. Some of the young girls met there on regular days, and not only sewed there for hours, but took work home with them. Their elders, most of them practiced seamstresses, were very patient in their instructions and criticisms, though they exacted good work.

More than one girl of that day-grandmothers now-look back with respect and affection to their instructors, and to many happy hours spent under their guidance.

Of course, the girls in Columbia, as everywhere else, learned how to knit. Even children could manage suspenders. Some of the girls were expert enough to read aloud while knitting, and in this way the few new books that reached us during the war (Les Miserables and Great Expectations, among others) were often read to an absorbed but industrious group.

Later on, Mrs. McCord, wishing to be freer for hospital work, resigned the presidency of the Soldiers' Relief Association, and Miss Kate Hampton was her successor. She was followed by Mrs. Campbell Bryce. Mrs. Rufus Johnson was secretary. Of other officers, we have no record.

Columbia, May 17, 1863.—In an old paper, we see the following names of societies—part of a directory for soldiers:

Soldiers' Relief Association

President, Mrs. Campbell Bryce.

Soldiers' Clothing Association

President, Mrs. McCord.

Ladies' Industrial Association—

President, Mrs. Levy.

Young Ladies' Hospital Association—

President, Miss Preston.

Wayside Hospital

President, Mrs. John Bryce.