and water
NY Times 6-30-1864
The United States Sanitary Commission was accepting donations of produce for the Army of the Potomac.
From The New-York Times June 30, 1864:
ONIONS FOR THE ARMY
Arrangements having been made for the transportation of vegetables to the Army of the Potomac, those disposed to give, either in money or in vegetables, can send the money to the subscribers, or inform them where the vegetables are to be had, on Friday next, July 1.
CHAS. N. MARSHALL, No. 38 Burling-slip.
GEO. W. BLUNT, No. 179 Wator-street.
THE SANITARY COMMISSION WILL RECEIVE ONIONS AND OTHER VEGETABLES.
We are now authorized to state that the Sanitary Commission will receive and receipt for any and all moneys that may be sent to them for this purpose, and that they will also attend to the shipment of any and all supplies in kind, by which phrase we mean quantities of fresh onions or other vegetables, which may be sent to the commission in barrels or boxes, by farmers or other persons, who do not find it convenient to spare money at this time, but who chance to have, in their own barns or cellars, a store of the vegetables which are so much needed by our noble boys at the front.
All supplies sent by the Sanitary Commission will be forwarded free of transportation charges, inasmuch as the Commission own their own ships and steamers, and have to pay freight charges to no one.
All money that the donors desire to have devoted to the special object herein mentioned should be addressed to “Mr. GEORGE T. STRONG, Treasurer United States Sanitary Commission, No. 823 Broadway, New-York City.”
Barrels, boxes or packages of vegetables, fruits, pickles, &c., intended to supply this immediate demand, should be addressed to “The Woman’s Central Relief Association, No. 10 Cooper Union, New-York City.”
Apparently people in Petersburg had been suffering for want of an even more basic need. The New-York Times from 150 years ago today reported the “severe lack of water” for the Union army at Petersburg. The thirty day drought meant that “It is with the utmost difficulty that men and animals get even a scanty supply of water.” There is some evidence that Petersburg got some rain on June 26th.
