Iowa Ladies and the Wounded

Our readers will be gratified to learn that the patriotic benevolence which is laboring so zealously through State and local organizations for the relief of the wounded braves of Iowa, is meeting a hearty co-operation from those who, while temporarily residing out of the Hawkeye State, delight to show their devotion to it by their willingness to aid its suffering sons. Mrs. Harlan, wife of Senator Harlan, and Mrs. Fales, wife of Jos. T. Fales, formerly Auditor of the State, are now at Cairo under authority from the Secretary of War to visit any and all places where sick and wounded soldiers from Iowa may be located, empowered to draw on the proper officers for transportation, when necessary, and provided with an order to all officers of the service to afford them courtesy, protection and aid. – These ladies will gladly receive any necessary or delicacy for sick or wounded soldiers from Iowa which may be consigned to their care, and the ladies of our State may be assured that articles thus intrusted will be carefully and effectively distributed. In thus leaving the fashionable enjoyments of Washington society to become the almoners of the bounty of the ladies of Iowa, and angels of mercy to the suffering, these ladies will certainly receive the thanks of the patriotic of their sex throughout the State. The fair ones of Iowa – at home and abroad – are working for those who have suffered so much for our State and the Union. Verily, we can be proud of Iowa.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, April 22, 1862, p. 1