From the Richmond Dispatch, 8/3/1861, p. 1
Meeting of
Alabamians.
At a meeting of the citizens of
Alabama, held at the Ballard House in the city of Richmond, Va., on Wednesday
evening, Aug. 23, to take into consideration some plan for organizing and
adopting means to take care of the sick and wounded soldiers from the State of
Alabama on service in Virginia, on motion of Col. Edmund Harrison of Montgomery,
Hon. W. P. Chilton was chosen Chairman. Mr. Chilton took the chair and explained
the objects of the meeting in a short a patriotic speech, H. C. Jones was
appointed Secretary, on motion of R. N. Johnson.
Hon. John Gill Shorter then read
the following letter from Mrs. Arthur F. Hopkins, asking for aid in her work of
providing for the sick and wounded soldiers, and moved that a committee of seven
be appointed to draft resolutions for the action of the meeting:
RICHMOND, Aug. 26, 1861.
Messrs. Chilton, Smith, Harrison and Shorter:
Gentlemen: You are aware that I
have been for nearly three months actively engaged in ministering to the wants
and comforts of our sick and suffering soldiers wherever and whenever I could
reach them; and although I am still deeply interested in the cause, yet I feel
that I can neither do justice to those who have confided to me this sacred trust
with the means of relieving the soldiers, nor of the soldiers themselves. You
will, therefore, pardon the call I have made upon you to take this matter under
consideration and form such an hospital association as, in your judgement, may
be most conducive to the accomplishment of the great object of restoring and
improving the health of our soldiers.
I hope you may find it practicable
to organize, on your plan of proceeding, a moveable hospital to each regiment,
somewhat in imitation of the plan adopted in the Crimean war. A cook and
steward, furnished by your association, placed under the direction of the
surgeon, would add greatly to the comfort and convenience of the regiment. I am
gratified to learn that the Surgeon General has approved the plan of furnishing
a portable cooking-stove to each regiment. The Secretary and Treasurer would
greatly relieve and enable me to give more attention to other departments of no
less importance.
Until the establishment of the
Alabama Hospital, on the 1st of August, my attention was directed to all the
hospitals, and even now, all calls made upon me for aid, where the necessities
are great, are immediately responded to, regardless of the States of which the
sufferers are citizens.
May God's blessing rest upon your
efforts.
Very respectfully,
Mrs. A. F. HOPKINS.
The Chairman appointed Hon. John Gill Shorter, Robt. A.
Baker, Dr. W. R. Cunningham, Collin McCrue, W. G. England, Hon. G. T. Yelverton
and Rev. E. Phillips, to act as Committee on Resolutions. The following is the
report of the committee:
"We, citizens of Alabama, now in the city of Richmond, in
consequence of the large number of Alabama troops in Virginia, and the necessity
to make some further provision for their care and attention beyond that which
the Government can effect, do
Resolved, 1st. That an Executive
Committee of three be appointed with power to fill any vacancy in their number,
one of whom at least shall at all times remain in Richmond, and whose duty it
shall be to receive and properly distribute all supplies of clothing and
hospital stores which may be forwarded to them - to receive and disburse all
money which may be transmitted to them - to provide hospital arrangements in the
city of Richmond and elsewhere, needed for the suffering soldiers of Alabama,
and to officer and provision the same, and generally to supervise and direct, in
pursuance of their purpose, all the appliances for the health and comfort of our
troops.
2d. That the Quartermaster's Department be requested to
provide transportation through the Executive Committee, for all supplies
contemplated in the above resolution, and for cooks and nurses employed by the
Committee.
3. We commend the hospital arrangements now under the
charge of Mrs. A. F. Hopkins, to the patronage of the Executive Committee, and
request that the Committee secure her cooperation during her continuance in this
city.
4. That a committee of six be appointed by the Chair to
communicate these proceedings to the Governor of Alabama, and to submit an
address to the people of Alabama in aid of the object sought to be accomplished
by this meeting.
5. That while we desire primarily to provide for Alabama
troops, we shall rejoice, if in our power, to contribute to the aid and comfort
of the troops from other States who are engaged with us in the common cause.
6. That the kind attentions bestowed by the people of
Virginia, and especially by the ladies, who have devoted themselves so
unreservedly to the nursing of our suffering soldiers, has excited our
admiration, and we hereby tender them our profoundest thanks and gratitude.
Mr. Eli Shorter offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That the meeting appoint a permanent
Treasurer and Secretary, who shall be ex officio members of the Executive
Committee. (Adopted.)
Hon. Mr. Curry offered the following:
In view of the energy and self-consecration displayed by
Mrs. A. F. Hopkins, of Mobile, in administering to the sick and wounded soldiers
in Virginia, and especially to those from the State of Alabama, we, citizens of
Alabama now in Richmond, deem this a fit occasion to express our grateful
appreciation of her services: Therefore,
Resolved, That in behalf of the sick and wounded
soldiers from Alabama, who have received kind attentions at her hands, and in
the name of their kindred and friends, and of all Alabamians, we tender to Mrs.
Arthur F. Hopkins our grateful acknowledgements for that sympathy and active
charity which she has displayed in providing for our suffering soldiers; that we
commend her plan of operation to our people at home, and that we will co-operate
with her as far as may be in our power to do so.
Resolved, That the Secretary of this meeting be
instructed to communicate a copy of these proceedings to Mrs. Hopkins.
The following was also offered:
Resolved, That each member of this meeting will
consider himself a committeeman to aid (by raising contributions or otherwise)
in forwarding the object which we have in view, to aid in the relief of our sick
soldiers. - (Adopted.)
The following are the committees appointed:
On Resolutions. J. C. Shorter, R. A. Baker, Dr. W.
R. Cunningham, C. J. McRae, W. G. England, G. T. Yelverton, E. Phillips.
On Address. - R. H. Smith, J. L. m. Curry, E.
Harrison, J. G. Shorter, H. C. Jones, E. E. Fair, W. F. Chilton, (added on
motion.)
Executive Committee. - Wade Keyes, S. S. Scott, E.
C. Elmore, Alfred Jones, (added on motion.)
Treasury. - John Harrell.
Secretary - D. L. Dalton.
W. P. CHILTON, Pres't.
M. C. Jones, Sec'y
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