1862 January 22 Holmesville, Ohio

[from the diary of Charles Hay, on furlough from the 23rd Ohio]
                                                                             
                     Home, January 22nd., 1862.
     Attended an oyster-supper at “Griffin’s Hotel” in
Holmesville last night, which was given for the benefit
of the “Soldier’s Aid Society,” a branch of which exists
here.  I could not fail to observe that there is
not that interested manifested towards us by some of
the young men at home who have been either
unable or unwilling to serve in the ranks,
that I have been led to suppose would animate
every one to the performance of acts of kindness and
encouragement to the soldiers who are absent from
home and friends battling for their country’s defense.
I repeat what I have often said, that a man can
serve his country at home as well as away from home,
if he has the will & disposition.  A man can be a
patriot at home as well as elsewhere, but I would
rather see him give some evidence of his patriotism,
other than mere words.  These are very good, provided
they are accompanied by something more substantial,
and given with a desire to do good. “But when thou
doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy
right hand doeth.” ~  We have too many patriots
whose patriotism consists of nothing more than “words of

learned length and thundering sound, “and who
think they shall be heard for their much speaking.”
There are many honorable exceptions, however, and we
are happy to record it, and through the instrumentality
of such, much good has been effected.  The ladies, God
bless them, although generally denominated the “weaker
vessel,” can, if they put their heads together, perform tasks
of benevolence, and exert an influence most potent and
salutary, sufficient to stimulate the “sterner sex” to
the performance of acts which otherwise would never be
undertaken.  To the loyal ladies of the United States
the soldier, aye, the whole country owe a lasting debt of
gratitude, and History will not fail to record their humane
and self=sacrifing labors in behalf of the sick & wounded
soldiers of our Army.  We doubt not, that the foun-
dation and perpetuation of the “Ladies Soldiers Aid
Society,” will occupy one of the brightest pages in the
annals of our country.
     News of the brilliant victory at Somerset, Ky.,
is now fully confirmed, and it certainly is
gratifying to the soldiers and to the whole country
to hear of these brilliant strokes at the heart
of Secession.  All honor to the victors of Somerset.

[Battle of Mill Springs or Logan’s Cross Roads, Kentucky on January 19, 1862.  “A moderately small but strategically important battle, it presaged things to come in the West, showed the weakness of the Confederate line, and boosted the Federal cause among the people of Kentucky and eastern Tennessee.” Long, E. B.  Civil War Day by Day. N.Y., Doubleday, 1971. page 162.]


[Transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925