University of Virginia Library

The Central America, running from New York to Aspinwall, left Havana for New York September 8, 1857. She was commanded by Captain William L. Herndon, U. S. N., an officer of tried courage and ability, celebrated for his exploration of the Amazon in 1851–2. A hurricane began blowing on the 10th of September, and on the 11th the Central America sprung a leak. The water poured in and extinguished the fires of the engines; and in spite of the exertions of the crew, the water gained gradually. On the 12th the storm increased, and the ship began to sink. At 4 P. M. the brig Marine, of Boston, hove in sight and lay to at one mile's distance. Captain Herndon gave the order “Save the women and children,” and they were sent off in the three ship's boats. The boats were unable to return. At seven o'clock another sail approached; but the storm, though fast subsiding, forbade assistance, and a few moments after the ship went down. The passengers and crew, all of whom were furnished with life-preservers, floated for some time in the water; but in the darkness they could not be picked up, and most of them, including the gallant captain, perished. A few who could swim were saved.

All the women and children, fifty-seven in number, were saved; and ninety-five men. Four hundred and twenty-seven were lost.

The services of American women during our civil war cannot be over-estimated; and we have but a few pages in which to tell the story, when it would require volumes. We must limit our narrative to a single city. Philadelphia is on the highway from the North to Washington, and regiments were passing daily in either direction. The forlorn condition of many of the soldiers excited universal sympathy and compassion.

The wife of a mechanic, who lived in the neighborhood of Washington Avenue (the great thoroughfare in Philadelphia for the soldiers), saw those tired and hungry men, who could not find means of refreshment in that place. She went forth into the street with her coffee-pot in her hand, and gave cups of hot coffee to the soldiers. This was found such a welcome refreshment, that the neighboring women imitated her example.

And so this great charity grew by gifts of coffee and food in the open street, until Mr. William Cooper gave his cooper-shop as the place for rest and refreshment. Soon it was changed into comfortable apartments, where good meals were served; still those noble women were there, ministering angels of this great establishment, ever ready to welcome, wait upon and work for the weary, hungry, and sick soldiers who needed such aid.

This was not all. A hospital was built, close at hand, by private funds of Philadelphia citizens: this, too, was under the care of the same kind women; although other ladies of wealth and culture had joined in the glorious charities of the hospital and cooper-shop. These self-sacrificing women ministered gratuitously, day and night, around the beds of the wounded, the dying, and the fever-stricken patients, who remained under their care until distributed into the Government hospitals: many who were too ill to be moved, died in this, their first place of reception, their last hours soothed, and their last wishes breathed to the pitying, weeping women as though they were their own mothers and sisters. Be it remembered, too, that all who came were welcomed alike to these charities—the Rebel and the Union soldier were tended with equal care.

It has been ascertained that in the four years of the war over twelve hundred thousand men were entertained in the Cooper-Shop refreshment saloons!

Near the Cooper-Shop was opened the “Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon.” It went into operation May 27th, 1861, was finally closed December 1st, 1865, and torn down January 2d, 1866, not even a mark left in any way to designate the spot.

During this period, the receipts were estimated at about $130,000 in all, counting cash, sanitary stores, donations in provisions, etc.

From this fund, more than a million of meals were provided, not only for the soldiers, either in service or discharged, but for sailors, refugees, freedmen, and southern prisoners or deserters; no one who claimed their hospitality ever being turned away. All this was done by the voluntary offerings of the people, day by day, week by week, month by month, and year by year; the committee receiving no aid whatever from City, State, or General Government, but on the contrary, even declining an appropriation from our City Councils, on the ground that the generous hearts, which had so long sustained this noble work, desired to do so until the end.

Besides these there were in the same city several other large hospitals for the soldiers, where women served day and night as nurses and visitors; and throughout the country, millions of dollars were collected, and the proceeds distributed by women.

“It strikes me dumb to look over the long series of faces, such as any full church, court-house, London-tavern meeting, or miscellany of men, will show there. Some score or two of years ago, all these were little, red-colored, pulpy infants; each of them capable of being kneaded, baked into any social form you chose.”—

The Scotch philosopher has seen the great truth that the character of the man is moulded upon the influences around the child; but he does not add, what will strike our readers, that almost everything depends upon the mother; and that, by educating her, we secure a blessing for her son.