Knitting for the soldiers

I will be attending an event I GA next week. I thought it would be nice to gather together for one hour ladies who knit or crochet goods for the soldiers.

Staunton spectator, (Staunton, VA) Jan. 5, 1864 – Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. LOC

“An army correspondent, writing from Longsteet’s corps, says there are 3,000 barefoot men in that corps alone. From Johnston’s (late Bragg’s) army, comes a piteous appeal for blankets and clothing. Lee’s army is also in need of  blankets, and not a week ago a paper, reputed to be the Government organ, called upon the ladies to devote their energies to knitting socks for Lee’s soldiers. For some weeks past, the Young Men’s Christian Association has been furnishing cotton yarn to be knit into socks for these same soldiers. Woolen yarn was not to be had. Day by day, the clothes made for the soldiers exhibit less wool and more cotton.”

 

Macon Daily Telegraph, (Macon, GA), April 8, 1863

A Patriotic Lady.—Mrs. S. Young, of Putnam County, Ga., has knit and donated to the Soldiers 150 pairs of Socks—also, clothed two soldiers entire from the commencement of the war up to this time, and has made numerous other contributions from her own labor. How many such women would it take to clothe our entire army?  

Macon Daily Telegraph, (Macon, GA), January 09, 1864

Knit the Socks.—We are requested by Major Hayden to say that the wool for Cobb’s Kentucky battery is now all carded and spun into yarn, waiting at E.J.Johnston & Co’s for the nimble fingers of Macon’s fair ladies to knit it into socks for the sockless men of Cobb’s Kentucky Battery. Will they not take hold of this work of charity and patriotism?

Macon Daily Telegraph and Confederate, (Macon, GA), December 06, 1864

TO THE LADIES 

We are informed that a quantity of yarn has been left with Mr. Burke, at the Methodist Book Store for the purpose of being knit into socks for the use of the Tennessee soldiers. These men are separated from their families and therefore cannot be provided with clothing by their wives, mothers and sisters. The ladies of Macon are urgently solicited to call at Mr. Burke’s, get the yarn and knit into socks. If every lady in Macon will devote a few hours to this work they will alleviate a great deal of suffering among the gallant soldiers from Tennessee. The socks are much needed and we trust in a few days to chronicle that hundreds of pairs are in process of making. What lady will have the honor of finishing the first pair?  

The Daily Bulletin (Winchester, TN) September 30, 1862, & Edgefield advertiser, (Edgefield SC), Sept 17, 1862,  Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. LOC

Knitting for the Soldiers.—This is an important matter, and one which we hope will engage the early and earnest attention of all the women of the country who have it in their power to aid in providing for the wants of our brave soldiers. The season for cold weather is rapidly approaching, In a very few weeks our soldiers will require their supplies of winter clothing. Among the articles they will need, and which should be furnished them with as little delay as possible, are good, warm, comfortable socks. The pittance which the soldiers receive from the Government for clothing is not enough to supply them with outer clothing alone; and hence many are unable to pay for the under-clothing which their necessities compel them to have. Last year at this time, there were thousands of fair fingers busily employed in knitting for the soldiers, and, tanks to the untiring efforts of the noble-hearted women of the South, the defenders of the country were as comfortable clad during the last winter, as could have been expected. Next winter there will be more than double the number of soldiers in the field than there was last, and renewed and redoubled exertions will be necessary in order to prevent suffering in their ranks from the ?nt [long crease in the paper] of sufficient clothing. It is the duty of those who remain at home to provide for those in the field, and we feel assured that those who have fathers, husband, sons, brothers and friends in the army, will not fail to do all the love-patriotism and duty require.

The Athens post (Athens, TN) August 30, 1861, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. LOC 

KNIT, KNIT, KNIT

The Vicksburg Whig says that nearly every lady, old and young, in Warren county is busily engaged knitting socks for  soldiers—and that the result of their labor will soon be collected together and sent on to the army. The worth example should be followed in every county, city and town throughout the South.