driven back to Washington. A
backward movement was ordered instanter, and no sooner ordered, than
executed. Brave Franklin! heroic Kearny! victorious McClellan! why did
ye not order a Te Deum on the occasion of this great victory over a band
of Vermont minstrels, half of whom were--girls! How must the hearts of
the illustrious West-Pointers have pit-a-patted with joy, and dilated
with triumph, as they saw the Hutchinson troupe--Asa B., and Lizzie C.,
little Dennett and Freddy, _naive_ Viola, melodeon and all--scampering
back through the mud, bowed beneath the weight of their military
displeasure! Per contra to this expulsion, be it remembered that it
occurred within sight of the residence of a family, in which there are
some five or six young ladies, who, it is alleged, have been promised
"passes" to go South whenever they are disposed to do so,--carrying, of
course, all the information they can for the enemy. The bands of the
regiments are also sent to serenade them, and on these occasions orders
are given _to suppress the national airs_, as being offensive to these
traitors in crinoline."

During the year 1862, Mrs. Livermore, besides the constant flow of
communications from her pen, visited the army at various points, and in
company with her friend, Mrs. Hoge, travelled over the Northwestern
states, organizing numerous Aid Societies among the women of those
states, who were found everywhere anxious for the privilege of working
for the soldiers, and only desirous of knowing how best to accomplish
this purpose, and through what channel they might best forward their
benefactions.

In December of that year, the Sanitary Commission called a council, or
convention of its members and branches at Washington, desiring that
every Branch Commission in the North should be represented by at least
two ladies thoroughly acquainted with its workings, who had been
connected with it from the first. Mrs. Hoge and Mrs. Livermore were
appointed by the Chicago Branch.

They accordingly proceeded to Washington--a long and arduous journey in
mid winter, but these were not women to grudge toil or sacrifice, nor to
shrink from duty.

Both these ladies had laid their talents upon the altar of the cause in
which they were engaged, and both felt the pressing necessity at that
time of a determined effort to relieve the frightful existing need.
Sanitary supplies were decidedly on the decrease, while the demand for
their increase was most pit