SSION.

Pittsburg, as the Capital of Western Pennsylvania, and the center of a
large district of thoroughly loyal citizens, early took an active part
in furnishing supplies for the sick and wounded of our armies. As its
commercial relations and its readiest communications were with the West,
most of its supplies were sent to the Western Armies, and after the
battle of Belmont, the capture of Fort Donelson, and the terrible
slaughter at Shiloh, the Pittsburg Subsistence Committee, and the
Pittsburg Sanitary Committee, sent ample supplies and stores to the
sufferers. The same noble generosity was displayed after the battles of
Perryville, Chickasaw Bluffs, Murfreesboro' and Arkansas Post. In the
winter of 1863, it was deemed best to make the Pittsburg Sanitary
Committee, which had been reorganized for the purpose, an auxiliary of
the United States Sanitary Commission, and measures were taken for that
purpose by Mr. Thomas Bakewell, the President, and the other officers of
the Committee. The Committee still retained its name, but in the summer
of 1863, a consolidation was effected of the Sanitary and Subsistence
Committees, and the Pittsburg Branch of the Commission was organized.
Auxiliaries had previously been formed in the circumjacent country,
acknowledging one or the other of these Committees as their head, and
sending their contributions and supplies to it. The number of these was
now greatly increased, and though latest in the order of time of all
the daughters of the Commission, it was surpassed by few of the others
in efficiency. The Corresponding Secretary and active manager of this
new organization was Miss Rachael W. McFadden, a lady of rare executive
ability, ardent patriotism, untiring industry, and great tact and
discernment. Miss McFadden was ably seconded in her labors by Miss Mary
Bissell, Miss Bakewell, and Miss Annie Bell, and Miss Ellen E. Murdoch,
the daughter of the patriotic actor and elocutionist, gave her services
with great earnestness to the work. In the spring of 1864, the people of
Pittsburg, infected by the example of other cities, determined to hold a
Sanitary Fair in their enterprising though smoke-crowned city. In its
inception, development and completion, Miss McFadden was the prime mover
in this Fair. She was at the head of the Executive Committee, and Miss
Bakewell, Miss Ella Steward, and Mrs. McMillan, were its active and
indefatigable Secretaries. The appeals made to all classes in c