er benefited by this resolve.

To such a spirit, waiting and ardent, opportunities were not long in
presenting themselves. Mrs. Hosmer's first experiences, away from home,
were at Tipton, and Smithtown, Missouri. This was early in the winter of
1862, only a few months after the commencement of the War; but as all
will remember there had already been desperate campaigns, and hard
fighting in Missouri, and there were the usual consequences,
devastation, want and suffering to be met on all sides.

At this time the effects of that beneficent and excellent institution,
the Northwestern Sanitary Commission, had not been felt at all points
where need existed; for the field was vast, and even with the wonderful
charities of the great Northwest, pouring into its treasury and
store-houses, with a powerful organization, and scores of willing hands
and brains at command, time was necessary to enable it to assume that
sort of omnipresence which afterward caused it to be found in all places
where battles were fought, or hospitals erected, or men suffered from
the casualties of war, throughout that great territory.

Mrs. Hosmer found the hospitals at Tipton and Smithtown in the worst
possible condition, and the men suffering for almost everything required
for their comfort. This, under the circumstances, caused no surprise,
for medical stores were not readily available at points so remote. But
Mrs. Hosmer had the pleasure of causing a large box of Sanitary stores
and comforts to be sent them by the kind and efficient agent at St.
Louis, which she helped to distribute. She was thus enabled to leave
them in a much more comfortable condition.

On her return to Chicago, a number of influential ladies residing there,
formed an association to which the name of the "Ladies' War Committee"
was given. Mrs. Hosmer was appointed secretary of this organization.

This association was very useful and efficient, and met daily to work
for the soldiers, particularly in making up garments for the Regiments
sent out by the Board of Trade of Chicago.

When these, the Eighty-eighth and Seventy-second Illinois Regiments, and
the Board of Trade Battery, participated in any battle, they volunteered
to go and look after the wounded. The first volunteers were sent out
upon this charitable mission after the battle of Stone River, about the
1st of January, 1863, when two ladies, Mrs. Hosmer and Mrs. Smith
Tinkham proceeded to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, with a