“Meeting in Aid of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment Mass. Vols.”

Supporting the 54th

Item contributed by National Parks of Boston

This Liberator newspaper article documents the work of Bostonians to support the 54^th Massachusetts Regiment through raising supplies such as “socks, towels, handkerchiefs, thread, needles, or any other articles necessary for the soldier, or donations in money.”

Transcript reads:
MEETING IN AID OF THE FIFTY-FOURTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLS.
A meeting in aid of the Fifty-fourth Regiment, Col. Shaw, was held at a private house on Tuesday, March 3. In spite of a violent storm, a large number of ladies and gentlemen assembled, who were animated by the most hearty enthusiasm and earnest desire to do their utmost to make this regiment as well appointed and useful as any in the service. Col. Shaw was present, and gave encouraging accounts of the progress of enlistments and of the excellent behavior of the men now in camp at Readville. He considered them fully up to the average of men whom he had seen elsewhere in service.
A committee of six ladies and four gentlemen was chosen to carry out the purposes of the meeting by procuring all necessary comforts for the regiment, and a banner to be presented to them at a proper time. It was stated that the New Bedford Company would come provided with their full outfit by their own patriotic fellow-citizens. All friends of this good cause are cordially invited to cooperate with the committee.
Mr. J. H. Stephenson, Treasurer, will be happy to receive contributions of socks, towels, handkerchiefs, thread, needles, or any other articles necessary for the soldier, or donations in money, at his office, No. 12 Arch Street, Boston. Contributions may also be left at the office of the Sanitary Commission in Summer Street.