CLARA BARTON FAMILY PAPERS [*Barton, Ira M.*] [*Oct.1863, Mar.1865, ; Oct. 1904*] Hilton Head S. C. Oct. 11th 1863 Dear Cousin I learned by a letter from Miss Childs that the Co. of Worcester will hold a Fair for the benefit of the Soldiers and Freedmen, commencing Oct. 21st. The cause is noble, and I would like to be there, and a worker in it this is impossible but in the hope of being able to add my mite to the interest of the occasion, I have taken the liberty to forward some boxes of trophies from before Charleston which I ship today per Steamer "Thames" from this Port to N.Y., and thence by Express direct to you. II send two small boxes of seashells, from Morris, Folly and other Islands, of interest which have been noted as connected with the present siege of Charleston, and three boxes of "rebel shell," and "shot" when have been thrown from the various Forts and Batteries in and around the harbor, as per labels enclosed--A John Brown Pike taken in "Fort Wagner", on the night of the storming, and broken in the fight and in one of the large boxes you will find a torpedo,which I will also label. The old labels which you will find on, or with them, were placed upon them at the field: so that no mistake should be made, and that every one should be genuine; which we know to be the fact. but these labels will not remain in a readable condition through the journey proposed, and I will copy and number them to correspond with the numbers I have had painted upon the shot or fragments and enclose the labels to you to be either pasted upon them before displayed or what would probably be better, nicely copied and the copies pasted on, as I shall have to write them in haste, as I do everything, and they will be poorly executed, I have no idea of the amount of interest which would be felt in any trophies of this kind in your community, but they are regarded here by all good judges as the finest collection of what will be historical relics which have been, or will ever be gathered from this field, it would be very difficult to obtain another collection of equal interest and reliability even today. The Torpedo (from which the cap has been removed) was foundburied in Fort Wagner with the fingers of a dead Confederate soldier tied to the cap, but fortunately so much time had elapsed that the decaying flesh gave way on his being removed, and the intended explosion prevented. The torpedo and pike were both given me to send to Worcester, by our accomplished and efficient chief quartermaster Col. Elwell, who, with a broken limb of four months healing--rode, bare headed, cane in hand to the very walls of Wagner, and took brave Colonel Putnam's beseeching appeal, "Tell them to send me reinforcements I can hold out fifteen minutes longer," back to Genl. Gillmore, obtained the reinforcements, and up again to the blazing walls to find poor Putnam dead, and his little band of heroes bleeding and disheartened falling back in dismay. In reference to the disposal of these articles I have no directions to give, a scarce a suggestion to make - First, they are for the benefit of the soldiers if anything be realized from them, and there is no community to whose skill, energy and patriotism I would sooner entrust a matter of this kind than the City of Worcester. -- +++++ Clara Barton OFFICIAL BUSINESS [*Hilton Head*] [*Copy*] Copy of letter to Hon I. M. Barton accompanying the presentation of [some] fine boxes of trophies to the C. Fair of Worcester. Oct: 21st 1863. Copy of letter to Hon. I. M. Barton accompanying the presentation of fine boxes of trophies to the C. Fair of Worcester Oct. 21st, 1863. Hilton Head, S.C., Oct., 11th, 1863. Dear Cousin: I learned by a letter from Miss Childs that the Co. of Worcester will hold a Fair for the benefit of the Soldiers and Freed- men commencing Oct. 21st. The cause is noble, and I would like to be there, and a worker in it, this is impossible but in thehope of being able to add my mite to the interest of the occasion, I have taken the liberty to forward some boxes of trophies from before Charleton which I ship today per Steamer "Thames" from this Port to N.Y., and thence by express direct to you. I send two small boxes of seashells, from Morris, Folly and other islands, of interest which have been noted as connected with the present siege of Charleston, and three boxes of rebel shell "and shot" which have been thrown from the various Forts and Batteries in and around the harbor, as per labels enclosed--A John Brown pile taken in "Fort Wagner", on the night of the storming, and broken in the fight, and in one of the large boxes you will find a torpedo, which I will also label. The old labels which you will find on or with them, were placed upon them at the field: so that no mistake should be made, and that every one should be genuine, which we know to be the fact, but these labels will not remain in a readable condition through the journey proposed, and I will copy and number them to correspond with the numbers I have had painted upon the shot or fragments and enclose the labels to you to be either pasted upon them before displayed or what would probably be better, nicely copied and the copies pasted on, as I shall have to write them in hast, as I do everything, and they will be poorly executed. I have no idea of the amount of interest which would be felt in any trophies of this kind in your community, but they are regarded here by all good judges as the finest collection of what will be historical relics that have been, or will ever be gathered from this field, it would be very diggicult to obtain another collection of equal interest and reliability even today. I. M. B. -2- The Torpedo (from which the cap has been removed) was found buried in Fort Wagner with the fingers of a dead Confederate soldier tied to the cap, but fortunately so much time had elapsed that the decaying flesh gave way on his being removed, and the intended explosion prevented. The torpedo and pike were both given me to send to Worcester, by our accomplished and efficient chief quartermaster Col. Elwell, who, with a broken limb of four months-healing rode, bare headed, cane in hand to the very walls of Wagner, and took brave Colonel Putnam's beseeching appeal, "Tell them to send me reinforce- ments I can hold out fifteen minutes longer," back to Genl. Gillmore, obtained the reinforcements, and up again to the blazing walls to find poor Putnam dead, and his little band of heroes bleeding and disheartened falling back in dismay. In reference to the disposal of these articles I have no directions to give, a scarce suggestion to make- First, they are for the benefit of the soldiers if anything be realized from them, and there is no community to whose skill energy and patriotism I would sooner entrust a matter of this kind than the city of Worcester. Clara Barton. Worcester Mass. 12/65. Dear Cousin I take the liberty to introduce to you the bearer, Capt. A. C. Foley of this city. He commanded a company in our 34th Reg of Vols. was severely wounded in one of the battles in the valley of the Shenandoah, and, I understand has been honorably discharged. He still seeks employment that will be useful to his country as well as to himself and family, and I know it will give you pleasure to render him any assistance in your power. Very Truly Yours, Ira M. Barton 40 Ira M. Barton Miss Clara H. Barton No. 488(1/4) 7th Street Washington To introduce Capt. Foley Cpl. C. The Charles Larned Memorial Oxford, Massachusetts To the memory of Clarissa Robinson Larned Benefactors of the Free Public Library. 1868. HON. IRA M. BARTON, FOUNDER, $1000. 1876. HON. GEORGE L. DAVIS, $500. 1892. GEN. NELSON H. DAVIS, $250. 1895. MRS. MARY S. T. WALLACE, $1993.25. 1898. JEREMIAH LEARNED, ESQ., RESIDUARY PORTION OF ESTATE. 1902. ORRIN F. JOSLIN, ESQ., $1000. TOWN OF OXFORD, $4500. FOR PURCHASE OF PRESENT SITE 1904. MISS MATTIE E. SAWTELLE, $700. HON. RICHARD OLNEY, $1000. CHARLES LARNED, ESQ, THE "CHARLES LARNED MEMORIAL." Dedication Program. 5. October, 1904. Invocation. VOCAL MUSIC, "Jehovah Reigns." Mendelssohn. DOUBLE QUARTET. Introductory. Responses. "HON. IRA M. BARTON, Founder of the Free Public Library." Edmund M. Barton, American Antiquarian Society. "PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN MASSACHUSETTS." C. B. TILLINGHAST, Chairman of Free Public Library Commission of Massachusetts. "THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AS A PUBLIC EDUCATOR." SAMUEL S. GREEN, Free Public Library of Worcester. "THE ROBINSON FAMILY." HON. DAVID I. ROBINSON, President of the Robinson Family Genealogical and Historical Association. VOCAL MUSIC, "The Old Arm Chair," Eliza Cook, music by Henry Russell. OXFORD MALE QUARTET. Delivery of Deed and Keys. TO TOWN AUTHORITIES -- TO TRUSTEES OF LIBRARY. Dedicatory Prayer. REV. CHARLES M. CARPENTER. Address. HON. CARROLL D. WRIGHT. SINGING, "America." The AUDIENCE, led by the QUARTET. Benediction. TOWN OF OXFORD INCORPORATED 1713 MASS. 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