United States Sanitary Commission records. Department of the Gulf archives

1862-1866

Work in the USSC’s Department of the Gulf began in the spring of 1862, when agent Dr. George A. Blake (abt. 1828-1892) accompanied Union General Benjamin Butler’s expedition to New Orleans, which reached the city on May 1. Blake also served as a surgeon with a regiment during the advance on New Orleans. During Butler’s occupation, the USSC mostly worked with military hospitals for the sick, providing clothing, bedding, and food. After the initial foray into the city, little assistance was needed from the USSC for the rest of the year, as Butler’s strict sanitary policies helped diminish sickness in the Army. Blake left town, but returned in November and resumed control of the Department.

General Nathaniel Banks replaced Butler in December 1862, and in 1863 operations to the west of the Mississippi River created new opportunities for the Commission. Relief agents accompanied troops during the siege of Port Hudson (May-July), distributing numerous supplies to Baton Rouge hospitals and regiments. Dr. Edward A. Crane (1832-1906), a USSC Inspector who had arrived with Banks’ expedition, was placed in charge of inspecting area troops for the Department. In July, the federal government gave the Commission use of property at 23 Carondelet Street in New Orleans, which became the primary storehouse, as well as a central office for Blake.

The Department was very active in 1864, as supplies were distributed to troops along the Gulf Coast—from the Texas/Mexico border to the Tortugas in Florida—and into the interior of Louisiana. In addition, the Department continued to distribute supplies locally, to New Orleans hospitals, stationed regiments, naval ships, prisons, and Union aid societies. In the spring, agents also outfitted and supplied two hospital steamers in New Orleans, the “N.W. Thomas” and the “Laurel Hill,” and accompanied the sick and wounded soldiers onboard as far north as Cairo, Illinois.

An agency was briefly established at Brownsville, Texas in early 1864. The USSC distributed supplies among impoverished refugees at Pensacola, Florida in May. The Red River Campaign—a Union disaster in Louisiana that lasted from March to May—created much work for the Commission, with a depot and temporary soldiers’ lodge established at Alexandria, Louisiana. Work was also undertaken in Port Hudson, Baton Rouge, and Morganza in the summer and fall, and supplies were distributed to soldiers on the Florida coast as well. The Department also accompanied prisoner-of-war exchanges with supplies at Red River, Louisiana and Galveston, Texas in the final months of the year.

Supplies received by the Department of the Gulf came primarily from the Woman’s Central Association of Relief (WCAR) in New York and the Western Department in Louisville. The WCAR furnished mostly bedding, clothing, stationary, and less-perishable food, while the Western Department was able to deliver fresh vegetables via the Mississippi River. These vegetables, along with sauerkraut and pickles, from the Western Department were key in combating scurvy, which was prevalent in the Gulf area. Some supplies were also received from Boston, Maine, and the Cincinnati Branch.

One of the primary areas of activity for the Department of the Gulf was that of special relief, under the direction of O.C. (Oliver Crosby) Bullard (1822-1890). A Soldiers’ Home in New Orleans was established in October, 1863 by special order of the US Army and was initially run by the independent Western Sanitary Commission, based in St. Louis. The USSC dispatched agents to New Orleans around the same time to set up special relief services in the city, but finding a soldiers’ home already established there deemed it inadvisable to open another. However, the Reverend Ephraim Nute, head of the Western Sanitary Commission’s home, found it difficult to procure supplies, and unofficially transferred management of the home to the USSC in November. Top officials of the Western Sanitary Commission had not been informed of the transfer, but eventually agreed to it. The home still operated under military order at this point, with the USSC having little actual authority. In February 1864, the Army transferred full control of the Soldiers’ Home to the Commission. The New Orleans home had a number of superintendents, including H. Clay Weaver, Major C.F. Howes, and W.S. (William Sumner) Bullard, son of O.C. Bullard.

The Soldiers’ Home in New Orleans—located in the former Planters Hotel on the corner of Julia and Magazine Streets—served many functions. Its original object was to feed and house soldiers passing through town on their way to rejoin their regiments, or who were temporarily stationed there. However, a great need soon arose to also assist soldiers on furlough, or those who had been recently discharged and were awaiting transportation to the north. In addition, soldiers who were detailed at headquarters in the city, or who were detained in New Orleans, were provided with lodging through official orders.

In addition to the Home at New Orleans, the Commission also operated a Soldiers’ Rest or Lodge in Brashear City, Louisiana (now Morgan City), west of New Orleans, which opened in January, 1864. The Rest provided temporary shelter and meals for soldiers moving through the area, with stays generally limited to two nights.

Besides providing soldiers with lodging, food, and clothing, the Department eventually expanded its special relief services to include assistance with back pay, bounty and pension claims. O.C. Bullard worked with soldiers in the New Orleans Home who required assistance in filing claims, or who needed corrections made to their official papers. Pension Agent Charles W. Seaton assumed responsibility for filing pension and certain types of claims, mainly for next of kin of deceased Louisiana soldiers, from February, 1864 to October, 1865. The bulk of Seaton’s work was conducted through the USSC’s Army and Navy Claim Agency (ANCA). George A. Blake served as an Examining Surgeon for Pensions, in addition to his managerial duties in the Department.

The expansion of special relief services led to the occupation of two additional buildings and a lot that were adjacent to the Home, serving as offices, storage, and lodging for employees. Staff included a superintendent, a matron, nurses, a night watchman, and a number of workers who performed cooking, washing, and cleaning duties. The Soldiers’ Home also contained a hospital ward, with Dr. Owen Long as Surgeon in Charge.

Spring of 1865 was an especially active time for special relief in New Orleans as numerous discharged soldiers passed through the city. The Soldiers’ Home continued to be busy in May and June, with former soldiers resorting to sleeping on the sidewalks due to the overflow. The Home closed in July of 1865, with the USSC transferring its equipment to the military.

The Department continued to distribute supplies in the spring of 1865, especially in Florida, and in the Mobile, Alabama area at the end of the war. Supplies were also provided for a prisoner exchange at Red River in March. Although Blake was originally directed to close up the Department in July, he was later instructed by General Secretary John S. Blatchford to remain in the city. The Department continued to distribute supplies in August, especially to troops stationed in Texas. Blake wound up operations in early October, leaving New Orleans.

Within the USSC, the Department of the Gulf primarily corresponded with the New York Office, and reported to the General Secretary.

There were occasional gaps in service for major departmental personnel. In March, 1864, Blake traveled north for personal reasons and Crane took over control of the Department until Blake returned in July. O.C. Bullard was away from New Orleans from August to October, 1864 for health reasons; his son, W.S. Bullard was in charge of special relief during this time.