Few of the States of the Northwest, patriotic as they all were, present as noble a record as Michigan. Isolated by its position from any immediate peril from the rebel forces, (unless we reckon their threatened raids from Canada, in the last year of the War), its loyal and Union-loving citizens volunteered with a promptness, and fought with a courage surpassed by no troops in the Armies of the Republic. They were sustained in their patriotic sacrifices by an admirable home influence. The successive Governors of the State, during the war, its Senators and Representatives in Congress, and its prominent citizens at home, all contributed their full share toward keeping up the fervor of the brave soldiers in the field. Nor were the women of the State inferior to the other sex in zeal and self-sacrifice. The services of Mrs. Annie Etheridge, and of Bridget Divers, as nurses in the field-hospitals, and under fire are elsewhere recorded in this volume. Others were equally faithful and zealous, who will permit no account of their labors of love to be given to the public. There were from an early period of the war two organizations in the State, which together with the Northwestern Sanitary Commission, received and forwarded the supplies contributed throughout the State for the soldiers to the great depÔts of distribution at Louisville, St. Louis, and New York. These were "The Soldiers' Relief Committee," and the Soldiers' Aid Society of Detroit. There were also State agencies at Washington and New York, well managed, and which rendered early in the war great services to the Michigan troops. The Soldiers' Aid Society of Detroit, though acting informally previously, was formally organized in November, 1862, with Mrs. John Palmer, as President, and Miss Valeria Campbell, as Corresponding Secretary. In the summer of 1863, the Society changed its name to "The Michigan Soldiers' Aid Society," and the Soldiers' Relief Committee, having been merged in it, became the Michigan Branch of the Sanitary Commission, and addressed itself earnestly to the work of collecting and increasing the supplies gathered in all parts of the State, and sending them to the depÔts of the Commission at Louisville and New York, or directly to the front when necessary. At the time of this change, Hon. John Owen, one of the Associate members of the Sanitary Commission, was chosen President, B. Vernor, Esq., Hon. James V. Campbell, and P. E. Demill, Esq., also Associates of the Commission, Miss S. A. Sibley, Mrs. H. L. Chipman, and Mrs. N. Adams, were elected Vice Presidents, and Miss Valeria Campbell, continued in the position of Recording Secretary, while the venerable Dr. Zina Pitcher, one of the constituent members of the Sanitary Commission was their counsellor and adviser.

Of this organization, Miss Campbell was the soul. Untiring in her efforts, systematic and methodical in her work, a writer of great power and eloquence, and as patriotic and devoted as any of those who served in the hospitals, or among the wounded men on the battle-field, she accomplished an amount of labor which few could have undertaken with success. The correspondence with all the auxiliaries, the formation of new Societies, and Alert clubs in the towns and villages of the State, the constant preparation and distribution of circulars and bulletins to stimulate the small societies to steady and persistent effort, the correspondence with the Western Office at Louisville, and the sending thither invoices of the goods shipped, and of the monthly accounts of the branch, these together, formed an amount of work which would have appalled any but the most energetic and systematic of women. In her labors, Miss Campbell received great and valuable assistance from Mrs. N. Adams, one of the Vice Presidents, Mrs. Brent, Mrs. Sabine, Mrs. Luther B. Willard, and Mrs. C. E. Russell. The two last named ladies, not satisfied with working for the soldiers at home, went to the army and distributed their supplies in person, and won the regard of the soldiers by their faithfulness and zeal.

In the year ending November 1st, 1864, one thousand two hundred and thirty-five boxes, barrels, etc., were sent from this branch to the Army, besides a large amount supplied to the Military Hospitals in Detroit, nearly six thousand dollars in money was raised, besides nearly two thousand dollars toward a Soldiers' Home, which was established during the year, and furnished forty-two thousand seven hundred and eighty-five meals, and fourteen thousand three hundred and ninety-nine lodgings to five thousand five hundred and ninety-nine soldiers from eight different States. In the organization of this Home, as well as in providing for the families of the soldiers, Miss Campbell was, as usual, the leading spirit. In both the Fairs held at Chicago, September, 1863, and June, 1865, the Michigan Branch of the Sanitary Commission, rendered essential service. Their receipts from the second Fair, were thirteen thousand three hundred and eighty-four dollars and fifty-eight cents less three thousand one hundred and thirty-seven dollars and sixty-five cents expenses, and this balance was expended in the maintenance of the Soldiers' Home, and caring for such of the sick and disabled men as were not provided for in the Hospitals. Of the aggregate amount contributed by this branch to the relief of the soldiers in money and supplies, we cannot as yet obtain a detailed estimate. We only know that it exceeded three hundred thousand dollars.