At the opening of the late war, the subject of this sketch, Mrs. O. E. Hosmer, was residing with her family in Chicago, Illinois. Hers was by no means a vague patriotism that contented itself with verbal expressions of sympathy for her country's cause and defenders. She believed that she had sacrifices to make, and work to do, and could hope for no enjoyment, or even comfort, amidst the luxuries of home, while thousands to whom these things were as dear as to herself, had resolutely turned away from them, willing to perish themselves, if the national life might be preserved.

Her first sacrifice was that of two of her sons, whom she gave to the service of the country in the army. Then, to use her own words, "feeling a burning desire to aid personally in the work, I did not wait to hear of sufferings I have since so often witnessed, but determined, as God had given me health and a good husband to provide for me, to go forth as a volunteer and do whatever my hands found to do." Few perhaps will ever know to the full extent, how much the soldier 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 large quantity of supplies. They remained there, in constant and unwearied attendance upon the large number of wounded from this important battle, for nine or ten weeks.

The writer of this sketch was at that time in Chicago, and well remembers the return of these ladies from this errand of mercy, and the simple pathos of the report they then made, to the Board of Trade, of their work and their stewardship of the funds entrusted to them by that body for the expenses of the expedition, and the use of the wounded.

As these ladies were the first volunteers upon the ground, they were warmly welcomed by the medical director and surgeons, and their services at once rendered available both in the preparation of delicacies for the sufferers, and in personal attendance upon them. Here Mrs. Hosmer met with a most singular and touching incident. A soldier who had been wounded in the leg, and taken prisoner, had his leg amputated by a Rebel surgeon. He was afterwards recaptured, and being found in a dreadful and dangerous condition, had to suffer a second amputation. It was only by the closest and best of care that there remained a possibility that his life might be saved; and this the surgeon in charge requested of Mrs. Hosmer.

On approaching his bed, Mrs. Hosmer was almost painfully struck by his strong resemblance to one of her sons, while he was at the same instant, bewildered and excited by discovering in her an equally strong likeness to the mother he was never to see again.

It need hardly be said that this accidental likeness caused a strong bond of feeling between those till that moment utter strangers. The soldier begged to be allowed to call the lady mother, and she was only too glad to minister to him as she hoped some kind soul might do to the son he resembled, should an hour of need occur. She found him to be an educated and intelligent young man. She did for him all she could, and watched and tended him with real devotion, but in vain. It was found impossible to save him; and when he was gone, she performed the last of her sad offices, by cutting from above his brow a mass of clustering, raven curls, which she enclosed in a letter to his mother, telling her all she knew of her boy's bravery, and his fate.

These days at Murfreesboro were days of hard labor, but of great satisfaction. There had been more than five thousand men in hospital, but these were thinned out by deaths, convalescence, etc., until but few remained. Then Mrs. Hosmer and her friend returned to their home.

The following summer that admirable and most useful institution, the "Soldiers' Home," was established in Chicago, and Mrs. Hosmer was appointed first vice-president.

This "Home" occupied much of her time for the following year. In connection with this was the Soldiers' Rest, where hundreds, and sometimes thousands of men, in transitu, were furnished with good warm meals, and with lodging for the sick, to the extent of its accommodations. This was entirely sustained and carried on by the ladies of Chicago, and Mrs. Hosmer often passed entire days and nights there, in these labors of love.

After the battle of Chickamauga she again felt it a duty and privilege to proceed to the field, on a mission of mercy. Her friend, Mrs. Tinkham, again accompanied her. As they neared Chattanooga, they were unfortunately taken prisoners. They suffered much fatigue, and many privations, but no other ill-treatment, though they were, a part of the time, in great danger from the shells which were exploding all about them. They were however soon recaptured, and proceeded on their way.

Having lost their supplies, however, they found they could be of little service. Provisions were very scarce, as in fact were all necessaries, both for the wounded and well. Therefore, being provided with an escort, they slowly retraced their way, and, after a disastrous and fatiguing journey, arrived in Chicago, completely worn and exhausted, and without the cheering influence of the consciousness of having accomplished much good by their efforts.

From this time, with the exception of occasional trips to Cairo, to look after the sick and wounded there, Mrs. Hosmer remained in Chicago, laboring for the soldiers at the "Home" and "Rest," until the close of the year, 1864. The "Northwestern Sanitary and Soldiers' Home Fair," was then in contemplation, and was to take place in June, 1865. Mrs. Hosmer had been appointed one of the Executive Committee, and Corresponding Secretary of the organization, which had the mammoth fair in charge.

In pursuance of the objects in view, she then went down the Mississippi River, to solicit donations of money and articles for the fair. Thinking she could materially aid the object, by visiting hospitals, and giving her testimony that supplies were still needed, she paid particular attention to this part of her duty, and visited nearly every hospital from Cairo to New Orleans. She had the satisfaction of raising about five thousand dollars in money for the fair, besides obtaining a variety and large amount of valuable articles for sale. She also had the pleasure of causing supplies to be sent, at that time, to points where they were much needed.

She was at Vicksburg when five thousand emaciated wrecks of manhood from the prisons of Andersonville and Catawba, were brought thither to be exchanged, and often visited their camp and aided in distributing the supplies so greatly needed.

Many a time her kind heart was bursting with pain and sympathy for these suffering men, many of whom had been tortured and starved till already beyond the reach of help. But she was to see still greater horrors, when, as the culmination of their fate, the steamer Sultana, on which their homeward passage was taken, exploded, and, she, being near, beheld hundreds who had escaped the sufferings of the prison pens, drawn from the water, dying or dead, drowned or scalded, in that awful accident. As she says, herself, her heart was nearly broken by this dreadful sight.

Mrs. Hosmer returned to Chicago, and did not cease her labors until the Soldiers' Rest was closed, and the war ended. For about four years she gave untiring devotion to the cause, and few have accomplished more real, earnest and persistent service. Since the close of the war, Mrs. Hosmer has become a resident of New York, though she is, at this present writing, established at St. Paul, Minnesota, in charge of a sick son, who seeks the recovery of his health in that bracing climate.