As companies organized and marched off to the uncertain fate of war, many of those still at home did what they could to help, by collecting money or goods to make life easier for the soldiers or their families left behind without their main provider.
On Dec. 17, 1861, the Democratic Banner published a report from the Soldier’s Aid Society of Mount Vernon:
“On the 4th of November, the Society shipped 12 large dry goods boxes filled with various kinds of clothing and necessary supplies, which were estimated according to the ratio of army valuation, to be worth $1,500.
“The destination of those 12 boxes was as follows:
“Six boxes were sent to the soldiers at Cheat Mountain, 4 of which were soon consigned to the care of rev. Mr. Nickerson, chaplain of the 32nd regiment, and 2 boxes sent to Captain Banning of same regiment; 2 boxes sent to Elkwater, care of Rev. E. A. Strong, chaplain of the 3rd regiment; 4 boxes to Sutton, care of Adj. E.W. Muenscher, 30th regiment.
“This shipment was made under the special charge of Rev. Joseph Muenscher of Mount Vernon, who accompanied the same into Virginia, and had them conveyed to such places where they were most needed for relief and comfort of destitute soldiers.”
