The YMCA

[RebelEsquire]

Hi,
I'm not sure if this is the right place or not to put this, but I was wondering if anybody can direct me to any resources on the YMCA both before and during the civil war. It would very much appreciated.

[RyanBWeddle]

Re: The YMCA

Hi,
I'm not sure if this is the right place or not to put this, but I was wondering if anybody can direct me to any resources on the YMCA both before and during the civil war. It would very much appreciated.

To my knowledge, they really didn't have a very large role. More so in WWI & WWII. The Christian Commission and Sanitary Commission are better known...

Check out this:

http://www.ymca.net/about/cont/history.htm

[Yulie]

Re: The YMCA

Hi,
I'm not sure if this is the right place or not to put this, but I was wondering if anybody can direct me to any resources on the YMCA both before and during the civil war. It would very much appreciated.

Hi Michael Barnes,

My research on the YMCA in the United States was for the SpanAm and WWI eras. Based on that research, the YMCA was not really active during the Civil War. It had reached a lull during that time and the Christian Commission assumed many of its responsibilities. The organization became prominent again after the Civil War. It was most active in assisting the military during WWI: establishing "Eagle Huts" on the homefront and overseas, offering classes, agents traveling on the transport ships overseas to provide entertainment and "enrichment", etc.

The National Headquarters of the YMCA of American is located in Chicago:
101 N. Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
312/977-0031

The main office retained an extensive archive when I initially started researching it many, many years ago. My memory is still fresh about the pleasant and helpful conversation I had with the archivist. Give them a call or visit the official website. The current website is http://www.ymca.net/index.jsp and provides a history at http://www.ymca.net/index.jsp which reflects my memory of the "Y" during the Civil War.

You also should check the Kantz Family YMCA Archives at the University of Minneapolis. http://special.lib.umn.edu/ymca/

There is also an excellent published history on the Y, That Damn 'Y' (or somethihng to that effect) that specifically focuses on its relationship with the military. The book is on my home bookshelf and should I find it I will follow-up with the proper information.

-Yulanda Burgess

[Emmanuel Dabney]

Re: The YMCA

Well, certainly Northern YMCAs must have been at least as active as Richmond's wartime YMCA.

The Richmond branch of the YMCA provided Richmonders with a religious outlet for Bible sessions and lectures. It's interesting that in this article by John Dwyer that the YMCA in 1864 was concerned with discussing the Middle East. This wonderful article about "What did Richmond do besides the war day in and day out?" can be found here: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/ava...ricted/CSA.PDF

I provide the following page numbers with reference to the wartime exploits of the Confederate capital's YMCA:

24, 32, 45, 49, 51, 54, 58, 59, 65, 68, 71, 74, 80, 92, 102, 106, 107, 117, 118, 120, 125, 126, 139.

In brief, if I may take a minute to paraphrase, the YMCA, according to the author's research; provided food to poor, religious outlet, and in the early part of the war even cut out a few uniforms. While not necessarily running around taking care of hundreds of thousands of wounded or dying, the Richmond branch was the largest in the wartime South and provided the Richmond population with something else to do than sit around and talk about war.

Now when will reenactors stop just sitting around talking about war...The world may never know. :-)

[vbetts]

Re: The YMCA

I won't hazard a guess as how relatively active you would call it, but they were there. I first ran into the YMCA of Chicago while researching the civilian response to the battle of Shiloh.

NASHVILLE DISPATCH, January 9, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
A very large number of passengers came down on the Louisville train last night. Among them were a number of nurses sent out by the Young Men's Christian Association of Philadelphia, and quite a number of physicians and nurses from Ohio and Indiana. There were also a goodly number who came to look after relatives and friends who had been wounded in the battle of Murfreesboro', and others to procure and convey home the bodies of dear relatives or friends who had fallen in that bloody battle.

NASHVILLE DISPATCH, January 10, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
The First Baptist Church having been taken by the military authorities for a hospital, the room of the Young Men's Christian Association, over the shoe store formerly occupied by Messrs. Farrar & Dismukes, on College street, has been secured for the use of that congregation. The members and others usually attending the First Baptist Church, and the teachers and members of the Sabbath School, are requested to meet there to-morrow (Sunday) at the usual hours. The Sabbath School will meet at nine o'clock in the morning, and there will be preaching at eleven. The public are invited to attend.

SAVANNAH [GA] REPUBLICAN, August 15, 1861, p. 2, c. 1

Packages for the Soldiers.

At a meeting of the Young Men's Christian Association, held on Wednesday, the 14th inst., a Committee was appointed, to be styled "The Army Committee of the Young Men's Christian Association." The object of this Committee will be to co-operate with the various Soldiers' Relief Associations of this city, and assist them in forwarding the various articles prepared by these Associations for our soldiers to their destination. They will, as far as practicable, ascertain the location of various Regiments and Companies now in Virginia from Georgia. They will generally act as a Forwarding Committee, attending to the proper direction and shipment of packages and boxes for our soldiers, either to their Camps or to any Hospital where they may be lying sick or wounded. This Committee will act in conjunction with similar Committees in Richmond, Va., and elsewhere, and it is hoped that, by prompt co-operation, the delay and stoppage of articles on their way to our absent soldiers may thus be remedied.
The Committee consist of the following gentlemen:
Jas. M. Selkirk, J. F. Cann,
W. R. Rogers, B. Mallon,
J. S. F. Lancaster.

CHARLESTON MERCURY, July 25, 1861, p. 2, c. 2
Help for the Soldiers.--While our sons and brothers are exposing their lives upon the plains of Virginia for our safety, and while many are now languishing in the hospitals on beds of pain and suffering, it is a gratifying fact to know that our wives, and sisters and mothers are laboring so zealously in their attempts to provide such help for the soldiers as will render their positions more comfortable. It has been again verified, in this instance, that the ladies are the most energetic portion of every community, as the work which they have performed, in the short space of twenty-four hours, has been truly marvelous. A preparatory meeting of the members of the Ladies' Christian Association, auxiliary to the Young Men's Christian Association, and many other ladies of the city, was held on Tuesday morning, when the first steps were taken, and by yesterday, at 2 o'clock, they had prepared a sufficient amount of necessaries and luxuries for the soldiers to fill twelve cases, and valued at over one thousand dollars, all of which was at once dispatched for Virginia, in care of Dr. E. H. Bissell, who has gone to render his professional services to the suffering, and who will attend personally to the proper disbursement of the articles sent.
Up to dark last evening the ladies had cut and given out to be made up over four hundred garments, and will to-day resume their labor of love and sympathy. Truly they deserve all credit for their efforts in this noble cause. A meeting of all ladies interested in this work will be held at the Young Men's Hall at ten o'clock to-day, for the purpose of a more thorough organization, appointment of committees, and other matters of business, for the permanent working of the Association during the continuance of the war. Our merchants and citizens generally have responded nobly to the calls made upon them, and suitable fabrics of all descriptions have been sent in, valued at nearly two thousand dollars, while over one thousand dollars in money have been liberally subscribed. The goods have been forwarded by Adams' Southern Express, through their Agent, Woodward, free of all Express charges. It is the intention of the ladies to send forward all the articles in the charge of some responsible person who will attend faithfully to their proper and judicious distribution, in order that the donors may have the satisfaction of knowing that their gifts are not misapplied; and when the wants of those in Virginia are fully satisfied, the remaining articles will be preserved for the use of our own troops during the coming fall and winter.
We republish the former Committee, appointed from the Young Men's Christian Association, to co-operate with the ladies, with additional names of other members, all of whom are requested to solicit donations in money, and such articles as may be serviceable in providing for the hospital and the camp.


CHARLESTON MERCURY, April 19, 1864, p. 1, c. 1
Richmond, Wednesday, April 13
. . . Poor people, especially poor women, are beginning to be pinched for food. You can tell this by the crowds which assemble daily at the office of the Young Men's Christian Association, the cheap provision stores, and other places where aid is given.
Hermes.

CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE, April 22, 1862, p. 3, c. 3-5
Young Men's Christian Association. Fourth Anniversary Meeting.
... Bro. D. L. Moody, without any official action on the part of the association, has given his entire time and energies in executing the several plans of doing good referred to herein, and to his efforts mainly are we indebted for their practical execution. Not having raised any funds outside of membership dues, for general purposes, we have not been able as an association, to make him any remuneration. "Trust in the Lord and do good, and verily thou shalt be fed," has been literally acted upon and fulfilled in his case, but our duty as an association has not been fulfilled, though it has been and still is his desire that no pecuniary obligation should rest upon it on his behalf.
With what fidelity and earnestness his whole time has been given to the master's work, is only known, fully, by him who requires a whole sacrifice, and by those who have received his labors.
For the past two weeks, with a corps of twelve nurses and two surgeons from our association, he has been among our wounded soldiers who participated in the fearful struggle at Pittsburg Landing. He went upon the special request of the Sanitary Commission, who appreciated his labors at Fort Donelson, and desired again to send him on such an errand of mercy. I scarcely deem it necessary to recommend his constant employment as a city missionary, for which service he is eminently qualified, and that some systematic plans be carried out to meet the expense of such an engagement.
This part of our aggressive economy should be continued, and while he may trust in God for his support, let us not forget his faith and labor of love, but seek to make it ours, by a hearty and practical support.
.... John V. Farwell, President.

MONTGOMERY WEEKLY ADVERTISER, September 23, 1863, p. 1, c. 2

Religious Reading for the Army.

Army of Northern Va., }
Camp Wilcox's Brigade, }
Near Orange C. H., Sept. 7, 1863. }
Mr. Editor: If you favor the promotion of piety, morality and good order in the army, you will confer a favor by bringing to the notice of all concerned, who have friends in this army in Wilcox's Brigade, composed of the 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 14th regiments Ala. Vols., that there is established in said Brigade, a society styled "The Young Men's Christian Association." Feeling the great need of all moral influences to extend and keep alive genuine, heart-felt piety in the army, the members of this association would be thankful for any contributions of religious reading, in the shape of tracts, newspapers, reviews, small volumes, etc. Contributions may be sent to individual members of the Association, or to the Corresponding Secretary.
Other papers favorable to the cause will please copy.
T. C. Pinckard,
Cor. Sec'y.

NASHVILLE DAILY UNION, January 10, 1863, p. 1, c. 1

First Baptist Church.

This church having been taken for a Hospital, we are requested to state that arrangements have been made to hold the regular sessions of the Sunday School in the room formerly occupied by the Young Men's Christian Association, College street, between Union and the Square.

Vicki Betts
vbetts@gower.net

[FranklinGuardsNYSM]

Re: The YMCA

Em -

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle published a very interesting correspondence between the YMCAs of Brooklyn and Richmond in their edition of May 29, 1861. To paraphrase what Richmond writes:

"The separation of the South from the North is irrevocable, and the sooner this great fact is acknowledged by the nations of the earth, the better will it be for the interests of humanity. The conquest of either section by the other is impossible. You can have no doubt of the truth of this proposition, if you consider the teachings of all history in regard to the ability of an invaded country to repel its invaders, where the numbers are nearly equally divided, and the courage of each is unquestioned...In this community almost every person capable of bearing arms is ready to volunteer in the service of the State. Our association, and even the ministry, is largely represented in the ranks of the army. The South has no desire to invade the soil of the North, or to take from them any of their rights. We only ask to be permitted to govern ourselves in accordance with the principles which are guaranteed in the Constitution of the United States...As christians, let us discountenance the misrepresentations of each other, which are so frequently made, and let us labor earnestly in the cause of peace..."

The response from Brooklyn included:

"...you are right in the supposition that we of the North are entirely misunderstood by the brethren of the South. There is among us no desidre of either aggression or conquest. That the people of this section are united, 'as the heart of one man,' is most true; but it is a union not against our brethren at the South, but in behalf of our common country, against one of the most foul conspiracies and unprovoked rebellions which the world has ever witnessed...The issue of the contest as far as the South is concerned, may be doubtful, but one thing at least will be settled and certain, that this government will never permit one foot of her territory to be filched from the national domain, either by friend or foe until she is proved too weak to uphold her authority therein...With us this is no sectional contest--in it we know no sectional interests--no North, no South, no East, no West; it is the cause of our common country that we have at heart, and that enlists all our sympathies...For this cause we are all alike ready to sacrifice our all. If therefore you call on us to join hands in this cause we can heartily respond, for this, we will join you in any sacrifice of either fortune, interest or life. But for those whose design it is to overthrow and ruin this, the best and hitherto the most prosperous government the world has ever seen, we have no prayers, no aid, no sympathy, but our prayers shall be that when we are permitted to meet you again it will be as heretofore to sit and take sweet council together, under the protecting and benign folds of the "Star Spangled Banner."

[jcraig]

Re: The YMCA

The United States Christian Commission was actually founded by the YMCA in the fall of 1861. It provided aid and comfort throughout the war and when the war was over it was disbanded. I don't have all my resources in front of me, but I have done a bit of research into the USCC. I'd be happy to share the information I have - just send me an email! snowcraig@att.net

Jessica Craig