Julia A. Wilbur ALS to [Anna M. C.] Barnes, November 25, [18]62

Alexandria Nov. 25th '62

My Dear Mrs. Barnes
I think I have written
thee 4 letters, but have received but one from
thyself. Yesterday I had letters from Eliza Wing
& Amy Post & F. Douglass. Aunt Elizabeth
& Eliza are doing something for us, & so is
Amy Post, & F. Douglass has $50 for the Con
trabands & wishes to know how to lay it out.
There are several old decrepit women who sit
in cold rooms & want a warm shawl to throw
about their shoulders. Nothing of the kind is
sent to us. Then there are women who work by
the day, & go out with little clothing & nothing to
put round them. I think if you wd. buy a quan
tity of those old fashioned coarse woollen shawls
it wd. be a good plan, & some of those knitted hoods
that come cheap. - Women need dresses very
much, & chemises & petticoats, & we want
blankets & quilts & pillows & pillow cases.
Many of them could keep their rooms quite tidy &
comfortable if they only had bedsteads, but
now all their bedding is on the floor, & as a con-