April 30, 1861;
The New York Herald
There is a good deal of uncertainty and some anxiety about the mode in which the families of the soldiers of the militia and volunteer companies are to be sustained out of the volunteer funds, during the absence of the men. Money has been, and no doubt will be liberally contributed for this purpose; but some plan should be promulgated by which such of the wives and children of the absent soldiers as may need support, can be regularly supplied with funds. It may be that but a few of our gallant volunteers leave their families wholly unprovided for; but it would be a great consolation to those who have to do so to know that the dear ones they leave behind them will be taken care of, and their wants supplied with absolute certainty and as little inconvenience as possible.
Would it not be well to organize a General Distributing Committee for this purpose, with branch offices located in different districts of the city? The Colonel of every regiment might leave a copy of his roll with this committee before his departure and the families of such soldiers as may need support could thus obtain a regular weekly or monthly allowance upon application at the pay office of their district. Or, in cases where funds have been raised for particular regiments, the same plan might be carried out. But we think it is important that before any more troops leave the city some specific mode of distributing the funds for the maintenance of the families of the volunteers should be decided upon and publicly announced.