List No. 030

ROLL OF MISSING MEN

Clara Barton

1865

As she worked tirelessly to care for soldiers and supply those at the frontline with medical supplies during the American Civil War, volunteer Clara Barton became known as the “Angel of the Battlefield” for her good deeds. She then continued as the war came to an end, by requesting permission from Abraham Lincoln to set up the Office of Correspondence with the Friends of the Missing Men of the United States Army, a set-up which enabled her and a small staff to reply to the thousands of frantic, unanswered letters from those awaiting word on their absent loved ones. Before long, with no such system already in place, Barton drew up a list of missing persons and had it printed in newspapers all over the country – the list seen here accompanied by a letter from Barton, reproduced to the right, was the first; many more followed.

A few years later, she founded the American Red Cross.

Washington, D. C., June 1, 1865.

Soldiers and Brothers:

Please examine this Roll; and if you know what became of any man her names, or have facts of interest to surviving friends, communicate the same to me by letter, as soon as possible, with your address in full.

If any one sees his own name, or that of a comrade whom he knows to be living, please inform me, that it may be withheld from future rolls.

Letters of inquiry for missing soldiers may be brief—should contain the name, regiment, company, and State to which they belonged, with the full address of the writer, plainly written.

Attention will no longer be confined to those who have been prisoners, but an effort will be made to ascertain the fate of all missing men of the United States army during the war.

If any letter of inquiry fails to receive an answer, please write again. No apologies are necessary, and no letter will be neglected.

CLARA BARTON

Address—

Miss Clara Barton,

Washington, D. C.