Type: Exhibition caption

Detail: Women waited in frustration for news from the front. In this letter, Louise Denise describes her feelings to her cousin Henrietta Boice in Bound Brook:This war Dear Cousin has taken my time very much thoe two Dear Sones that ar in the ware take so much of my time Con is now at Harpers Ferry the last letter we had He is very tiard of the ware and longs to get home once more His time of enlistment will be out next April He is in the Potomic Army Obe is now a parrold Prisner at Chicamaga was taken Prisner in one of the Battles in Virginia Oh my Dear Cousin what an awfull thing this war is what great distress it has Caused in so maney Famaleys….There is no telling when it will end it is passing before us like a Panarama for some wise purpus we now [i.e. know] not….

Type: Exhibition case

Name: Upholding the Home Front: New Jersey Women in the Civil War

Detail: New Jersey women quickly mobilized to support the war effort. They raised money, collected food, clothing, sheets, and blankets to ship to the troops, who often lacked needed supplies. Many towns organized ladies aid societies and church groups held fundraising bazaars. Other women struggled to keep farms and businesses afloat in the absence of male breadwinners, or labored for low wages in factories to support the war machine. Women often expressed their patriotism and suffering through poetry, songs, letters, and diaries.