Back home in Shelby County, Ohio wives and mothers formed together to do what they could to help the war effort and assist the men. A Soldier's Aid Society was formed to collect and send items to the front. A short note appeared in the "Sidney Journal" on January 20, 1865, which summarized the work of these women. A shipment was sent consisting of muslin shirts, towels, arm pads, bandages, lint, 'religious papers and magazines,' apple butter, and pickle lilies.

A letter was occasionally received from one of the units requesting specific supplies. Edward Hill, a surgeon of the 20th Ohio, wrote to the Sidney Soldiers' Aid Society in November of 1861, asking for a "dozen flannel shirts and dozen flannel drawers...for our sick in the hospital."

The Ladies Christian Commission Aid Society also was active during the war. In April of 1918, Mrs. W. H. C. Goode discovered a book containing minutes of this group in Sidney from March 1864, to March 1865. Julia Lamb (shown at right), she later donated the land on which Julia Lamb stadium was built) took an active part, along with 75 other ladies. Events such as mush and milk suppers and children's festivals were held to raise funds to purchase supplies for the soldiers.

'Civil War' segment written in July, 1998 by Rich Wallace

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