Abby Hopper Gibbons letter to James Sloan Gibbons

Gibbons was in Washington entreating government officials, including Edwin Stanton (Secretary of War), Peter H. Watson (Assistant Secretary of War), and others. Reports that Watson is supportive of her. Met with the wives of officials to form a National Coalition. Attended a women's society meeting and was glad to meet women with anti-slavery sentiments "who are so ready to help the poor contrabands" ("Contraband" was a term used during the Civil War to refer to formerly enslaved people who had escaped to Union lines). Mentions that there are many sick soldiers.