From the Milwaukee Sentinel, Nov. 15, 1861 – “Our soldiers will stand as much in need of mittens as stockings this winter. A frostbitten finger will disable them for real service as much as a frostbitten foot. Now is the time, ladies, to knit mittens for the volunteers, and have them ready against the time they are called for. The best mitten for the soldier is that which has one finger and a thumb, and the directions for knitting these is as follows…”