On October 30, 1861 the military base in Boston Harbor known as Fort Warren began to house prisoners from the Confederate army as well as political prisoners.
 Initially, the United States Quartermaster in Boston, Captain George A. Kensel, was told to prepare for 100 prisoners, however when The State of Maine, the ship holding the prisoners, arrived it had on board 155 political prisoners and over 600 military prisoners for the fort.
 In early November 1861 Mayor Wightman visited the fort and decided that immediate steps had to be taken to alleviate the situation.

Local newspapers had urged that local citizens donate items to assist the prisoners at the fort.
 Mayor Wightman endorsed giving aid to the prisoners at the fort.

Mayor Wightman arranged for stores be delivered from Evans House a charity that had been established to assist Union servicemen.
 The Mayor's actions were met with mixed reaction from the local Press.
 The Boston Daily Advertiser and The Boston Transcript attacked Wightman.
 The Boston Evening Traveler, in opposing Wightman's reelection, called his distribution of supplies to the fort, aid to the "traitors at Fort Warren".
 However The Boston Post and The Boston Journal supported Wightman.
 The Boston Post said that Wightman had acted out of a charity and The Boston Journal supported Wightman in an editorial titled  "The Transcript on Humanity".
On October 30, 1861 the military base in Boston Harbor known as Fort Warren began to house prisoners from the Confederate army as well as political prisoners.  Initially, the United States Quartermaster in Boston, Captain George A. Kensel, was told to prepare for 100 prisoners, however when The State of Maine, the ship holding the prisoners, arrived it had on board 155 political prisoners and over 600 military prisoners for the fort.  In early November 1861 Mayor Wightman visited the fort and decided that immediate steps had to be taken to alleviate the situation.
Local newspapers had urged that local citizens donate items to assist the prisoners at the fort.  Mayor Wightman endorsed giving aid to the prisoners at the fort.
Mayor Wightman arranged for stores be delivered from Evans House a charity that had been established to assist Union servicemen.  The Mayor's actions were met with mixed reaction from the local Press.  The Boston Daily Advertiser and The Boston Transcript attacked Wightman.  The Boston Evening Traveler, in opposing Wightman's reelection, called his distribution of supplies to the fort, aid to the "traitors at Fort Warren".  However The Boston Post and The Boston Journal supported Wightman.  The Boston Post said that Wightman had acted out of a charity and The Boston Journal supported Wightman in an editorial titled  "The Transcript on Humanity".
Joseph Wightman