A WOMAN'S WORK.
TIII DIET KITCTIENOL
Most of my time during the six weeks'
I have been in the service, has been
spent at Hospital No. 10, Nashville,
Tennessee. The St. Louis Ladies' Aid
Society haVe. opened and furnished
rooms for a special Diet Kitchen, for
this Hospital; and a grbat and noble
work is done - there for the sick and
woundedoldirs.l visited the hos
pital newly every clay, conversed with
the soldiers, or read to them, and wrote
letters for them. Then I took the num
bers of those who needed special dishes
Prepared for them, and saw that what
ever they asked for was sent to them.
I, believe many lives are saved by the
earnest, faithful labours of prudent wo
men in these kitchens. We found no
difficulty with the surgeons. They all
seemed willing to co-operate with us in
our efforts to relieve suffering, and cheer
fully gave us the privilege of taking
such delicate and nutritious articles of
food as we could supply, to the very
bedsides of the"sick and dying soldiers.
These kitchens are being established in
most of the hospitals in Nashville; and
their success has proved the utility of
this method of saving the lives of many
who have passed beyond the reach of
all ordinary means. The labours of
these weeks have been among the most
pleasant, because the most useful of my
life; and the lessons of patience and
submission that I have learned by the
bedside of those pale, patient sufferers,
will never pass from my memory
was often surprised at the cheerful
courage and endurance that many, who
were mere boys, displayed; and I felt
more than ever"that this war is develop
lug more of true manliness, energy, and
fortitude, than we ever supposed ..our
American boys poisessed. I found
many' cases in which I became much
Interested, but which I cannot describe
in so short a report. You will find some
incidents in the Congregationalist of
June 24th. I went with the intention
of carilig especially for IktiChigan buys—
and they did have a claim upon my
attention; but when I earns to a cot
bearing the form of one of New Eng
faud's brave sons, my heart was moved
•by memories of a childhood home, among
•the. hills of Vermont, and I felt 'a tender
regard for her patriotic sops ; my
Sttentions and distriliption of forts,
I. could muke no distinction of State,
.and L felt a grateful love for .all'as the
defenders of one united country.
One of the pleasant features of the
,work of the Christian Commission is the
harmony with which brethren of all de
nominations labour together. The Rev.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith make a very cheer
ful ,and pleasant home in Nashville for
the delvgates, and the question of ,de
-nomination is never thouLlit of. An
other thought that was pleasant to dwell
upon was, the large-hearted liberality of
friends at the North in sending such
constant and unending supplies for. our
brave soldiers through the Sanitary and
Christian Commission. It seemed to
!ne that their generosity was equal to
the fortitude and bravery of nor soldiers
-While in Nashville I received fifty-five
dollars from friends in Allegan end
'Three Rivers, with the request - that I
would spend it in any way I thought
best for the relief of the wounded and
dying. These gifts were uncalled for
by me, and unknown to the world; but
they were gratefully received and faith
fully given. These things forma bright
side to the fearful scenes of suffering
and death that I witnessed every day
in the hospitals, and gave me eon ale nee
- Oat God was with us in moving the
ihearts of people to noble and generous
"deeds, and guiding us through seas of
,blood. to, a victory founded in righteous
ness and true liberty
For the privilege of going as a dele-
gate of this Commission I am truly
grateful, and I trust my labours have
not been in vain.
MAY. W. A. RANNEY
Consolidated right Dret List of U.
.S. A. Gen
eral hospital, No. 2, Chattanooga, Tenn.,for
September, 1864.
RATIONS.
Mackerel . • •
.Boup, Iquitos or Best,
." Vegetable,
ie Oyster, . •
Mikken,
Fresh Vegetables,
R oos t Pet:goes, . •
Bread and Butter, .
Toast, Mille
" Bstter, • .
'C. Dry
Jellies, sr Preserves,
Eggs; 'Waled or F•sehed, ;
pried nr Serambled,
' , Kraut orMickles, .
-Fruits, Canned,„
" Fresh sie,Dr4d, .
„piked Apple', .
Torheiiies.
FuddirtereariniumouS, •
Blanc Mange.
Cuotarrii Boiled.
Tapines. .• •
11. re, Boiled,.
Barley, . .
Mush and Milk, .
Cheese, • . •
• Tea,• • •
`Corn Bread, . . •
. .
Milk Punch, . .
Special Orders, No' 362
WAR. DEPARTUaNT, Militant Ganerarn °Mee,
WASIONSTON, °abb./I 24, 1264.
Lax•rwArr t i
* 4F ..* * *
56 Permission to visit the U. S. Gen
eral Hospitals within the lines of the
several Military Departments of the
United States, for the purpose of super
intending the preparation of food in the
Spe . cial Diet Kitchens of the same, is
hereby grunted Miss Annie Witten
myer, Special Agent U. S. Christian
. Commission, and such ladies as she may
dean proper to employ, by request of
United States Surgebus. The Quarter
master's Department will furnish the
7-ecessary transportation.
By order of the Secretary of War
E. D. TOVINSZND,
Assistant Adjutant Wiliam).
At Kingston, Georgia, when the army
resumed its march, after a rest of two days,
many sick soldiers were left in the encamp
ments, and with dilb.'eulty they found their
way into town. There they expected to be
put upon cars, and sent back to Chattanoo
ga ; but no cars were going for a bang time.
No hospital or resting-place, or refreshments,
or food were provided there, that the sick
- soldiers oeuld find. They sank down sick
and weary, on. the side-walks around the
depot, and, on the porticoes of houses. We
went among them, and invited them into
the house occupied by the Christian Com
mission. It was a hotel, and "contained many
rooms. Soon these rooms were well filled,
and yet others were to be seen outside. It
was a work of humanity to make eoffee, as
• we did, and carry it around to these soldiers.
One followed the huge coffee-pots, with a
box of crackers. After going through the
rooms in this way, we went along the side
walks and around the depot. We told them
we came, not to give them a cup of cold
water, but what, under the circumstances,
was better—a cup of het coffee, and some
crackers, in the name of the Christian Com
mission.
Having passed through this scene, I was
prepared to understand the remark of a sol
dier to his comrade, as they were passing by
the house occupied by the Christian Com
mission, one evening, in Nashville. "Here
is the place where the Christian Commission
stay," said enc. The other replied, "That
wakes one think of a big cope pot."
Yours, truly,
Three Rivera, Mich.
THE COOKING WAGON.
"As soon then as they were come to land, they
saw a fire of coals, and fish laid thereon, and
bread. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine."
John xxi. 9,12.
I must refer particularly to one prominent
feature of their work for weary, wounded
bodies on this day, which, for its novelty
and usefulness, deserves especial attention
Some of the newspapers have mentioned if
new cooking-wagon, presented by the inven
tor to the Christian Commission, which is
thoroughly sui gencris. It is constructed
somewhat like a battery caisson, so that the
parts can be unlimbered and separated from
each other. The "limber," or forward part.
bears a large chest, which is divided into
compartments, to contain coffee, tea,
sugar,
and corn starch, with a place also for two
gridirons and an axe. From the rear por
tion rise three tall smoke-pipes, above three
large boilers, under which there is a place
for the fire; and under the fire a box for the
fuel. Each boiler will hold fourteen gal-
Ions; and it is estimated that in each one.
on the march, ten gallons of tea, Or coffee.
or chocolate, could be made in twenty min.
utes—thus givina c ninety gallons of nourish
ing drink every hour. It is truly a most
ingenious and beneficent invention. -
There was a call for coffee. A party of
delegates at once volunteered to respond to
the call. The fires were lighted, the watei
boiled, the coffee made, and soon the vehi
de, drawn by two po'werful horses, and
attended by half a score of willing labour
ers, was on its way, from division to divi
sion. Up the hospital avenue it rumbled
and rolled, passed the long rows of white
tents, stopping at this cluster and that, giv
ing to: all from its generous supply.
'You should have seen the wondering
look of the men as it passed by. They roll
ed themselves over to get a glimpse of it
They stratehed their-necks for a sight at it
The wounded heads forgot to ache, and the
wounded limbs altneet forgot to cry for nur
sing in that moment of caner_ curiosity
Wei it a new sort of ambulance? It didn't
look like one. What did those three black
pipes mean, and those three glowing fires?
Is it a steam fire.enaine, and are they going
to give us a' shower-bath ? But the savory
odor that saluted their nostrils, and the de
licious beverage the engine poured into
their tin cups, soon put the matter beyond
all doubt. They soon found that there was
no necromancy about it, for it had a sub
stantial blessing for each one of thein, and
they gave it their blessings iu return. One
by one sunh as were able, crowded about it
with curious faces, and the wagon, as it
stood' steaming and glowing in the midst,
was the theme of many affectionate com
ments.
"1 - say ; Bill, ain't that a bully machine?"
" Yes, Jr,R it's the greatest institution 1
ever saw."
" That's what you might call the Chris
Tian Light Artillery," says a !bird.
"Good deal pleasanier ammunition in it •',
tban the Rebs scot us this morning."
" Well, Doctor," said a delegate to a stir
geon, "whet do you think of this?"
"I thank the fiord For it That's all i
can 'say," was the reply.
And so, on a sudden, the new invention
was crowned with the praisuand ben adiction, ,
of the admiring crowd. It was a marked
feature in.the work of the day, and must he
set down as noe of the "peculiar'institu
thine of the Commission.
. Total . , 1,413
• 15,095
. 6,772
• 6,715
. 1,420
• 2,050
. 22,748
• 29,635
. 6,145
. 2,191
. 12,785
- Coffee and Ihrilets for a Division
Mr. J. A. Cole has put the Cooking Wagoo
to a new use, refreshing our huttle-worn. vete
vane on the field, tie saye;
"The Coffee Wagon wa , i kept at work, and
was really a means of giciag great deal of
comfort. It was taken to the lines, where bill
lots flew about it, and every soldier in the di
-vision that made the charge, capturing tip
fort on Chapin's farm, had a good drink of hill
coffee— r what they had not had for three we
muddy.days. The muchine IS getting tt. bt
very popular.
. 11,396
16,2!13
. 16,466
12,414
• 7,300
9,667
8,228
1,662
• 6,302
.863
• 2,197
1,768
80 , 22 1
R. C. Smedley„Esq., 31. D., writes:
"During
• my stay with - the sth Corps, I was
chiefly occupied in distributi'ng reading mat
ter in theliospitals, and to ihe sohiters at
the front; also in carrying writing rgtper,
canned fruits and in-eatv to those`,in thr:
front lines who'were. not well, and yet were
not eiek enough to go to the hospital. They
were very grateful for articles there; irmi
I deemed it important that those whip were ail
trig k , tumid have 'a chang... of diet, Carlos, corn
starch, canned milk;V.tai-iicri ginger, Ac.;' for
to prevent won from becoming so sick as h,
leave their post of do , yrni !slitting to the goy
ernment efficient working men. At all time-+
I talked personally with them in regafit to
their spiritual welictre."
598
. 8,7t9
4,92..
'William Wells Willinoks, LI, D.,-author of
The .thddle. Kingdbih, hertdabora to works
on China, t tppropriates 5 :00 to the ChriNtisf,
Commission. ".for the rt•lief of soldiers and
sailors." fie says, if it were proper:he would
like to pay tor a , -11stituld... is the army did nut
his extimps him - from draft.
Ile adth , : —.‘ Though I hawi been a resi&rit
of China tor thirty yrar ,, , I feel to much inter
;omit h MA I TIN ( “1: it>rt na if I taiA
in the 51i624 to help
4 off . f
GEORGIA.
A Big Coffee-pot
JOSEPH A. RANNEY
Prevention Beller than Cure
PATRIOTISM INXIIINA.
A. BRITISH VIEW.
The Rev. Dr.. Murray, 'Editor of the Pres-
Vterian, fitness, Halifax, Nova Scotia, gives
.he following account of his experience as a
lelegate of the United States Christian Com-
There is hope for a country that puts forth
giganticsuch and varied Christian effort-as
witnessesme in these United States. God
would not have destroyed Sodom if it had con-
Mined ten righteous men. Ile surely will not
permit this great and -noble country to be de-,
itroyed, with its good men and true, number
mg tens of thousands. Wherever you turn,
here are evidences of large-hearted hone
iclence, and of unflagging zeal—of love, to
man, and of the fear of God. As rainbows
and bursts of sunshine make
. a day of storms.
tad tempests glorious, so do these deeds of
:ove and Christian charity relieve the horrid
;;doom of war.
The Christian Commission sends its mesaen
rare of mercy to friend and foe—to black and
vhito—to the wounded veteran in the hospital
Ind the raw recruit from the Northwest. The
Jungry are fed, the naked are clad, the sick at
tended carefully, the dying are comforted and
directed to the "Lamb .of God that taketh
.sway the sins of the world." Hi l indrede of
hous ands of dollars have been freely given, by
dho people to help the soldiers in every emer
&env, and smooth their path, which is so hor
ribly.rugged and dangerous. Thousands vol
unteer to spend a mouth or six weeks among
she soldiers to instruct them, to distribute a
• heathful literature among them, to nurse them
,vhea sick, tend them when wounded, and
bury them when dead. Not a few of the most
efficient volunters are ministers of congrega
tions far away from the scene of conflict.
They obtain leave of absence, and spend the
time in helping the poor soldier. I met one
minister—a venerable Presbyterian Doe or of
Divinity—who had travelled gratuitously over
thousands of miles, and spent months of time
in the service of the Commission. Railway
Companies pass free the delegates of the COm
mission, and some first class hotels give them
free lodgings. You see the badge at times.on
au affed and stooping man, whose main object
in going to the "front" is to help his own son
in the time of need. Young studtnts go to
ice a little of actual war, Many go from the
highest and holiest ittotivee.
I may safely say that thousands of soldiers
owe their lives to the active aid furnished by
the Commission ; and, in good sooth, with the
ioldiers the Commission is famously popular.
?or the delegates are of the "Good Samari
tan" stamp, seeking and finding the wounded
and the dying, andrendering them all the re
lief in their power—first helping the body and
then the mind—distributin.q . Testa
/acute', other suitable books, tracts and
newspapers, and diffusing comfort and good
cheer wherever th'ey go.
The ladies of the great cities have organ
ized a "Ladies Commission" to aid the other.
No pains are spared to gather clothes and
rood and a Christian literature for the benefit
the army. The prisoners from the South
are sharers in all this beneficence, to an ex
tent that is equally gratifying and credit
able. They are supplied with newspapers
and good reading. The Scriptures are al
ways accessible. The gospel is often preach
ed to them.
I am told, and indeed I have ocular demon
stration of the fact, that the soldiers listen
eagerly to religious teaching and exhortation,
end are much more easily impressed than men
ordinarily are in other circumstances. Very
many since joining the army have become
;ober, thoughtful, honest, and God-fearing.
Wickednees prevails, of course, but there is a
. 11itliful end very earnest minority 1w -
How they cluster around the religious
teacher—how eagerly they listen to his y( ords
—how enthusiastically they seize upon the
hymn, and make a "loud noise-eheertully"
hew cordially they press his hand when lie - is
leaving them! "This reminds me of home,"
;aye one. "God glees you"—" Come again"
—"Pray for me"—" We'll remember what
yOu have told us,"—with these, and such as
,hese expressions sounding in your ears, you
may bid group after group farewell.
Many of these men are as fine specimeni of
well-developed menhood as you would wish to
iete—tall, lithe, sinewyor robust, firm.built, and
haggy—luoking as if they could do immense'
nisohief in the clay of battle. Poor fellows!
sickness, bad food, rifle balls, cannon bails,
,-hells, One or other of the devilish, implements
.vhieh man has invented to murder On brother
fitted, will very speedily thin these groups,
IA send many a stunt and stalwart Northeen-'
to moulder under Virginian soil. '
The depots of the Christian Commission are
open on all days of the week. It would do
your heart geed to see the huge bales of warm
elothing, the boxes of nutritious food and of
,nedicines, the piles of books and newspapers
ready for distribution. The headquarters of
the Commission are in the heart of Philadel
phia, and under the roof of that eminently lib
eral Christian, George 11. Stuart. Mr. Stuart
himself has not seldom gone to the "front" to
eee the condition of the soldier, and to (le v ee°
now plans of beneficence. Subordinate depots
ere open in all the great cities, and the libefel
ity with which funds and material are enp
plied from all quarters, give the Commissierian
espeet magnificently national, worthy of a
great Christian people..'
The delegetee of the Commission follow
their course of well doing by sea as well ns by
land; caring for the sailor as well as the soldier.
Dangers and diffioulties are cheerfully encoun.
fiered, and sometimes life is sacrificed in the
effort to save life. War never before called
forth so noble, so Christian, and so effective a
system of assuaging its horrors. Wounded
memos on the battle-field have been rescued
:errn death *hen the efforts of surgeons and
the ordicary menus provided by Government
would have been wholly in vain, The great
yattle-fieltii are quickly visited; the thirst, anti
hunger and wounds, of friends and fees, are
.ittended to; hospital tentware pitched; shelter,'
Pest, and refreshment are time provided to:
.multitudes who otherwise Would have perished
miserably. •
The "delegate" is often. from a great dis
tance, and is recognized hy perhaps half a regi
ment as an old acquaintance and friend lie
comes charged will messages. of love and re•
membrance from "home," and he returns north
ward freighted with s.iniilar tokens and remem
brances. 'thus e•-t,tblisbing living electric
chain between the hearth and the tent."
In view of the unexampled efforts of the
Christian peopled the United States on behalf
of their soldiers, I think there is little ciinger
of the country being demoralized, or in, ltbe
Inast reolmited by a ' 4 Navitge soldiery" when the
war is over. The army is to thousands a
school in which they are reformed, and if over
they return to their lit.mes, they return better
men than when they left. Of course, there
a-ill be firoiltuity, and drunkenness, and yin
k-nee, hut there is good leaven which, with
God's blessing, must havenk the whole hump.
THE , GUNBOATS.
" 'The Rev. J. W. Harding, of Long
that speak: , t , l the work on the gunboats:
‘• T tell you a little about our Sabbath
work yesterday At our tent prayer-meeting,
at seven o'clock P.M., each of us reported his
labour, during the day. at separate points..
The ho, , pitai.•,, V.ie wagoners, the convalescents,
the puntonittrz, the prisoners, and the, coloured
soldiers, had all been visited. With the Rev.
Dr, 11. 13:110t,ker, of Boston; 1 went on board
the gurtbat Eutaw, lying above us, - in the
Janice river—at the invitation of hei gallant
commander, Captain giake, who fought the
flatterer:: in tl,t famous action with the Ala
bama,. We were most cordially received by
of and men ; and after enjoying .for an
boar the freedom of the ship, in conversing
and distributin p; religious reading, by order of
the t.ap;nin, all hands were invited to the
after-deck' to attend religious service. The
'Hen i t i their ;wet attire, seated on the pie,
Ltud•reilinQa, fiwzruml nue team,
eating group; and the officers, closing around
us, while we prayed, and sang, and preached,
formed another—some of them assisting us in
singing, and all most attentive qpparently
interested hearers; It was a soleuta and beau
„tiful scene, and we hope profitable to all. We
made a standing appointment for a Sabbath
service, the captain - offering to send' hie boat
for us whenever we could come for this pur
pose, and inviting our Commission to visit his
ship'at all times. We have similar invitations
frOm other gunboats in the fleet, sad find an
eitremely interesting and useful. work in this
direction.'
THE LAST MESSAGE
A soldier came into oar rooms in Nashville,
to got an. envelope. He said he had letter
to Bend home for one of his comrades. He
drew from his bloose a small package, care
fully wrapped; and opening it, held up a scrap
of a leaf from a memorapbun-book. It had
bloody finger-priats on it, and a few words
hastilywritten with a penal!. The writer was
the soldier's partner, .he said. In the charge
on Keneeaw mountain, he annul him stagger
ing back from the line, the blood et rearamg
from hie mouth, and covering hinds and
clothes. A minnie, hall had cut of his tongue
at the root, Ile tried to speak, but could net.
Finally, by motiorbh-le nuide his partner un
derstand his want—paper and pencil. A scrap
Was torn from the diary, And on it the boy,
held up by his comrade, with finger' dripping
with blood, and trembling in death, wrote,—
"Father, meet me in heaven."
He tried to write his name, but it was toe
late. Life had fled.
Say, fathers and mothers, what will you
not do for your sons, whose waking, and
dreaming, and dying thoughts are homeward
turned?
BERMUDA HUNDRED.
The Rev. J. W. 'Harding, of Longmeadow . ,
thus describes ft *-
The Colored Soldiers.
These colored soldiers have strong arms ,
and warm hearts. They salute us respect
fully; their bearing is soldierly, and the high
est favor we can give them is a primer or a
first or second reader, or a testament. They
are bent on learning to read. It would please
you to see me in the capacity of, a primary
school teacher to some brawny cavalry six
footer. - He stands by my side cap in hand,
booted and spurred, his bright saber clanking
at his heels, and — eagerly spelling out the
words which shall unseal forhim the fountains
of knowledge. I could, devote my whole time
in giving them spelling and reading lessons.
And then you should see them on their well
groomed horses and marching in a squad of
rebel prisoners. They say noticing, but they
look everything, and so do their crest-fallen
prisoners, and more than crest-fallen. We
found some prisoners in the guard'-house, yes
terday, who were actually in. mortal dread of
their coloured guard, - lest remembering Fort
Pillow, they might lay violent hands on them.
There is no doubt that a salutary fear of our
coloured soldiers is pervading the rebel camps.
And then you should see these black troopers
escorting in their wives and little ones and
sweethearts, each loaded on the head and in
both hands with the spoils of. the Egyptians,
and the little smiling darkies who cannot
march, nestling in the left arms of their pro
tectors.
In the Trenches
But to return to our tent, it is time for.the
day's work to begin. My brother delegates go
out their several ways, one to the post hospi
tal, whither sick and worn-out men continu
ally conic' ft "their "several regiments to re
ceive care which they cannot get at the front;
another to the convalescent camp, where men
nearly recovered from sickness, wait to be dis
tributed to their regiments, another goes with
a six mule government wagon, -loaded with
stores, to an out station; another to some dis
tant camp where there are no chaplains; or
if it be too far to walk, and the ambulances
are not busy, we load one of them, kindly de
tailed for . our use by the quartermaster, and
go to the extreme front, where the men lie in
the rifle pits and redoubts and intrenehments,
and many of them in their "rat holes," or
bomb-proof huts. this is intensely interesting
work. Our ambulance halts in a wilderness of
camps, here en one side a Massachusetts regi
ment, and there a Connecticut regiment, and
ro
the boys crowd. around, six and - eight deep,
and with such - a.show of hands, so eager for
anything and everything to read, and as eager
for letter-paper, envelopes, pees, pencils, com
fort bags. Ihe chaplains come, and they are
privileged to get into the embalm:lee and select
for themselves their favourite papers and books
and tracts. Often I , ineet very happily and
suddenly some old familiar face from Flame
den county, and we talk over bld times.
A Camp Riot.
But what is this .tumult Outside? There
stands a sutler's tent with a noisy crowd
around it. We, hear angry Worde. A'
white .
lieutenant Nyitha. squad of his colored soldiers
iri attempting to tear the tent down. There
hae-been a previous quarrel, and now the lieu
teoant is excited by liquor, and his proceed
ings violent, and the •sutler; a respectable
looking Massachusetts man, becomes enraged
and puts apistol ball througldhis head. The
lieutenant fftlis into the urns 'of his men, and
one of them, his sergeant thty say, by the
lieutenant's order; shoots thecsutler through
the body He runs by our tent like a deer,
thuiigh mortally wounded, and. the crowd of
exasperated colored soldiers after him, and for
•
a liniment the halls dy dangerously. But soon
order is restored aid I find the two wounded
men in their tents. The ender cannot live
lung.. Ile asks," Are you a minister ? I wish
you would pray fot " I kneel by his side
with another who seems to be a Christian man,
and I Lind afterwards is a chaplain, and we
both, at the. dying man's earnest request, pre
sent his case to the heavenly throne. He
confesses his' sins . and his unpreparedness to
die, but sues now' for mercy. I carry mutual
messages of sorrowful regret between the men
thus laid low by folly .and violence. The
lieutenant will probably recover and be with
his sergeant severely handled by martial law,
but the our sutler lies embalmed for his
grave. 't his will show you the detuoralizino
influence of the camp in leSsening the sense
of the sacredness of human life, and show also
the importance of Christian men to be near by
with the offices of religion. It is gratifying
to see what immediate and free access is always
accorded, us and the . .confidence reposed in 'us
as representing the Christian commission.
NO GRUMBLING.
I have the consolation of knowing that
have been the means of cheering the heart
of. many a soldier in affliction. It has
been my nrivilege to converse with him, and
pray by his bedside when living; and, when
dying, to point him to the Lamb of God that
taketh away the sins of the world.
In their sufferings they exhibit the utmost
fortitude and heroism. I did not deem it pos
sible to find a class of men, who would bear
sueh suffering as I have witnessed with 80
little murmuring or complaint. It is a rare
thing to hear a groan, or the language of com
plaint front any one of them. And then they
manifest so much gratitude for the smallest
favoups.
These noble men who have periled their
lives, and shed their blood to preserve the
liberties of our country, and have stood as a
wall of fire between us and the enemy, de
serve our sympathy. And what is done for
thorn must be done quickly. We ought not
to consider it charity, or the bestowing of
aims to aid such men, but a etiered debt, which
we should labour faithfully to discharge.
ALLAN' T. Eirt..avas,
AsZe, oat , of U S. G r k r i o l iu s COll7l n i 532011.:
CHRIST IN THE HOSPITALS.
Sending for the Delegates.
Rev. Elias C. Sharp, of the Pittsburg com
mittee, who preached 60 times, held-70 meet
ings, distributed 449 Scriptures, 90 Psalm
books, 557 volumes, 6030 pages tracts, 2803
papers, 1665 sheets of paper and envelopes,
126 shirts, 102 pairs of drawers, 174 house
wives, 70 pairs socks, 12 boxes fine tooth
combs, and 50 pairs of crutches during sixty
one days' service, writing from City Point,
says a—
"lt was not an uncommon thing for four - or
five men, in the course of a day, to Bead for
me to come to read and pray with, them, and
talk with them on ahe eubjeet Of religion."
The Solemn Message.
"It was also common for the surgeons to
say to me, There is a man in such a tent who
is dangeroualy sick or wounded, and Will die
in a short tiny. Ile does not know it. You
can tell him better than I can. Will you in
form him as carefully as possible that hesan
not live.'" -
Can you Teach me some Prayers
A drummer boy was sinking with a fever in
Old Halliswell Hospital, Alexandria. He bad
no father, mother, brother, or sister, nor any
other known relative. He was alone, and no
one cared for him. I gave him a handkerchief,
putting a little cologne upon it. This cheered
him up a little. I asked him if he loved the
Saviour; he answered, "I don't know any
- prayer; can you tell me some prayer'?" I.
replied, there was a good prayer of the Publi
can, "God be merciful to me a sinner." The
next day I visited him, and he remarked that
he had prayed that prayer I told him about all
the time since. He eagerly read the tracts
and books I gave him, and soon be was happy
in the. Lord. He found, that Jesus loved him,
and the delegate of the Christian Commission
loved and cared for him, and he began to mend
from that hour.
A Whole Ward Seeking Christ.
I preached in one ward of Queen Street
Hospital; all were deeply interested; an Irish
man gave unusual attention; at the close he
said, "Indeed, boys, that is much better than
to hear cursing and swearing." lie said to
me, "-Chaplain, I wish you would come and
preach to us every day; it sounds good. I
found by private conversation that every one in
the ward was either a Christian, or had a desire
to be One.
The morning I was to leave Alexandria fur
home, the ward muter came early to the com
mission rooms for me to come and preach to
them once more before I left. I went and
preached on the evidences of a dew birth; they
listened with 'all the attention of converts in
time of revival. They bad resolved, with the
aid of a delegate of the Christian Commission,
to hold a daily morning prayer-meeting. I
sat and talked with a Michigan soldier, and
on rising to go he replied, " Chaplain, do come
I again, a good talk does me good."
I wrote a letter for a very sick soldier to his
mother. On asking him what I ehould write
about the condition of his soul, he replied, "I
am looking to God for help," and I added this
Soripture, "God is onisrefuge and strength, a
very preeent help in trouble" In thren days
his mother came, and by her nursing his life
was. aved. He said to me afterwards, "that
Scripture you wrote to mother in my letter
saved my life."
I found a soldier very sick with diarrhoea in
the Veigh Hospital. lie asked for some black
berry root syrup, and I immediately went to
the commission rooms and brought him some,
and I said to him, "I dare not defer getting
thie for you a single hour, for you may soon
go into eternity, and how are you prepared to
die? Give your heart to Christ this very in-
stant. Now is the accepted time." He replied
in tears, "Yes, I want to," and he did. lie
was eager to talk of his soul, and read tracts,
papers, and books often.
Let me Kiss You.
For several weeks I had supplied the weans
of a wounded soldier from New Jersey. He
had given his heart to Christ, and was happy
in the near approach of death. He said to me,
"Chaplain, let me kiss you. 0, if Jesus was
here how I would kiss him!" ,
The result of my experience is, that soldiers
are ready to hear the word—that the principal
work of a delegate is of a spiritual nature—
the bodily comforts are only a means to reach
the heart; that the feet that a delegate comes
to the ;Radler on the account of the love he has
for Christ, and without any pecuniary compen
sation, gives him great power - over the heart.
The State Agent, the Government Chaplain,
the Surgeon are all paid for their services, but
the Delegate of the Christian Commission has
absolutely, in accordance to the divine injunc
tion, neither purse nor - scrip; hence he has a
ready access to the heart.
I should have been glad to have remained
longer than six weeks, bit my church has
claims upon me I hope to go as a deleg:ate
again in the spring if the war continues.
Yours truly,
M. H. TARBox.
Amesburg, Sep. 19th, 1864.
TRAINS OF WOUNDED IN THE
SHENANDO A H.
WINCITESTEII, Ockl3, 1S -I
Mr. G-. S. GRIFFITH :--Dcar Sir—Having en
joyed the opportunity, through pour kindness
and that of the Baltimore Committee of the
United, States Christian CommisSion, of visite
ing the stations of that Commission at. Sandy
Hodk, 51artinsburg and Winchester. of Observ
ing the work of the delegates, and personally
assisting in the care of the wounded and the
distribution of stores,_l have great pleasure in
assuring you, and through you, the patrons of
the Commission in Baltimore, of the efficient
and careful manner in which they perform
their arduous labours.
At Sandy Hook the Diet Kitchen, supplied
from your stores. is ably ekoduoted by Mrs.
Hyatt and Mrs. Robbins. and the Misses.
Southgate and Smull. Tht Revs McDowsil
?Woo and Votey, and Messrs Miller, Gregg
and Young are syetematit ens assiduous in
their attention to the temporal and spiritual
wants of our soldiers there and at Harper's
kerry. • ,
At Martineburg we arrived in time to see
the whole force of delegates, under Mil
ler's able superintendence, turning out near
midnight and labouring tilt near morning,
carrying food and drink to and dressing the
wounds of a large ,train of wounded, just
arrived after sixteen hours' .ride wagons
from Winchester. The fatigue et some and
the enfferings of others were indeserib,ible; and
the overworked nurses and surgeons could not
have got would them 'before morning. The
delegates, however, were on:land with the
big Christian teapots. Barrels of crackers
and bottles of jelly were opened. Bread and
cheese vanished with marvelloue rapidity down
hungry throats, Papers and tracts, in the
morning, for the Saturday's march, were in re
quest, and we had not half enough of. Testa
ments and hymn-hooks for anxious inquirers.
"What is all this foil", said one fine lad, "is
all this for the Union?" • I explained that it
was for the sake of Christ and our country.
"I've got more kindness from you meu since
I came into this house than since T entered
the army." When I proposed to those in the
Presbyterian church to address them and pray,
every head was uncovered. If the Lord hears
only one-half the benedictions invoked on the
Commission by those one hundred and fifty
wagon loads of wounded men, you and we will
live happily and die peacefully.
Proceeding to Winchester with Messrs.
Wilson, Little, Whittier, Stevens and 'McCord,
we found Messrs. Brackett, Ewing, Harkness
and 'Dr. Bigelow, ably supported by Miss
Brainerd, of Michigan, Miss Wood, .Miss Por
ter, Miss Short, Mrs. Haverfield, Mrs. I larris,
Mrs, Schumote, and other Union ladies, who
double the value of your farina, tea, &c., by the
condiments they supply, and increase it ten
fold by the sweet smiles with which they hand
the cup to our wounded heroes. Of lire.
Hari* of Philadelphia, it is needless to say
th at t iara , as scary whAre, her unwearied and
.ifficient service has saved many lives. Nor
.nust we forget Miss Bridget Divers, who has
bad her horse shot under her, has been cap
tured and escaped, marched with our cavalry,
and has just come in with our wounded from
the battle-field, and is now here with her or
derly superintending the racking of tea, sugar,
fruit, jelly, cordial;, pickles, farina and honks,
at the Christian o.onui;ssion germ, fUr the
wounded in the amhulances; the only field"
hospital MosehY's cavalry will allow our active
eittralry commander.
But hero is a message from the.surgeen to
say that a train of wounded is comingin ; that
he is out of cordials, and can't get any.to
night. Sothetwhola force is off with . p silo of
punch, and baskets and haversacks of audn
biscuit, and there is Mrs. Harris and her
servant with, custards and fried eggs; and 1
must close and be off to this scene of groans
and blessings.
0! for the clay when war shall pease,
find Jesus reign the Prime of Pease.
Affectionately yours,
ROBERT PATTERSON
A NOBLE RECORD.
CAIIP OF TITS 14TH N. J. Vote.
~
Near Charlestown, Va., Sept. 16th, '64.
Geo. H. Stuart, Elq.—.lltl Dear Bro.—Cart
not something be dt , qe for this part of the
army by your noble Commission in the way of
supplying . us with mental and spiritual food?
Our regiment is greatly reduced, our casual
ties during the campaign being over 400!
Still we have about 250 left. Out of 250 of
the regiment converted last winter at Brandy
Station, about 200 ate killed or wounded. Our
killed all left a good rec wd. Not one of them
ever disgraced the profession they took during
the winter. We have a remnant left; their
influence is still a power.
Cards or Books.
We keep up regular evening services; but
the good that might he dune, and ought to be
done, is almost nothing, because of tne want
of something to employ the mind and heart
during the lang days we are poising. For
three months I — never saw a card in the regi
ment; yesterday 1 saw two games I r objected;
but the boys say: "Chaplain, we must do
something to employ our time. We are only
playing in fun, because we have nothing else
to do I" This will he the entering wedge . of
graver evils. Pay-day will bring its accessory
of real gambling if this cannot now he checked.
A supply of two hundred good papers weekly,
and a few good books for distribution, will
save numbers of our men from destruction. 1
look for an active and bitter campaign this
fall. Some of our boys will be killed. It re
mains for the Christian Commission, under
God, to open to them the gate of Paradise.
What can you do? We get Philadelphia morn
ing pipers every evening. Why can't we hive
religious papers once a week?
Testaments Trrolth Twenty Dollars Each.
- I obtained a grant of eight dozen bottles
blackberry syrup from bles,rs. Ellis & Co., of
Philadelphia. Our men. are Low pretty free
from dyFenterles, and I enclose you the order,
and beg you will, if possible, give me in ex
'change for it some mental medicine. Fifty
neat copies of the Now Testament would be
worth twenty dollars each. in the excite
ments and losses of battle, &0., many have
left their knapsacks and contents, and are
without the word of life.
Can't we get any thing to Read?
never felt retire eueoernement in doing
duty than now, but I never was so powerlest
in the matter of assistance. Our boys say :
"Can't we get ahy thing to read ?" and I told
them, " I don't know, but I'll make a big effort;
I'll write to George H: Stuart and see. I don't
believe but that we can."
I have written. I know your teak is great
and onerous, and your calls kind and many ;
but a moment's thought in behalf of these
noble Jersey Blues of the old 6th corps, will
eventuate in great good.
Affectionately your brother in Christ,
FRANK B Rose,
Chaplain 14th N J. V.
IN THE TRENCHES.
Every •le,y after I went to the front I found
as much as six smarter men than I could
accomplish, and although it was a time .of
comparative quiet. and 'hence did not present
those cases of deep pathetic- power which are
met only in ,great battles or in isolated
instances, yet the work grew in interest and
in its evident importance I could but ask
myself every day, if enough had been done in
the trenches. It seems to me more is needed.
There are naked men, their shirts; haying
been torn off by accident; - there are galled
feet, there are blisters. Thread an& buttons
needed, and all the little cothforts of camp
life, which the postponed pay-days have 'not
eermitted the soldiers to buy; and above all a
aairst fdr the word of life, which Chaplains
cannot supply unless they are sleepless and
`omnipresent. I usually diStributed my reading
Matter in regiments without Chaplains, with
the aid of pious soldiers, always -choosing
privates if I -euld get them, thus helping
them to au agr'e.eable change ofoccupation. My
words were few is giving put these things. I
found the men more ready to converse hallan
hour afterwards, and 7 generally returned
soon on my path and at down, :on the bunks
with them, talked with thorn just as I should
be talked with; and was never once bluffed off
by indirect answers. I was received unkindly
three or four times, not more than that. These
tent aenvCrsations were close personal appli
cations of some truth, generally of the
Christain inward life, as I thought I had bet
.ter success, impressing duties from that
direction I went also with cordials and
medicines for incipient cases of diarrhoea,
finit* as often as T could to fatigtft parties on
the works: then they would alwayS gather
round me, en: I'd gather up a feWmornentsto
speak of the water of life, or cry to the thirsty-,
lea lv 1, shoWing them in very few words
heW unreasonable to be without religion; as I
could do with such ready illuStrations as
their eager thirst always gave me; and some
times the men would be ordered to sii-down,
and ten or htleen minutes given me, in which
to address them. Many such a p e rt). I have
seen bathed in tears, none trying to conceal
their feelings.
have described the work I tried to do thus
at length, for it seems to me more delegates
should be all the time doing it. I know there
.
is danger inait. I've heard the song of too
:natty sharpshooters' bullets not to kno* it.
But there is the work, and he i not a true
Christian Delegate who won't do it, if permit
ted. T've never seen one flinch yet.
Then there should be more soldiers' woollen
shirts, socks, ko. for dietribution. They lose
them on marches, get them spoiled by acci
dent; are without money, and must wait for
Irawing or pay-day—toait and .s•nifer. I gave
iut of my 9171.1 pocket s not charging it to the
!_lommission, over ten dollars in little sums;
lot over eighty cents at, any one ';me, I be
lieve, in eases where there could pe no deceit.
I verily believe nothing would so inspirit the
dispirited as a few cents in money when they
have none. T remember one Man from North
ern New York, with the doleful fate of a man
in despair, whom I had met quite often, and
itlviews impressed with his. sadness, NNIIO had
not 'been paid Air six months, had sent it
nearly all home to a needy wife when he re
ceived it, and was then without a cent. I
gave him twenty-five cents, and it had a-s
magic; an shyest as it would on a little boy.
lie said he had came to time conclusion nobody
eared tbr him or the poor privates, and was
about to despair of the good of lighting,
till
„hat mite Made an opening through which the
tight of friendship and syrup:ally gleamed.
'I
hope. I ahall be excused for this length,
but i want the work 'in the front increased.
Respectfully, Q. S. ,Nicitto.s.
oei Inn&
THE CHURCHT THANK-OFFERING
TO THE ARMY.
This paper will reach the army and be read
by many aeornp tire, and will convey to hun
dred* of thousands of our noble soldiers the
assurance that they are not forgotten at home
on Thanksgiving D:xy,
13 1 : - ave defenders of our country! Our hearts
thrill with pride and affection as we read the
record of your heroic marches and determined
discipline, of- your resistless charges and un
complaittia4. toils. We love our country the
more that it has produced such soldiers, and
shall honour our venerated flag with fresh
cheers for mob glorious victory with which it
has been adorned by your arms. When you
return, as we Pray Gini you may soon, having
restored our glorious Union, and with it liber
ty, peace, aid prosperity to our country, every
office in the gift of a grateful people will be
cheerfully tendered to the men whose patriot
ism has been proved on the battle-field. It is
fitting you should gevern the nation you have
bled to save. In the mean time, wherever
aged men and women and little children kneel
by the fireside, wherever Christians meet in
prayer meeting, or the ministers of Clod as
seniblb in synods, or stand up in sanctuaries,
or beside communion tables, prayers, heart
warm.and continual, are poured out for you,
that the Lord of Hosts may be your shield and
the Captain of your salvation ; that his grace
may fill your hearts with peace which passeth
all understanding, and deliver you from sin
and its miseries, enabling you to conquer Satan,
the prince of rebels, and at last, when life's
warfare is finished, make you cooquerora, and
more than conquerorei through Him who loved
you. No less than present peace and eternal
glory will eatiafy our desires for you. To con
vey-these blessings to you, by the gospel of our
Lord Jesus Christ, we send you our delegates.
The Christian Commission is the rnank-offer
big of the Church to her brave defenders.
STOR
Continual and pressing applications are mad*
to the Commission for hospital stores. Just now
the approach of winter causes many a poor
.wounded man, chilly from lose of blood, to shiver
in the hospital tents. Our brave fellows, who
have been chasing Early and Hood, and those
Who have hurried across Arkansas and Missouri,
in pursuit of Price, have bad no time for washing.
Saki one of these, modestly, to the writer, last
week, at Winchester: "Sir, could you supply me
With a shirt? The one I am wearing es a Mete
rotten." It was even so. From a commanding
'officer of the noble cavalry who have done such
good service to the country, we have the state
ment, that a number of his men were in need a
shirts, but, owing to some intlrrrnality, failed to
procure them; and that he knew of nu means by
which they could he supplied fur several weeks.
To meet such emergencies, and prevent the siek
neiii, and perhaps death, of a number of valuable
soldiers—eyery one of them some mother's son,
and dearer to her than life—is the delight of the
delegates of the Christian Commission. Even
matters of less value send a thrill of joy and new
life t'arough the soul of a poor suillerer. A bite of
cheese, a pickle, a piece of bread and butter,
awaken-remembrances of home and friends, and
bring down blessings on the senders.
"Look here, boys," eaid a wounded lad in Mar
tinsburg, holding up a slice of bread, on which
the Rev. Mr. Swobe had spread a spoonful of
honey; "Look here. Who wouldn't fight for his
country I" One needs to live on hard-tack and
salt pork for a year, to know the value of small
delicacies; and snore especially to the siok and
wounded.
We would especial], skak the Ladies' Aid 8008-
ties and Ladies' Christian Countlllusions. to exert
themselves to the utmost / before the intense cold
of winter sets in, in, forwarding coverlids, guilty
clreseirt-gowns, drawers, shirts, socks, and mil.
tens—Me two last in large quantities. Dried qnd
green apples. onions, good cheese, and boiled
cider are invaluable as anti-scorbutics; es is
every preparation of cabbage and tomatoes. We
would earnestly beg every farmer to contribute
liberally of these indispensable vegetables.
INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTION ABOUT
STORES.
An good and suitable stores are welcomed, and
all necessary- freight and charges paid on them
by the Commission, and are distributed by dele.
gates of the Christian Commission personally.
WHAT TO SEND.
Nosey, by all means, if possible. To invest
money in articles to send is I.IIIW ide.
The Commission can purclathe exactly what i.
wanted, at the very moment When needed most,
and as a Commission at wholesale, cheaper than
others.
CLOTHING, &a
Cotton shirts,
Cotton drawers,
Canton flannel shirts and drawers.
Surgical shirts and drawers {with tape strings
to tie instead of seams at the sides.)
Large cotton drawers (to wear in-doors as pants.)
Dressing gowns.
Slippers (tf of cloth or carpet, with staff soles.)
FOOD, &o.
Oat-meal, Pickles,
farina, Jams,
Corn-starch, Onions, in barrels,,
Dried rusk, Apples, in barrels,
Jelliets, Cranberries,
Bede biscuits, Good butter, in mall jars
Butter crackers, Dried fruits.
Boston crackers,
Dried apples are especially valuable:
la special cases, eggs, bread, cakes, Ic., are
needed, but not generally. 2'hey should never Ea
sent unless specially called for.
FOR BEVERAGES,
Good.black tea, Lemons,
Chocolate. Syrups.
All preparations of the Blackberry are of doubb
value. Boiled cider as an -scurbu.ic.
STIMULANTS.
Good brandy, l'urt nine,
Madeira wino. Cordrals.
Domestic wines are excellent in wiut.sr. apt to
spoil in summer.
READING MATTER.-
Send no trash. •!l.i)l‘iiers d, serve tho best. A
library is a valuable bygienia appliance. Fur
the abled- bodied.. good . publications are mental
and spiritual For couvelescehts, lively,
interesting beoltra'—the in , mthlios, the pictorials,
works of art, science, and literature, as well as
Those for ruoral and spiritual culture, such as you
would put into the hands of a brother recuveriug.
STATION Eta IS MUCH NEEDED- paper, envelopes,
and pencils.
HOW TO PACK
Pack in boxes. - .v.arreis are col as racd. Secure
well Boxes should not be so large, that two can
not conveniently lift them into a wagon. Pack
eatabies by themselves. Never pack perishable
articles, such as oranges, lemons., bread, cakes—
nor jars of jellies and jams, with other, goods.
Tin cans slunild be soldered; all other modes fail.
Stone jars should bo corked and firmly bound
with oiled linen or' leather over the cork, and
packed closely in Saw-dust or hay, in boxes never
exceeding a dozen and a hell in u box, and nailed
strongly, to bear rough handling. Jellies in turn
.blers covered with paper, anti winos, cordials,
dc., in bottles. with paper or other poor stoppers,
are liable to spill out, and if packed with other
things, sure to Injure them.
HOW TO'
HARK.
Mark with paint or ink on toe board—cards
rub plain letters and figures. On one cor
ner, the number of the hex according to -the
number sent by you in all, numbering your first
box your second *2, your third , 5, and so on
from the first sent to the last. On another corner,
mark each box as from your Society, giving the
name, and conspicuously also' mark as follows:
'• GEC/Nall 11. STV4ICT,
Chairman ehriatian Couirmoiseion,
I I. Bank Street, Philadelphia,"
or whatever other name may be most convenient.
To secure acknowledgments, and to save trou
ble, slat- send an invoice ar list by mail, on paper,
(the common letter sheet size,) written only on
one eitiO . apecifying each box or barrel by num
ber, and giving Lhe contents of each by itself.
Give pint own name and post-ollice in hill, with
the natio: of your iititte. Place also another list
or invoice of the same kind in the box under the
lid; and if with this last you place also an enve
lope addres.sed to yourself, with a postage-stamp
upon it, you may sonietinie.s— not KlNVoyS—brut
it returned to you through the mail, with the sig
nature of the delegate, and the more of the hospi
tat cutup weer: I.l*ditritatted it.
Write plainly.. - Above ail. write your own name
distinctly; find to save embarrassment, give yen;
address in lull, whether Lliss.or
or
cncu! Al 7.
When you, have rwft please
lead it to • ant.. ,;
rent:' " "y01 . 4. eir. Wat t , : riwm ra.sr urttr.4.l fIA