114
—AND—
GENESEE EYANGELIST.
THURSDAY, JULY 16, 1863
JOHN W. HEARS,
IN THE TRACK OP VICTORY.
While the national heart bounds with indes
cribable exultation at the news of victory, and
thinks of nothing but mutual congratulations
and thanksgivings, flinging out its countless ban
ners from every housetop to the breeze ; while
poets oatoh inspiration from the word and histo
ry hastens to write it broad and luminous upon
her pages, he who follows in its track and traces
its foot-prints upon the field and upon the forms
of his fellow-men, gains new views, not only of
of its greatness, but of the tearful price at Which
it must be won. He sees concomitants of the
struggle which cad only be hinted at in bulletins,-
and which history allows herself no space to expa
tiate upon. His views are sobered. The thrill
of extravagant joy which he was wont to feel, is
qualified by the shock of grief and horror which
the first.sight of a field of battle and a scene of
victory occasions.
Last Thursday we started for a brief view of
the scene of Gen. Meade’s victory at Gettysburg.
Reeling uncertain as to the accessibility of the
place by the more common route, we struck for
the Susquehanna at Columbia, via Lancaster.
The first evidence we had that we were ap
proaching the scene of recent engagements was
the accumulation of charred timbers upon, the
crest of the dam below Columbia —the remains
of the bridge that had been fired to prevent the
crossing of the enemy on Sabbath June 28th.
Soon the solid remnants of the immense struc
ture came in sight. Twenty-Sight massive stone
piers stretched across the broad river,, in a per
spective of a mile and a quarter in length. Every
vestige of the wooden superstructure had vanish
ed. As we came to the river’s brink, we found
droves of horses which had been sent across by
their owners upon the approach of the rebels,
now waiting transportation back again. Negro
families were there also, who would have been
confiscated as quickly as the horses, had they
not escaped. Quite a fleet of skiffs waited upon
passengers, and for a moderate sum, we were
ferried across to the village of Wrightsville, the
scene of the first conflict between our militia and
the invaders. Besides the bridge, a foundry had
been destroyed by the flames, hut the inhabitants
assured us that the rebel soldiers formed a line to
the river, and with buckets labored vigorously,
and successfully to prevent the destruction of
other buildings. Some twenty shells fell in the
village, few of which exploded, and no serious
damage was done. The occupation of the place
lasted hut a single night. No special occasion
of complaint was given by the rebels; tbe species
of property for which they showed a particular
preference, horses and negroes, having been
placed beyond their reach. , A blacksmith in
formed us that his whole stock of tools and ma
terials was carried, off. Our ferryman said that
two rebel soldiers visited his house, playedjwith.
his children, and gave each a five dollar “Con
federate ” note. A driver told us that one of
i his children was still more fortunate, having
received a ten dollar bill as a remembrancer. He
himself had been robbed of two horses and a
stock of groceries, valued at seven hundred dol
lars, by Stuart’s cavalry. Less than a mile from
town we saw the entrenchments, stretching in a
zigzag course across the fields and the road,
from which an attempt was made by Colonel
Thomas’ men of this city, to defend the bridge-
On either side of these works were eminences
from which the position was easily flanked by
the rebel artillerists, and our forces,, infan
try alone, and outnumbered by tbe rebels ten to
one, after a gallant defence of ah hour and a half,
in which however no lives were lost on our side,
were compelled to fly.-
Along the road to York, we looked in vain for
traces^ -df rebe.l occupation. ’ The country was
teepdng with agricultural riches. The wheat
lields were bending over with excessive ripeness.
Rebel feet and hands, thanks to the promptness
of the army of the Potomac, found other work to
do than trample down or gather in the vast har
vests of southern Pennsylvania. York itself is
ihe same orderly thriving town as ever. Not a
private house was entered by the rebels ; not a
building was wantonly defaced; not a store
plundered ; not a hair of any one’s head harmed.
The 200 militia in the town wisely retreated at
the approach of 7000 veteran troops, and the
authorities without surrendering the town, went
out and informed the rebel General Early, that
Ihe troops had left, and that no resistance would
be made to their entrance. This was a humilia
ting act ; but the blame of it must be placed
farther back, in the utter neglect of a town and
a region so populous and so exposed, to provide
means for its own defence at an earlier period.
Every able-bodied man should have been enroll
ed and drilled as a minute man, and with proper
defences thrown up, we should have heard no
thing of this humiliating occupation of so large
and powerful a section of our State. That it has
turned out disastrously to the rehels, is Provi
dential entirely, and is in spite of our course of
unwise negleot and over-confidence in the ar
rsmgements of the general government.
Tbe rebels entered York Sabbath morning, as
the bells were ringing for church. They came
in perfect silence, unannounced save by the
heavy and regular tramp qf their feet. They
suon informed the authorities that the preserva
tion of their town'and the property of their citi
zens could be insured only by supporting them
w idle occupying the plaee. “ We must live off
ot you, ’ said these arrant thieves and rebels. A
requisition for money,'provisions, clothing drugs,
eta., was made. Of 8150,000 in money requir
ed, but a very small proportion could be found
any where in the borough, and General Early
was informed of the fact. He smiled incredu
lously and asked what had become of it. “ We
knew you were coming two weeks ago,” was the
response, “and we put our money where we
cannot now reach it” $28,000 were collected
and handed over, cattle were slaughtered, sugar
and other stores were furnished and no harm was
done further than the burning of a train of cars
belonging to ,the Northern Central Railroad.
The rebel occupation was brief. Commotion
whs soon visible; orderlies ran to and fro; sup
plies were more urgently demanded and on
Tuesday June 30, the tide of invasion receded,
tho rebels having received the first notes of
warning from the cavalry dash of Pleasanton and
Kilpatrick fhat the army of the Potomac was in
their rear, hastily withdrew.
As horses had been extensively removed from
the country both by their owners and by rebel
plunderers, and as hundreds of persons were
anxious to reach the field of battle, it became a
serious.question how to accomplish the journey
of 28 miles from York to Gettysburg. By the
kindness of our personal friends Messrs P. &
A. Small, of York; we were permitted to share -
with a number of delegates of the Christian
Commission the use -of their team which was
just about starting for Gettysburg.
Our company was an earnest band of laborers
that had surmounted many difficulties in their
way from Philadelphia, that when delayed on
the road at Marietta, had engaged in a meeting
to encourage negro enlistments, that were rejoi
cing at the facilities afforded them on their
route, and were now fairly on their way to Get
tysburg, followed by a Conestoga wagon, and a
two horse team, loaded with stores, bedding, and
clothing for tbe wounded. We had greater rea
son to be proud of. our train than if it had been
a triumphal cavalcade. Rev. J. H. Torrence
was the active, efficient and gentlemanly mana
ger of the undertaking.
Editor.
Besides Mr.. Torrence, we had Rev. Messrs.
Evans of York, Clark of Washington Pa., Mr.
Jos. E. Sinait-z of this city, one of the Baptist
clergy of West Philadelphia and several others
in our company. Arriving at
GETTYSBURG,
wefeltthat v?e were on classic soil. The air was re
dolentof heroic deeds. A great for
the highest principles of national polity-'and the
best interests of mankind had been fought, aod
a substantial victory achieved, in and around the
place, to which we had at length accomplished
our devout pilgrimage. The stir of great achieve
ments in the town. It was.no longer the
quiet abode of men and women pursuing the
simple and unchronicled business: of life. There
was military commotion every where. Mounted
officers, ambulances, 'wagons loaded with the
trophies of the field, or with wounded soldiers,
curious visitors, parents and relatives searching
for their wounded kindred; nurses, sisters of
charity, members of the Christian and the; Sani
tary commissions and convalescent soldiers were
throngingithe streets. Red hospital flags were
thrust out on every side. Soon after we arrived,
a train of rebel prisoners surrounded with a mount
ed guard, entered the open square. If instead !
of captured soldiers, we had been told that they
were a company of convicts in uniform j we should
have felt that their clothing was well adapted to
the purpose; so shabby and faded was it in every
ease—a kind of pale rust color. We stepped up
to the group with a packet of tracts and found
.them communicative and anxious for . religious
reading. The first we addressed was a Louisia- -
nian, a'member of the, celebrated N. O. Washing- '
ton Artillery as he told us, whose father own
ed a sugar plantation on the “ coast’’ 18 miles
above New Orleans. He answered our in
quiries with a quijet courtesy. “ You will'
crush us,” he said, “you have the numbers.
When I left home I fully expected to return in
four or five months.” He was weary of the war.
So was a Georgian close by. The reason he gave
for the South engaging in the war was worth re
porting. “ They could not stand Lincoln’s pro
clamation,” he said. What proclamation ? “Why,'
before he was,elected President, he issued a pro- .
clamation declaring his purpose to free the
slaves.” We at the North never heard of that,
was the reply. 4’he rebel looked incredulous. '
“Afterwards,".-he continued, “on account of op
position at the North, he changed it to - limiting
slavery -to the States where it now- exists.” That
Js'nearer the truth, we said, hut the other “ pro
clamation” we know nothing of. A North
Carolinian declared that he wanted no more of
the war. “But,” said he “if you will let me, I
intend to stay at the North.” Another Gtorgian
held his head high, and would scarcely exchange
words with us. There was plenty of fight in him
yet. As to the North: Carolinians in the rebel
ranks, the universal testimony goes to show that
they are losing all interest in the war, and are ati
heart ready for a return to the old Union. We
picked up a letter upon the battle field which
happened to be from Alamance county, in that
State, and from a few sentences which we deci
phered in its defaced contents, we may judge
what leaven is at work in the soldiers'homes,
and what influences are exerted upon them from
those quarters. We give the extracts verbatim.
“ I do hope that you will never be in another
battle, and the rest of the poor soldiers, for I
hope that the war will soon come to a close, for. I
don’t, think it will last much longer, for I do
think there has been so many killed, that they
can never get all of their places filled more.
It is trieingtimes now, men running away, and
some get caught and taking hack. The Raleigh
Gards* is a hunting up conscripts yet, and the
militia officers is'a hunting too, and they catch
several, but I ain afraid there will be war hero
before long, 1 for i believe they be a shooting one
another all about over the whole country yet,
and I tell yon that will be hard times. I wish
that I could stop this, war, I tell you I would
stop it in a hurry and send you all home.” It
would take pretty stern stuff in a soldier to with
stand such influences, wielded by his nearest
relatives. Other prisoners,' especially from Ala
bama And the far South, are still bitter. On a '
barn floor, with no bed but the straw, we found
ft dozen rebel prisoners, who had undergone am
putations, and were in a most pitiable condition.
They were all from the Cotton States, and not
one of them would admit himself to be in the.
wrong, or confess that he was weary of the con
flict.
Gettysburg is a vast Hospital. Every other
private house, and every large building, includ
ing the College and the Seminary, and except
ing the hotels, is occupied with the sick and
wounded. You see the sufferers as you pass the
of the residences, lying in bed in the ;
front rooms of the first floor, propped carefully
on pillows, and fanned and tended apparently
with the tenderest care. Little, if any, bu
siness is done in the town. Two prominent
stores on the square are occupied as head quar
ters by the Christian Commission. Here we
met Rev. James Crowell, Rev. Dr. Faires, Dr.
Geo. H. Burgin, Rev. J. S. Willis and others of
eur city, laboring in various ways for the ten
thousand sufferers that still lay in and around the
town. We passed up the main street. Back
and forth the tide of battle had rolled in this
passage, especially on Wednesday, when ourforces
were beaten and driven from the town. 1 Shattered
fences, brdken window panes, crushed water [
spouts, walls perforated , with shells, some of
ant imssn dtogdist.
which were still lodged where they struck, testi
fied to the fierceness of the struggle. The in
habitants, who were mostly at home, fled to their
cellars, and it is not believed that more than one
citizen was killed. We were informed that it
was while passing through this street, swept by
rebel musketry, in company with the retreating
Column on Wednesday, that our brother Howell
the faithful chaplain' of the 90th. Pennsylvania
Volunteers was killed ’
THE BATTLE GROUND,
This street climbs the hill Bide on the crest of
“winch stands the Cemetery) famous .as 'forming
part of the Union lines. This is Cemetery Hill.
Here we begin to get a view of the vast amphi
theatre that a few days before reverberated with
the dreadful; din of that memorable conflict. The
two lines of battle—we refer now to the struggle
of Thursday and Friday, stretched east and west,
about 6 miles in length and 2 miles apart; our
lines fronting northwardly. Gettysburg lies at
the east end of the field, between our right and
the enemy’s left. From Gettysburg westward
between the two hostile positions, the ground is
level and generally cultivated. The rebel posi
tion, to the north of this strip, was a belt of
woods crowning a very gentle slope. Across
this open space of nearly two miles came those
tornado-like charges, those desperate and stag
gering Wows of the rebellion, before which jess
determined men—-men with a drop ,less of patriot
and hero blood in them would have been scattered
likeehaff. The natural strength of our position is
manifest to every eye. Cemetery Hill slopes off
gradually in every direction, presenting its steep
est front to the enemy; further westward, an
extremely rocky height, succeeded by a well
wooded hill, furnished excellent positions for our
left. One can have no idea of the courage and
recklessness it required in the rebels to make
those furious charges, until , standing-upon one
of those immense masses. of rook, the whole ex
panse of country spreads out: to view. The seem
ing madness of hurling a mass of men against
such a position, is justified only by the fa!ot that!
they very nearly succeeded in driving us from it.
Great reason have we to be thankful that our
leader was providentially guided to this.admira
ble location, which General Lee is sdid to have,
pronounced the strongest, ever held by the Army
of the Potomac.
For the strength of the hills we bless thee t
OGodl our Fathers’God.
It is said that the position was pointed out in
part by a professor in Pennsylvania College to
our retreating army, when, on Wednesday, they
were compelled to retire from the town. Let us
be thankful, too, for tbe rapidly-gathering mass
es of the yeomanry from the East and the West
of our States from New York, and from New Jer
sey, in Lee’s flank and rear; for it was this
mighty assemblage of aroused freemen, growing
stronger and stronger every day, and threatening
to envelop him completely in its folds, that drove
General Lee to hurl his columns, with such
frightful destruction of life, upon our impregna
ble positions, instead of waiting more leisurely
upon our movements.
SIGHTS ON THE BATTLE FIELD.
The Cemetery first attracted our attention.
Tombstones were shattered; iron enclosures des
troyed; fences prostrated; the ground strewn
with shells r -»Jti<l-brokett-W'i£li new made graves of
Tiur Soldiers. These are all carefully made and
marked with head hoards, giving the name and
regimental position of the fallen soldier. In front
of this position some 200 yards below, as we fol
lowed the fences, the marks of the line of rebel
skirmishers were abundant. Behind every fence
the ground was strewn with abandoned equip
ments of every sort; blankets, knapsacks, haver
sacks, cartridge boxes, some of them almost full
of ball cartridges,-bayonets and scabbards, spoiled
provisions and graves, graves, graves. ' A ghast
ly sight: soon met our view. Stretched out at full
length in the midst of a field, with upturned
face and hands, was one of our fallen foes; a
swollen and blackened corpse. It was a just retri
bution that had befallen him, to lie untended upon
the soil which he had come to ravage—to be -re
jected of the earth of his country which he was
fighting to dismember and destroy—but such
thoughts were not the first that suggested them
selves, but rather pity and horror for a fate so
unnatural, whomsoever it might befal.- Soon we
came upon another and another of these unsightly
objects-—two and three were lying together in
other places, and in one spot four dead rebels
lay side by side, as'if placed by some kind hand
to receive such final ministries as the tramp and
hurry of battle would allow. Close at hand lay
a tin cup from which, in all probability, they
drank their last draught and quenched the rag
ing thirst which is the torment of the battle
field. We brought this relic away with us.
Returning to our lines, we passed by lines of
fences, partly hewn down-to admit the passage of
artillery, the rails of others laid in piles to serve
as temporary breastworks for rebel skirmishers,
and all. splintered and riven with showers of
minute balls from both directions, and surround
ed with evidences of hasty flight. Many were
the jebel graves, and not a few! the last resting
places of our own fallen- soldiers, that we passed
on our way; for down this slope the rebel charge
on our left centre of July 3d was : finally repulsed.
Just outside of the abattis thrown np by our
soldiers on Thursday m front of this position,
was an irregular outcrop of the red sandstone
rook, covered with a thick undergrowth of bushes
and stunted trees. It bore evident marks of
military occupation and fearful strife. The
bushes were, trampled down and the trees .shat
tered with balls. Around it were found four
parallelograms of freshly broken earth, each 'six
feet wide and 50 or more feet long. A pine
board was stuck in the ground at the head of one
of them, with a pencil mark inscription as fol
lows : “ 24 Confederate soldiers. 1 commissioned
officer, 2 non-commissioned and 21 privates.”
Another bore the'.inscription, “26 Confederate
soldiers.” The remaining trenches were un
marked) Here then, within a space of perhaps
150 feet square, in all probability one hundred
rebel soldiers met their doom on the afternoon of
that memorable Friday! Crossing the abattis,
which was constructed of earth, stones, rails, and
bushes a little below the crest of tbe hill, we
stood on a part of the ground where the cross-fire
of those one hundred and fifty rebel guns con
centrated, for three hours in-the early afternoon.
At the distance of two miles, they succeeded in
destroying multitudes of our horses and artille
rists, exploding our caissons and silencing whole
batteries. < The unburied horses, the new made
graves of our men and the fragments of artillery
wagons still remaining, testified to tho tremend
ous force and accuracy of their fire. .Then came
the terrible charge. A soldier who had helped
tp meet it pointed out to us its course. Up the
hill-side, over the abattis, up to, the very cre«t
where our soldiers stood m line of battle, the re
sistless wave rolled on. Overpowered for the
moment, our men slowly retreated down the
other side of the. hill, toward Gen. Meade s head
quarters. For two hours,.-they struggled, firing
and retreating until they gained the advantage
and drove the enemy back to the crest and down*
dver the abattis again—where they captured 20
battle flags —and on and down the hill-sido- slay
ing and capturing them, until the order for re
call was given, Yictory,—dear-bought and nar
rowly won, butViotory indeed—was ours.
We visited other parts,of the field; the rocky
ridges where our left .posted itself and where onr
eagles might well flap their wings with a home
feeling of security, where ground could scarcely
be found for the decent burial of the dead ; the
rear, where had. stood our reserve, so advantage
ously posted that every part of the field was ac
cessible to them by short marches; not so far re
moved hut that they suffered from the chance
shots of theenemy’s fflrijbus cannonading; the
camp ground of onr army before the engagement,
vjhere whole farms and flourishing crops had
been levelled and turned into an open common.
Half sickened, yet only half satisfied with our
imperfect View of onqifof the most- stupendous
and truly glorious fields of our struggle for na
tionality, unity and human rights, we returned
to the town and sought out the grave of our fallen
brother, our former tutor tend bur predecessor in
a pastoral charge, Chaplain Howell.
THE GRAVE OF CHAPLAIN HOWELL,
Almost ig the heart of the town, in a small
pasture lot, a trench perhaps a hundred feet long
has been dug, and there he lies in the midst of
a score or two of sold|ers an'd officers, one of
them a Captain in his own regiment, the 90th
Pennsylvania.- The> position of .each body is
marked by a single paling, inscribed with the name
and rank of the deceased in lead pencil only. But
marks which; no storm can efface will preserve
his memory in Our hearts. With hat in hand
we stood by the unpretending grave. We honor
arid reverence the name of Chaplain Howell with
those of Benton at, Newbern, of Dunmore at
Helena and not a few others who have fallen
nobly at their .posts, of danger and duty, and
who have not, hesitated»rfo exptrae their lives,
in furtherance of the righteous cause they es
poused. It will be reritemoered: and uttered -by
grateful lips of generations to come. Heroes of
the.battle field are found not alone among the
armed men ; quiet and amiable ministers of Jesus
Christ have in this war fairly won. a place by
the side of the bravest and most Belf-sacrificing
of our soldiers, i ,
LETTER FROM CHAPLAIN M’LEOD.
DUTY TO THE ARMY.
A providential call to duty often comes unex
pectedly. It is not however, to be undervalued
on that account. God’s orders are to be obeyed
with promptness, even though but little time
may be allowed for their consideration. Having
been‘unexpectedly chosen chaplain to a regi
ment hastening to repel the late invasion of our
spil, and having received without solicitation'tor
formality a commission for the Governor of the-
State, the writer himself called; to decide
the question of duty in a few hours—he did so,
and is now penning'this in his tent ,in Camp
Paulding, near Baltimore, Md., with the spirit
ual care of the “ 84th N. Y., National Guards ”
upon his shoulders. He has come to the camp
and field to do good to:the souls of the men in
arms to defend their, country, and to give the
countenance of his labors and his position in so
ciety to the present war. A war of defence
against a terrible rebellion opposed to God’s or
dinance of civil government among ns, and in
behalf of the liberties of our own country and of
the world. Let the resisting rebellion succeed
and the reign of anareby is inaugurated, human
bondage is perpetuated, the prosperity of the
-United States is checked in mid career, despot
ism- every where will rejoice, and the moral in
fluence of the nation as a,United Christian Re
public be lost beyond recovery.., If this be so
the support of the existing government is a mo
ral duty, and every citizen in his place should
give it his influence. ■ In 'this ease as in others,
what is dutiful is also, expedient. In supporting
the war to a successful close, every man is pro
tecting his own person, home, and property, and
providing for both his present and future good.
-C onvinced of all this, the writer has ,come to the
camp to put his, convictions in practice. ; On
last Sabbath we preached’ for 'the first time to the
regiment assembled for divine service—the hea
vens were our canopy, Our desk the hospital
chest, our audience the hundreds of animated
men before us He invited them to Je u~ Christ
the Great Captain of our salvation. Our work
for several d ys after was to asoertain as far as
possible by: conversation with the men the moral
and religious condition of the regiment. We at
once procured a large supply-of Bibles and other
good books, tracts, religions papers, and other
useful readings—this is ourammunition. After
dress parade and the.usual#xereises of a religi
ous character, we invited the men to come to the
chaplain's tent to converse about their religious
interests, and receive the reading provided for
them. From Bto 12 o’clock A. M., the next
day, the dent was crowded. We never had a
harder day’s work—more than a hundred were
spoken with, and some Tour hundred books and
papers distributed. We found several professing
Christians who engaged to join in a prayer-meet
ing. Several desired information on the subject
of religion, .spme confessed their back-slidings
with'whom I am to convene againj.and all con
vinced me that God had been pleased to oall me
to a great field of usefulness. The character of
the army chaplain rose greatly in my estimation,
and the conviction was strong that no substitute
for this officer can be found in' temporary visi
tants to the camp and the' field, however valua
ble in other respects such may be. We rejoice
to add that tbe colonel of the regiment Frede
rick A. Conkling, Esq., is a Christian gentle
man, who, knowing value qf ,the true religion
himßelf, is zealous and bringing others
under .its- poweir. EVery countenance is afforded
to the labours of the chaplain by the officers of
the 84th generally; You shall hear from me
again. JOHN N. M’LSOD,
Camp Paulding, near Baltimore, July 10, 1863.
Mr James B. Finch was ordained as an
Evangelist, by the ■ Third Presbytery of New
York,' at the Thirteenth street Church, on the
sth of June. Sermon by Rev. Dr Newell;
ordaining prayer by Rev-Dr. Burcbard; charge
to the minister by R«v. T, R. Smith.
IROBt OTJB EOOHESTEE OOEBESPOSDEHT,
Rochester, July 10,1868,
Bear Editor Our city has participated very
largely this past week in the general excitement
and rejoicing. First good news from
Pennsylvania. But fortunately, perhaps, it was
unfolded by slow degrees to us, as it is doubtful
ifw.e could have borne it with becoming mode
ration, if the whole of the glorious truth had
been’given us at first. ‘And we had learned by
sad-experience to distrust first reports of V great
successes ( and glorious victories.” The very au
dacity too of the movements of the rebels had,
seemed almost to paralyze some minds, so that
they were prepared to hear of nothing but disas
ter to the Union army. Hope was low; anxiety'
was deeper. Great therefore was the relief, and
almost wild the joy, when the full fact was suffi
ciently authenticated that Lee’s grand army had
received a stunning blow, and was trying to
stagger back into Virginia. It would be impos
sible to tell you what a sense of relief passed
over the public mind, when this marvellous news
was fully believed. Harrisburg, Philadelphia,
Baltimore, all safe. The shame is lifted. North
ern valor and genius are vindicated. The proud
invaders t will go back—-the few that' get away
humbler and wiser after this thorough chastise
ment;. M ‘"
And in all this, we do not forget how highly
Pennsylvania is, honored , in:'giving us such a
commander. It,can not be: disguised that all
sober-minded people had lost confidence in Hoo
ker. If the half be true which is told of his
drunkenness and blasphemy, it was difficult to
believe that our armies could be led tb victory by
such a man. It was hard work to pray, for suc
cess under such leadership.
And then, after Pennsylvania is virtually re
lieved comes the good news from Grant’s army,
“ Vicksburg is taken !” Again our city was,
wild with joy. Bells were rung, cannon fired',
gentlemen rushed from their stores and counting'
rooms, business was thrown aside, Knots of indi
viduals were chatting, and exchanging congratu- I ,'
lations, at every corner of the streets. . Rockets.
and fire-crackers that had escaped the; universal
joy of the fourth, were put in requisition as
night came on. If we had been somewhat de
pressed before, we were, sufficiently elevated now-
And yet we saw no mean, malignant exultation
over an unfortunate foe; and no mad boastful
ness, as though our own arm had done it. 'We
have never before witnessed so much of heart
felt, sincere acknowledgment of our dependence
on an Almighty arm in all our matters.
How delightful also that our worthy "President
should so publicly give God the glory of : these
successes. And how touching that spontaneous
religious service of the Union Leagues im your
city. We feel here, as though we had now
turned the Corner; and the truC' light' Was' be
ginning to shine upon our pathway.
Commencement-T-lZochester University. ;
But other interests, and other excitements,
have, also occupied a part of our time. The
usual exercises of commen cement week, address
es, poems, and juvenile orations, have been fill
ing up the time: The Rochester University is
a successful institution. Only some six or eight
years in existence, it has an interesting and able
.'faculty ; has had the J*at year one hundred, and
■sixty students; -is said to have the finest geolo
gical and mineralogical cabinet in America.-;. i :
The address before the Literary Societies was
by Itev. Dr. Peabody," of Harvard College, the
able and accomplished editor of the North Ame
rican Review. Something great, something pe
culiarly fine, was, of course, expected—always is
expected from a Boston Orator —but great was
the disappointment on.this occasion., The theme
was pantheism, which, we doubt not, was ably
treated; and we could occasionally catch some
connected sentences of rare force and' beauty;
hut the speaker’s manner was absolutely so awk
ward', and his’articulation so imperfect, that it
would be bard to judge of the production at all
without sitting down to read it. It was difficult
indeed to hear so as to understand many of his
words, even while sitting quite near him, and
listening , with the most profound attention. We
could have obtained better speakers without go
ing half way to Boston, but probably ,not a better
scholar or finer writer. « ■ ‘
One real merit, however, of the address de
serves honorable mention, it was short —that is,
only three quarters of an hour long. ;It is so
common on these special occasions to find our
igreat men spinning out to two.hours,' with very,
much of weariness, and annoyance: to ; their audi
ences, and real damage, which they do not
always suspect, to. their own reputations, that we
take pleasure in mentioning this rare excellence,
brevity.
Meeting of the American Board.
And this.reminds us that the annual gather
ing of the American Board of Commissioners for
Foreign Missions is to be held next fall in this
city. Already the citizens, by a large committee
of arrangements, are preparing to give a gene
rous welcome to all the friends of missions who
shall come together on that occasion. ■ It would
be a new and most delightful experience, if the
opening, sermon at that meeting should not
transcend fifty, or even sixty, minutes. We
could get the whole church to vote for, ,a reform
here. If those who are charged with this honora
ble service had heard a- little of that which has
come to our ears, from persons in various parts
of the 'country ; about the unnecessary arid weari
some length of these opening sermons on great
occasions, before General ‘Assemblies, : General
Associations, and the American: Board, we
should, have no more such very soon. ,
But to . return po the, commencement. , B. F-
Taylor ;Esq. of Chicago pronounced a,very fine,
poem before the /Literary Societies. ; His'man-,:
ner was happy —every word well articulated, and ■
heard—every gesture ■graceful and appropriate.
Most of r the audiehoej despairing utterly of hear
ing Dr. Peabody, had abandoned themselves to
their own thoughts, or to conversation with
their nearest neighbors. , Mr. Taylor’s graceful
poem recalled them to the, consciousness of what
was going on, and to him they listened, well
pleased. too had %e grace of brevity.
Thirty minutes with his aeolian harp were quick
ly gone. We should be glad to hear him; again ;'
but glad he stopped then j ust' where’ did."
This was on Tuesday evening. Next day
commencement proper came off. Thirty-two
young men received their diplomas, and now go,
forth to battle with the sterner realities of their
life-work. The President of the Institution, M. (
fe Anderson, D.D. LL. D, 1 is now travelling and
residing in Europe for his health. ■, His place,
as presiding officer on this occasion, was hand
somely filled by A. C. Kendrick, !). D. Greek
Professor in the University. The following were
the honorary degrees conferred :
Matter of Arts-Dr. F.W. Hayden, of Wash
ington, D. 0. '
Doctors of Divinity—'Rev. A. Bausenbausch,
of Bochester Theological Seminary: Eev. Thos.
L. Davidson, of St. George, 0. W.J Bev. John
P. Newman, of New York city,; Bev. J. M:
Olmstead, of Boston. *
Doctors of Laws —Bev. Andrew P. Peabody,
of Harvard Unitersity;* Edward P. Underhill, of
London, England. < : Genesee.
FEOM OUB NOETHWEST OOBBESPONDENT.
the GETTYSBURG YICrOEY—WATCHING AND WAIT
ING —THE INVASION OF YOKE—“ SHOULD ATOP
acquaintance be forgiot”— the surrender
OF VIO&SBITBG.
Northwest, July 8,1863
Editor of Presbyterian;
On last week your correspondent hesitated to
send his usual letter. He had some doubts whe
ther or not it would reach its destination.
Threats of invasion were so numerous, and there t
were so many causes for. well-grounded appre
hension that he did not. know but that all our:
avennes of railway communication between the
east and the west might be severed: The rebels
had entered Indiana ; they were reported to be
on the advance for Ohio; and they were already
in Pennsylvania. Thank "God, that to-day the
tide has been rolled back. The wretches could
hardly find a footKold in Indiana. Ohio heard
the rumble of war in the distance, while Meade
and his noble legions have, by God’s help, hurled
ba<||: from Pennsylvania the vast hordes who
were seeking her life’s blood. The Army of the
Potomac has covered itself with glory 1 Let our
brave boys, whose prowess when fairly tested,
has been fully demonstrated, receive the thanks
and gratitude of the country. ...
But how many hearts have been made to vi
brate with apprehension, as the news has come
that a great battle was in progress ! Prom this
distant State of Wisconsin, hundreds are turning
their eyes anxiously towards that seene of awful
conflict. The “ Iron Brigade ” whieh has ren
dered itself* so conspicuous, is made up-partly of
Wisconsin troops, and'among the number are
some young men from ’ my, own congregation,
They Were in the recent .battles, and already tit
dings have eqine of casualties. ;-. The anxious
inquiry is, How many are sleeping the last sleep
on the henceforth, famed battle-field of Gettys
burg. V ' • ; ■
But while we are thus waiting: the news from :
the conflict, that must make f 'some hearts sad,
there are some incidents connected wikh this in-’
vasioh 'that cannot fail to provoke a smile.
Among the towns that have! been visited by the
rebels, we are informed, was the staid old Bo
rough of York. Now, York has.been celebrated
chiefly for its conservatisgi. Though it. counts
among its population some of the most generous
and noble -and intelligent people that can be
found in your State, yet the mass of the'people
Lave been known for years as remarkable for one
thing,'and that was a warm devotion’ to the in
terests of the South. Like the. people of South
Carolina, many of them seemed to believe that
the world was mado-for slavery. And since this,
contest began, sundry reports, have .come across
the .prairies that not a few of the people have,
been at heart with the rebels. -It: was^o-be ex
pected, of Coutse, that’ such fast friend's Would 1
receive the most ‘considerate treatment at the!
hands of Lee’s'army; What else Would Geflend
Early do, who was once a resident of the place,
the papers tell us,'but'march into the town with
music and banners, and having called, out the.
good burghers, compliment them, .upon- their
fidelity to. Southern institutions. But alas ! this
“ ehivalric southerner” seemed to be insensible
to every motive of gratitude. Not even' 1 the'
appeal of the * chief Burgess, the editor ofrithe
democratic newspaper, Whbse paper for long
years has given an unflinching support to every
abomination which southern pro-slaveryism has
begotten, was heeded for a moment. His politest
bow and weleome greeting, was met with a gruff
demand, so the papers tell ns, for $150,000, fifty
sacks of coffee, And one hundred and fifty barrels
of flour. And is this the way, Oye sons of-the
“ sunny south ” that you repay! years of devotion
to your cherished institution ? It would be in
deed an act of poetic justice if this levy Could be
'confined to that class of*men upon whom south
ern politicians .have relied to do all their drudge
ry for slavery.
While your hearts are made glad at the east
with success we, too, of the West, can unite in
the psean of victory. The surrender of Vicks
burg forms a fitting counterpart to the defeat of
the rebels at Gettysburg. Thus is God manifest
ly Speaking by His Providence against this
wicked rebellion. May He hasten the time when
oiir land disenthralled and purified shall be
again united in bonds of peace. :
!,.- * Yours,..
* : PRESBYTERIAN. .
' —' ' ’ tff tm 1 • - - ■,
DEATH OP CHAPLAIN HOWELL.
Rev. Horatio S. Howell, late of Dutots
feurg, Delaware Water Gap, Penna., and chap
lain of the 90th Penna. regiment, is reported as
killed in the streets of Gettysburg, while stand
ing at the door of a .building used as a Hospital
on. the first day of the fight, July Ist. - It is said
that he was buried, in the cemetery of the town.
We have no special-means of learning the cor
rectness of this report, but we fear it is too true.
We grieve to add his name to the hot very brief
list of chaplains who have fallen in this conflict.
Yet in what nobler circumstances,‘in what high
er employment, for what tetter cause could one
meet death ? He goes upon the roll of martyrs
to his country, and .for the suffering men of both
armies doubtless, whom he would not abandon
even in that awful vortex; of destruction- It is
an example of heroic devotion-honorable to the.
ministry, and to the chaplaincy, given by a per
son of the most peaceable and amiable disposi-’
tiop, whom no one could suspect of entering the 5
service from a military taste, but,as afield for
doing good and for serving his Master., 1
Church Debts Paid.— The Church in Rome, N
Y., “provoked to good works” by,thei example of
numerous • sister Churches, has; recently put its
hand to the Removal of an incubus ofsixthousand
dollars, which has rested upon iti since the
erection of its present edifice; The whole amount
has been subscribed. ? The same church received
at its last communion twenty-three persons on nro-'
fession of tlmir Yaith. I, i All of them were*et4n
the agesoffifteen and twenty-five. A, goodly
number besides, hope to follow this example at
an°ther sacramental occasion.;—-The Church at ;
u. S. OHEISTIAIT COMMISSION.
f- A BRIEF statement of the work of the U. S.
Christian Commission in meeting the present
emergency will show:
1. That for completeness of organization, effi
ciency, and economy of working, promptness and
cnergy<of Governmental and .other
facilities of peaching: battle-fields,! -the Christian
Commission is not surpassed by any other organ
ization. - f-fflv "
2. That while the liberality at home for the
soldier in the field Is greater than ever, the gifts
of the people reach the soldier through the Com
mission ' without any -material diminution for
salaries, rents, or expenses.
3. That these gifts ar.e bestowed by the hands
of unpaid voluntaryUhristian men of all denomi
nations, with warm words of cheer -from home,
kind deeds of personal relief, and* "Wise religious
counsels. '"
4. And better than ail, that through the favor
and facilities of the Government, of railroad and
telegraph companies, the-liberality of the people,
-efficiency of our : committees and agents'in Balti
more, "Washington, and on the field, and.the in
defatigable efforts of our noble voluntary dele
gates, relief has keen most promptly and exten
sively afforded:to our Wounded heroes.
STATEMENT. t ..
At Harrisburg, the Union Tabernacle ” was
set up in Camp Curtin, in the :very. opening of
the campaign; has been abundantly manned and
supplied; and has served as a shelter for 500
soldiers in a single night; as a place of supply
for thousands j a base of operations for delegates
going Qn to the front, a voluntary refreshment
saloon and resting place for the hungry, thirsty,
and weary, a place for writing letters home,
(stationery furnished gratis) and a church by the
Way, Where thousands daily have heard the gos
pel and received the Scriptures, religious papers,
and tracts. '
At Carlisle, the . delegates of the Christian
Commission were -the first and only "voluntary
agency on the ground; were under fire during
the bombardment, took the wounded from the
field to the hospital, nursed, supplied and
cheered them, and brought them in to- Harris
burg.
At Gettysburg, they with their stores were also
first on the ground: '
Pastors of churches and others, amongst the
first and best men of the,city and countty .offer
ed to go—some hundreds more .than could be
Over two hundred men from many different
places have been sent as delegates to Gettysburg,
most of whom are still on the field at work, day
and night, relieving, cheering, eounseling the
sufferirig.and dying. f
Money has been converted into the .articles
most needed, and sent forward, by. kindnesB 4 of
the railroad. companies, in express passenger
trains, and also by express.
The authorities: have given ns ample ,trans
portation for men and stores, and that with the
greatest courtesy.
: Our drafts upon the generous facilities of fail
roads and telegraphs have been most cheerfully
met. Over 1,000 boxes .of scores have, thus gone
promptly forward to. Gettysburg for distribution:
by, our delegates.' One; large lot under pressure
;of demand from the battle field has: been pur
chased,, packed and shipped on Sabbath day.
: Churches and aid societies in this city and- all
over the country have sent in stores most libe
rally. „ - '-' J \
! Money has been given also with a generosity
; unparalleled- Churches and citizens of Phila
delphia and many other places have done nobly.
Amongst' them the city of Boston deserves spe
cial mention,: Their “ voluntary offering” to the
’Christian Commission, subscribed on theEx
i change, already amounts to- twenty-six thousand
dollars,* and is not yet completed.
In stores and money together, the contribu
tions amount to over sixty thousand . dollars , re
ceived during the past week. :
In the midst of Engrossing and ainple prepara
tions for what is, .still :to -,be done. on yet other
fields, before the campaign shall be ended, we
take time thus .hurriedly to report-these facts,
and present our* grateful Acknowledgments to all
who have so nobly and generously 1 aided ns, and
to Ahnighty God for the success vouchsafed,
Wnd to say ids arc not weary , but ready to do
ten times more if the cause of our country and
the relief and benefit of our soldiers demand it
of us.
George H. Stuart, Chairman.
;■ ".J {
i Philadelphia Fourth Presbytery met atVine
land, Cumberland county,New Jersey, on Tues-'
day,;7th inst., to receive Rev; Samuel Loomis
from Catskill Presbytery, and to itastal him pas
tor of Vineland First ehurch. There were pre
sent Rev. Charles F. Diver, of. Cedarville, and
the Rev. Messrs. Barnes, Adair and Shepherd,
of this city. The occasion was an interesting
one - Vineland is a, recent settlement of enter
prising famUies,from New England, the Middle
States, and portions of the Great West A church,
numbering more than thirty persons, with four
'elders and two deacons has; been formed, and
Mds fair to grow with unusual vigon After the
necessary preliminary arrangements, the Rev.
Mr, Loomis was duly installed into the pastorate
of the church, the Moderator presiding and pro
posing the Constitutional questions, the Rev. T.
J. Shepherd preaching the sermon; the .Rev.
Albert Barnes delivering the charge to the pas
tor, and the. Rev. Robert Adair the charge to the
people, ni . ...;
MrdMejnal fMangeL— Rev. W. 'C. Clark, of
■ Las accepted a call to the church at
,‘®tnrgiaj Michigan... Rev, N. i.Rerson, re
"cently a chaplain in the ar?py, has taken charge
of the .church near French Mills, Bradford Co..
Penna:....;• Rev: Edwin D. Newbury was instat
ed pastor over the church; and congregation at
tbfe'lTth ult. Serrhon bjf Rev. William
Hogarth, D.D., of Detroit.: ' Charge to the pas
tor ‘by Rev.' D. M. Cooper,;of Grand Haven.
Charge to ; the people by Rev. Courtney Smith,
of .Grand Rapids. .... Rev. John E. Worth, of
Auburn Seminary, was ordained by . Cayuga
April 15th, as an lEvangelist; he is
officiating as chaplain of the 75tb N. Y. Vols.,
at Port Hudson. Mr. Albert C. Reed, of the
Same S&ikiinary, was ordained and installed by
the eamie Presbytery,- pastor of th.e church in
-jfilbridge, June 25tM Sermon by Rev: DriCon
:r? • • $ e %J OS S}?h RosenkranSj of Onondaga
JULY 16,