torropottiota.
OHAELAIN STEWART'S LETTER.
BATTLE FIELD NEAR SPOTSYLVANIA C. H., 1.
MONDAY, May 1.6th,1864.
DEAR Bao. MEARS :—Since crossing
he Rapid Ann on the 4th, we know little
as to what you and the rest of mankind
are thinking, doing, saying or publishing.
Cut - off have we been altogether from
COmmunications with home. No mail
either to or from us. Not Wen a news
paper to tell us whether you
,are cele
brating victories or mourning over
defeats of this Potomac army. A num
ber of letters has your correspondent
written to you and friends, starting
them to the rear through uncertain
Channels. Perhaps they got through.
No military or civil restriction, so far
As known, has been laid upon letter
writing, getting, or sending—only that
in these turmoils of battle the mails have
stopped.
It is now. the 12th day since this long
death struggle commenced between these
two immense armies, and with the , excep
-Eon of yesterday, an almost unceasing
strife, a rage and turmoil of bloodshed.
'Dttring this period the rebels have been
pressed back towards Richmond some
twenty miles—or rather they have fallen
back, as we have not as yet been able to
drive them from any of their strong posi
tions; and well they know how to choose
such. For this also, the country into
which we have come, affords them every
possible facility. Small streams, swamps,
low ranges of hills, thick woods with
dense underbrush, and they on the defen
sive. Invariably do they await the
attack. Our brave soldiers have to
advance against them by wading
through creeks and swamps; tearing
through thick bushes and dense under
growth in which many of them have
their clothes almost torn from off them.
Often not discovering the enemy until
their deadly fire a few rods distant re
veals their presence and strong position.
The fighting of the past ten days much
more resembles the old back-woods con
tests with the. Indians, than modern or
what may be termed civilized warfare.
Often on account of thick woods our
fighting soldiers are not able to see a
dozenof their comrades ; or scarce obtain
a glimpse of the enemy who at the same
time is discharging such deadly volleys.
„Many, many a brave soldier has been
left unburied to decay in these jungles
with no living person to tell where he
lies. To fight and maintain discipline
under such conditions requires the most
exalted courage and devotion. This
artily of the Potomac has started for
-Richtnond, and seems determined to go
there, no matter how many.enemies and
•other obstacles may stand in the way.
All opposition must finally yield to ob
stinate and persevering valor.
Very many incidents of the past two
weeks are worthy, and Maybe recorded
in ffiture letters should time and space
permit.
Solomon assures us, "_There is a time
for every purpose under the heaven."
Certain it is; however, although in our
hearts to redeem any favourable occasion,
yet hate the past ten days not been for
us the time for religious service up to
yesterday. Moses was chided for stop
ping to pray, when he should have been
acting. No chiding of this kind has been
required in the army of the Potomac.
Action, action.; terrible action both day
and night. Yesterday, Sabbath, was
- the first lull and happy exception.
Whether by orders, from our Generals
out of respect to the Sabbath, or merely
from weariness in blood-shedding, was
not announced, yet was the day one of
rest from military toil, save those neces
sary precautions in the immediate vicin
ity of a powerful enemy. 'Scarcely a
rifle-crack from picket or distant boom
ing of cannon. How exceedingly
gratefal,how almost unnatural, the quiet,
to ears assailed and deafened for ten days
and nights_ with all manner of comming
ling earthquake sounds. Rest for the
weary I What a multitude of holy sym
pathies cluster in connection with Paul's
assurance; "There is therefore a rest to
the people of God."
Although our soldiers were weary far
beyond what ordinary labourers under
stand by that term ; yet were religious
services held and largely attended, so far
as known, in every Regiment which has
a chaplain. Not a few chaplains also
visited destitute Regiments and held
services. Many soldiers, too, in whose
camps no worship was held went and
joined with those who had. More than
ordinary solemnity was manifested.
Many who were not wont Assembled at
the time of service. The Lord has been
preaching solemn sermons of late, which
the Most inattentive have been compelled
to hear, and we would fain hope also to
heed. The assembly for worship in our
Regiment was larger than formerly. Yot,
alas, so, many dear ibiailiar forms, who
have so long stood up for Jesus in the 'I
camp, on the march and battle-field; and
whose full, strong voices in singing;
served so often both as bell and trumpet
for the assemblage to our regular even
ing service—so many of them absent
from the assembly on yesterday! Kil
led or wounded in our late desperate
battles. Dearly cherished brethren, ho - w
can I get along without you ? you whom
I feel fully persuaded God, through
Christ, gave me in camp I Silence, how
ever, murmurs : with them it is well.
Their unction moreover, remains here,
and God in their room, will give others,
yea, more than those taken.
My text yesterday was the Ni; . -ords of
of David, in an hour when his life seemed
greatlyperilled; "As God liveth—there
is but a step between me and death."
Few present who did not feel and almost
exclaim, "Just so have I felt an hundred
times within the past ten days." The
Wonder to many being, not that so many
were injured, but that any from, such
peril escaped unhurt.
So far -as external evidences can be
trusted, the morale of our army is better
than in any former period of its exis
tance. The various religious services in
so many places through our.tamps dur
ing the past winter and spring, have not
been withoui solutary influence. Not
a few, like Elijah, were thus strengthen
ed for many days of travel and trial.
The fear is that the good impressions
then made upon many, may too soon be
shaken off amid these active excitements
and battle-fields. Let no one 'imagine
that scenes of danger and of death will,
of tlkemselves, convert a man or keep
him even by profession in the service of
God. For a time they may produce
seriousness, yet in the end only harden.
Nothing efficacious but the converting
grace of God—no not even should one
rise from the dead ! There is great need
of effective chaplain service here now, in
the midst of these terrible scenes, not
only to keep alive good impressions, but
also by the blessing of God to infuse
right ones.
A. M. ST.BWART.
UNION ‘OOMMISSION.
A meeting was held May 12th, in
Cooper Institute, to organize and carry
into operation ..a plan to advance the
cause of American and Christian Union,
and the Prosperity of the country, by
aiding Union portions of the South with
Northern charities, employment facili
ties, emigration,'ministers, teachers and
publications. The Rev. Dr. E. N. Kirk,
of Boston, presided.
The meeting was opened with prayer
by the Rev. Mr. Haskell.
The President then stated that the
meeting had been called to consider a
subject of great importance. It was a
meeting-of the friends of the oppressed
of the South to organize and appoint a
committee to take such action as they
may deem advisable to carry out the
objects stated above.
Preambles and resolutions were then
adopted, as follows:
Whereas, A large proportion of the
white inhabitants of the Slave States,
by the social system of those States;
have been prevented from possessing an
interest in the landed property of this'
country, and have also been deprived of
the advantages of education and a Chris
tian civilization ; therefore
Resolved, That it becomes the inhabi
tants . of the Free States deeply to com
miserate their condition ; and
Whereas, the ignorance and degrada
tion of that people has made diem the
willing and misguided instruments of the
demagogues who projected the rebellion
that has threatened our national exis
tence; therefore
Resolved, That we regard the removal
of that ignorance. and social degradation
as indispensable to, the : future peace of
our country; and
Whereas, The power of the doniinant
Class in those States, which has entirely
prevented the i4rodUction of the agency
and influences of Christian civilization
among their degraded neighbors, here
totere prevented any foreign attempt at
improving their condition ; therefore
Resolved, That we deem it the duty of
the citizens of the Free States; in con
nection with the intelligent and loyal
men of the Slave States, to prepare a,
system of home missionary operation's
which may follow the advance of our
victorious armies.
Resolved, That several gentlemen,
citizens of Resolved„
York, be requested to
act as a committee to take this subject
into consideration and mature a plan
°fiction to be presented to the public
as soon as practicable, and that gentle
men from other Cities and States be in
vited to act with that committee.
Resolved, That the committee consist
of the following persons, with any that
they may - add to their number : Rev.
Isaac Ferris, D. D., LL. D., Rev. John
McClintock, D. D., Francis Lieber, LL.
D., Horace Webster, LL. D., H. M.
Pierce, President of Rutger's Institute,
Charles Butler,•Esq., Rev. S. H. Tyng,
Jr., Rev. J. T. &ryes, R. H. McCurdy,
Esq., Wm. C. Bryant, Esq., Jas. - Hum
phrey, Esq., Wm., Booth, Esq., ev. S.
B. Bell, D. D., Rev. L. C. Lockwood, of
New York, Rev. E. N. Kirk, D. D., Rev.
T. N. Haskell, Amos A. Lawrence Esq.,
John M. L. Williams, Esq., of Boston,
Stephen Caldwell, Esq., George H.
Stuart, Esq., of Philadelphia, Rev. J.
J.Marks, D. D., Chaplain W. Y. Brown,
of Washincrton D. C.
The meeting was addressed by Rev.
Dr.'"Kirk, Iron. Eli . Thayer; Rev: J. T.
Duryea, Rev. L. C. Lockwood and
others. '
4:i ff:10 ai ri lEMNI Zi-;J Ve/PZ•IPT:I01
ERRATA on the inside pages. Page 167,
3d column, 4th line from the top ; read :
" The village referred tohad not been
before visited by a missionary. The
Gospel" &c. sth col., 2d paragraph, 4th
line from the bottom; read; He showed,
on Kaou's principle" instead- ox " in."
Last column, 10th line from the top;
read ; " The second proof‘ that Human
nature is formed for virtue c it is a con
stitution where the tower principles
should 'serve ,the higher;" stead of
"higher principles should serve the
lower."
,At a recent Meeting of libiadelphia
Fourth PreSbyeit, Mr. Enoc K. Miller
was ordained to the full'l%4ork of the
ministry and Mr. Martin P:Jones, was
licensed to preaeh the ,Gospel...
THE UNITED STATES CHRISTIAN
COMMISSION. -
Anniversaxy of the New York Branch.
[SPECIALLY REPORTED FOR OUR COLUMNS.]
On Sunday evening, May 15th, the.
Anniversary meeting of the New York
Branch of the Christian Commission,
was held in the New York Academy of
.
Music. The evening was extremelyun
favorable to the meeting, a 'drizzling,
disagreeable rain having fallen through
ont the day, which became more copious
as the hourapproached for the commence-
merit of the exercises. At an early hour,
however, the building was well filled,
and before the meeting was Otgailized,
it was impossible to obtain standing
room, many persons having been com
pelled to turn, away, unable to train
admission. The death of the 'lamented
General Rice, whose body had arrived
in the city, and whose funeral' services
had been held in Rev. Dr. Adams' church
in the afternoon, togither with' the
memory of the great straggle in Vir inia
filling every heart, combined to add
unusual interest and solemnity to the
meeting. This also, had a marked e ect
em
upon the address of Dr. Adams, ho
was the first speaker. When he albal ed
in his ropening remarks to the sol n
work in which he had been engage
the afternoon, he exhibited a feeling
solemnity which communicated itsel
the great assembly, and remained
interrupted throughout the entire ev
ing. When the Rev. Dr. Kirk arose
speak, be had proceeded'iit a .w
~
sentences when the pent up f;nlings .f
the audience sought an outlet, in applan4e.
The' evening, however, forllt his, aid
it was, at the request of thew irmßn,
'1 ;
dispensed" with. liariniltr: tuart!S
address, the interest was so intens.l\that
the slightest noise in any part ol\ the
house could be distinctly heard. The
people seemed anxious to catch -every
word, and if possible treasure it up' in
their memory. The enthusiasn for the
Commission, the Soldiers and -the country,
which has marked all the meetings which
we 'have reported, was manifested to a
great degree at this one.
The chair was• occupied by 'William
E. Dodge BK., chairman of the NeW
York Branch of the Commissi% at half
past seven o'clock, and the eoises of
the evening introduced by singing
" All hail the power of Jesus' name,"
after which the R. Rev. Chas. P. Moil
vaine D. D., Bishop of Ohio, led the great
audience in a most impressive and patri-1
°tic prayer. Mr. Dodge, the chairman,
then came forward and delivered the
following opening address :
A.ddress of William E. Dodge, Esq.
MY FRiENDS We are net tiigether, - this
evening, to • celebrate the anniversary of WC
-N. - 54 7 :.. Christian Commission. In looking
'forward to this meeting for the past few
weeks; we had adopted a program - xi:id for 'Vie
evening ; but the providence of God 'has
brought us under such peculiar circirmstan
ces as a nation,--we are surrounded by such
momentous circumstances, that the exercises,
of-the evening will have reference mainly-to
the present position of our suffering, bleeding
army. The report, the details, the statistics
will be published hereafter: We- felt that
the audience would not be in a state of mind to
night to listen to statistics of what has been
done, but they would be anxious to know what,
was to be done—what could be - done now
for thoSe who are suffering, for, those who
have gone forth, periling thir lives for us.
The Government, the Christian commis
sion, and other organizations haVe made
what was supposed most ample provision for
expected battles ; but we all feel that we are
surrounded now by such eircnrnstances as
but few of-us had anticipated ; not a battle,
—not one battle,—or two,—but eight, per
haps now, ten ! Not one, two or five thous
and of our citizens bleeding and dying, but
tens of thousands ! - Ah 1 how we stagger as
we try to contemplate those thirty thousand;
nay perhaps forty thousand, bleeding,' dying
nienota brothers, our fathers, our friends"
those who have gone out to breast this
terrible rebellion, who have gone in our
place, in our stead, for us; to meet the terri
ble onset 1
Ah ! go to your home, see that beloved
one on the bed of sickness and anguish, see
how love, tender, compassionate love watches
every symptom ; how the. physician ; ,comes
and goes ; how, everything is done for: that
loved one. Multiply that loved one by all
that are in this house to-night; multiply
that by ten. They are not lying in that
room, on that bed, surrounded, by tender
care ; but they are, out on the field, they are
down along • the road-side ; they
,are in the
woods.; they are alone, solitary, dying,
staunching" their own ."wounds, thirsting,
looking:fin help, Crying fOr lib:L.:dying for us.
silt.is under 'oircliMstanaes ;like theae that,
we meet to-night ; sitting here, surrounded
by blessings and comforts ; and .we have
come here to try and turn away our thoughts
from self, to go down amid these men,—and
ask, " What am I called upon to do ? what
shall I do? Oh I give me the opportunity,
and I am ready to do it." We are here on
the evening of God's holy day, 'under cir
cumstances more- solemn, more impressive
than any we have ever met before in our
own history or the history of the land; and
as we shall listen to-night to thrilling remarks,
and as our hearts meet in spontaneous desire
to show our approbation of them, let us, in
view of the solemn circumstances in which
we are placed, in which our country is situa
ted' and as we think of the dying ones, as
we think of the mourning, bleeding hearts.
to-night, -throughout the, length and breadth
of our laud; let us be sole= as we would at
the funeral of a friend.
.The audience will now be .addressed by
Rev,-Dr..Ansms, of this city. ,
Address by Re*. Dr. Adams
Just, coming from the funeral of that gal
lant Christian soldier, General Rice, I am
reminded of a little incident which seems to
me to-be the most appropriate introduction
to . our,- services. I am informed by my
young friend, the aid of General Rice, who . is
with us to-night, the representative of that
brave, heroic, army, baptized, as I believe, by
the Spirit of God, before he had his first
baptism of blood, that when bearing.the form
of: the General .to the rear,-the very first
person who accosted him in the field hospital
was a delegate of the Christian Commission;
and when the fest appliances were made to
his wound, this Christian man said to him,
" General, how do : you feel? What do you
think of, Christ " What of Christ? Oh !
very near, very near!"
These are .the things that we love to hear.
When we have been told how heroic and
faithfully a man deports himself at the head'
of his,command in the brunt of. battle, the•
thing. most of all ,that we desire to know is
how, did - he, die? What testimony did .he
leave, expressive of his' faith in Christ ? I
know, going from family to family, that have
already been-bereaved,- and those in suspense,
watching for the mails, watching to catch the
first intelligence they can from loved ones, I
know that in many a case this has been true
with regard to the son, the brother, or friend
the thing most desired, that bears a balm and
balsam to the bleeding heart is. the. belief
that the friend died in Christ, and after
having served his country, prepared by, the
grace of God for the translation, he has gone
to the kirkgdom. of Heaven.
Now, I refer .to this incident because it
seems to me to describe the very object the
Commission has in view—two-fold: care for
the body, comfort and help for the brave
soldier, and, as opportunity presents, in
struction and comfort to the soul in the last
agony of death. We, do not leave eitherof
these undone. We do, in connection with
other associations (and there is no kind 'Of
rivalry between us and any other Commission
except the noble emulation of endeavoring
to do the greatest amount of good) what can
be done to bear relief and comfort to those
who are wounded and dying in our behalf ;
but yet do not leave undone what can be
accomplished for the solace and guidance of
the departing soul.
Mr. President, there is only one object in
our thoughts tonight ; and I 'feel that if,
after what has already been said, and the
prayer to God in which we all joined, we
were to cease from all conference with one
another, and here do what we could for the,
relief of our heroic soldiers, we should not
have misspent the hour, and we should be
richly compensated for the privilege of doing
this. I see only One object in this hour.
The time of exhiliration is past,; the time of
caricature and ridicule and laughter has long
since gone by. We have come to the point
of actual suffering. We have ; come--new ,
where we are to take up our part infellaigliip
With the great Captain of our salvation, in
actual endurance and affliction ; and the
objects of our thoughts are these—our 'bleed
ing- citizens, our own children, our brothers
and our friends, who are fasting, toiling and
fighting, bleeding, and dying for us. A most
natural question I heard put to a young
soldier fresh from the field ; " How did you
feel in that charge? How did you feel on
Tuesday night, when you left the field and
when ordered to advance ?" " Feel why
we were worn out ; we have not had sleep ;
and what have we had to eat but what we
could eat by snatches, eat in , the midst of
great and intense excitement ?"
Why we have no idea of the endurance and
suffering of thesemen. Did syou ever know
anything like-it ,in history? ,An army fight
ing eight, nine days in succession ? I cannot
recall such a thing in the history of the
world; and I think, to-night, we ought to
forget everything but sympathy with and
prayer for those noble men, who, from actual
exhaustion, many times dropped in their
very tracks.
There are living men—decently dressed
men, in this. community,. who read the
papers, who 'saunter about the street and
wonder why these men are not pushing
farther and - farther ; who are content with
reading the papers and making their sugges
tions about this great strife, of, which they
know nothing at all. For myself, I feel
ashamed every hour I am here, that we sit
down at the table with plenty, live in our
commodious' houses; lie down at night upon
our comfortable beds, while these brave
felloWs are
_exposed—l was going to say to
such a rain as this, but I remember that
those wounded men bless God for such a
rain as this. When fevered with their
wounds, and none to bring water and refresh
ment to them, it is the greatest refreshment,.
they say, they can have to let the sweet rain,
of Heaven fall upon their wounds, and that .
they may catch some - drops upon their
parched tongues.
Now; if I had been called upon to speak
ten days or a week ago,. I should have en
deavored to say something in regard to the
impression I received in a recent personal
view of thii noble Army of the Potomac.
There are two things that would naturally
preient themselves to us in regard to the
- army ; and few of us understand what an
army is. confess I never had a conception
of what an army was, -until I saw it. An
army in quarters and an army on the field of
battle are two things. Now, if I had spoken,
as I have said, a week or ten days ago, I
should have endeavored to convey some of
the impressions I had received in regard to
the army, as I saw it in a state of comparative
repose. I shall always count it as one of the
greatest privileges of my life, that I' have
been able to look upon the army ; and I
think I did not go from mere curiosity;
although, after having seen -some splendid
military pageants in the old country, I con
-fess, in regard to that host of men—
, ”rere worth ten years of peaceful life,
One glance at their arrayi"
in
of
to
I' shall alivap regard it as a solemn privi
lege that I was able to see them; I went
under the best of auspices—upon "an invita
tion from headquarters, where I preached ;
and you will agree with me it is something
now, when following, these brave men from
stage to stage in their glorious engagements,
that you . have a distinct impression of the
very men, that you have still upon your
hand the pressure of such men as. Grant and
Mead,' and S'eligwiCk, and 'Wadsworth, aro.
HancoCk; and`-'many more ;` that yOu ha,d.
oefo k thens ,59,-recently, as they passed in
review l;efore their ; solemn, very
serious, not a shout, not a word among that
great host as they went under his eye ; no
salutes except those that becme the occa
sion—men on the eve of a great movement—
and that it was my privilege to preach at
headquarters, to that assembly of distinguish
ed soldiers—an audience, not of civilians,
not an old man, not a woman, not a child,
but a large audience of armed men, just on
the eve of that great conflict on which such
great destinies depend. lam informed that
it was the last sermon that was preached to
them ; the tent was struck immediately ; and
I have taken pains to recall the words that I
addressed to them. I remember I was'
speaking in your name, as well as in the
name of Christ, and assured them Of your
sympathy and praYe,rs as they were going
'out to this great 'contest: I told them as
Plainly and solemrdy as I was capable of
doing what I thought were the Christian
instructions most appropriate to their solemn
circriinstances. I endeavored to preach
the Gospel -of Christ - to them. I told them
those things they might remember at the
head of a column, in, making a charge, in
the midst of the storm ; the kind of prayer
they might ejaculate to Almighty God for
their guidance and. success. I thank Gid
that in His name I had that privilege; al
though the memory of it is now shadowed
by the.recollection that some of them heard
their last sermon. and have fallen asleep.
I should have'delighted to have said some
thing about the impressions left on my mind
by that visit to the soldiers.
A Voicz—Do say something about it.
DR ADSm - s—l am .told to say something
about - it ; and I remember, when looking
into the New Testament; that the man dis
tinguished above all others,—of whom it
was said, " I have not found so great faith,
no not in Israel,"—was a soldier, who said, -
" I am a man under authority, having sol
diers under me.; and. I. say to this man go
and he goeth, and to another, come, and. he
cometh, and to my servant, do this, and. he
"doeth it The order and discipline to.which
these men are subject I have been greatly
impressed with, as one of the great lessons
which our country has learned,—which is
being kneaded into our life, never to .-be
'eradicated. •
Then. I would say something about that
noble set of men, the chaplains of the army.
I speak of them in distinction from particu
lar exception. It was to - be expected that
some, in the beginning, who were not of the
right character, should find -their way into
these incumbencies. But I speak now of
those with whom I-ca,me in contact, whom I
know; and concerning whom -testimony has
been borne by their Generals and the sol
diers under their ministration. I cannot
conceive of any circumstances in which a
man could be placed where he would have
so much prospect of doing good as that of
an army chaplain. Look at them in their
encampments,—all laid out in streets, com
pany after company,—with their little hut
or chapel in the rear for public worship.
The hut is built by the soldiers; the can
vass • covering is supplied by the Chris
tian Commission. I tell you, my friends, it
was easy to preach to these men, with faces
upturned, drinking in the word of
. grace.
There has been a wonderful outpouring of
God's spirit upon these men during the past
season. This is not- all imagination or illu
sion. There have been multitudes of these
brave men, prepared by the spirit of God to
die for their country and us. Then these
chaplains have their confidence. We think
'the pastor has great opportunities of- obtain
ing the confidence of his congregation, min
g,ling •with them under circumstances of af
fliction and suffering when the hearts are
opened. - But just look at the chaplain, with
a regiment under his ministry. He knows,
every man by name; they come to look
upon him as a friend ; isolated as they , are
from home and family, see what a hold he
has upon their affections—what opportuni
ties of impressing upon them the message of
God. I should like to have enlarged upon
this ; but now these 'tents are struck ; that
army is on its march, and we look upon it
now in its series of bloody engagements as
an army , in battle! I have, not seen that
thing. I have been endeavoring to imagine
something about it. When I saw, one morn
ing, thirty thousand men passing in review
before,their General. I have endeavored to
recall what a scene that would be now ;- to
see if I could think of thirty thousand men,
lying on the ground, dead or wounded. We
get very little conception of numbers. There
is nothing about which we have generally so
imperfect an estimate. Let me tell, you that
is a very large congregation in this city that
consists of a thousand people; but just sup
pose a congregation of a thousand men, in
the prime of life, lying dead (Sr wounded !-
And here is one brigade, that of Gen. Rice,
which on Tuesday night lost eight hundred
and fifty-seven men, out of eighteen hun
dred ! Just think of what we mean by a
battle j Then, as it has been described to
me, the oaths, the prayers, the shrieks of
wounded and dying men on the open field!
We talk of a wounded man! When we
think of one wounded,--here,why immedi
ately there comes to our min all the appli
ances. He would be carried into the ftrst
neighbor's house, into the apothecary's, into
the hospital. All the people around would
be ready to help him. But there are no
houses there. On that field of' battle, as
pictured before my eye, in the wonderful
desolation of that scene, houses, fences, all
the ordinary signs of civilization have disap
peared, and it is a " wilderness" indeed.
And now think of men dropping, dropping,
one after another, wounded on the battle
field.
What then is needed ? Their fellow sol
diers cannot leave their ranks, to give them
attention. That is contrary to military
order. , " Look at that young man !" said a
Colonel to me, on a military parade, " when
we went into the fort a" Rappahannock
Station, his own brother, stood. in front, he
fell, and his brother never flinched, but went
on steadily into the fort, as if nothing had
happened." Who is to give attention to
these men ? The tide of battle is surging to
and-fro.= Government has some appliances,
some agencies, some surgeons in the rear.
Musicians are for the •,time employed in
carrying those that are wounded to the rear.
But what can they do among so many ?
You want all forms of agencies. The very
first thing to be done;. (and you cannot have
them:in too great numbers now) is to come
to them with men perfectly prepared to
minister, first, to their physical necessities.
Your Christian Commission , delegate goes to
the wounded man, with all the appliances,
;bandages and sponge, his pail of wine and
water '
and asks " How are you wounded ?
What is the matter ?" ,He gives him a
draught and such help as he needs at the
time. Perhaps he -is just dying ; then he
takes his name, the last word he has to say,
perhaps a last message to wife, or mother, or
sister. " Tell my mother, tell my father,
tell my wife something about me ;—how I
fell,—that I have endeavored to do my duty
to my country,—l die in Christ I" Perhaps
your delegate is enabled to kneel and offer
a short prayer to God- in his behalf, and help
the departing spirit 6 . lay hold of -some-con
solations:of the Gospel. This -is the form in
which your agency works,—and this is why
it needs now to be multiplied ten fold. The
men to he chosen for thiswor k are noto t b
be
taken, without discretion. They must be
the right class of Men, knowing what to .do,
and having physical endurimee tondo 'it,—
full of patriotism and full of the love of
Jesus Christ.
I do not enlarge the subject of giving
physical relief to wounded soldiers because=what is to be done in that regard is so patent.
But this other feature is peculiar to the.
Christian Commission. It is a psychologeal
fact, and I have given it some attention, that
on the approach of death, if the man is not"
given over to abselute stupidity, their is 11
wonderful activity of the human conscience.
I have noticed that irreligious men are apt_
to catch the words of dying heroes, upon the
field of battle or upon the quarter deck,
which refer to some purpose in reference to
the. fight, some expressions of personal bra,.
very. These are the tbargs . they report, and
about which we hear so inneir in history and
poetry. But there is something if you
will lieUd your ear Wand listen. It seems a
il', when the soldier passes from- - the fray,
from the rush and tumult Of-: embattled
hosts, he feels as if he were isolated, as if he
were going to eternity alone, as an individu
al ; and the "expressions of teglanony to wiax
I have referred, I think you: Will find in the
faithful biographies of the most diatingnished
sailors and soldiers. Lord ' Nelion, when
borne from the quarter-deck to the 'cot pit,
uttered the memorable words which were
signalled through the fleet, and which are so
well known ; but how many have forgotten
what he said to Captain Hardy, as' he gave
him the last pressure of the hand : 'Captain
Hardy, I hope there is forgivennesdlor a
soul with God." Sir Philip Sydney; When.
wounded in :battle, and when he fell...upon.
the neck of his faithful horse, that bore. him
from, the field, was heard to speak of Jesus
Christ and his hope of salvation through
him. -
Ah ! we who are sitting here, in our mah
ioned indulgence, have forgotten the wonder
ful rapidity of this action of the hum=
conscience in the presence of death. I be
lieve there has been a most wonderfullapid-
IV of action, not only of the conscience,
but -of" the heart, in committing itself to
' Christ in the last moments. Ido not believe
it has taken such a long time for the conver
sion of those men who have been convinced
by the Spirit and have made consecration of
themselves to God, I believe many have
been saved. I would not convey the im
pression that patriotism is synonomous with
religion, or that there is any way of salva
tion save through the blood of the Lord
Jesus Christ ; yet where there is such con
secration of the soul, where the exigency
is so sharp and critical, there is as much dif
ference in the action of the mind as there is
between the flash of damp powder, spread
loosely over the surface of the earth, and
half the amount, when rammed into a mus
ket in the shape of a cartridge. I have no
doubt of the testimony given us on this score
from every quarter.
Now, my fellow-citizens, this whole caring
for these our fellow-citizens is rolled upon
'us. I wonder we can think of anything,
talk of anything else but this. And I can
not but feel that, as a people, there is a most
beautiful deportment just now. I have been
struck with it. There is very little of noisy
elation. There is a quick pressure of the
hand. Men talk quick, and feel deeply ;
but there is very little of excitement show
ing itself in the form .of noisy exultation.
This is right, I believe this people will feel
more and more the solemn meaning of this
hour.- I believe that as these trials and these
successes are multiplied, that the people will
develope more and more a well balanced,
solemn trust in God, and a quick, earnest
sympathy for their fellow-citizens, who have
been willing to endure so much in their be
half. God hasten the time when there will
be no more occasion for all these activities
in behalf of the wounded ! God hasten the
time when we shall meet togeth.m with . , all
earnestness and gladness, to know how we
can heal the wounds of our bleeding coun
try,—when the cloud of war will pass away,
and when we can stand forth on the Chris
tian emulation hi doing the utmost in heal
ing all these deep wounds of the country,
and studying the, things by which We may
edify one another. God bless our dear coun
try ! dearer now than ever. God bless our
wounded soldiers ! this army of heroes—and
give them victory ; and when that victory is
won, give the nation the power of conquer
themselves, and bringing the whole land
into willing subjection to Christian law and
government.
THE CRAIRMAM—You have been listening
to the address of one of the Delegates of
the Christian Commission. I now have the
pleasure of introducing another, who has
been recently down for - us to the front—the
Rev. Dr. KIRK, of Boston.
Rev. Dr. Kirk's Address.
What heart is there in this assembly that
does not bless God, this night, for being per
mitted still to live ? The day that - Fort
Sumter was struck thrilled on the hearts of
many in this wise "I am glad it has come ;
I knew it was coming; it is no accidental fall
ing of a spark upon combustible material ;
it is a deep, intense conflict of purpose ; the
men on that side of the struggle understand
what they are doing and mean to do it."
We are meeting-our kindred, our neighbors,
our fellow-citizens, face to face, over the
great line" that divides right from wrong.
The question is, have we manliness enough,
have we godliness enough to lay ourselves
on the altar? Not to send other men if we
can go. Not a man ought to be in this house
to-night that could be on the battle field, be
cause there are wounds, and' groans, death
in his gloomiest form there. No person
ought to be willing to sit here to-night, whose
heart is not with the soldier, in the tent., in
the field, in the• hospital, in his suffering, in
his dying,-.-wlio is not willing to, take his
place, if God calls him to it.
Yes, this is a solemn Sabbath ; this is a
solemn meeting; not a gloomy one; I see
nothing gloomy in it. It is, to my eye, all
sublime. The conflict is sublime i the issues
are sublime. God is educating this people
-for a great future ; he Is turning the leaves
of a book with hard lessons on every page ;
he is teaching through deep anguish; making
us fill up what is behind of the sufferings of
Christ,-,that this poor world may"be pushed
on, and this fallen race may be lifted up
wards.
We have come here to-night,"my fellow
citizens, to think about the, soldiers--the citi
zen. soldiers-4he A_merican sadiers. With
my brother who just preceded me, I thank
God I have seen the soldier in his tent ; I
have seen him in the camp,; I have grasped
the hand of the man that, under God, is
guiding our forces to Victory, and I have
grasped the hand' of the humblest man in
his ranks. It is a privilege ; and I come
fresh from the camp to speak to the citizens.
I want, this night, to echo what I heard a
brave general utter three nights ago " I
honor the soldier ; I love the common sol
dier ; I love him more, in his humble rank,
than I should if he were occupying the seat
of the Chief Magistrate of the Union." I,
too, have learned to love him ; and I have
come here, to-night, to contribute my hum
ble share to kindle in your hearts a deeper
and tenderer love for the soldier.
I know not what cynical men may say;
I know not what men who judge others by
the narrowness of their own hearts may say;
I believe a nobler band' never went .forth to
war, under a nobler movement, no,r, from a
higher impulse, thao tho army of the United
States Federal Government have this daY-
I have always had, since influenced by reli-