- V JA%I ES AL LI SON, 1, 14 DITOII.B I:01{1 1 :1ff PATTERSON, JAMES ALLISON & CO., Proprietor,. TERMS IN ADVANCE. pi 11 AIL, (Blogiy or In Clube,)..„.. nuLivouso SITIIIIII OF THAI CITLIB l'adere vending, MI tin subscribers and upwards, will ee thereby euritled to a paper without Charge, and another errs paper for the second ten ; he. fie itOr Sill should be prompt, a little before the yearexpires. Vrect all lettere to JAMES ALLISON k CO., PITTSBURGEI, PA For the Presbyterian Banner. SIX Weeks in the Potomac Army; OR, liloW TUE EWE MAN COT WELL No. VI. 'Washington and Alexandria— Getting Ready. 44 Packing up and going away." And here we are, in Washington again I Ice. We little thought, whe . n we went down to Annapolis early this morning, we would be hero by 7 o'clock this evening. March and countermarch seem to be the order of the day. You had a hard, race to get aboard the ears at Annapolis, had you not ? We surely had. Dr. O. says Mr. D. is a, v ery genial companion, and we admit the' fat, but don't •think he will ever again persuade us to wait as long as• possible be lore starting, to tell us only then,/ that the train leaves twenty minutes earlier than we had supposed. We made the connection, however—but by the hardest] Your Agent, too, seems ; .disposed, at tines, to have a little sport'at;The expense of his party. Oaf) would think so, when, with more than halt serious face, he tells us, " You are going to Annapolis Junction, but I have had your carpet•saok checked to Washington City ;" and so leaves us an noyed at the idea of being separated from our baggage—wondering whether we can't have the cheek altered—he advising, the while, to let it stand as it is. It is now evident that he intended, from the •first, that man and baggage slionld be carried to the came point. He has the advantage. of us, and we must allow him to use it a little, It adds to the " varieties " of our expe rience, But one or two of the company are evidently not overly well pleased at Wing thus left in the dark, when they think they might as well enjoy the light as he. And here I find you in Alexandria next ! Yes; changing, •changing aver, Next morning after reaching Washington, we were sent out to Cahn Barracks. Nur niediately after dinner we were set to paek T iug stores in haste for, our:, expedition— don't know why yet—and in two or three hours after, were sent in just as great haste to: get our "pass" and come down here—had to take " the oath of allegiance," too, before we could get it. Ohristian CoMmiseion rooms here, also ! Wherever soldiers are, id the rule; and the old " SUMPTER Housz "—the name still remains outside, you see—answers our purposell; and Capt. S., who has charge, OS everything in good order. e Hers, coll lets may come in at will, and write letters, and besides necessary stores and lity/simpers for distribution, here is , a good librar,y from which they can draw books. A soldiers' prayer meeting, also, is held here. I was present on Saturday evening last. The meeting was full and interesting. Brig. Gen.,Briggs made one of the number. Well, how have you, been- putting in your time here? k On Sabbath A. M. I went to-hear Dr. Hisao; of New-York, who here looking after the interests of the Baptiste. The service was in the First Presbyterian church, whose oongregation seems to have been " sicatter6dlibioad" by these treinblons times.. In the afternoon *if iiiiiished at Headquarters Third DiviSion Hospital, and in the evening at Battery Rodgers. Since then, beeldeS waiting, (for orders,) we , have dune considerable working. Have helped pack quite a number of boxes and barrels of stores, for our use in the field ; have also numbered each, and taken au invoice of their contents—oaught cold, too, work- inn at it in that damp cellar l Our corps (9th army,) has passed through Washing ton, and we wish to be ready to follow, soon as possible. Our personal outfit is now re duced to " light marching order." Gen. Burnside, so directed in regard to such as intended to follow him. Besides our blan kets, we take only what we can carry on our back and in our haversack. The car pet-sack, with upper and nether stories, can go no farther. But a haversack, well packed, holds a good deal. Here is the contents of ours: Drawers and socks, one pair each; one shirt; one box collars; two towels; soap and sponge, one piece each; " mess knife (knife, fork and spoon in same handle); sardines, one can; con densed coffee, ono ean ; matches, one box; scissors ; uue pair • jack-knife and gimblet ; Jamaica ginger, one bottle; " Old Rye," two ounces; easter oil, one ounce; red pep per, one half ounce; beef tea, one cake; toothbrush; ink, pens, paper, envelopes, drinking cup, " housewife," &e. I guess you will get along I But have you been around tows any ? On errands, we have; and' like the place. It is well paved, neat and °lean. Of course we visited the " Marshall House" Every body does; so that it is found necessary to keep a boy for the special purpose of 'show ing visitors w the very . spot' where the gallant Ellsworth fell. You will find the boy always ready, for "a consideration." We also visited the , church in which 'Gen. George Washington worshipped. It is a plain, neat structure, and the smooth brick or which its walls are built are said to have been imported from England. We entered and sat down in the pew whit* the General was accustomed to occupy. fit. is one of the old style , square kind, with Besto w/ three sides. It is said to be just - as it was when he used it, save that in lowering toe " high backs" of the others, his had to conform in this particular. On the top of the capping is a small silver plate, en graved thus: " WASHINGTON ' S PEW." And here you are in Washington Oity again 1 You must be the " flying artil lery" of the U. S. Christian Commission! . We make some'quiok movements at any rate, and a good many of them. We have been packing here, also, and have not been helping our cold much by working in this chilly store-room.. Besides, with help of Mr. A. P, F., we have been getting •up a " mess chest" for our party. For once we have found a man who.. works to our no tion, and we have jiotten up rather a con venient affair ; and stored it, too, with all the cooking utensils and table fnrnitiire necessary for the use of some ten persons. It contains also small packages of all kinds of groceries necessary for imaitiliate use. We have worked hard, and we have worked late, and now, when—after seven days eff,rt—everything else is about ready, there must be a hitch about our 'getting a wagon and horses. It seems that ,the treasury of the U. S. C. C. is so • low that the cffieers hesitate about making the pur chase. I think it is about time the good people of the U. S. were waking up to the necessities of their Commission 1 I see you are about being off at hat ! Yes ; the team kiad to come, finally. And when it did come, it oame right—a large wagon, nearly new, and of the best pattern; four fine horses, well harneSsed, and a fifth, a saddle horse for our Field Agent—just as floe a "turnout" as we could desire. Besides, our Agent has been fortunate enough to secure a superior driver—one who drove Gen. Sigel and staff all through Western Virginia. And now, 112.60 240 VOL. XII. NO. 47. at 6i P. M., April 29, we leave Washing ton in good trim and spirits, to make Alex andria—eight miles distant—and take in the balanoe of our stores this evening yet, intending to set out early to-morrow morn ing for " the field," in pursuit of Gen. Burnside's Corps. You must try and drop into our tent, some day. Qood•by , Letter from a Delegate. MR. JOSEPH ALBREE, Treasurer D. S. Christian. Corronission--Dnan SIR :—On reaching Washington, in company with Bro. Lester, of West Alexander, Pa., we immediately sought the rooms of the Com -minim •There we met with large num ber of delegates from many different States. Same, like ourselves, had just arrived, oth ers were employed in the various hospitals in and around the city; and others still were just from " the front," and on their way home. The next morning we were as signed to the Columbian Hospital, to take the place of one or two others wit° went to the front. The Columbian. Hospital occu pies the college building and grounds of Columbia College, from which it derives its name. The building is quite large, four stories high, of which the second, third and fourth are filled with hospital beds, except ing a few rooms occupied by the nurses. In front of the College, at some distance, are placed the hospital tents. These are arranged in regular order and divided into wards, eadh ward having its own surgeon, nurses, &o. There were five wards of twelve tents each, and a sixth composed of fouf tents. Beeides these, there,is another building capable of containing from one hundred and fifty to two hundred patients, and occupied during an emergency such as occurred after the battle of the, Wilder ness. The hospital is capable of affording room for considerably more than a thou sand patients. The 'number in it oh the morning of our first visit to it, was proba bly between eight and nine hundred. Thus You have something like, a correct idea of the field of labor assigned to us. Truly it seems as though it could ,be only a mite we could add to the efforts made by others for the relief of the suffering. For the sake of convenience 'I will consider the sanitary aspect' of the work I was permit ted to perform, and the religious view of it. Of course the first thing to be done was to become acquainted,, as far as possi ble, with the wants of the men, dad then to relieve them. Our plan accordingly was to enter a ward, and proceed regularly from tent to tent, and from 'bedside to bedside, ascertaining what wag needed for the com fort of those to whom we went to minister. This developed the feet that the Govern ment provision 'for hospital wants in the way of beds, &c., was abundant. - I was not ones asked for any article of bed-cloth ing, or towels. But many of the patients had just been brought in from the front, some of them badly wounded, and many of them were destitute of clothing. They had lost all upon the battle field, or their clothes had been cut or torn off them to permit their wounds to be dressed.. There were many requests, particularly for shirts, drawers and socks. As far as our stock Would admit, I always felt glad to, grant requests._ 4n.4 havt,the satifffha tion Of - kW:Rg' thitlirmany - initinces pressing wants were in this manner re lieved. In no instance was a request granted, which did not call forth lively-ex pressions of gratitude from the soldiers benefithd. Besides those destitute of clothing there were many sick. These needed the delica hies which camp or hospital stores do not often afford. Many were prostrated with continued- sickness and without appetite, unable to relish the fare provided even for the sick. These craved jellies, preserves, pickles, and, other such things as a capri cious appetite would suggest. In endeav oring to .meet this want, much caution was necessary. It all-important that nothing be given which would prove injurious to the patient. The wishes of the Surgeon must be consulted, and scrupulously re spected. An' indiscriminate supplying of articles asked for, would probably procure a speedy exclusion from the hospital, or a prohibition to administer anything at all. My mode was to ascertain what a patient desired—what he thought he could relish. If it could be had, I endeavored to ascer tain from the 'Surgeon whether he would allow the patient to have it. If he decid ed that it would not be injurious, I then left it for hint in care of his attendant. I could then 'ascertain to my own satisfac tion that it reached the person for whom it was intended. We rarely sent anything from our room. By constant daily ming ling with the nurses and attendants in the various tents, we could soon tell whether they were trustworthy. And besides, when I left a cup of jelly for the sick man, he was sure to tell me the next time I called, how he liked it. Thus an attendant who might feel disposed to withhold a - delicacy from a patient, would be restrained by the fact that it, would be immediately knolin. But I bear cheerful testimony to the ten derness and faithfulness with which those with whom I came in °outset discharged their duties. In a few instances; upon ap plication of the Surgeons and nurses in particular wards, brandy and wines were given. In short, as judiciously as we could, and as far as our stores permitted, we min istered to the bodily wants of sick, and wounded, and dying men. riandkorehiefs were much needed, and were very grate fully received. It was also my custom, when. passing through the tents, to carry with me a small bottle or two of camphor, and wet the lasidkerchiefs of the sick, and especially of the wounded. This little at tention was most gratefully received, as it often relieved the unpleasant hospital odor. Such was the nature of our work among the inert in hospital. Albng with these efforts to relieve bodily wants, were coupled daily, hourly efforts to do good to the souls of men•. The gift of any little article always afforded an remis sion for pressing the claims of Jesus Christ, and urging men to care 'for their eternal. interests. -Here is a man sorely wounded, evidently near to death. You see that his time is short, and you address him about* his soul. If he is a Christian--some such we found—you speak to him a word of cheer, and direct his glazing eye to ,the 'Captain of his salvation. if impenitent, you` endeavor to direct him to the Saviour Of the dying thief. Here is one . Ada— dying among strangers far from home—no friend to keep watch, or to catch the last word of farewell. These tender offices you peek to perform, and communicate the facts" to those who will watch in -vain :for his coming. Here is a man wounded, but re covering. it gives you opportunity to say a few words or Him who was wounded for our transgreasions., Another wishes . you to write for hini to some distant friend, for he has not long to. live; or he wishes - a "bother or wife to know that he is recover ing; and as you write, yon: inquire what you shall say about his soul and About his hope in .Christ; and thus you enter into a solemn and tender conversation with him abiiit the greateit of his intatists. ; - • - 4- ' „ 01 7 . • it. . 4 • • tro 1 „AV • MUM/ " For the Pre3byterlea Banner PITTSBURGH, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST, 10, 1864. WHOLE NO. 616 you go directly to the conch of the suffer er, and after a few kind inquiries, approach him directly and faithfully on the subject of personal piety, and urge him to seek Christ, or direct him, if he is already in quiring what he must do to be saved. In short, take any and every method of reach ing men's hearts and leading them to Christ. Such is this feature of the work. Some I found deeply anxious about their souls; these I endeavored to direct to the Lamb of God. Two I found who had once been members of the Church, but who had utter ly forsaken Christ since they entered the army. And it afforded me pleasure to hear their deterniination to return to his fold. I exhorted them both, like the Prodigal Son, to arise at once and go to their Fath er's house. From a member of the Dist P. Y. I received a request for a Testament and hymn-book. He was considering the question, ." What must I do to be saved?" I gave the books, and added such instruc tions as I thought would be of advantage to him. A member of the Zd Ohio 'Cavalry lay severely wounded, and in great pain. I learned from him that he had 'no Saviour, andno Christian hope to support him in his suffering. But he was very .desirous of seeing Jesus. I directed him to the. Sa viour of sinners, and gave him a Testa ment. - I-hope that, thus divinely guided, he has found a hope in Christ. R. N. 'H., of the 3d Vt., had been a very careless, ungodly man. Irrone of the late battles it.'. pleased God to smitehiin sorely—perhaps fatally. He expressed his great gratitude that L had called and talked with him. He'desired it" Testament, end hoped that . he had .found the Lord Jesus Christ. I- saidto him., " Had your atten tion been directed to- the interests Of your soul before you received this wound ?" " Oh uo," he replied, " I never thought of 'such a 'thing. I scarcely ever thought of God.- In fact, it'would he impossible - 'for any man to 'be farther from God than I was. But now I lie here on my bed, and seem to look right pp into kis face. I believe that Jesus has forgiven my sins. It seems so sweet to think God is con stantly looking into my heart. It makes me sometimes almost forget my pain."' This man, I hope, was truly, converted. One man' I met .with was a Universalist; he did not believe there was any such place as a hell. I told him JOSI/E1 Chrrtit believed it—that he said the rich man lifted up his eyes in hell. Just then a paroxysm of pain came on, and he made me np reply. Another I met witia was a regular Ration alistic' infidel. "Our Psychology" htid more charms for him than the Word of God. ' . In striking contrast with these was the case of a young lad from Venango County, Pa:, who lay in a9other hospital. He felt very desirous to see a minister from ,his own State, mid accordingly we visited him. His great concern was to be .found Christ. I explained to him as clearly as pOssible the nature of faithin Jesus Christ, and I trust he did accept of Christi's gra cious offer of salvation. In a day or two he passed away from earth. I distributed freely of papers, tracts and little books.. These I would accompany with a word of exhortation, er follow with conversation. The role was .t . hat„the "bier listened 'inoa. 'respeatfu ' lly. The eg ceplions' were fel, hut some would not hear. From the Chaplain and. Surgeons We oneeived every facility. Said one of the Surgeons to me, I always think my patients get along better when they have something to read, and thus occupytheir minds." On the Sabbath I preached to- a very attentive company of soldiers.. Thus we labored from day to day. All seethed, to love the. Christian Commission. My only regret was in being compelled so $OO/1 to abandon the - Work. -. Very truly yours, 8. M. HENDERSON [Selected.) •A Lock of. Rawl Hair. I have a look of flaxen hair, Wrapt in a tiny fold; 'T le hoarded with a miser's care, "'T is dearer far than gold. To other eyes of ,little worth, Yet precious unto mine ; For once, dear child, in life and health; It was a lock of thine. • The numbered hours pass slowly by; Days, weeks, and menths depart, Yet still the vacant place remains Unchanged within the heart; The lonelinesi is still die same, The same great want is there, While memory loves to brood upon The simple look of hair, The cold winds seem to sigh more loud, When shades of evening fall, The clock with more impressive sound Ticks louder on the, wall; For now no artless words I hear, . No smiling face 'I see; No tone& - of.ohildish mirth break forth,_. So dear to home and me. . 'T gone--like some strange dream That lingers with the mind ; • Some pleasant eerie 'of haPpiness -The heart hath left behind ; - An atom from.the fading dust, A relic of the past; That tells of transient hopes and joys, Of . things that could not last. 'T is all that now'remains of thee, Light of our home "andhearth ; While sadly pass the silent hours, • And dark the days come forth. Yet still I keep it for thy sake, And guard it with fond care, And oft I view, with throhbing heart, Thy simple look of hair., Frannie:led from the French for the Presbyterian Banaer Australia. ifistory of Fan Sing Louis, Chinese Cat echist among the Gold-seekers. Written at his dictation, by wmissionary of Mel- bourne It is known that the Chinese emigrate willingly, and that the gold mines of Cali fornia and "of Australia have attracted a great number of them. We have seen es timated at 30,000 the number of those that are in California, and at 7,000 or 8,000 those