Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1862-11-20

| MEETING OF THE CHArLAfNS.-ln accordance
with call which appeared In the Repsbiioan, a
was held 10 the hall of the Young Mems Chris.
tlan Association yesterday, at ~ o'clock.
The meeting was called TO order by Rev. O.
| w. Denison, chaplain Of the Patent Office hos.
pltal, and ON his motion, Rev. e. w. jackson,
Of the Armory Square hospital, was called 70
the chair, and Rev. @. W. Denison acted as
Rev. DR.. Charming, by request of the chair,
offered prayer. fal.a7 y nrff
Rev. Mr.. Denison then read somewhat yo-
luminous document, setting forth the influence
chaplains generally, and their usefulness and
emciency during the present rebellion, together
with what Is conceived to be the duty of these
officers, and especially with regard TO The burial Of
the dead. In this connection, the gentleman read
| letter from John A. Fowle, Eco, of the Navy
Department, who has been particularly active In
labors for the benefit Of soldiers, which, as Il
contains many good and practicable suggest
lions, we publish in full, as follows; IaH
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 1853.
Rev. G. W. Denison,
Secretary Chaplaias Msefiag.
My Dear Sir: have read with much satlsfac-
tlon the call for meeting of army chaplains,
to consider "what steps should be taken by
them to procure an Improvement In the manner
of the burial of deceased volunteers" II is q
move In the right direction, and trust will be
entirely successful in bringing about reform
In this matter.
/ have often expressed my views OF the
wrong treatment towards our noble country
men who have left their homes to die far away
from friends, and then be buried In the capital
OF the nation In a manner that shocks the feel
ings of every man who honors a soldier. The
chaplains well know the abuses to which I re-
fer; many Of them I have talked with on
the subject, and I know they agree with me
when / say that our Government should allow
every deceased soldier decent burial when II
Is possible; he should have good coffin (and
that believe is furnished,) neatly covered
vehicle to convey his remains to their last rest
ting place, and should have military escort as
far as the outskirts of the city, If not to the
grave; and his coffin should be covered with
one Of the flags for which he died, and a neat
head board (Which are being provided) should
tell us where his body lies. XXI. r..
But / did not commence this letter with q
view Of telling you what you already know,
but to show my interest in the matter In a
practical way, and to say to you that, in case
the Government undertaken cannot afford Won
q more fit vehicle than have often seen In our
streets, will be one of ten or twenty to give
IS each to buy covered vehicle to be given in
to the charge Of the undertaken and chaplains
for the use Of deceased soldiers.
l have, also, In my possession beautiful
flag, sent me, by some children, from Boston,
W huhk uP III tnc DoiultTb' InlS Il
will loan for daily use, at burials, for, doubt
not, the donors would feel had loaned 1t for
| most sacred purpose.
think vehicle could be easily arranged to
carry four collins, and, by having regular hours
for services and burial, much Of the haste and
confusion could be avoided, and you all have
more time for the touching ceremonies at the
the remains of brave but unfortunate soldier.
remain, faithfully, yours,
H. JOHN A. FowLE.
Mr.. Denison made some further verbal ex-
plantations of the object of the present meet
ing, and, In conclusion, moved the appoint
ment of u committee of nine brethren, repre-
senting the army chaplains, who shall wait up
on the proper officers of the Government
and request some modification In the manner
Of burying our deceased soldiers.
Mr. Northrup, Of Kalorama hospital, hearth
ly seconded the motion. He had long felt the
necessity Of a reformation In this respect.
The Chair also heartily endorsed the move
ment, and gave instances where the feelings of
friends of deceased had been outraged by the
haste manifested in the burial of soldiers, as
well as the character of the vehicle used.
DIR. McMurdy, of Alexandria hospitals, spoke
of the manner In which the soldiers were buried
there. The services of the chaplain are always
performed. The ground is good-the coffin is
well made and enclosed in good outside box
inc Douy is anyways carrieu 10 the grave In o
good looking ambulance, accompanied by the
chaplain. A neat white head board, with a
black letter inscription, marks the spot and
gives the name, regiment, company, and State
Of the deceased, with the date of his death. DIR.
NJ. was not in favor of military escort In the
cases of deaths In hospitals.
Rev. Mr.. Gonzalves, chaplain of Epiphany
hospital, urged the necessity of reform In this
respect. Greater attention should be shown the
deceased soldiers In Washington
Rev. Mr.. Hatchet, Chaplain Of the Tenth
New York regiment, gave some incidents of the
manner of burying the dead on the battle-fields
before Richmond, and said he did not desire to
see such a system of burying adopted In the
city of Washington. NO.. D..
Rev. G. w. Denson also referred TO his ex.
perience In Winchester, where both Union and
rebel soldiers were buried by the Union SOL
oilers, with the services of chaplain of the
Union army. In every case an ambulance was
furnished, a flag thrown over the coffin, and
military escort provided. He was In favor of a
military escort In all cases here. II would do
good, and make solemn impressions.
After further debate, the motion for the APP
pointment ola committee was adopted, and the
chair appointed the following chaplains:
ii. g. Raymond, J. C. Smith, DIR. W. II.
Charming, DR.. McMurdy, Winchester, Con
valves, Northrup, and Lanehan.
The meeting then adjourned to next Wednes-
DEATHS OF SoLDIERs.-The following deaths
have occurred since our last report:
Ava Morehouse, company B, 18th Michigan,
at Emory hospital.
Luther Hendricks, company A, 9Th Virginia,
at Emory hospital.
W. Mcdonald, company l, lO5th Pennsylya-
mia, at st. Aloysius hospital.
Zephania Sanders, 18th Indiana battery, at
Trinity Church hospital.
james Carney, company y, Slst Pennsylva-
mia, at Mt. Pleasant hospital. H.,
John g. Twining, company |, 3lst New Jer-
Bey, at Mt. Pleasant hospital.
N. b. Sterrs, company X, 9th Ohio cavalry,
at Trinity Church hospital.
Homer @. Fletcher, company G, 18th Yer
mont. # "
John Frazer, company d, 18th U. s. infantry,
at Epiphany hospital.
A. Mcbride, company i, 35th New York, at
Emory hospital
Samuel Courtwright, company A, eth New
Jersey, at Emory hospital.