Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-12-11
@Ortester 4ailg SPY.
The woundedIn the Late virginia Right
LETTER FROM REV. LEMUEL MOSS.

LETTER FROM REV. LEMUEL MOSS.
ALEXANDRIA, VA, Dec. 5, 1868.
To the Editor Of the Spy Last night the
wounded arrived here from the army of the
Potomac. 1t had been a week since most of
them received their injuries, during the great
er part of which time they had been in ambu
lances, drawn over roads where five or six
miles day was good travelling. They were
then transferred to box and platform freight
cars, and brought between fifty and sixty
miles by rail. Their wounds had been as well
cared for as circumstances would permit.
The sanitary commission met them here with
hot coffee and other refreshments. With my
fellow delegates of the Christian commission,
l assisted in unloading and conveying to the
hospitals these suffering and brave men.
From half past five o'clock until after mid
night we were engaged in the holy work. No
description can approximate just statement
of the scene. All forms of wound and all
degrees of suffering were here. One leg off,
both legs off, one arm off, both arms off, shot
through the head, the thigh fractured, the
back hurt, &C., &c. The large majority were
slightly injured; few fatally. Two or three
died on the ambulances, before being trans
ferred to the cars. One died on the cars, a
few moments before reaching the city But
the most wonderful of all was the cheerfulness
and buoyancy OF the men. No complaint, no
murmuring, no dependency. There was a
marvellous self-helpfulness about them-al-
most unwilling to acknowledge their need of
4 1r..l
the least kindness. You wished, perhaps, to
express some cOmmiseration or sympathy, but
you were made to feel that any expression
possible to you would be pitifully inadequate
beside their lofty endurance, while your best
sympathy would be the silent and tender help
they required. So in the mild evening, under
the star-lit sky, we thought of our homes and
their homes, of the great cause for which they
suffered, Of. the sin which makes war, and the
war which scOurges sin, of the righteous God
who rules and watches over all, of the compass
siOnate tGsus who himself bore our sickness.
es, and we worked on with only necessary
words, receiving their arms around our necks
and lifting them softly as we could to their
ambulance, or laying them on stretchers to be
borne to the comfortable and well appointed
military hospitals which fill the place. 1t
gave ms new conceptions of heroism and pa
represented. We shall never, in this life at
least, know whom we helped or how many
lines of affection and interest from parents,
wives, brothers, sisters, children, lovers, CEN
tered in these mangled heroes, nor will they
ever know who helped them but the memo
ry and experience of both parties will be the
richer for this strange meeting and inter-
change of help, for we received more than we
gave.
The value of both the sanitary and the
christian commission has received new de
monstration. have already referred to the
former The delegates of the latter were
providentially at the point of greatest need
during the recent movement. They gave
much aid in caring for the wounded, getting
breakfast one morning for more than six hun
dred, Supplying cordials, delicacies, &C. Many
of the men last night were warm in praise of
the christian commission, some asserting that
but for this they would have persisted. To-
day our delegates have been visiting these
sufferers at the hospitals, writing letters, drop
ping words of sympathy and counsel, finding
them ready to welcome religious minlstra
tons. Will the church of our country
strengthen the hands and enlarge the re-
sources of the commission for all departments
of its blessed work? 1t will yield an abund-
ant reward in the blessings of those who are
ready to perish, and in the approval of Him
whose name we wear and whose benevolence
for the souls and bodies of men we would inn
itate.
1t has been suggested to me, by letter
from home, that the school children would be
glad to make housewives" for the soldiers,
if assured that they were needed. They j
would be gratefully received, especially by
the large army in the field. | found skein
of thread in my satchel while in the army
of the Potomac, and divided it out as though
it were gold, receiving blessing for every
thread. Let the housewives" be made plain
and strong, occupy as little room as possible,
fasten with button and elastic cord, contain
some strong thread, a few buttons, needles,
pins, &c. If to these were added pair of
cheap tweezers, cheap thimble and little
letter of sympathy in simple words, bearing
the makers name, it would form a present
more precious than boxes Of sweetmeats.
LEMUEL Moss.