Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-06-28
UNITED STATEs CHHIsrIAH COMMISSION,
q BzAHoH OEYIoE, 500 h STREET,
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| UNITED STAFKs CHRISTIAN COMMISSION, !
BzAHoH OEYIoE, 500 h STREET,
WAsHsGrOE, D. G., June y, 1854.
L. r. Mellsn, Secretary of tAs CltViLaHd
Army COm1ittss .-f l..
Dean BRoEHER: have the pleasure Of
sending brief report to the Cleveland
Committee. I left Cleveland Tuesday
morning, June 14th, and after q rough and
tumble, dust and ashes journey, arrived
in Washington on the 10th ct about seven
o'clock P. n. We, myself and Brother
Maginnis, were assigned for night quar-
tiers to 3 hotel, the Commission Rooms all
being fullfor the night. l es.a
June 16.-FseI much refreshed, are IS.
signed for labor to the Lincoln Hospital,
about two miles from the Rooms. After
waiting for dinner We take our outfit for
hospital work, consisting Of hsVsrsaok
filed with papers, book, tracts and cOrdials
for the sick and wounded, and hasten to
to the field of labor. Here the scenes
beggers description Wounded, sick, Head
and dying are all around Us. Calls for
sympathy and help are on every hand.
Here in this hospital are nearly three
thousand sick, wounded snd dying men.
They are almost universally eager 10 see
and talk with the Delegates Of the Chris
tisn Commission. They are constantly
reaching out to Us for the brssd and water
Of life. On Sunday last I stood by
the couch of dying rebel He
was shot through the back Just below the
shoulders, and b deep thst il had pene
trated the lungs, and he, for the most part,
bresthed through the wound instead Of the
throat. He Wss the most Wretched look
ing man 1 ever saw. The Ward.master
told me he had made more adoo and noise
about his sufferin gs than all the rest Of the
men in the ward put together. He has
gone to his reward. l-. I
cOnVerssd with one OF our wounded
men VINO was from Brooklyn, New
York. He was wounded the third
Of June before daylight in the
morning, and lsy on the battlefield six
days and nights with nothing to eat or
drink except the grass and clover heads
he could pick, and suck the dew from the
cloth Of his cos'. He manages to drag
himself about one thousand yards to the
side Of rail fence, and while laying here
they made charge over the fence, throw
ing the rails over his bleeding and wound.
ed body. On the hfth day rebel ssWhim
and taking deliberate aim shot him
through the hips and left him still help
less and unprotected. The sixth dsy q
rebel officer came to him and said, "You
have good pair Of shoes and will take
them" He did take them, and his stock
ings, too. Ho also took his cap from hi.
head. The wounded man said to the offs
Ger, "Will you be so kind as to give me =
drink Of water from your esnteenT The
reply was, ''stop Jour d-d Yankee noise
or III hloW your brains out" The sew
enth day he was picked up by our men
and brought here where he is telling me
his story. He became faint, and bsthed
his head and face with csmphor, which
revived him, and I asked him II, in the
midst Of sll his sufHerings he had the
comforts Of religion to lean upon. He
said with emphasis, 81 do I feel as
though if l should die before night
all is Well.D he is sixty four years Of age
and has wife and seven children. The
name Of the rebel officer who robbed him
was Atticks, Of South Carolins. The ball
that wounded him last penetrated his
pocket book, passing through one sheet Of
emory paper, q small account book, and
twenty six letters written to him by his
friends saw the pOoket-bOOk with the
hole through It.
In talking with some rebel prisoners,
one said ave are g cheerful set Of fell
lows, sin't WEI" 1 replied l should think
you might be- for you have every
thing done for yOI that can be-,
and l wish our boys in the Libby
had the same reason TO be cheerful that
you have. l oOnVersed with q number
who were candid chriistisn men, and they
told me they were for the old hsg-tbst
they repudisted the war, and should never
have been in II, but for being oonscriptsd.
They said the people ofths South generally,
we're sick Of the War and lOnged for peace
and Union.
gave them tracts and papers which
they were pleased to receive, that is, those
who could read, for many Of them could
not read. 1t is true, that some Of them
were rather stubborn and unwilling to
give up. They were the best specimen Of
Northern COppephesds have anywhere
seen. offered one Of them 9 paper, or
asked him if he would like one 2 He said
he would like one we'll enoug, and then,
with hesitsting air, as though conscious
Of its utter improprietY, srid, al would
like little money better" I told him
our money Was for those who were sac
riheing themselves for their country g
good, and not for those who were sndesv-
oring to destroy it. He looked q little
crest fallen, and think he'll not again
ask for money instead Of the comforts and
privileges which we give them.
daily distribute papers, books and tracts,
and talk with hundrscs on the subject Of
personal religion. also pray with and
for them, and write letters for any who
are unable themselves to write. The work
is sIduous, but it is glorious. IneVer felt
more sure that was doing the viii Of my
Master than now.
found sick BOY Of seventeen years Of
age, and on asking him if he had any
brothers in the army, the tears started in
his eyes as he said; 1 have nc
brother now. l had three, and they
have all died in the army. 0ne was
starved to death in Libby Prison, one Wal
killed in hattie, snd one died in the hos.
pitsl, and here am sick from sun. stroke
He has no parents, and is lone orphan
in the world.
One poor fellow who was wounded snd
too weak to read, received letter from
his beloved wife. He requested the dele
, gate to open it at once, ant see who il wa
from. The delegate opened and read thG
I signature as follows: nFrom your affec
ti0nste wife, Jenny" Oh, said the sicH
I and Wouneed man, viii you be 50 kind
sir, as to read il az to me The whole Wsl
{ read to him, he weeping for joy all th'
, time. When the reading Wss finished hC
| aaid @ O sir HnnL unr nlaaaa rad IL nn-l