Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-07-09
BATTLEFIELD WORK.

| BATTLEFIELD WORK.
A battlefield may be as follows, or some
thing like it. In length say ten miles, and
five in breadth. Lengthwise from end to
end, the two opposing lines of battle are
formed mile or two apart. The battle
begins as an artillery duel. Men fall along
both lines, and are carried back. The
surgeons of each army corps select a point
conveniently in the rear for their own
wounded men. Thus five, six, or more
corps hospitals are formed in an irregular
line at wide intervals apart in the rear of
each army. As the battle proceeds, one of
the contending armies, in advancing line
or solid column, assaults the other, and
either succeeds or is repulsed, when the
intermediate space between the two lines
becomes the scene of terrific carnage The
tide of battle may sway from line to line
until one or the other Yields at last, and
is driven back or routed, when carnage is
extended as far as the victors pursue the
vanquished. Over all this field lie strewn
the dead and wounded. Those who can
crawl, hobble, or walk, seek shelter in
some house or barn, or make their way to
the hospitals Of their own army corps,
whilst others must lie and suffer hunger
thirst, and anguish, until taken up and car
ried on stretchers or IN ambulances to the
hospital
Thus the field Delegate work on the
field is arranged as follows:
All is under direction of a general field
agent. He selects a place central to the
general field for headquarters There
store is secured, or two if needed Tor tents
are pitched) and placed in charge of a del
egate, who acts as agent, with one two or
more to assist him in receiving and open
ing stores, and giving them out to the
proper persons. The delegation is divided
into committees, each having its own chair
man or captain, and corps hospital is as
signed to each committee. The committees,
each for itself, pitch tent and open out
central to the tents of the several hospitals
to which they are assigned, and from
thence seek supplies from Commission
headquarters at the general station for
their work.
This the arrangement. The work be- |
gins while the battle RACES. The delegate, |
under direction of the surgeon,-for, what |
ever is done for the wounded or sick, must,
in every possible instance be done under
the direction of the surgeon,-assists in
gathering the wounded from the field, even
under the guns of the enemy if need be,
and at the hospital assists the surgeons at
the amputating table, or strips off the
bloody garments from the mangled men,
washes them, and puts clean clothes upon
them or prepares and gives food or drink
to them, as the case may be.
When the conflict is over, then comes
the work of saving life abroad upon the
field, by seeking out and ministering to
men in extremity, and also in the hospi-
-als where gathering thousands need
timely service or they must Gie.
This, with receiving messages from the
suffering heroes and writing for them to
heir friends directing them to the Great
Physician, giving Christian burial to the
lead, and such religious services as the
will permit, is the general
delegate work on the battlefield - -'
This in brief is the work of delegates.
This term of service is, for battlefield
work, two weeks or the emergency; for the
lr1ny work, four to six weeks. [
Delegates outfit should be very simple
A respectable coarse suit linen coat,
with q few shirts, collars, and socks will
be better than any more elaborate outfit
o be taken from home. A blanket and
strap and haversack,, tin cup, and badge
ire furnished by the Commission.
Bibles, Testaments, soldiers books. pa
oers, and tracts, with stores, are provided
BY the Commission in the field at each
station for gratuitous distribution.
Delegates receive no pay for their SER
vices, but their expenses are borne by the
Commission.
Money for expenses, if need be, is ad-
yanced, and the Commission has subsis-
5ence arrangements for delegates at all
stations made by field agents.
The Commission desire to send only good
men, men that are strong physically.
-Four things are indispensable, piety and
patriotism, good common sense and energy
Men who do not succeed elsewhere should
lever be sent to the army, for they will
urely fail.
None should be accepted who desire to
7isit the army or a battle field for any pur-
1oss whatever aside from the work of the
Commission.
Application can be made in person or
oy letter to L. F. Mellen, Secretary Cleve-
and Army Committee. :
HOOP SKIRTS. = ANY PERSON /
IL wishing to purchase one OF more Of the best
Hoop Skirts in the city, and such as will positively
1--WE satisfaction certainly be suited BY calling
jliys Cor, superior.st. and Pnbiie s.ns2I.