Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-05-19
The Christian Commission and
its GoDd Work.

!
this Heaven inspired organization is
doing in this terrible conflict to alleviate
its suffering and sorrows, we copy the
following letter from the Sunday School
Times. This is but one case, of which
there are thousands similar:
Sr. JonN's CoLLEoE HOSPITAL,
% ANNAPOLIS, April 4, 1854.
DEAR SIR feel that il is no more than
my duty to let you know something about
what the Christian Commission has done
for me, and to return 10 them my thanks
through you for the many favors they have
bestowed upen me-.
Had it not been for the kind services rem
dercd me by your delegates, do not believe
that should be living to-day.
was q member of Co. r., l08th n. Y.
State Vols, and with them participated in
the first Maryland campaign-was at Fred
ericksburg under Burnside, at Chancellor
vile under Hooker, and in the deadly con-
flict at Gettysburg. After all these engage
ments | have had occasion to admire the
earnest and faithful endeavors Of your dele
gates to minister to the wants of my suf
tering comrades, providing not only for their
temporal wants, but also caring for the in
terests of their souls
While lying in camp, destitute Of moral
or intellectual food, the Commission has al
ways been prompt to furnish us with liber.
al supply OF all the leading religious week
lies, also such magazines as Harper's, or the
Atlantic; and when there was fair pros
pee, of our remaining long in place, we
have had a camp library; thus our camp
life has been robbed of its ennui, while at
tue same time our morals have been i'm
proved.
Frequently, when we had no material
with which to communicate with home and
friends, we have received abundance Of sta
tionary, and if sick or wounded and unable
to write your delegates have been ready to
aid US, and always you have kept our regi-
ment well supplied with Testaments.
But | have more personal matters to write
about On the Sd of July last, while fight.
ing with my regiment resisting that fearful
charge which decided the battle in our favor,
my breast was pierced by mimic bail,
which passing through my left lung, came
out little under my shoulder blade. By
making strenuous effort contrived to
reach Gen. Meade's headquarters, from
whence was removed in an ambulance out
OF range Of shot and shell.
1t was dark when they laid me under a
tree surrounded by hundreds of my COM
rades who were wounded and dying, and as
my chaplain, Rev. Thomas Grassie, bent
over me and asked where my trust was
placed, the words of the Psalmist came in
voluntarily to my lips: Yea, though l
walk sthrough the dark valley and the
shadow Of death will fear no evil, for
thou art with me. thy rod end thy staff they
fnrt ma - Tho ne auiv mt
made an examination of my wound, but as
supposed that at that time the ball was in
me, he only looked at my breast He gave
me a sleeping powder, and throwing his
rubber blanket over me, left me, as he sup
posed, to die. During the next three or
four days, without pillow. or sufficient
covering, my clothes saturated with my own
blood, with no proper food, attended by
faithful comrade, (Sergt. John O'Connell,)
l lay scarcely daring to hope TOR life.
About noon one day saw in the distance
the silver badge of the Christian Commits
sion, and sending my cemrade, l soon had
its delegate by my side. In that delegate
recognized Brother Stillson. He was an
old friend, and we had been co,laborers in
the Sunday school work before the war COM
menced.
I1c ku6W uo III I'LL lustduU, uuu WltuOut
waiting to waste words, he supplied me with
year,, quilt, draught Of wine, some nice
soft crackers, cup of warm tea: then he
offered up an earnest prayer by my side, and
hastened away to secure some clean clothes;
then he removed my filthy garments, and in
doing that it was found that the ball had
passed through.
After all this had been done. ! felt as
though was st heme; for, my dear sir,
the delegate of the commission acts the
part of tender, loving mother, willing
father, an affectionate sister, sympathiz-
ing brother, and beloved pastor.
lay on the field until the 18th of July,
and received everything that could enhance
my comfort in such situation, and the
greatest share came from the Christian
Commission. For few days was cared
for by a surgeon connected with your society.
Without these comforts and necessaries
must have died. and as your agents were on
the ground to care personally for just such
cases as mine, and as a great providence or
dered it, L survived. ttWaI
But had you not been there, before orders
could have been written to secure the com
forts, &C., which needed from either the
sanitary or medical departments, 1 must
have died. 'A
From Gettysburg I was removed to the
Naval School Hospital here, and here again
7 received much benefit from your stores,
although here il was very different from
what it was 10 the field. Instead of reoeiv.
ing benefit exclusively from your organiza-
tion, received benefits from the Sanitary
Commission, as also from several private
sources. . Go on, then, with your great and
glorious work, and may your labors ever be
rewarded by him who hath said, "Inasmuch
as you have done it unto one Of the least oi
these my brethren, ye have done it unto
me-" cannot repay you for the good you
have bestowed upon me, but you have my
earnest prayers and warmest sympathies ia
the work in which you are engaged, and
trust that at the last day many will be able
to say that they have been saved from ar
eternal death by the Christian labors o.
your Commission. '.t s4 Hisf a
r. s Yours truly, s5 80 srF -nI