The Soldiers' journal. (Rendezvous of Distribution, Va.) 1864-1865, 1864-05-25
THE SOLDIERS JOURNAL.
LOCAL AND PERSONAL ITEMS.

LOCAL AND PERSONAL ITEMS.
READING MATTER FOR THE ARMY.-To the
tract literature as much any other character
of reading matter and religious effort might be
attributed the remarkable religious interest man
Tested and reformation effected in armies
within the past year, and too much attention
cannot be bestowed upon its publication and Cir
culation. Although the efforts of the different
associations engaged in this good work have
already been attended with marvellous success,
let it not be forgotten that the more abundantly
the seed is sown the more plentiful will be the
harvest and it is therefore important that no eff
fort should be spared to supply the armies with
a superabundance of such reading matter. While
it might be considered superf1uous to refer to
particular tracts, we cannot refrain from men
tioning or two that have come under our
notice recently, which, from their titles and gen
eral composition, strike being peculiarly
appropriate for army circulation. The ReUeiIJe
and The Reconnaissance, by Rev. w. f. Ware,
seem to have been prepared for active service,
and partaking in some degree OF the military
caste, will doubtless prove very instructive to
those who are called to the Reconnaissance by
the " reveille," while the perusal of "A Letter
to o. Sick So1dier,' will constitute profitable re-
creation, and at the same time instruct patients
in hospitals GO Hon. to Spend Holy Time" We
recommend these ana all SuCn LITERATURE 10 Uuo
perusal of soldiers everywhere.
Two HUNDRED AND FIFTY DEsERTERs, against
whom there were substantial proofs of inten-
tional violation of law, were released from arrest
on Wednesday last, under orders from Depart
mental Headquarters, the charge of "desertion "
having been removed in consideration of their
expressing a willingness to proceed to the field
and vindicate their characters, soldiers, by
deeds which will place them, in valorous patriot
ism, an equality with their comrades who
- snned not.' The wisdom of this measure
will be apparent when we state that should they
have awaited the adj ustment of the charges in
the usual way, weeks, and perhaps months, must
have elapsed before their cases could have been
disposed of and their services made available to
the nation Gen. Augur has done good thing
for the service by this proceeding, while 1T can't
fail of producing feeling Of lively gratitude
among the men to whom it applies.
THE Posi- STRING BAND is rapidly acquiring
well deserved distinction by its musical enter
tainments and complimentary serenades. The
pleasant moonlight evenings which have prevail
ed of late have been advantageously employed by
this corps of excellent performers, and we are
requested to express to them the thanks of Miss.
Bradley Surg. Sutton and the attaches of the
Sanitary Commission and Angur Hospital for
the rich treat with which they favored those in
situations on Friday evening last
Col. w. G. TALLEY, LIST Penna. Res, left camp
for the field Friday last, in charge OF a battal-
ion numbering between five and six hundred
men, including the prisoners recaptured from
the enemy by Gen. Sheridan. Before leaving,
al tot hnD0