The Soldiers' journal. (Rendezvous of Distribution, Va.) 1864-1865, 1864-03-23


cient support, is knowledge of what it has
done is doing, and purposes to do This infor-
nation the Commission has, at different times,
and by piecemeal, furnished: necessarily by
piecemeal, since, this book justly remarks,
the immense mass of details which circum-
stantial account of its operations in field and
hospital must involve, would prove nearly as
laborious in the reading as in the performance,
In this little volume we have, photographed, a
single phase of its operations. 1t consists sim
ply of extracts from letters and reports. There
is no attempt at completeness dramatic ar
rangement; yet the most elaborate grouping
would probably fail to present one-half accu-
rately picture of the work and it's ways as
these unpretending fragments. 1t delights us
to see they've can hardly say cheerful, as that
savors too much of the self-sacrfice' which
benevolence sometimes furnishes by talking
about-but rather, the gay, lively, merry
ner in which the most balky matters are taken
hold of. Men and women seem To have gone
into the service with goodwill and hearty love
and buoyant spirits. 1t refreshes and strength
ems us like a tonic to read of their taking the
wounded, fostering, filthy, miserable men,
washing and dressing them, pouring in lemon
ade and beef tea, and putting them abed and
asleep. There is not word about DEVOTION
or 'ministering angels 1--WE could wish there
were not quite so much about ladies y but
honest, refined, energetic, able women, with
quick brains and quick hands, now bathing
poor crazy head with ice-water, to be rewarded
with one grateful smile from the parting soul
now standing in the way of procession of the
slightly wounded, to pour a little brandy down
their Threats, or put an orange into their hands,
just to keep them up till they reach food and
rest-now running up the river in a steam tug,
scrambling eggs ia a wash basin over a spirit
lamp as they go-now CROPPING their way at all
hours of the night, through torrents of rain, in
to dreadful places crammed with sick and dying
men, calling back to life those in despair from
utter exhaustion again and again catching
for mother or wife the last whispers of the dy-
ing'-now leaving their compliments to serve
disappointed colonel instead of his dinner, which
they had nipped in the bud by dragging away
the stove with it's four fascinating and not-to-be-
withstood pot holes land let the suffers name
be wreatbed with laurel who not only permitted
this, but offered his cart and mule to drag the
stove to the boat, and would take no pay.
The blessings of thousands who were ready
to PERISH and of tens of thousands who love their
country and their kind rest upon those who
originated, and those who sustain, this noble
work. Let the peoples heart never faint and its
hand never weary but let it, of it's abundance,
give to this Commission full measure, pressed
down, shaken down, and running over, that
wherever the red trail of war is seen, it's divine
footsteps may follow--that wherever the red
hand of war is lifted to wound, it's white hand
may be lifted to heal-that it's work may never
cease until it is assumed by great Christian
Government, or until peace once more reigns
throughout the land. And even then, gratitude
for its service, and joy in it's glory shall never
A. A