The Soldiers' journal. (Rendezvous of Distribution, Va.) 1864-1865, 1864-03-23
.ltfkk Erona the Sanitary Reporter
Testimonial.


The following beautiful testimonial to the San
itary Commission is copied from late number
| of the atlantic Monthly where it forms notice
Of the little book entitled, g Hospital Trans
ports" Surprising that very many of our CO.
workers will fail to see it where originally pub
lished and, but for our Intervention, never know
what good things are said of us and them, we
reproduce it for their benefit:
eff pure benevolence was ever organized and
utilized into benevolence, the name of the insti-
tuition is the Sanitary Commission. 1t is stand
ing answer to Samson's riddle: Out of the
strong came forth sweetness Out of the very
depths of the agony of this cruel and bloody
war springs this beautiful system, built of the
noblest and divinest attributes of the human
soul. Amidst all the heroism of daring and en-
during which this has developed, amidst all
the magnanimity of which it has shown the race
capable, the daring, the endurance, the greatness
of soul which have been discovered among the
men and women who have given their lives to
this work, shine as brightly as any on the battle
field-in some respects even more brightly. They
have not the bray of trumpets the clash of
swords to rouse enthusiasm, nor will the land
ever resound with their victories. Theirs is the
dark and painful side, the mental and hidden
side, but made light and lovely by the spirit that
shines in and through ALL Glimpses of this
agency familiar to people; but not till
the history of its inception, progress and results
is calmly and adequately written out and spread
before the public, will any idea be formed of the
magnitude and Importance of the work which it
has DONE Nor even then. Never, TIL every
soldier whose last moments it has soothed, till
every soldier whose pickering life it has gently
steadied into continuance whose waning reason
it has softly lulled into quiet, whose chilled
blood it has warmed into healthful play whose
falling frame it has nourished into strength,
whose fainting heart it has comforted with SYM
pathy-never, until every full soul has poured
out its story of gratitude and thanksgiving, will
the record be complete; but long before that
time, ever since the moment that its helping
hand was first held forth, comes the Blessed
Voice, 'Inasmuch as we have done it unto one
of the least of these my brethren, we have done
it unto me-
can institution asking of Government only
permission to live and opportunity to work,
planting itself firmly and squarely on the gen
erosity of the people, subsisting solely by their
freewill offerings, it is a noble monument of the
intelligence, the munifcence, and the efficiency
of free people, aud of the alacrity with which
it responds when the right chord is rightly
touched. 1t is however, not unnatural that
doubts should exist as to the success of a plan
so far-reaching in it's aims, and hitherto so I'M
tried. Stories have been circulated of a merce-
nary disposition of its stores and trickery among
it's officers. Where these stories have found con-
siderable credence, they have been tracked to
their source and triumphantly refuted; but it
would indeed be hardly less than miraculous, if
an institution ramifying SO widely, with agents
so numerous, and resources so extensive, should
| have no knaVeS among its servants and no waste