The Soldiers' journal. (Rendezvous of Distribution, Va.) 1864-1865, 1864-03-30
THE SOLDIERS JOURNAL.
LOCAL AND PERSONAL ITEMS.


CAMP LIBRARY.-Of no nation is it so charac-
teristic as the American to read, for the reason
that the sun does not shine upon any people so
highly favored in their educational facilities as
own. There has never been an army of the
same magnitude organized in the world where
there was less nlteracy than is found in the fed
eral armies of the present day, and this being
the case, an institution established to supply the
soldiers with reading matter is of incalculable
Importance, and must be attended with the most
signal advantages. To Mr. Mellen, citizen
missionary of Boston, Mass, the service owes an
inestimable debt of gratitude for his earnest eff
forts to supply the troops with substantial and
abundant stock of interesting literature. To him
this camp owes the collection of library of over
six thousand volumes, contributed by the SUM-
day School children of Massachusetts, and no
better evidence of the high appreciation of his
work by the men could be cited than the fact that
his books are found in the hands of almost every
inmate of the camp. By his earnest and patriot
ic devotion to the interests of the soldier he has
proved himself missionary in truth, and as
such will long be remembered by those to whom
the benefits of his labors have come. In addi-
ton to the books issued from the library, vast
amount of stationery is distributed gratuitously
among the men. We extend to Mr.. Mellen and
his generous and patriotic juvenile friends the
earnest gratitude of appreciative soldiery,
and wish him unlimited success in his noble en-
terprise.
A DISTINGUISHED LECTURER.--We have never
seen a more attentive and appreciative audience
convened on any occasion in the army than as
sembled on Wednesday evening last, in the cha
pei to listen to an address from Hon. Mr.. Nor
rill, u. s. Senator from the State of Maine. At
ter brief review of the general politics of the
country, in which he alluded in pertinent terms
to the men who were his former associates in the
national councils but now head the.rebellion for
the overthrow of the government, he proceeded
to the discussion of the subject in hand-Tem-
perance among the soldiers. He first paid his
auditory high compliment for their patriotic
devotion to the country, as evinced in their re-
linquishment of the comforts and security of
civil life and assumption of the obligations of
military service, which is fraught with much
of privation, exposure and peril and after ex-
hibiting in a most able manner the evils pro-
duced by intemperance, and the benefits derived
from total abstinence, closed with an earnest ex-
hortation to them to preserve themselves from
the disgrace and misery which the use of ardent
spirits would bring upon them, and at the same
time battle valiantly for the maintenance of the
national integrity and perpetuity. During the |
delivery of his address the honorable gentleman
was frequently interrupted by the applause of |
the audience.
MIR. EZRA ROUNDS formerly Chief Ward Mas |
Ter of the New England Division, but now in |
charge of the troops belonging to the Southern |
Departments, has rendered us invaluable assis- |
lance as an agent for the sale of the JOURNAL
Mr.. Rounds has proved himself a most efficient |
and worthy officer by the signal ability which |