The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-07-29
To The Transcript.

/
To The Transcript.
Mr.. EDIToR:-I noticed in one of your
recent issues an article on the three
commissions, the Army Service Com
mission, the Sanitary, and the Christian
/ Commissions. The article was excel
lent and gave good account for each,
as any one must know that is at all ac-
quainted with the "doings of the war.
My heart goes out continually in as
piration, God bless the Christian
Commission" for their service to the
children of men in their most trying
need. Their labors ofloye are unceasing
their watchfulness for opportunities to
serve, their untiring zeal, their depri-
vations, and unrequited toll can only
be understood by those that have seen
and to some degree shared their labors
The amount of lives saved, suffering
relieved, souls fed and directed Heav-
onward, can only be known at the
great final day of accounts, where they
in their turn can, with the knowledge
of infinite wisdom and justice, secure
their reward. To illustrate q little:
On a cold stormy Sunday in January,
1868, when the rain, snow, and sleet
were constantly falling by turns, and
the roads such as no person could pos
sibly realize but those that have been
in that part of Virginia I'm time of
war;" detachment of sick and
wounded from the Army of the Poto
mac stationed at White Oaks Church,
numbering Ave hundred, were being
sent to the U. S. General Hospitals at
Washington to free the army of such
encumbrances, and to have them in
better quarters, preparatory to the sec
ond attack on Fredericksburg. This
, detachment were i'll waiting at Fail
mouth Sta ton between three and five
hours waiting orders" Oh this
b waiting orders, what an amount of
: misery it is father OIL These were in
II every conceivable state of suffering,
VI both from disease and want. Physi-
= cally from those that could barely walk
e to those that were carried on stretch
II ers, mentally sick at heart from defeat
/ and consequent suffering, homesick,
e soul sick, but not disloyal; hungry, wet,
: cold; some standing, some lying on the
/ snowy ground, some sitting with then
e arms clasped around their knees, wait
Is ing, thinking, for soldiers do think
n There, with their "wallets so scant
le who'd remember their sad case and be-
3 stow kind look in their pitiful face?'
y There did one. There at the Station
g was a little A tent of the Christian
4 Commission, in which was kind hear
and willing hand. With the help of {
few he picked up from the seryic'
- stationed there, he gave hot tea ant
coffee, bread and other nourishments
to the whole 500, and kind words, sub
stantial sympathy in all its forms, tina
his means and various cares required
: How many poor souls blessed the trul,
= christian acts of that cold wet Sabbath
- morning performed without ostentatiol
OF questioning, but i'll love to hi
brethren, fearing God, and serving hi
country.
% Now when see an appeal in the va
l. rious newspapers of the day, asking
N for good things for our suffering sol
.s diery, and the question being asked t.
: whom shall we send them, | answer
having seen and know what | say, SEM
all YOU can to the Christian Commis
III sion. They ,oiU be honest with wha
cd they receive of you; they have no Off
1t GERS to pay out of your donations; the,
H. take turns of few weeks or months
of and wait for the great pay day from
of on High; the pay roll will be made on
of according to the time and amount q
adj service. The government and its Off
ed GERS show great respect and helpin
IT. favor. The private's heart leaps for 10
nd when he sees their little badge Ia
knows there is unobtrusiue Kindness IN
an der it, good both for mind and bod,
Tor yet with all these considerations tn
H. Christian Commission lack meant
it. Pray send them all you can for tn
his sake of those you love, and your cour
ed try's sake, and those that labor SO faitl
in fully and lovingly for You.
Manchester, ~ H., July 1864 -