The Soldiers' journal. (Rendezvous of Distribution, Va.) 1864-1865, 1864-02-24

=
that month in regimental hospital" it is very
sad to re-write these facts to the widowed moth
err, or the only brother sister, whose hope has
been alive at all times, though only upheld by
uncertainty.
But there are other letters than these that are
painful to write: for example, Private Jacob
-, of the --th Maine volunteers, company X,
deserted from his regiment on the 10th of No
vember, and has not since been heard from.'-
The clerk tells us that he had rather write to
such mans friends that he had died of the most
lingering and painful disease than to send them
such record. Another sad case is such as this,
and not unfrequently, we understand: "Henry
-, of the til Iowa volunteers, was last seen
in the engagement of ---, and, as his body
was not found, is supposed to have been taken
prisoner by the rebels' ~
But we were glad to learn that whatever salts
faction there may be in allaying the anxieties and
fears of friends with even the worst tidings-
giving them gloomy certainties, such we have
noted it is much oftener the pleasing task of the
clerk to write such a letter this Your son
is well and on duty with his regiment as late as
two weeks since. A letter addressed --, will
be quite certain to reach him p or this: 1t af-
fords me pleasure to inform you that your bro
Their, though severely wounded as you had
heard, at the battle of Chickamauga, is slowly
recovering at 18th corps hospital We saw
some of the letters received, and were permitted
to take a few notes. A letter from Yorkshire,
England commences it's address with " NY
Lord,'' desiring news of John c., who had
not been heard of for fifteen months. He was
answered that John G. had been in an hospital
in Arkansas, but was well and again with his
| regiment.
A lady in Connecticut, after making an inquf-
ry writes: " A few days ago poor woman told
me these things about her son, saying she never
expected to hear from him again-supposing he
was dead. She was told about the Sanitary
Commission-how they so often gave the infor-
nation desired-and offered to write for her,
and see if anything reliable could be obtained
from such limited knowledge of factss' The
son found in Southern hospital, where he
had been for some time, but expected to be dis
charged soon. Upon communicating the facts to
the lady who wrote for the information, another
letter was received from her. which is so good
and so cheering to every worker in the Commits
sion that we gladly awaited ourselves of the per-
mission to make the following extract: 81 have
not yet seen IS mother, but will venture to
make immediate return of thanks in her behalf
for the large benefit she has received through
your instrumentality. Had a friend in such a
case I should consider a full expression of graft
tude impossible; or that my best efforts in be-
half OF such an organization, that could afford
such relief could never compensate for value
received. I confess that, with all my faith in
the Commission, am surprised and no less
gratifed at the success of your investigation, be-
cause of the meagreness of the facts sent you.
AS long there is need for noble effort to relieve
the sorrows of our nations mighty heart, may