Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-02-09

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other and do most for the relief of the
suffering soldiers. So 1t should always
| be. Capt Davis of Massachusetts,
most humane and worthy officer who is
in command of College Green Barracks,
and whose business itOis TO receive and
provide for the paroled prisoners as they
arrive, spoke in the highest terms OF
both Commissions, and said he would
have the number OF them increased rather
than diminished Rev j. NJ. Clark and
Rev. G. II. Townsend, agents OF the
Christian Commission at these two
points are men of mature experience,
sound judgment, and great energy and
efficiency,
RELIGIOUS INTEREST.
The religious labor at the hospitals
has been chiefly in the form of personal
effort by the chaplains, agents Of the
Christian Commission and pious nurses.
What number have been thus led to
Christ, eternity alone will reveal.
At Camp Parole, where the soldiers
are able to attend religious meetings, it
is estimated that 800 have been convert
ed since May last and 200 of them since
August. There are instances of CONVEX
sion every week.
HEROIC NURSES.
Heroism in this war for our national
existence is not monopolized by the
sterner sex. Gentle woman is exhibit
ing her full share. One important
sphere of her services has been as nurse
in our hospitals. Some remarkable in
stances came to my notice at Annapolis.
On the day of my arrival there one Of
the female nurses died, and on the next
day, another, both of typhoid fever
Both had served from the beginning Of
the war, both were earnest, selfdenying
| christians, and both wore themselves
out by excessive labOrs for the sick and
dying soldiers, so that they were fitted
to fall an easy prey to that fatal disease,
One of them, Miss Yancey Of Morris
town, N. Y, had no near relative but a
brother. He entered the army early in
the war as a captain. She left home at
the same time to serve her country in a
no less important capacity. He had
just resigned his commission, and was
about to return home with this only
sister to rest from their severe labors.
| But alas he must go without her, for
she sleeps in the same cOnsecrated
ground with hundreds Of the braves she
so tenderly nursed, and so faithfully di-
rected to the Savior.
The other, Miss Rose M. Billings was
from Washington. The only entry found
in her diary for this year was this ex-
| pressive sentence: ~ feel that | am
wearing out" During her illness, in
anticipation Of enjoying rest and quiet
in the home of her widowed mother,
she said, "I'm going home to rest" Her
words proved prophetically true, but in
q different sense from that in which she
used them, for she has gone to that home
where "the weary are forever at rest"
Blessed is the memory of these mar
tyred heroines!
ARRIVAL OF PAROLBD PRISONERS.
On January 18th, during my visit at
Annapolis, a small company of paroled
prisoners, mostly officers, arrived from
Richmond on the flag Of truce boat New
York, Capt. Chisholm. Among them
were two chaplains, Rev. J. G. Emerson
OF New Hampshire, and Rev. John L.
Irwin, West Virginia, and eleven sur.
geons, one of whom was DR.. Finn, for
merly of Fort Edward and brother OF
the late P. T. Finn. They brought some
hard samples of corn bread and sorghum
bread which constituted the chief part
of their rations. They brought numbers
of letters and papers, some of the former
being curiously secreted to prevent theil
being discovered by the rebels. One
surgeon brought two between the lining
and the outside of the heel of his boot
one in the bottom of a box of pills and
one in his mouth. Chaplain irwin
opened one of the buttons on his coa+
and took out q finely written and neat
ly folded letter. They complained o
hard usage, still they were all in pretty
good health and spirits. They doubt
less Jared better than private soldiers.
BRRNICR d. ANEs.