The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1865-05-11
Trttrrs from tbr Armp.
Correspondence Of the News
The Christian Commission Letter
from Rev. L. F. Van Cleve.
POINT Rock, Va, April 13, 1865.


POINT Rock, Va, April 13, 1865.
Having felt deep interest in the de.
signs of this organized Christian chari.
ty from its beginning, and having gone
out to perform a part of its work,
propose now, from the standpoint Of
experience and close observation, to
give to the readers of the News a con
densed statement Of its practical work.
ings, ....
THE DELEGATES
are christian men who are supposed
to have the religious welfare of the
soldier so much at heart that they
are willing to perform all manner
of service, and practice every neoes
sary self.denial for the good of our
noble defenders who have periled their
all for our native land. But am sorry
to say that there are two classes Of dele
gates in the f.ld. One class of them
are faithful to their work, and often
have to bo restrained from over-sx.
hausting themselves by excessive labor.
With them, no field is too hard, no
work too humble, so they may diminish
suffering and arouse to its proper exer-
else the moral seDsibilities Of the SOL
dier.
The other class are denominated
"sight-seers." With m uch assumed SOL
cmn concern for the "poor soldier, "
they have obtained com mmissions as dele
gates and rushed to the front, by the
aid of the facilities afforded by the
Government to the e"Commissiou, where
they seek no work at all, and if one
is assigned them they stay only while
it is convenient, and while it secures
them bed and board, and then leave il
for the next new excitement. They are
generally great gathcrcrs of relics, and
they love to go over the battle-felda
just after the battle, that they may have
great stories to relate Of what they saw
These men have very decided charac
ter among soldiers and delegates, anG
> are known only TO be despised. As al
the work of the delegate is wholly
) gratuitous, their expenses of board anG
travelling are paid, but these person:
are accustomed to dwell largely on theil
sacrifices of time, &c, and urge that a.
a reason why they should not be re.
strained in their pursuit of the marvel.
Gus. Usually this class of delegates
has borne a small proportion to those
who work for God, and the soldiers
good. Recently, however, we have haG
} great h1od Of what are called 'emer
gency men" nearly all of whom are o
this worse than useless class. They
: have followed the late battles with the
Ostensible design of rendering relief ia
an emergency, for eight or ten days
and then return. But no sooner dc
they arrive than, Instead of seeking 9
, hospital, with haversack filled will
comforts, and ready hands to labor
they draw on their emergency kids,
clean linens and FURNISHED boots, anC
rush with bustling haste to the Offices o
.
the military. and Commission officers
for permits to Richmond and Peters
burg and the battle-felds, diligently in
quiring where they will find the point
Of greatest interest. They can scarcel
"get round" to their satisfaction unit
their term of emergency service" i
past, and we see them no more. The
have had cheap trip, but all friend
10 Of the soldier would rejoice if they ha
no successors; and undevout officials ar
prov oksd by them to the utterance Q
many a curse that but for their comm
might have slumbered in eternal 81
ence.
THE DELEGATES work.
In an enterprise of such magnitud
. as this some must be men Of businet
capabilities, for the purpose of arraul
ing the work and sending forwar
stores of various kinds. No positio
70 involves greater perplexity aud self d,
nial than this.
Stations are established at all propt
places, from the rear at home to the o,
d treme front, for the purpose of furnisl
ing men and means. In the arm
proper stations are established at col
venicnt Intervals, where a chapel, rea,
ing room (whero soldiers may res
write home, and read papers and Il
few books we have) and kitchen al
delegates room, are erected, and Il
work so parcel9d out that all regimen
may have Christian papers taken
- them once a week, at least, letter sheC
to write home upon, aud a hundred |
tie eOnVeniences such as a man in t