The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-01-18
Nashville Correspondence.


delegate OF the Christian Commission. One
week ago l started from Detroit. going by
rail to Cincinnati, and thence, by boat TO
Louisville, where, on Saturday morning
early, reported at the branch there located
Of the Christian Commission. On the way
from Cincinnati met with two other dele
gates from the Ohio board bound, ike my
sell, for Nashville, end hoping to 90 for
ward Immediately But military rule in this
region is very strict; and no one is permitted
/ 10 pass through 10 Nashville without pass
signed by the proper military authority.
was, on this account, compelled TO remain
in the service Of the Commission az Louis
vile until pass could be obtained from
Nashville. This was the less to be regretted
as was able, by this delay, to obtain a
knowledge Of the work at Louisville which
might not have been otherwise possible
Partly By necessity and partly by choice, my
stay was prolOng from Saturday to this
Thursday morning. l will endeavof to
communicate briefly some facts which have
come under my knowledge
There are in and about Louisville fur
teen hospitals filed with sick and wounded
men. This estimate includes the hospitals
in New Albany and Jacksonville on the In
diana side OF the river. The number OF
patients in these hospitals varies, Of course,
very much with the military status Of the
Western department. just now large num-
Der OF patients are being sent from Nash
vile TO Louisville. have heard the opinion
expressed that not far from u, 900 patients
are located IN the hospitals in and about
Louisville. Probably this is not far from
correct. The largest Of these, indeed il is
said, in the country, and, perhaps, in the
world, is the Jefferson Hospital, one mile
east OF Jacksonville, Ind 1t has am
pie accommodations in its twenty-four
wards for 1900 to 5000 patients, and can,
If crowded 10 the utmost, receive 5, 900.
The arrangements for cooking, ventilation,
&c, are very perfect. The entire building
is lighted by gas; cooking is done 10y steam,
and q set OF large ovens will bake nine hun
dred lOaves at once. Like most Of the other
hospitals, this is now well filed, more with
sick than wounded men-with frequent re-
Inducements from Nashville as men are
able 10 bear transportation. Besides the
Jefferson Hospital, visited the Foundry
Hospital. in Louisville, and at New Albany,
the Floating Hospital on the boat "Ohio,"
and Hospital No 5-the last filed entirely
with colored troops Sabbath morning
was at Taylor Barracks, and held meeting
with some OF the 1924 and l23d US Co
lored Infantry, stationed at that point. One
day was spent in the camp OF the 10th .
Missouri Cavalry, which is located two or
three miles out Of the city. One evening
was al the Refugees Home, located near
The rooms Of the Christian Commission.
There were tfty-four persons, from an in
ANT four weeks old to persons OF perhaps
orty or fifty years Of age, destitute, house
ess, many OF them orphans, utterly de-
pendent on the providence OF God, and the
charity Of those whose hearts the Lord
opens to bestow money, food or shelter
They are now under the care OF the Rev.
tr Sedgwick. / make these statements
o show what is the nature and amount of
he work which the Christian Commission
as TO do. The hospitals, the soldiers in
amp near the city and those located in
arracks in the city, furnish an abundant
ED for the labors Of many more delegates
han have been found ready TO labor at that
oint To bring TO the sick, wounded and ,
wing the consultations OF religion; TO pre-
are the soldiers OF our country for
Tristan life or christian death-this is,
) II should be, the great object OF the Com
lission-but it is not the only object, and I
ne mention OF this by no means exhausts
heir work Indeed, 10 speak broadly, the
beet sincerely arrived at, and as perfectly I,
3 can be by any human instrumentality,
ttained, is to do good TO the bodies and :
Ouls of soldiers.
Prominent among these agencies is the '
istribution OF suitable reading matter, and .
indy personal conversation. In camp or '
ospital the soldier has abundant leisure. b
low this shall be employed depends quite j
Irgely on the influences that surround him :
the kind of work that is put into his hand 2
oldiers will read anything and everything
lat comes in their way: however it is 4
ork OF no little Importance 10 put into s
leir hands tnat which when read, may n
i'm their Thoughts to higher views of life I
nd truer views OF duty than they have !,
nown before. In my little experience, | $
ave found no one who would refuse book b
hen offered him, and have seen not a few "
amorous for reading. 1.-THE delegate sees :.
70 speak directly Of God, and duty and h
lie love Of Jesus. TO the man in the hospi- h
j. the serious face, and sometimes the Sc
llckiy starting tear, reveal what the lips :
e quite ready 10 cOntess-"Tve thought u
that heap Of times since I've been living s
re" Men who at homo thought little OF u
hgion, who in the army were perhaps d
ckless and protane, are in the hospital >,
nder in conscience and anxious to live a hi
liter life. h
The Commission delegate must carry with 10
m an abundant supply Of paper and en- :,
'lopes, for the soldier is always anxious TO y,
rite and TO hear from home Il NAV be a:
It few words-where he is, how be is do b'
g-but it keeps bright the golden link that a.
ads him to the loved ones at home. Let r.
rs must ofen be written, or perhaps some re
pply-a pair Of socks, 4 particular book, al
paper-is inquired for, and must be sup
led at future visit. The delegate is, for
e time being, the pastor Of the people, or re
cir Chaplain" az they generally call al
n. -
Ny single experience in camp-that Of is
2 10th Missouri Cavalry-revealed less in
igiOus interest, but showed certainly the y
cessity Of spiritual instruction. They -
We been over two years in service, cam an
igning in the Southwest; followed Price 90
out OF Missouri. Drawing and conQuering o.
myers with az invincible spirit, and boast " w
: that they never turned back on the en- IN
y They are now in camp for consolida- hs
0. The few words Of prayer and exhorta- III
\ uttered by fellow delegate and nv