DOCUMENTS fikf.i 1862. CONTENTS. Preface, 2 Offickks Axn Members, . . • • • ... 3 Letters from President Lincoln, the Secretaiues of War AND OF the Navy, and of Gen, McClellan, . .4 Address, ......•••• " Address to the Young Men's Christian Associations, . .12 OiRCFLAR to Business Men, . . . . • • ^^' Instructions to Donors, ...... Commission to Delegates, ...••• Instructions to Delegates, . . . • • • -^ Appendix — Original Address, . . . • • . "-< Plan of Operations, .....•• "* I ,8| 20.i CHRISTIAN COMMISSION The Army and Navy UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. I PHILADELPHIA: RINGWALT & BROWN, BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS, 111 SOUTH FOURTH STREET. nr 1862. '. o PREFACE Our Army and Navy have been vastly enlarged, and the work of the Christian Commission is rapidly growing. Some changes have been recently made, and several addresses and circulars issued to meet the great and growing demands upon the Commission. To preserve these papers, and to give a more comprehensive embodiment to the information desired by the friends of our Soldiers and Sailors, our Country and our Saviour, we have thrown them together in this form. Appended, we give also the original address of the Commission. Philadelphia, October, 1SG2. Plans Adopted and Papers Issued, as the Result of its Meeting in New York, August, 1862. GEO. H. STUART, Esq., Chairman, 13 Bank St. JOS. PATTERSON, Esq., Treasurer, Western Banh. Rev. W. E. BOARDMAN, Secretary, 13 Bank St. Rev. ROLLIN H. NEALE, D. D., Boston. CHARLES DEMOND, Esq., Boston. Rev. Bishop E. S. JANES, D. D., Neiv York. Rev. JAMES EELLS, D. D., Brooklyn. MITCHELL H. MILLER, Esq., Washington. GEO. H. STUART, Esq., Philadelphia. JOHN P. CROZE R, Esq., Philadelphia. JAY COOKE, Esq., Philadelphia. Rev. M. L. R. P. THOMPSON, D. D., Cincinnati. Col. CLINTON B. FISK, St. Louis. JOHN V. FARWELL, Esq., Chicago. JOHN D. HILL, M. D., Buffalo. GEO. H. STUART, Chairman, Philadelphia. Rev. Bishop E. S. JANES, D. D., New York. CHARLES DEMOND, Boston. JOHN P. CROZER, Philadelphia. .TAY COOKE, Philadelphia. (3) The accompanying letters are gratifying evidences that the Government cordially approves our plan, and will aid us so far as it lawfully may : l^tt^r from ^xtnAtnt %Uxtoh\. } Executive Mansion, Washington, December 12, 1861. Ml/ Dear Sir — Your letter of the 11th inst. and accompanying plan, both of which are returned as a convenient mode of connecting this with them, have .just been received. Your Christian and benevolent undertaking for the benefit of the soldiers is too obviously proper and praiseworthy to admit any difference of opinion. I sincerely hope your plan may be as successful in execution as it is just and generous in conception. Yoiir obedient servant, Geo. H. Stuart, Esq., A. LINCOLN. Chairman ^^Christian Commission,''^ Philadelphia, Pa. l^tt^r from Wt ^uxtivixi of Mm. War Department, December 13, 1861. Sir — This Department approves the object of the "Christian Commission," as set forth in the circular announcing their appoint- ment by a convention of the delegates of the Young Men's Christian Associations, held in the City of New York, Nov. 14th and 15th, 18G1. This Department is deeply interested in the "spiritual good of the soldiers in our array," as well as in their "intellectual improvement, and social and physical comfort," and will cheerfully give its aid to the benevolent and patriotic of the land, who desire to improve the condition of our troops. It confidently looks for beneficial results from so noble an enter- prise, and begs you to express to the Commission its sincere wish for the success of this great work in behalf of the soldier. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War. Geo. H. Stuart, Esq., Chairman ^'^ Christian Commission,^'' Philadelphia, Pa. Idtqr from iht ^^rr^targ of ilxt[ i^atig. Navy Department, December 16, 1861. Sh- — T have received your letter of the 11th inst., asking an expres- sion of the Department as to the objects of the "Christian Commis- sion," to promote the welfare of the soldiers, sailors, marines, &c. The Department will be gratified with any legitimate means to pro- mote the welfare (present and future) of all who are in the service. / am, very respectfully. Your obedient servant, Mr. Geo. H. Stuart, GIDEON WELLES. Chairman ^'■Christian Commissiofi,^^ Philadelphia. letter Jrom (Sen. flKKIcnatt, Head Quarters, Army of the Potomac,) Washington, June 8, 1861. ) Geo. H. Stuart, Esq., Philadelphia. Dear Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, informing me of the appointment by the Convention of the Young Men's Christian Association, of a Commission to take active measures to promote the spiritual and temporal welfare of our soldiers and sailors. The objects of the Commission are such as meet my cordial appro- val, and will, if carried out in the proper spirit, prove of great value. Very respectfully. Your obedient servant, GEO. B. McCLELLAN. ADDRESS THE CHRISTIAN COMMISSION The Christian Commission was called into existence by the voice of God, for the war. The new aspects of our great national struggle, with the vast enlargement of forces employed, demand of us enlargement of plans and a more perfect system for effecting the great purposes of our organization. We accept the increased and increasing responsibilities, as we accepted the work at the first — as from God; and would meet them as God may give us wisdom and means, with all our hearts. Duty to our soldiers and sailors, to our country and our God, demands of us a few earnest words to the public. The President, the Secretaries of War and of the Navy, and the General in command of our armies, gave us their letters of hearty commendation at the first; the Surgeon General and the Medical Directors of both the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Virginia have given us every facility and encouragement; the Government is now aiding us peculiarly in reaching the camps of the army with stores and publications for dis- tribution; whilst both our delegates, and the stores and publications they distribute, are ever^Mvhere received, amongst the wounded on the battlefields and in hospitals, (6) and by our soldiers in the army, with every demonstra- tion of gladness and gratitude ; and in the camps, offi- cers cheerfully call out their men regiment by regiment to hear addresses from our delegates. A vast army is all open to us. Thousands in the hospitals appeal to us for publications, for libraries and for delegates to aid such chaplains as have more than they can attend to under their charge, and for dele- gates to supply the place of chaplains where none have been appointed by the Government. More than a million of men, called into the service of the country, on land and on sea, await Christian influences and benefactions at our hands. And every battle field affords for us, and demands of us, especial help to care for the wounded and to counsel the dying. Railroad, express and telegraph companies afford us special facilities of transportation and transmission for our men and stores and messages to every point; and our delegates are all volunteers, giving their services freely for the love they bear to the soldiers and sailors, the country and God. And our Young Men's Christian Associations afford us, without charge, every facility in their several localities away from the seat of war for receiving and forwarding stores, or when near, for aid- ing in their distribution. Thus one of the grandest special works ever opened to Christian patriots, presents itself to us, whilst an agency to do this great work has been specially pro- vided, which is far-reaching and full of life and energy, and the most economical ever known since the days of the Apostles. Volunteer delegates have all along offered their services in greater numbers than we could commis- sion, and the public have generously responded to every appeal for money and stores. We, therefore, make this address, as well to thank the friends of our cause for their great generosity, as to spread before them our enlarged plans and systematic arrangements for carry- 8 ing forward the grand work before us ; and we do this in the full confidence that neither men, money, publica- tions, nor stores, will be withheld, but freely and abund- antly oifered in the enlarged measure required. We, as a Christian Commission, are an alliance of men of many churches, chosen by a Convention of the Young Men's Christian Associations of many cities and States. All denominational diiferences are sunk out of mind in the one predominant desire to give true religion, together with every temporal benefit in our power, to the brave men of our army and navy. And God has moved the hearts of His children so deeply, that already the number of boxes and barrels of publi- cations and stores received has reached eight hundred and twenty-six, and the number of delegates commis- sioned over one hundred. Prominent pastors of churches, together with Christian merchants, and other men of position and influence, have gone as delegates from Philadelphia, and from as far East as Maine — gone without pay, to perform for our sufieririg heroes such offices as: washing off the filth of helpless days and nights on the battle field, dressing wounds bloody and offensive, and a thousand nameless things that money could not have hired them to do. This, together with the work of ministering to the sick, the wounded, the dying in the hospitals, distributing stores and publica- tions, and holding meetings for prayer both in hospitals and camps, visiting and addressing soldiers in the field regiment by regiment, transmitting messages, letters and packages from their homes to the soldiers and from the soldiers to their homes, and whatever else the case might demand, or Christian sympathy might devise. They have often shared with the soldiers sometimes the hard couch and the hard bread, and sometimes sleepless nights and days without bread or couch, and all not only without pay, but with the greatest cheerfulness ; and after having gone once as delegates, they all desire to go again, and some have gone time after time and spent many weeks in the work. The fruits of this work cannot be measured. The sick and wounded have been cared for, and in many instances saved from death; the dying have been pointed with prayer to Jesus ; the living in the army have been cheered to duty; the swelling tide of vice and intemp- erance has been in many instances checked ; and great numbers have been hopefully converted to God, both in the regiments and in the hospitals. One chaplain fur- nished by us with books and papers, and aided by one of our delegates in establishing prayer meetings in his regiment, writes that although he has been many years the pastor of a large and prosperous congregation, God has given him the inexpressible delight of seeing 7nore conversions in his regiment in two months of his chap- laincy/ than in his congregation during a7iy two whole years of Ids pastorate. Another, the chaplain of one of the largest of our hospitals, says that he has been cheered by many cases of hopeful conversion, and never has known any field so white for the harvest. Our delegates inform us of many conversions under their own immediate instructions, and of remarkable effects of the truth spoken to our heroes in the field. After an address upon profanity to one regiment, one captain in dismissing his company said : " Men, mark ! never another oath is to be uttered in this company." Another said as much, with the emphasis of assurance that the first man uttering an oath should receive sum- mary punishment. Intelligence comes of a revival in full progress in another regiment ; and in another, of prayer meetings on Sabbath in every street of their camp. And facts of similar import reach us day by day. Our delegates have gone to the fields and field hospi- tals of the battles of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Seven- 10 Pines, the Chick ahominy, Malvern Hill, Cedar Moun- tain, Centreville, Bull Run No. 2, and Fairfax, in Vir- ginia, and South Mountain, Antietam and others in Maryland. Whilst in the west, the bloody field of Shiloh, not to mention others, was visited by a large delegation with ample stores from Chicago, not included in the enumeration given. Other delegates have been stationed in hospitals destitute of chaplains, and others in hospitals requir- ing Assistant Chaplains to work on from week to week. And yet others are in the field work, distributing reading matter and stores to soldiers, establishing prayer meetings, and addressing regiments. Our plans are made ; our work systematized ; rail road, express and telegraphic facilities secured from distant points to the field ; and ambulance facilities in the field ; we have efiicient local agencies in Baltimore, Washington, Annapolis, St. Louis, Louisville, Chicago, Memphis and at Fortress Monroe ; the whole army is open to us ; we can extend operations to reach and benefit every regiment ; God is blessing us and bidding us go forward ; Christian gentlemen of standing, talent and piety off'er in abundance to volunteer as delegates ; and now all we want, under Divine favor, is money to purchase with and pay the needful expenses, together with publications and stores for distribution upon the enlarged scale of our great army. Two thousand dollars expended in publications would not more than fill the requests of to-day. Our brave sol- diers are hungry for religious papers especially. The work and the demand daily increases. Everything given goes where intended, through our own delegates. Now is our opportunity. Golden moments are passing. Let us have money and stores. Send forward what you have in hand. Do not retain money as capital. Send it and collect more if you need capital. Give all and trust God for future supply. And let us together honor God, bless our army and navy, and confer untold 11 benefit on the country and the world, by an earnest, generous, vigorous prosecution of this great work throughout our entire force, on the land and on the sea. KOLLIN H. NEALE, Boston. CHARLES DEMOND, Boston. E. S. JANES, NeiD York. JAMES EELLS, BrooMyn. MITCHELL H. MILLER, ^Yashmgton. CLINTON B. FISK, St. Louis. GEO. H. STUART, Philadelpliia. JOHN P. CROZER, PhUadelphia. JAY COOKE, PMladelpUa. M. L. R. P. THOMPSON, Clncmnati. JOHN V. FARWELL, Chicago. JOHN D. HILL, Buffalo. All moneys sliould he sent to Joseph Patterson, Esq., Treasurer.) President Western Bank ^ Philadelphia. All stores to Geo. II. Stuart, Esq., Chairman, 13 Bank Street, Philadelphia. All letters to Rev. W. E. Board- man, Secretary, 13 Bank Street^ Philadelphia. ADDRESS TO THE 1 CJHiHg Wtu'$ §kxHUm %s$$dutUu. Philadelphia, Sept. 11th, 1862. Dear Beethben : At a National Convention of Delegates of the Young Men's Christian Associations, held in the city of New York, November 16, 1861, the Christian Commission for the Army was instituted, to promote the spiritual and temporal welfare of the brave men now in arms to put down a wicked rebellion. The Committee met in Washington and arranged a plan of operations. They propose to aid chaplains in their work, and to supply the lack of service where there are none — By eliciting the sympathies and prayers of Christians on behalf of our soldiers and sailors ; By furnishing them with Testaments, Hymn and Psalm Books, Tracts, Newspapers, and Regimental, Post, and Hospital Libraries ; By aiding the formation of Christian associations in the various regiments and vessels, and putting them in communication with the Christian public ; By obtaining and directing such gratuitous personal labor as may be practicable among our soldiers and sailors — employing earnest Christians and ministers to preach to them, converse with them, distribute tracts and other publications, and hold prayer meetings among them, and by visiting and relieving the wounded on the battle field, and the sick in hospitals; By establishing a medium of speedy and safe com- munication between the men in the army and navy and (12) 13 their friends at home, by which clothing, books, medi- cines, and hospital stores can be promptly forwarded and faithfully dispensed, as the exigencies of camp or battle may require. Besides the mere local work, however, the principal sphere of the Commission's labors has been the army in the field. To the camps and field hospitals, imme- diately after the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Island No. 10, Belmont, Fair Oaks, the Seven Days' battles before Richmond, and the recent battles of Bull Bun No. 2, Centreville, Fairfax, and those in Maryland, they despatched over one hundred volunteer agents, lay and clerical, laden with all kinds of hospital stores, to nurse, feed and comfort our sick and wounded soldiers. Over one hundred of these agents have gone forth, and others are anxious to be sent. Six hundred and forty- six boxes of hospital stores and reading matter collected in Philadelphia, and partly by the Boston and Brooklyn Associations, have been distributed by our agents, besides large contributions collected and distributed direct by the Army Committees of the St. Louis, Chicago and other Associations. Letters from soldiers, ofiicers, chaplains, the Surgeon General, the Major General and the President attest the value of the aid thus rendered, at these important crises. Several of these gentlemen are still in the field, and accompanying the army in its movements, to whom chaplains and sol- diers are continually applying for books, cordials, and those little delicacies which to a sick man are more valuable than medicine, but which are not found in the Government stores. The supply, however, at our dis- posal by no means meets the present wants of our army, and will be still more inadequate to its prospective increase. From these statements it appears — I. That the relation of the Christian Commission to the Young Men's Christian Associations is in no sense one of rivalry, but of cordial help and furtherance. 14 From them it derived its existence — through their local Associations it does all its local work — being beyond the local work, it employs their members as its agents in fields which no local Association can reach, and fur- nishes them with the means of bodily and spiritual relief for the army. Receiving and publishing their letters, it brings the Young Men's Christian Associations fully before the Christian public in the most interesting aspect as a ministry to their brothers and sons in the field of war, and thus enlists sympathy and help for the Associations. The Commission aims to combine, and wisely direct, the efforts of the local Associations. The Christian Commission is the Central Army Committee of the Confederation of the Young Men's Christian Associations. II. That our work of Christian charity is not at- tempted by any other organization. The Sanitary Commission, and its affiliated aid societies, give their attention to the bodily wants of our soldiers ; the vari- ous publishing societies aim to furnish food for the mind; the Christian Commission is the only organization which proposes to combine Christian consolation with bodily relief, and to commend the Saviour to the suf- fering soldier by those deeds of charity which He so emphatically commands His people to perform, and which have such a powerful influence in opening the heart to His teachings. III. That to carry out the work before them, the relief and edification of an army which will soon num- ber 1,200,000, we need the cooperation of all the Young Men's Christian Associations, and the contributions of all the churches and phiUmthropists in the land. We are doing a great national work ; a work far too vast for any single city or society to attempt. As well might New Jersey, or New York, single-handed, attempt the restoration of the Union, as any local or sectarian society attempt the supply of its armies. This war is a demonstration of the evils of sectarianism and sec- 15 tionalism in politics ; and these evils are still more fatal to the best interests of religion. " United we stand," should be the motto of all Christians at this crisis. The Christian Commission furnishes a central, catholic, active organization, actually in the field and doing this work. The war grows. Our soldiers are falling daily. There is no time now to waste on the discussion of plans. What is done for the soldier must be done quickly. Young Men of the Christian Associations, fall in ! and march to the help of the Lord against the mighty. In carrying out your operations, permit us to suggest, that if you have not already done so, you should imme- diately form an Army Committee, to visit the hospitals, camps, or regiments in your vicinity, and to hold prayer meetings with the soldiers, and supply them with books and tracts. This Army Committee should arrange for meeting, if possible, every Sabbath evening, in the various churches, to pray for our country, for the con- version of our soldiers, and for the sick, the wounded and the bereaved. No church would decline the privi- lege of such a meeting. A deeper interest is aroused by the addresses made and the facts presented by sol- diers, chaplains and others at such meetings, and the collections are cheerfully given by the friends and relatives of our soldiers, for supplying them with the means of grace. In those Associations where there is little demand for local work, the collections will be re- mitted to the Treasurer of the Christian Commission, to aid those nearer to the seat of war. The Boston Association, besides a large amount of religous reading matter and hospital stores, has thus remitted over $3000, and other Associations, Southern and Western, have been aided. If each of the two hundred Young Men's Christian Associations will thus organize, work, hold meetings, take up collections, and report their work, observations and incidents to the Christian Com- 16 mission, and will begin to do so immediately^ we shall be enabled to extend our work to all the armies of the Republic, and with God's blessing, ere long, to report a Great Revival in the American Army. ROLLIN H. NEALE, Boston. CHAS. DEMOND, Boston. E. S. JANES, Ncio York. JAMES EELLS, Brooklyn. MITCHELL H. MILLER, Woshinffion. GEO. H. STUART, Philadelphia. JOHN P. CROZKR, Philadelphia. JAY COOKE, Philadelphia. M. L. R. P. THOMPSON, Cincinnati. Col. CLINTON B. FISK, St. Louis. JOHN V. FAR WELL, Chicay/o. JOHN D. HILL, But P. S. — We earnestly beseech Christian young men, in those places •where Young Men's Christian Associations do not exist, to meet together immediately and form Army Committees, and report them- selves ready for work to the Commission. All communications and all stores should be addressed to GEO. H. STUART, Chairman, No. 13 Bank Street, Philadelphia; and all moneys sent to JOSEPH PATTERSON, Esq., Treasurer, Western Bank, Philadelphia. ^iiatlav U §\mm^^ §lm. Organized by a Convention of the Young- Men's Christian Associa- tions, aims to benefit the aimy and navy, spiritually and tempo- rally — sends delegates, stores and publications to Camps, Hospitals and Battle grounds. Its delegates go as volunteers without compensation. Its stores are sent by Aid Societies, Churches, and friends gener- ally, or purchased by the Commission. Its Delegates themselves distribute the articles sent to those for whom designed. The Government approves and commends, and affords all facilities to the Commission. Ambulances are detailed for its use by the Gov- ernment to enable the Commission to reach all parts of the army. Christian gentlemen, ministers, lawyers, merchants and others of standing and influence, have gone without charge to the number of more than a hundred, as delegates in various capacities, as chaplains to unsupplied hospitals, assistants to chaplains of hospitals so large as to require more than the services of one chaplain, as assistants to surgeons on the battle field, and as visitors and preachers to soldiers in camp. Over seven hundred boxes and barrels of publications and stores have been sent to hospitals, camps, and battle fields, and distributed by delegates of the Commission. Tens of thousands of our wounded and sick soldiers have been visited, instructed and supplied in the hospitals by the Commission, and scores of thousands in the field ; and thousands of our brave men, wounded in battle, have been refreshed, cared for and kindly removed by its delegates, in aid of the surgeons to hospitals. The eyes of the dying have been closed in prayer, and the dead buried with Christian rites, whilst the living have been cheered to duty to God and our country. By these means many have been hopefully converted to God, many restrained from vice, and many saved from death. The work every day enlarges — its demands are great — can t/ou help ? Although there never was an agency so economical for its efficiency, yet for purchases and expenses large sums are required. The necessities are instant and urgent. Do all you can, and do it now. Send your money contributions to JOS. PAT- TERSON, Esq., Treasurer, Western Bank, and all stores to GEO. H. STUART, Esq., Chairman, 13 Bank Street. B (17) §n^ix\[(tUn^ to §fi\\$x^ The Christian Commission was organized by the Young Men's Christian Associations, for the purpose of promoting the spiritual and temporal welfare of the army and navy of our Country. It sends its delegates as volunteers to battle-fields, to aid in the care of the wounded on the ground, and in removing them to hospitals; also, to hospitals to aid chaplains where needed, and to act as chaplains in such hospitals and places as have not been supplied by the Government, and to camps of our soldiers in the service. The stores sent to the Christian Commission, if specially designed for any particular person, or regiment, or hospital, are faithfully sent, v>ithout charge, to those for whom they are intended. If sent for distribution where most needed, they are distributed by our own agents or delegates in person. The demand upon us is daily increasing, and stores of all sorts are urgently needed, especially such as are designated herein. But of all donations, MONEY IS THE BEST; we can purchase with it the i-ight things at the right times, and can purchase dX greatly reduced prices. The vast numbers now in the service, and entering it, and the thousands of sick and wounded in the hospitals call loudly upon the people for help, whilst the eagerness of their friends to send help is as great as theirs to receive it. Already more than seven hundred boxes and barrels of books and stores have been sent to our men, and over one hundred gentlemen of the highest respectability have gone as volunteers to distribute them, and to give sympathy, instructions and prayers therewith. The Commission will endeavor to distribute everything committed to them by everybody, in any and every. part of the field, in accord- ance with the purpose of its organization, accompanying each dis- tribution with the consolations of the gospel. The following instructions will aid friends of our soldiers and sailors in deciding what to send, and how to pack, and how to direct what they send : I. AS TO WHAT TO SEND.— MONEY IS BEST OF ALL. It is injudicious to spend money or labor for trifling articles. Clothing is greatly needed, such as cotton shirts, woolen shirts, woolen socks, canton flannel drawers, woolen drawers, surgical shirts of the same pattern, but tied Avith tapes down the sides and sleeves, instead of being sewed; cotton drawers large enough to serve as pants in- doors, dressing gowns, slippers, sheets and pillow cases, bandages of muslin, four to six yards long, and three or four inches wide, rolled (18) 19 up, each by itself but not fastened; lint, picked, (not scraped.) wash- rags, handkerchiefs, and small hair and feather pads for fractured limbs. Of Stores — oatmeal, farina, corn-starch, dried rusks, soda biscuits, jellies, fresh fruits, dried fruits, lemons, white sugar, brandy, wine, bottled ale and porter, beef-tea in cakes, canned meats for soup, good black tea, cranberries, pickles in kegs, good fresh butter in small stone jars, barrels of onions and apples, and tin cups ; all these are always wanted. To aid the Soldiers in Correspondence, paper, envelopes and pencils. Of Reading Matter for convalescents, a library is a valuable hygienic appliance, and for the able-bodied, good publications are mental and spiritual food. For convalescents, lively interesting books, the monthlies, the pictorials, the works of science and literature, as well as those for moral and spiritual culture — such as you would put into the hands of a brother after severe illness are such as are wanted ; and for the well, also, good interesting books, tracts, and papers. Those designed specially for the soldier and sailor are the best, but send no trash. Our noble men love and deserve those that are fresh and the best. To suspend in the hospital. The Silent Comforter, Green Pastures, and Choice Hymns, are excellent. II. AS TO PACKING.— Never pack perishable articles like eggs, sausages, bread or cakes, nor jars of jellies and jams with other goods. Never send perishable articles unless specially called for, to supply some place to which the}^ can be immediately sent. Pack eatables by themselves, in separate boxes. Tin cans should be always soldered, all other modes are worthless for the army. Stone jars of jellies should be corked and firmly bound with oiled linen, or leather over the cork, and packed in saw dust or hay, in boxes very tight, never exceeding a dozen and a half bottles in a box, and nailed strongly, to bear tipping. Boxes should not be so large that two cannot conveniently lift them into a wagon. III. AS TO DIRECnONS.-Mark : "GEORGE H. STUART, Fresident Christian Commission, 13 Bank Street, Philadelphia," Mark, also: Erom [giving place and donors or Society's name.'] No, 1, 2, 8, &c,, [numbering on from the first sent to the last."] Mark legibly with ink or paint on the boards, (cards rub off,) Send, by mail, an invoice, on paper about this size and written only on one side, specifying the articles, and the marks and numbers of each package, and giving the Post Ofl&ce address in full to wdiich acknowledgments are to be sent. Write plain, give the signature in plain hand, so that it can be read without mistake. If the writer is a man, mention wdiether or not he is a minister, and if a lady, state whether 3Iiss or 3Irs. Send all Moneys to JOSEPH PATTERSON, Esq., Treasurer, Western Bank. §tUQ^W^ (^0mm\^mn. ga Mim &lmMluu &$mmlBim, No. 13 BANK STREET, Philadelphia, _ _..186 To the Officers of tlie Array and Navy of the United States, and others: The Christian Commission, organized by a Convention of the Young iMen's Christian Associations of the loyal States, to promote the spiritual and temporal welfare and improvement of the men of the army and navy, acting under the approbation and commenda- tion of the President, the Secretaries of the Army and the Navy and of the Generals in command, have appointed A Delegate, to act in accordance with instructions furnished here- with, under direction of the proper officers, in furtherance of the objects of the Christian Commission. His services will be rendered in behalf of the Christian Commis- sion, without remuneration from, or expense to, the Government. His work will be that of distributing stores where needed, in hos- pitals and camps ; circulating good reading matter amongst soldiers and sailors; visiting the sick and wounded, to instruct, comfort and cheer them, and aid them in correspondence with their friends at home ; aiding surgeons on the battle-field and elsewhere in the care and conveyance of the wounded to hospitals; helping chaplains in their ministrations and influence for the good of the men under their care ; and addressing soldiers and sailors, individually and collect- ively, in explanation of the work of the Christian Commission and its delegates, and for their personal instruction and benefit, tempo ral and eternal. All i^ossible facilities, and all due courtesies, are asked for him, in the proper pursuance of any or all of these duties. Chairman Christian Commission. (20) f«^t»u^ti0Mss t0 §dt^^it^. The various duties of Delegates from the Christian Com- mission to The Field, The Hospital and The Battle Ground, may be summarily stated as follows : Visiting ho>