3. There is what is called the indorsement-book, | matter of special care, in these admirablywhich contains a record of all papers received at conducted hospitals, that the fund shall not the hospital, with the indorsement of a supe- be left to accumulate, but that it shall be exrior officer. 7. The book of requisitions con- pended for the use of those by whom it has been tains a copy of all requisitions made for supplies saved. There is the Register of Deaths. A of any kind for the use of the hospital, such as record is kept of the name, company, and regimedicines, food, clothing, furniture, tools, etc. ment of all who die; also the date of their death, 8. The monthly abstract of commissary stores the nature of their wound or disease, and the shows the number of rations drawn during the number of the grave. An inventory is made of month, and the amount of articles of food pur- all the effects, including money, left by the man. chased with the hospital fund. A notice is immediately sent to the captain commanding his company, with an inventory of his effects and his descriptive list. An inventory is also furnished at the same time to the Adjutant-General at Washington.

This Hospital Fund deserves especial notice. The Government allows the hospital to draw a certain amount of food, called rations, for every patient in its wards. But sick men can not eat the full amount they are entitled to. As the surgeon in charge makes requisition only for the amount really needed, there is a constantly increasing supply left in the store-houses, to which the hospital is entitled. As the cost price of these rations is credited to the hospital there is thus a fund accumulated. The surgeon in charge can not draw for this in money, but he is entitled to call for its value in such delicacies, for the use of the hospital, as he may deem desirable. Take for instance the month of July, 1863. There were then 1800 men in the hospital. The fund that month amounted to $3930 71. The whole amount was immediately drawn for the use of the same men in such varied delicacies as the appetites of the sick crave, in fruits, jellies, preserves, etc. In addition to this the Sanitary Commission has come in with its refreshing supply of warm and comfortable clothing and of tempting food. It is made a

When a man dies he is reverently robed for his burial, placed in a military coffin, on his breast there is laid a card with his name, company, and date of death. The same is also painted on the inside of the lid of his coffin and on the outside. Every soldier who dies in the hospital, black or white, is honored with a military funeral. An escort, with trailed arms, follow him to the grave; the chaplain performs the burial service, and the volley of musketry from his comrades proclaims that the tired soldier sleeps that sleep from which there is no earthly waking. A head-board with the name, company, and regiment of the man painted upon it, is always carried with the coffin and placed at the head of the grave.

The portrait on the following page of "Jacob," the grave-digger, will call up many sad recollections in the minds of the thousands who have seen him while engaged in his daily work.

Such is the food which the Government pro- | vides. With the hospital fund is purchased delicacies, such as eggs, preserves, fruits, poultry, etc. It is mainly on the field and on the march that the Sanitary Commission has come in like an angel of mercy, relieving an amount of suffering which no tongue can adequately tell. It has also replenished the wardrobe of the General Hospital with those garments which can comfort one in the chamber of sickness, and has brought many delicacies to the bedside of the patient.

VIII. THE CHAPLAIN'S DEPARTMENT.

A hospital without a chaplain is a man without a religion, a body without a soul, a world without a God. No men on earth need the solace and the guidance of Christianity more than do the sick and sorrowing ones in the wards of a hospital. It is said that there are many unworthy chaplains in the American army, that there are some officers who will not have a faithful Christian minister in their regiment, and they consequently choose for their chaplain a corrupt boon companion. This may be, doubtless is so. But in a very extended visit through the lines of our army, from Baltimore to the borders of Florida, I have met many chaplains who were among the noblest of noble men; and it has not been my painful lot to meet with a single one who seemed to me to be unworthy.

It is, however, an alarming fact that in very large divisions of the United States army it is not considered genteel for commissioned officers to worship God. There are many officers who

deem it beneath their dignity to pay any external respect whatever to the great arbiter of the destinies of men and of nations. They have "only a God to swear by, no God to pray to." There are many and noble exceptions. Some of the best men in the world are in our army, true soldiers of the Cross. Piety shines nowhere more brightly than in the camp.

We are engaged in the most momentous conflict which ever brought hosts together in the crash of arms. If God be not for us our cause is hopeless. And yet there are thousands of officers leading our armies who ignore the very being of that God. May He, who for the sake of five righteous men would save the ancient cities doomed to destruction, have mercy upon our land!

The Rev. E. P. Roe is chaplain of the Hampton, and Rev. James Marshall is chaplain of the Chesapeake Hospital. I say, for the comfort of those Christian wives and mothers who may have husbands or sons languishing in these wards, that two more faithful, tender, able, self-denying men can nowhere be found. I know them well. The soldier is to them a brother. That truc spirit of universal fraternity which Christianity enjoins thoroughly imbues their souls. It would be to me, as a Christian father, had I a son in these wards, an unspeakable comfort to know that one of these warm-hearted ministers of Christ would daily visit his bed. I do not write this to eulogize these chaplains. I write it, weeping wife, weeping mother, to comfort you; you who have given your husband, your son, for the redemption of your country, and who think

of him day and night languishing in these must have fallen almost like angel melody upon wards.

A brief portion of Scripture was read, "Let not your heart be troubled. Ye believe in God, be-parently a frank, noble-hearted young man, was lieve also in me." A few soothing remarks, in subdued tones, were uttered. Then another hymn of sweetest melody floated through the dim and silent apartment; the familiar words, "When I can read my title clear To mansions in the skies,"

ligence plunged his soul into the wildest tumult | a library of entertaining reading, religious, hisof distress. It was the night succeeding the torical, biographical, as will help to beguile the Sabbath. Earnestly he sent for the chaplain weary hours of an invalid. We have only to and begged for his prayer. It was one of the recall our own experience to realize the value most solemn scenes of earth; the still hour of of an entertaining book when we are confined midnight; the dim light of the nurse's lamp; to our bed or our room. The patients were conthe long, dusky outline of the hospital ward; tinually calling for something to read, and there the shadowy figures of the nurses moving noise- were but few books to be found. It is true that lessly about; and the spectral forms of the pa- the Rev. Mr. Paylen, who was on duty with tients rising up in their beds to listen to the dy- Dr. M'Clellan for more than a year, and who ing, agonizing cry of a man passing to the judg- performed his duties as a noble Christian man, ment-all this presented a picture upon which making himself the friend and companion of the even angels must have gazed with awe. Pain patients, and who at length was compelled to and dread were pictured upon the face of the leave this field of labor through the failure of dying sufferer. Though the death-rattle was health, had commenced collecting a library, with in his throat his prayers for pardon woke every the efficient co-operation of Dr. M'Clellan. But sleeper, and brought down the solemnities of for several months after he left no chaplain had eternity into the precincts of time. The words been appointed, and these books had become of Christian solace seemed in some degree to mostly scattered or lost. Gladly would the pasoothe the perturbed spirit of the sufferer as he tients give a part of their dinner for a book. was pointed to a loving Father and a dying Sav- When passing through the wards, and finding iour. Convulsively clasping the hand of the so many playing cards-which game the experichaplain, the soldier-boy died, exclaiming, in ence of all ages teaches us it is almost impossihis last earthly utterance, "Dear Jesus, have ble to play without falling into gambling-he mercy upon me!" Eighteen hundred years ago was almost invariably met by the apology, “We our blessed Redeemer said to a dying penitent, have nothing else to do." But now an admira"This day shalt thou be with me in paradise." ble supply of books is beginning to flow in. The Who shall say that the same loving Saviour did Christian Commission, with expansive views and not listen to the penitential prayer, and receive open-handed munificence, is sending, through the to his arms the expiring soldier? chaplains, to the soldiers every where food for the mind. One who visits the army meets at every point the footprints of this noble charity. It is hardly possible to exaggerate the benefits which the Christian Commission is conferring upon our army. The hospital library forming here is greatly enriched by liberal donations from S. B. Caldwell, Esq., of Brooklyn, New York; W. E. Dodge, Jun.; L. M. Ferris, Jun. ; and N. Sands, Esq., of New York city. Other distinguished gentlemen have promised soon to send in valuable contributions.

Another scene I will record, illustrative of the influence of Christianity in the hospital. A Christian soldier had long been sick, and had borne weakness, and pain, and absence from the friends he loved, with the most unrepining and cheerful submission. Unexpectedly 'his disease assumed an unfavorable turn, and it was manifest that his end was near. As the chaplain came to his bedside he found him dying, in excruciating pain of body, but peace and joy reigned in his soul. The only slight impatience he manifested was the occasional cry, in the midst of almost unendurable paroxysms of pain, "Heavenly Father, take me quickly!" One of the nurses, Mrs. Meacham, sat by his pillow, holding, with a sister's tender care, the head of the sufferer upon her shoulder. Other kind friends stood by his side, with experienced skill ministering to every want to which relief in this sad hour could be afforded. The death struggle was short, and the martyr soldier fell asleep in Jesus.

It is the design of Dr. M'Clellan to have a library-room erected in the rear of the chapel which is soon to be built. There it is hoped that the various religious papers, now so numerous and so ably conducted, will be on file. The most important daily papers and monthly periodicals will invite the soldier to the reading-room. The sides of this room are to be shelved for books. A large number of old magazines, containing the most interesting variety of reading, have been bound. The Messrs. The female nurses make a special endeavor Harper and the Messrs. Appleton have very genalways to be with the dying. There is no dy-erously offered any of their publications, at half ing man who, in memory of his mother, does price, for the hospital. Messrs. Carter, Carlenot love to look up upon, woman's loving face, and to feel the pressure of woman's gentle hand as he passes through the dark valley. So far as my observation extends the patients in this hospital, without exception, express themselves grateful for the abounding provision which is made for their wants both of body and of mind. The present chaplain of Hampton Hospital is making vigorous efforts to secure a varied and interesting library; not merely a religious library-man can not live by bread alone--but such

ton, and Randolph have made offers nearly similar. The chaplain is now sending, through funds obtained from friends, for quite a list of the most valuable issues of these publishinghouses. All books are carefully labeled, the borrower's name is registered, and the book must be returned before another can be taken, and within a week.

A pleasant scene occurred in one of the wards the other day, which beautifully illustrates hospital life. There was a young soldier painfully