Letter from Chaplain Quint.

  • Alonzo H. Quint
Date:
[1863]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Letter from Chaplain Quint. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    ]\o. S. LETTER FROM CHAPLAIN QUINT. v Re-printed, from the Congregationalist, by the N. E. Wojiis' Auxiliary Association, branch of the Sanitary Com'n. The following letter from Chaplain Quint, 2nd Mass. Vols., is the testimony of one who has had abundant opportunities for judging of the work of the Commission since the begin- ning of the war, having been attached to a gallant regiment, with which he has labored, professionally, from its first organi- zation. City-Hall Park, New York, Sept. 5, 1863. A few days ago one of our men (a faithful man, too, one who is detailed for special duty, but always takes his gun, and slrfres the dangers of his comrades when there is a fight), was told that his wife and child were just outside of the guard, and went to bring them in. As soon as lie was in sight, bis little boy, who had not seen his father since the war opened, rushed past the guard, and over the tent ropes, and climbed up to his father's neck and hung there, while his father could not help the tears of delight. Was n't it soldierly ? Well, some of the guard themselves put on a very soldierly air — but they wiped their eyes. They are no worse soldiers for the memory of the little boys and girls at home, and much better men for it. Camp life has, indeed, been a good deal variegated (in the city) by the presence of wives and children. It is astonishing how much the dull mess- room, which has been made a kind of general parlor, has been brightened up by family groups. While I write, two active youngsters are daring to play marbles in the sacred precincts of camp; but the bayonet glistens still on the sentry posts. The great feature which seems to distinguish this war from all others, is the great system of home help to the army. What other army ever had such benevolence poured out? What one, even, ever had such a mail system as ours — so wise as it is in its effect on the men? What other ever had the sick, the wounded, and the dying so ministered unto ? The Government has done wonderfully in this direction, itself. But such outside helps were never before witnessed. They are good. They do the army good. Every child that helps sew, on a garment for a soldier, is doing what our Lord approves. Every stitch is a work of love. The old man who, poor, learned to knit so as to do something, in his chimney corner, for the soldiers, was a hero.