| The Life of Dr. J.R. Miller |
Chapter 2 |
Page 14 |
“There are now about two thousand patients in the hospital. Our establishment here consists of one chapel tent for storeroom, one chapel flag for sleeping tent, one for religious services, one wall tent for warehouse and one for office. I have only eight delegates at present, though I should have at least ten. Here is my mode of work in the corps and hospitals. Early in the morning six or seven delegates go in a two horse wagon to the front, carrying with them a good quantity of reading matter and hospital stores, – for every regiment has a number of patients in its regimental hospital. These delegates all spend the whole forenoon in one or two brigades, taking the troops in their order on the line. They aim to see every man as they go, and either give him something or speak a kind word to him. This ‘front’ work I deem very important, even when we have the hospital work, and I have always aimed to keep it up as regularly as practicable.
“We have dinner at half past twelve. From noon till half past two are resting hours. From half past two till half past five they spend in the hospital. Each delegate has four or five wards. During this visit no services are held. The delegate passes through his wards, speaking a word to every man, and relieving his wants, as far as possible, but making the visit as far as practicable a pastoral one. After tea, he holds a brief religious service in each ward, and this closes the day’s labours. The work goes on thus from day to day, and a more delightful success could not be expected. All the delegates are in the best of spirits, and all are hard workers. At night all are weary, and sleep is welcome, but morning finds all refreshed, and ready and anxious to begin a new day’s labour. At the front, on this part of the line, there is no picket firing, so that we can visit every part of the line safely, and see the men at their work. This adds greatly to our work, and enables us to make it complete and thorough. It is my aim to have every regiment visited at least once each week.”
The campaign closed for Mr. Miller in September, when he was made General Field Agent in the Shenandoah. He reached his new field September 19, the day the Battle of Winchester was fought. There, in the midst of the wounded and dying, the young Field Agent entered the final stages of his services for the Christian Commission.
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