He has seen regiments and brigades, after a wearisome march, scarcely arrived at camp, when the delegate of the Christian Commission appeared, with greetings from his benevolent heart, and stores of good things in his haversack. Not a more busy man could stand beside him within the encircled camp-ground. From soldier to soldier, from tent to tent, he made his rounds, presenting to one a book, another a tract or pamphlet. Some boys needed writing materials; others wanted note-paper and envelopes. All were glad to receive reading-matter in the various forms at his command, and all were presented, according to their various wants, with what he had on hand. . . . The Holy Scriptures were read; a hymn once hallowed by the choral voices of parents, sisters, friends, was sung; a prayer was offered from the altar of the camp-ground to the Lord of Hosts on high; an exhortation given to be as faithful soldiers to the Captain of our salvation as they were sworn to be to their superiors in command. The emotions of many a sunburnt soldier, deep sunk, buried down in his heart, would ofttimes [sic] well forth, and its sluice-gates give way with copious tears of penitence, causing rejoicing among the marshalled [sic] hosts of heaven over one more sinner who had repented, and given his heart to God." (qtd in Rubel and Shorto, eds., The Civil War Chronicle [Crown, 2000] 371-2)