3 DECEMBER 1870, Page 20

CURRENT LITERATURE.

Christian Work on the Battlefield. (Hodder and Stoughton.)—In this volume are collected some of the experiences of that vast body of men, numbering several thousands, who did chaplains' work in the hospitals and on the battle-fields during the Americai civil war. There is much interest in them, much pathos, and not a little humour, and, on the whole, very littte that offends against good taste. Of course, all the narrators have not equally good judgment. We feel inclined to doubt

more than once their estimates of character and their views of spiritual things. We should be inclined, for instance, to think better of the depressed, almost hopeless frame of mind which some of the writers so deplore in their charges, than of the utterly cheerful mood into which, to their great delight, some of the most reprobate subjects seem suddenly to pass. There are many stories which we would gladly pick out, such as that of the soldier who, being wounded in the mouth, refused the cup. though raging with thirst, lest, as he said, "he might make it bad for the others "—another Sir Philip Sidney, indeed. There is another touching story of a photograph of three children which was found in the hand of a dead soldier. It was copied and sent all over the North. At last it was identified by the mother who had never heard any tidings of her husband. The interest thus excited was, we are told, the means of founding the "National Orphan Homestead" at Gettysburg. There the mother and children are living now. But the most amusing story is one of a somewhat profane turn. General Fisk hears a teamster swear- ing in most awful fashion, and, meeting him afterwards, says, " Do you not remember the covenant entered into at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, with the Rev. Dr. Nelson, that I should do all the swearing for our whole regiment?" "To be sure I do, General," said John ; "but then you were not there to do it and it had to be done right off." And then follows a very characteristic anecdote of how President Lincoln told this Story, and to what purpose.