One of the citizens of Falmouth came to General Howard for a guard.
"You favored secession, I suppose," said the General.
"I stuck for the Union till Virginia went out of the Union. I had to go with her."
"You have a son in the Rebel army."
"Yes, sir; but he enlisted of his own accord."
"The soldiers steal your chickens, you say?"
"Yes, they take everything they can lay their hands upon, and I want a guard to protect my property."
"If you and all your neighbors had voted against secession, you would not need a guard. No, sir, you can't have one. When you have given as much to your country as I have I will give you one, but not till then," said the General, pointing to his empty sleeve. He lost his right arm at Fair Oaks.
It was a gloomy winter, but the Sanitary and Christian Commissions gave their powerful aid towards maintaining the health and morals and spirits of the army. The Christian Commission opened six stations, from which they dispensed supplies of books and papers and food for the sick, not regularly furnished by the medical department. Religious meetings were held nightly, conducted by the soldiers, marked by deep solemnity. Veterans who had passed through all the trials and temptations of a soldier's life gave testimony of the peace and joy they had in believing in Jesus. Others asked what they should do to obtain the same comfort. Many who had faced death unflinchingly at Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Malvern, and Antietam, who had been ever indifferent to the claim of religion, became like little children as they listened to their comrades singing,
"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee."