Caring for soldiers and freedmen

Tracts for soldiers

Throughout the war various agencies, including the United States Sanitary Commission (USSC), the United States Christian Commission (USCC), the Presbyterian Board of Publication, the American Tract Society, and the Evangelical Tract Society, published booklets that were distributed to soldiers by chaplains, volunteers, and nurses serving in the field and in hospitals. These pocket-sized tracts were intentionally small so that soldiers could carry them in battle.

  • Philadelphia Inquirer story
  • Distributing Facts

  • Images Left to Right:

    The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 7, 1863.

    Illustration of Rev. J. William Jones, Baptist chaplain of the Army of Northern Virginia under General Robert E. Lee, distributing tracts to soldiers. J. William Jones, Christ in the Camp or Religion in Lee's Army. (Richmond: B.F. Johnson & Co., 1887).

  • Tract Primer
  • Soldiers Friend

  • Images Left to Right:

    The Tract Primer; Prepared by a Lady for the Evangelical Tract Society. (Petersburg: Evangelical Tract Society, 1864).

    U.S. Sanitary Commission, The Soldier's Friend. (Philadelphia: Perkinpine & Higgins, 1865).

  • Soldiers' Homes
  • Hospital Tracts
  • Soldier's Pocketbook
  • Soldier's Scrapbook

  • Images Left to Right:

    Phoebe Harris Phelps, Soldiers and Soldiers' Homes. (American Tract Society, 1864.)

    Rev. A.W. Henderson, Twelve Hospital Tracts for Soldiers and Sailors. (American Tract Society, 1863.)

    The Soldier's Pocket Book. (Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1862.)

    Rev. Beriah Bishop Hotchkin, The Soldier's Scrapbook, Presented by the U.S. Christian Commission. (Philadelphia: Presbyterian Publication Committee, 1864.)