J. William Jones, Christ in the camp, or religion in Lee's army

The following is an extract from a letter of an officer of the Eighteenth Virginia Cavalry, Imboden's Brigade. It refers to the fight of General Imboden, before the main battle near New Market: ‘Before the charge, and while we were in line, the command to dismount was given, when our noble chaplain sang a hymn and then prayed, the whole regiment kneeling. It was a solemn and impressive sight just on the eve of battle, and God blessed our arms with victory. The chaplain prayed that if it should please God we might scatter our enemies, but oh! preserve the lives of those dear ones, and prolong them for Thy glory. Truly did God answer the prayer of the devout old man—they were scattered to the four winds, and we lost not a man.’

A writer from the Army of Northern Virginia, when the present campaign had been in progress twenty-one days, said: ‘Frequent prayer-meetings have been held in the trenches; and even on the advance skirmish line, within easy musket range of the enemy, the song of praise and the voice of supplication have been heard. Sermons have also been preached in the trenches— albeit, they have sometimes been cut short by the bursting of the shell or the whistling of the minnie.’

‘Rev. Dr. Burrows baptized twenty-two soldiers at Chaffin's Bluff, a week or two since.’