[563]
endured many dangers and hardships in his escape through “the Yankee lines.”
This preacher called to see young Vincent, who begged the former to pray for him. Upon this the minister retired from the room in haste, and went up and down the city to borrow a prayer book!
This incident caused no little amusement among the chaplains and others present.
Young Vincent was sent to Atlanta, and thence to other hospitals, and, under the faithful nursing of dear “Uncle Sam,” he recovered.
In August of 1865, when the writer and his family and another gentleman and his wife were travelling from Texas into the interior of Louisiana, about midway between Marshall and Shreveport, we stopped, about 9 o'clock at night, at a respectable farm-house, and asked to stay all night.
Especially did we plead for the ladies to have places.
The old gentleman said: “Yes, of course, the ladies must have a place, and I will do the best I can for you gentlemen.
Uncle Sam, take that baggage into the house, and see that these horses are fed. Come in, gentlemen.”
“Will you please tell me your name, sir?”
said I.
“Vincent, sir,” was the reply.
“I once knew a young man in Union University, Tennessee, by that name.”
“My son,” said the old gentleman, “attended that school at such a time.”
“I suppose he is dead,” I continued.
“Oh, no; he is living.”
“Where,” I asked, “is Uncle Sam?”
“He will be here directly.”
When Uncle Sam came in, and was made to recognize me, we had a joyous meeting indeed!
He ascribed the life of his young master to the prompt care I had bestowed upon him when he was wounded, and I ascribed his recovery to the excellent nursing of the faithful old servant.
Mr. Vincent's hospitality and cordiality after this knew no bounds.
With great respect, I am
Your brother in Christ,
Sketch of the work in the army of Tennessee.
Rev. S. M. Cherry, Chaplain and Distributing Agent of Religious Reading of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
I had long known of Rev. S. M. Cherry as one of the most active and efficient workers in the Army of Tennessee, and am glad to present the following from his pen:
My Dear Brother: In response to your request I furnish you such items as I can for your Appendix to “Christ in the camp,” from the army of Tennessee.
I was pastor of the Methodist Church in Winchester, Tennessee, in 1860-61 The First Tennessee Regiment, Confederate States Army, was organized in that place in April, 1861. Colonel Peter Turner, now the senior Supreme Judge of Tennessee, was in command.
It was the first regiment from Tennessee to go to Virginia early in May.
Many of the soldiers of that gallant command were from the counties where I had preached the first, second and third years, and the sixth year of my itinerant life.
I was with the young men much during the few days they remained in Winchester, and as they had no chaplain then, I tendered my services to act in that capacity soon after they reached Virginia.
But fighting, not preaching, was the chief concern of our soldiers at that time, and my services were not accepted.
The State troops were ordered to rendezvous near Winchester, and I had the privilege of visiting their camps and preaching to the soldiers in May and June, till they were ordered to Kentucky.
In July, 1861, I entered the army as a
