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

[280] with about six hundred soldiers present. After several prayers had been offered, for a few moments all was silent. I must say, I never had such feelings before; such crying I never heard—not aloud, but with deep sobbing. The stoutest and hardest hearts were softened—not a word of exhortation was given—all was the effect of singing and prayer. I gave an invitation to anxious ones to come forward for prayer, and probably 300 responded!

After prayer the meeting closed; but still the soldiers remained for some time about the place where God was blessing their souls. The impression that our soldiers are becoming greatly demoralized is false. I will only add, we have had many more such meetings. The night of the 8th inst. will long be remembered by many. I have seen the seeker weep; I have seen the new-born soul rejoice; fifteen have been converted in my company in a short time.

During the spring of 1862 two faithful chaplains, Rev. J. W. Timberlake, of the Second Florida, and Rev. W. H. C. Cone, of the Nineteenth Georgia, died from disease contracted in the service, and two, Rev. Geo. W. Harris, of Upperville, and Rev. Dr. J. C. Granberry (then chaplain of the Eleventh Virginia Regiment), were wounded in the faithful discharge of their duty.

The chaplains, missionaries, colporters and Christian workers generally were stirred up to renewed diligence by the scenes through which they were called on to pass, but, as a wounded soldier put it, ‘God preached to us as all of the preachers on earth could not do.’

The testimony to the blessed fact of God's presence among the soldiers is most abundant. ‘God is in the army,’ wrote a pious man; ‘many in my regiment have passed from death unto life.’ ‘One hundred of my regiment,’ said a chaplain, ‘have professed conversion since we have been in the service.’

Rev. J. M. Stokes, chaplain in Wright's Georgia Brigade, says of the religious condition of the troops:

‘I am happy to state that the health of our troops seems to be much better than it was a few months since. It will be a source of delight to Christians and all thinking people to know that the religious element among our troops is much greater now than at any time previous since the war began. I believe sincerely that there is less profanity in a week now, than there was in a day six months ago. And I am quite sure there are ten who ’