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

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‘ [514] the prison; so that after the lapse of a few months it was no uncommon thing at early twilight to hear ascending from every heart of that “lone isle in Erie's great water” sweet songs of praise to God. The visible fruit of this movement was a complete reformation in the moral character of the prisoners; so that in many parts of the prison a profane word was scarcely ever heard; the Sabbath was observed with the greatest solemnity, about one hundred made a credible profession of faith in Christ, and God's own children were excited to greater diligence in His service. Your correspondent is acquainted with several young men now preparing for the Gospel ministry, with the prospect of distinguished usefulness, whose attention would probably never have been seriously given to that subject but for that movement, and doubtless many more, whom he does not know, have enlisted in the same glorious service under the influence of that awakening. In addition to the large number actually converted, many left the prison under the most serious religious impressions, and doubtless many of them have already found, and others will yet find, their way into the kingdom. And the chief instrument in this great work was a single individual, who had had few advantages in the way of mental training, and possessed no natural endowments superior to those of the mass of God's people.’

I had purposed publishing a roster of the chaplains of the whole army, but find (at the last moment, when it is too late to replace it from other sources) that the roster which I prepared during the war has been lost or mislaid. I very much regret this, and will not attempt now to make a roster lest it should be too incomplete to be of much value. If, however, I shall be able to recover my material, or to secure a full roster, it will be published in a future edition of this book.

I count myself fortunate, however, in being able to publish a large part of the minutes of the Chaplains' Association of the Second and Third Corps, which were preserved by the efficient secretary, Chaplain L. C. Vass, of the Twenty-seventh Virginia Regiment, and have been kindly placed at my disposal. I very much regret that I have not been able to secure the minutes of the Chaplains' Association of the First Corps, which were of deep interest and value, as our brethren in that grand old command were very active and efficient, and were greatly blessed in their work.

I give these minutes in the form in which they were originally written, and am sure that they will be greatly prized by those who were privileged to participate in those precious seasons of Christian counsel and fellowship, and by all who feel an interest in the details of our grand work.