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

In a letter from General Johnston's army, Rev. J. J. Hutchinson describes a most pleasing scene. He says:

‘Ten days ago General Pendleton, a hero of Manassas memory, preached to the soldiers at Dalton. General Johnston and very many other officers were present. On the same day Major-General Stewart, who is an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, assisted in this brigade in the administration of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. On the same day I preached to General Finley's Brigade, where the general and his staff were present, and where he united audibly with our prayers. General Cleburne, the hero of many battle-fields, treated me with much attention and kindness— had a place prepared for preaching in the centre of his division, where himself and most of his officers were present, and where I was assisted by Brigadier-General Lowry, who sat in the pulpit with me and closed the services of the hour with prayer. I partook of the hospitality of General L. at dinner, and spent several delightful hours in profitable religious conversation. The general is a Baptist preacher, and, like the commander of the division, is a hero of many well-fought battle-fields. He takes great interest in the soldiers' religious welfare, often preaches to them, and feels that the ministry is still his high and holy calling. I wish I had the space to give you more of his interesting life's history, and to speak of this noble and pious officer as he deserves.’

The same missionary says: ‘Never have I seen such a field for preaching the gospel and inculcating religious truth as the Confederate army now presents: “the fields are white unto the harvest.” ’

In many of the hospitals the revival was deep and powerful. The conversion of the sick soldiers and the happy deaths often witnessed made a deep impression on the minds of unbelievers. At one of the large hospitals in Tennessee the following scene was witnessed. At the close of a sermon a call was made for penitents. Among others that came forward and bowed in prayer was a surgeon. At the close of the service he took the chaplain by the hand and said:

I am a great sinner! I have a pious mother—was brought up in the lap of the Church-studied my profession in N——, travelled and studied in Europe—came home and entered the army a skeptic and scoffer of religion.

‘But,’ said he, “I see such a difference between the death of the believer and the unbeliever, the question has forced itself upon my mind, What makes the deference? I took from my trunk the Bible my mother gave me five years ago, making me promise to read it, which, in the excitement of worldly pleasures, I had wholly neglected. The sight of that heavenly book, just as it was when she gave it to me, with the remembrance of her parting kiss, her parting tear, her parting prayer, brought a little fountain of tears from my eyes and a prayer from my swelling heart.”

‘I read it and found the answer to the question, What makes the deference? In that beautiful text, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” I came here to night resolved to accept publicly the invitation of the gospel, which for two days and nights you have so earnestly urged upon this congregation. Oh, that I had submitted my stubborn heart to God years ago! I thank God that I am spared to bear testimony here to-night that Christ is able and willing to save the chief of sinners. Oh,’ said he, as his eyes filled with tears of joy, ‘that my dear mother knew that her prodigal son had returned to his Saviour! But she shall know as soon as a letter can reach her. Oh, that I could have told the congregation to-night what a great sinner I am and what a great Saviour I have found.’

‘Well,’ said the chaplain, ‘with your permission I will give a statement of the cause of your awakening, and the state of your feelings of joy and gratitude tonight.’

The history of his case was given with thrilling effect.

A writer said of General Johnston's army not long after the opening of the campaign from Dalton to Atlanta: