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march (frequently resigning his horse to some foot-sore soldier), lie with them around the bivouac-fire after evening prayers are over; be drenched on the outposts, or face the pelting snowstorm; divide with some hungry soldier his last hard cracker, and, in a word, share with his regiment whatever hardships they may be called on to endure.
Now, if a brother is physically unable to endure these hardships, he had best not enter the work, but there is no question that many a delicate brother would have his health permanently improved, if he would thus learn to ‘endure hardness as a good soldier.’
I trust that brethren in sending testimonials will remember these points.
And if the committee should feel called on to decline recommending any one, of course they will not be understood as deciding who shall be denied chaplaincies, but simply
their own unwillingness to act in the matter. Thus much I felt it due to myself and the cause to say.
Our Chaplains' Association was organized in March, 1863, at old ‘Round Oak’ church, in
Caroline county, and our first care was to seek to increase the numbers and efficiency of the chaplains in the corps.
A report of this first meeting, which I wrote for the
Religious Herald at the time, will give the facts more accurately than I could now recall them:
Dear Brethren: We had, on last Monday, a meeting of the chaplains of our corps (
Jackson's) which proved exceedingly interesting, and resulted, I trust, in much good.
It was a meeting for general consultation and prayer, and there were points elicited which I am sure would prove of interest to the readers of the
Herald.
General Jackson has taken especial pains to have his command supplied with chaplains, and yet a little over half of the regiments in our corps are still destitute.
There are several entire brigades without a single chaplain.
This destitution was made a special topic of discussion, and it was resolved that we will make every effort to get chaplains for all of the regiments; and in the meantime, that we will each preach as often as we can to those that are destitute.
Rev. Dr. Lacy has been requested by the general to
