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

“ [433] private life exceedingly beloved—in short, the model of a Christian soldier.”

‘Many knew him only on the field of battle. These were impressed by his person and bearing, by his fine soldierly instinct, by the coolness in desperate events which shone clear of all affectation. But to those who possessed the privilege of his friendship, no mere words, nothing but his simple name, “Pinckney Seabrook,” can bring back a semblance of the man they loved. Selfish sorrow dares not raise its wail in contemplating that Christian life, so rounded with the sleep which He giveth His beloved; while, as a soldier, his name shall go down upon the lips of comrades eager to speak the biography of one who, to their mind, filled the measure of perfect knighthood— “chaste in his thoughts, modest in his words, liberal and valiant in deeds.” ’

Dr. John H. Cowin, of Alabama, left the practice of his noble profession to enlist as a private soldier in the Fifth Alabama Regiment, was made orderly sergeant of his company, and fell in the forefront of the battle at Chancellorsville, his last words being: ‘I am sinking very fast, I think. If I die, tell my father that I fell near the colors, and in the discharge of my duty.’

Lieutenant Francis Pendleton Jones, of Louisa county, Virginia, left the university to enlist as a private in Company D, Thirteenth Virginia Infantry (in the ranks of which he had two brothers), was promoted to a position on the staff of his uncle, General John M. Jones (who was killed at the Wilderness), fell leading a charge on the heights of Gettysburg, got home to die, and thus yielded up his noble, young life:

‘He was perfectly conscious that his end was at hand, expressed his entire willingness to die, if it was God's will that he should do so, and said that his hope of salvation was in Christ alone. The day of his death, a friend read to him the fourteenth chapter of John, and at its conclusion he said, with a sweet smile, “I always loved those words. That chapter was a great favorite with my dear mother, and she used frequently to read it to me when I was a boy. I know its meaning now. Yes! and I will soon meet her, and dear Ed.¹ too, in one of those bright mansions which Jesus went to prepare for us.” Thus on the 2d day of September, 1863, Francis Pendleton Jones passed from the earth.’