From a large number of letters received, in response to circulars sent out soon after the war, I select the following as either containing new matter, or as supplementing and corroborating statements made in the body of the book.
They were personal letters not intended for publication, and yet I beg that the writers will excuse the liberty I take in publishing them in the form in which they were written, as I can thus give a clearer view of the interesting and important matters of which they treat.
I give them without comment of my own.
Dear Brother Jones: Upon reflection I find myself so often the theme of my remark that I have determined to waive modesty with you and write a memorial of my own operations as my part of the history of religion in the Stonewall Brigade —as these notes are only for your eyes, I may be more pardonable, and more candid.
My commission as chaplain Second Virginia Infantry dates from May 3, 1862.
Exiled voluntarily from my home in
Martinsburg, I sought an entrance into the army; but the low repute in which I had discovered the chaplaincy was held, deterred me from seeking an appointment for some time.
The field-officers of Second Virginia directed
Adjutant R. W. Hunter to invite me to their command, which I overtook between
McDowell and
Franklin.
I then learned that application had been forwarded for my commission, which resulted as above-mentioned.
The brigade under
Brigadier-General Charles S. Winder was composed of five
Virginia regiments, viz.: Second, Fourth, Fifth, Twenty-seventh and Thirtythird.
The field-officers of the Second were
Colonel J. W. Allen,
Lieutenant-Colonel Lawson Botts and
Major Frank Jones, all useful members of the
Episcopal Church—one of whom had, by letter, authorized me, as I came through
Richmond, to invest for him $50 in religious reading-matter for use of the regiments.
Rev. E. P. Walton (
Baptist) was chaplain to Fifth, and
Rev. J. M. Grandin (Methodist) to Thirty-third Regiment.
Rev. McVeigh (now for some time a prisoner) had been chaplain to Second, but his term of commission having expired under the previous organization of the command, the regiment, as organized in April preceding, was declared vacant; hence my assignment.
The spring campaign, characterized by rapidity, fighting and fatigue, deprived chaplains of much opportunity for ministerial work, except for the wounded on the battle-field.
By the prompt invitations of our field-officers, I held nightly meetings of prayer for the regiment at our Headquarters; and, whenever campaigning did not prevent, preached once or more on Sabbath.
The number of professing Chritians
