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

[496] know but little about the post bellum history of our men. I get letters occasionally from some of those who professed conversion while I was chaplain, evincing a very gratifying spirit. I have the first to hear of who has returned to the world, but this is purely negative testimony.

I will add an anecdote or two about General R. E. Lee, which I received second-hand and cannot, therefore, vouch for. At Mine Run, November, 1863, on Sabbath morning, our army in line of battle confronting the enemy, General Lee and his staff, accompanied by General A. P. Hill and his staff, came riding along the line (the shells now and then bursting in the tree-tops and at points rapidly). On reaching the end of A. P. Hill's line, they came suddenly upon a party of ragged soldiers worshipping God, and notwithstanding the fact that they were expecting the fight to begin at any moment, after the example of General Lee the whole party dismounted and joined in the worship, with cap in hand and reins on the arm, until it was concluded. As our guns were immediately on the left, and some of our boys received it from the infantry present at the time, I believed it.

At Chapin's Farm, early in spring of 1864, General Lee sent his military carriage to Richmond for Dr. Peterkin. During service Dr. P——knelt to pray; as usual, the men stood up or sat still, for most part; but when General Lee knelt in the dust, all dropped down instantly.

I feel a deep interest in your book, and wish you “ God-speed” in it.

Fraternally yours,

Dear Brother Jones: I am glad you have undertaken so noble a work, and am only sorry that I can contribute so little towards it. In giving information like this, I do not know where to begin nor what to say after I have commenced.

The Powhatan Artillery, of which I was a member, was, in the beginning of the war, a component part of what was known as First Regiment, Virginia Artillery, and afterwards in the command of Colonel J. T. Brown, and finally, after his death, in Hardaway's Battalion of Artillery.

The first winter of the war, then, you perceive, we were under the Rev. General Pendleton, whose character you know. He preached nearly every Sunday to us during that winter, in a chapel we erected. The services were beneficial in taking the minds of the men back to their old home churches. I think about sixty per cent. of the officers of the regiment were religious at that time, and some of them deeply pious. I might mention the Rev. J. D. Powel, of my company, who had prayers at morning and evening roll-calls, and one or two prayer-meetings during the week, when in camp. He left the army in spring of 1862. Also, my captain, W. J. Dance, had prayers often in his own tent, and engaged publicly in Divine services. His example for good was wonderful with his own men. He maintained his Christian character throughout the war. There was Captain Kirkpatrick, of Lynchburg, too, a noble Christian man, who exerted a happy influence. But I can't specify further. Among the men, there were some devoted men whose religion shone brightly. I might name George W. Baily, of my company, Gilliam, of Amherst Battery, etc. We had no revival during that winter.

The spring of 1862 was a new era in our history. We left General Pendleton, and were attached to Colonel J. T. Brown's Artillery, where I suppose there might have been about fifty per cent. of religious men among the officers, and something over this among the men. Colonel Brown favored religion and encouraged chaplains, tracts, prayer-meetings, etc. But, coupled with him, we find the indomitable L. M. Coleman, whose whole weight was on the side of Christ, who often sent for