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

‘“ [185] have committed unto Him.” At my next visit I found him unable to speak above a whisper. I stooped down to his ear and inquired how it was with him. He replied, “I had rather depart and be with Christ, which is far better;” and in this delightful frame of mind he passed to his heavenly home.’

Rev. A. L. Strough, chaplain Thirty-seventh North Carolina Regiment: ‘In our retreat from Newberne, North Carolina, when overpowered by the superior force of the enemy, we lost nearly all the Testaments, etc., we had, and have not since been able to secure anything to read except fifteen small volumes presented to us by Kingston Baptist Church. Our regiment is now in four different directions, hence the chaplain cannot be with them all. Before we left North Carolina there were 137 in the regiment penitently inquiring after the Saviour.’

Rev. W. G. Margrave: ‘Besides laboring here and there in the camps and hospitals, I have paid special attention to the sick in Lewisburg. Just before I left home, I visited a sick soldier and read to him the fourteenth chapter of the Gospel of John. He said, “I have but one more step to take, and I shall be over the Jordan of death,” and soon, in perfect peace, he passed away. I commit all into the hands of my Father in Heaven, and go forth to tell of Jesus' dying love. We must return to God and restore that of which we are robbing Him, if we would be blessed. Say to our Congress, restore to God His Sabbath by stopping the transportation and opening of the mails on the day of the Lord.’

Rev. A. M. Grimsley writes, from Culpeper county: ‘God is blessing us up here. Many of our brave boys have professed conversion. God grant that the work may spread.’

Rev. C. F. Fry: ‘The past month I have spent in Winchester, Woodstock, and Staunton. Several have expressed themselves as being anxiously concerned about the great salvation. It was, of course, a delightful work to point them to the sinner's Friend. I also found many truly devoted Christians, who seemed rejoiced to have a colporter come among them. They are eager to secure reading matter. An officer remarked to me that he believed that the men would read more of a religious character now than during all their former lives, from the fact that they cannot obtain any other reading than that which the colporter carries them, and they are compelled to read to relieve the tedium of the camp and hospital.’