William W. Bennett, A narrative of the great revival which prevailed in the Southern armies during the late Civil War

[411] Lieut. J. P. Duncan fell at his post near Petersburg, Va. “His last noble act was to distribute a package of tracts to his men on the subject of heaven. He stepped on a log in rear of his guns to look at the enemy's movements, and was instantly killed.” William Smith Patterson, of the Palmetto Sharpshooters, was a noble soldier of Christ and of his country. Colonel Walker, his commander, wrote to his mother:

Your son was a gallant young man, and fell bravely doing his duty in the foremost ranks while engaging the enemy. He was never found lacking in his duty either as a soldier or Christian. He was shot through the body, and died almost instantly.

“When I told her,” says Dr. Whitefoord Smith, “the sad tidings, her first words were, ‘Glory! glory! glory! The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. I know he is safe, and I would not have him back if I could by asking.’ ”

Such were the mothers whose sons upheld the banner of the South.

Sergeant Alfred L. Robertson, of the 12th Georgia regiment, fell in one of the battles in the Valley of Virginia. He was a Christian from childhood. “He told me,” says a friend, “as he lay dying upon the battlefield, that he knew his time had come and he was willing to go, feeling that all was bright, desiring only something to alleviate his suffering until his spirit should wing its way to the realms of the blessed.”

Captain Henry F. Parks and Captain Wesley F. Parks were sons of Rev. W. J. Parks, of Georgia. The former was converted at eight years, the latter at thirteen; both entered the Confederate army and fought gallantly. Wesley died of disease-Henry by the bullet.

“When he was stricken down upon the battle-field he begged his comrades to leave him and to take care of themselves, for he felt sure that he had received his ‘last furlough.’ Said he, ‘Tell my father and friends ’”