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

“‘ [81] I feel that my condition is awful, and I desire to find peace.’ I pointed him to the Lord Jesus. While passing through a hospital with my tracts one poor, afflicted soldier wept piteously and said, ‘Sir, I cannot read; will you be good enough to read some of those tracts to me?’ I read several, and among them, ‘A Mother's Parting Words to her Soldier Boy.’ ‘Oh,’ said he, ‘that reminds me so much of my poor old mother, who has faded from earth since I joined the army.’ He wept and seemed greatly affected.”

Rev. George Pearcy, writing from Lynchburg, Va., says: “I collected from Sunday Schools and individuals above a hundred Testaments, a few Bibles, and some books and tracts-these were placed in three large hospitals for the sick soldiers. There have been as many as 10,000 soldiers in the encampment here, hence it is a most interesting field for usefulness. Many soldiers have the Bible or Testament, and love to read it. A good number are members of Churches. Far away from home and kindred, they are delighted to receive the visits of a brother Christian, and get something to read. All receive the tracts, and read them with delight. The Lord has blessed the work. He has poured out his Spirit upon many. Several have died in the triumphs of faith. It was a great pleasure and privilege to speak to them of the Saviour, and witness their trust in him during the trying hour. One who died a week ago, said, in a whisper, a short time before he breathed his last, when the nurse held up the tract, ‘Come to Jesus,’ ‘I can't see.’ He was told it was the tract, ‘Come to Jesus,’ and that Jesus says, ‘Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.’ ‘Thank the Lord for that,’ he replied. ‘Have you come to him? and do you find him precious?’ ‘Precious, thank the Lord.’ ‘ He has promised never to leave nor forsake his people.’ ‘Thank the Lord for that;’ and so he would say of all the promises quoted. One young man. to whom I gave a tract, told me that at ”