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

“Whole square miles of woods have been shaved off close to the ground. The whole country is, I might say, one great road; at least, it is impossible to travel one mile from our old camp without crossing from ten to twenty highways. We never saw a child or lady, hardly ever a citizen. One could hardly move about for the dead horses that lay in multitudes around. Every old field is marked with tent-drains, rotten beef and other provisions, with a wilderness of rude chimneys, and all manner of camp trash. The mud and filth are so great that it is a feat to walk a hundred yards, and every mile of road has its wreck of a wagon. These are the Elysian fields which General Johnston has deserted.”

About the same time General Jackson was compelled to move his forces up the Valley of Virginia, and leave Winchester and other places exposed to the incursions of the Federals. When asked by a citizen of the Valley whether he would really fall back and desert them, he replied, “By the help of God, I will be with you again soon.”

These movements. while they interrupted the pious labors of chaplains and colporteurs, did not divert the minds of the soldiers from the great truths of religion. No sooner was the main army in position near Williamsburg, on the Peninsula, than the work was resumed, and the fruits of righteousness began to appear. The following interesting reports were sent to Rev. A. E. Dickinson, Superintendent of Colportage for the Baptist Church: “I have known twelve men in my regiment,” wrote a chaplain from Williamsburg, “who have professed conversion from reading your tracts. One came to me with a tract in his hand, and the tears flowing down his cheeks, and said, ‘I would not take thousands for this tract. My parents have prayed for me, and wept over me; but it was left for this tract to bring me, a poor convicted sinner, to the feet of Jesus. Oh, sir, I feel to-day that I am a new man, and have set out for ’”