Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-07-13

lmiliar faces with strange interest. To-
morrow morning we will go forth to the
battle-for need / tell you that your un-
worthy minister will march with you in
voking Gods aid in the fght-we will
march forth to battle Need | exhort you
to fight the good fight, to fight for your
homesteads, for your wives and children /?
My friends, | might urge you to fight
by the calling memories Of British wrongs.
Walton-I might tell you of your father
butchered in the silence of the night on
the plains of Trenton; | might picture his
grey hairs dabbled in blood; might ring
his death shrek in your ears. Shelmire-
! might tell you of "a butcherel mother,
and sister outrsgedS the lonely farm
loesc. the s1ssSf sl4.-z<-Ae aasa=-,
the shouts of the troopers as they dispatch
cd their victims, the cries for mercy and
the pleadings Of innocence for pity. l
might paint this all again in the vivid COL
ors of the terrible reality, if | thought your
courage needed such wild excitement
But / know you are strong in the might
of the Lord. You will march forth to bat
tie on the morrow, with light hearts and
determined spirits, though the solemn duty
the duty of avenging the dead-may rest
heavy on your souls.
And in the hour of battle, when all
around is darkness, lit by the lurid cannon
glare, and the piercing musket flash, when
the wounded strew the ground, and the
dead litter your path-then remember,
soldiers, that God is with you. The eter-
nal God fights for you-he rides on the
battle cloud, he sweeps onward with the
march of the hurricane charge-God the
awful and infinite, fights for you, and you
will triumph.
They that take the sword, shall perish
by the sword
You have taken the sword, but not IL
the spirit of wrong or ravage. You have
taken the sword for your homes, for your
wives, for your little ones. You have ia
ken the sword for truth, and justice, and
right, and to you, the promise is-be O
good cheer, for your foes have taken the
sword in defiance of all that men hold dear
in blasphemy of God-they shall perish BY
the sword.
And now, brethren and soldiers, l BIZ
you all farewell. Many of us may fall il
the battle of tomorrow. God rest th'
I souls of the fallen Many of US may liv
to tell the story of the fight tomorrow, AM
in the memory of all will ever rest an
linger the quiet scenes of this Autumna
night.
Solemn twilight advances over the val
ley; the woods on the opposite height
fling their long shadows over the green {
the meadow; around us are the tents {
the continental host, the suppressed bust
t of the camp, the hurried tramp Of the so
e diers to and fro among the tents, the still
II ness and awe that makes the eve of battl
e When we meet again, may the shadov
d of twilight be flung over peaceful LAM
God in heaven grant it. Let us pray.
Il PRAYER OF THE REVOLUTION.
Great Father, we bow before thee: v
J. invoke thy blessings, we deprecate th
> wrath, we return Thee thanks for the pas
a we ask thy aid for the future. For we a
o. in times of trouble, oh, Lord, and sore b
% set by foes, merciless and Implying. tt
% sword CLEANS over our land, and the du
- of the soil is dampened with the blood
:. our neighbors and friends.
II Oh! God of mercy, we pray thee
oo bless the American arms. Make the m
!. Of our hearts strong in thy wisdom; BILE
- we beseech thee, with renewed life a
nt strength, our hope, and thy instrume
r. ! even George Washington; shower Il
i counsels on the honorable the Continen
= Congress visit our host, comfort the S
- dier in his wounds and affections, mel
rs him for the fight, prepare him for the he
tb of death.
"A And in the hour of need, oh, God
10 Hosts, do thou be our stay and in
hour of triumph, be thou our guide.
% Teach us to be merciful. Though
be memory Of calling wrongs be at our hea1
he knocking for admittance, that they m
~ ~ fill us with the desire of revenge; yet
; o us, oh, Lord, spare the vanquished, thou
q they never spared Us, in the hour of but
70 cry and bloodshed.
And in the hour of death, do thou GU
sh US to the abode prepared for the blest {;
shall we return thanks unto thee, thror
70. Christ our Redeemer. God prosper
ri cause. Amen.