The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1863-09-23
iron THE LANCASTER LEDoER.I
10 the People Of my Pastoral Charge.
CABARkAs, Co. N. c.. Sept. IL. 1898

pe'ofe 'h's reaches you, you will all have
oeen informed Of the change, which has plac. d
our brigade in the army VI the West. 1t Is
WIN 'ihcere regret that Pass 90 near TO my
nome and friends. without stoppins-but the
GENERAL commanding our Brigade, has reason
70 believe that our troops win be in a 1r..t
engagement very soon alter their arrival in the
mest, and is therefore unwilling tha. any man
should remain behihd, even for an hour.
got permission to come OH before the B,ipsd.
and stay here with my family until the Brigade
shall reach this point.
For the last FIVE or six weeks, there has bee,
quite deep feeling in our Brigade on the ,uh.
ject Of religion. As many perhaps Al $50 have
made profession Of faith, in the Brigade. /
have had conversations with a. msny as sO
inquirers, more than halt OF whom are nov pro.
fessed believers in Christ, and We h.y. ever
evidence to make US believe that the work il
indeed genuine Que.
Tho six months At least" during which I
proposed 70 he absent from my charge, are
now nearly expired, but am persuaded ,b.t
all the signs 60 to show that the army i, s,iIl
the held 10 which the master intepds me to
work. When consider the Geld now pre,cn.
ted in our Brigade Tor usefulness, and also m.
TACT our fellow citizens, soldiers in that Brigade
are soon TO enter again on the feld of battle
snd oiooc, seems clear that | must vet re,
main with them, until providence shall seem
10 direct differently. At no time in INV pxst
history has there been as much evidence "A
now that my efforts in the ministry were such
a. do good Now the results are plain and
leave no doubt that the Lord has blessed the
means used in my camp. To his name be all
the prs'c. trust my people will still be able
70 obtain supply OF preaching, but if you dis.
approve ot my course in remaining In the army,
until thsrs shall DO some further indication of
providence TO justify me leaving there, il will
of course be your privilege to express that dis.
appreciation in such teruIs a. TO YOU seem IN ,,,.
right and proper. hope however there will
ee 10 disagreement between W, on this point.
II nothing prevents, l shall try TO spend a part
OF the winter st home--not more perbaps than
one month.
Again and again since We parted have l re.
ceived sad news from different families in INV
congregations. have always felt deep sym
pathy IN such cases, with the families bsreayed
aud greatly regretted that I could not be at
home to. visit aud pray with them-but ,ru,t
the Lord will sanctiiy those Affections, and In
every case make them work for you = Ear
more exceeding and eternal weight OF glory. +"
One word before close, on a different sub.
Jece Wives and families at home, are in MANY
cases disposed to write to their husbands and
sooo w tno army Ot the nAr0shpa endured nt
home-this dissatis6ss the soldier and make,
hiin often teel like deserting. and sometimes he
yields IL those wives and families could feel
As felt Oh Friday last, when It was my duty.
with others, 70 march around the Brigade, .,de
by side with two dcserters, behind their cotfins
and pall'bearers; or !: they could once see a.
~e Si~ there the deserter compelled to kneel
down and be shot to death b, his own scauain.
tance., they would be very far from writing
anything else than cheerful letters to their
friends in the army, unless they we're anso.
iutely compelled by the facts 0f the case to
write differently.
have no more time At my command now I
must close. pray the Lord 70 bs with you,
and bless you in al things.
Very Sincerely your friend and pastor,
J. N. CRAIG.
i. S.-Ay last letter, written TO my people
has been treated with profound nexiect-not
one ot them deigning TO respond. Shall this DO
treated in the same wayf
Ny address Is; Rev. J. N. Craig, Chaplain
9Th s. q. Regiment, jenkins Brigsds-Hood's
D'Vi''oo-Lo"gstreets Corps-Northsrn Geor.
sia