Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-09-11
Letter from the First Delaware.
LETTER No. 7S.
CAMp NEAR ELK Run, FArouiEu Go va !
September q, 1873. !


CAMP NEAR ELK Run, FApouiEp Go Va /
September ., 1873. !
FRIEND EoKEL:
Sunday afternoon reflections in
the army we suppose are as admissible and as
proper as an afterdnner siestd, especially II 'hey
are consequent upon attention 10 field sermon,
and il an indulgence in them is ~ rare as lhe
oocnson that bcgets them. They are probably
as innocent ns II semi military investigation mo
tho merits of g Shoulders straps or the last
novel, aud ~ profitable as short scout within
the picket lines in quest Of some spirited female
rebel to quarrel with,
Underlying the seeming hnrincss OF the t0'-
itors naturc, ihetc is vein of religious iceling'
which only requires some skllfil cneineetihgoh oh
the part of Chaplain to dcyelpIe and To show
its richness nt times Is Bluln with n liberal
exchange Of postage currency or Ereenhacks may
mnnopoise much Of his time; profanity may
not he entirely dispensed with, and eomlnlssary
whiskcy may lie consumed in quahhiies na' con
tpmplnied or recognized ia the Army tcgu'a-
liOns, but the soldier IL not altogether sehsihlu
tn the Sunday morning cnlls 10 divine worship
Then the sentiment oI faith which had IN lhe
distractions Of camp ito rcmliued dormant, may
spring into litu nt the teachings ut the minister
who, in the "leafy grove, sancIlIies the beau
tiiul and quiet Sabbath moTn to his manly audi-
tors, by transporting them III thought TO days
far ngoue wh,n II church pdiice was not
strange place and ministraliOns not novelty.
or this we hive been reminded by the rxpc
riences Of this and last Sabbath, both marked by
the holding Of divine service At the headquarters
vi the division. The days were just suited TO
such exercises the sun did not shine with It's
accustomed lervency, md the rays that slraIglcd
through the dense foliage Of the forest trees
upon the attentive congregation were but genial
III their influence The spot selected was IL
mutual temple Of Go1-no mas9 Of brick aud
mortar hut Il heIutful grove where the birds
saug IN sweet accord with tle W rising memories
and in stratus nttuurd to the harmones oi time
and llncr IN the distance the iluG Ridge arose,
with hight haze resting upon iisnegnlar ipura
| No din of war was heard, no movement Oi arms; !;
nO drilling 0l awkward squads OF newly arrived
c0nsctpts on substitutes The camps IN the
field present Sunday quctncfs, there are no
! l0ungeIs save lew iuliepuscd; the sentinel
PAGES to and fro, the little tents cmbnwcrod
among the aibois OF pine bougbs Ns protection
against the heat have sent cut their occupants to
church not unwngy
The scene that was presented after NIL the
regiments of the division had flied IN was plea
sant one let ns survey it, Drawn up in close
columns tho men havc taken their seats upon the
| grass under the shadow Of thc gteat oaks the
ollcCts with their side arms on stand around
all, in honor of tho occasion have applied few
extra touches 10 their apparel shoes aud boots
that for some me have been inuoccnt Of black
ing hayo received slight polish clean collar
has been adjusted mud clothes brushed MP The
Haunting silk gRpiyRs staud Mt the right aud left
Of the regiments, while the hOnored nnd battle
worn standards ilnd their place IN the ccnlrc, the
breeze hcing just sufficient to rustic lac folds
aud bring tu vicw some of It's many rents madI
by bullet aud fragments ot phcll.
The singers selected from the various com
mands stand npArt while lho three brass band
merged into one arc ready % nssisl. cheering
news had just been received from Sumpicr, M,
il is not difficult to Imagine with what emotions
were sang aud played "Nly Country tis Of Thee
and " The Star Spanglcd Banner The wood
were vocal with the music mud Coppcfhon,
would have looked with envy upon that assem-
hlage and the calm joy expressed upon those up
turned Mocs Aud when the minister arose, nu
in an oil hand manner spoke, his auditors wer
attentive indeed. Ills sermon was but shurl
such que ns soldiers admire Few knew
what denomination he was and fewer cared
They oily kucw that hc applied his text wei
that their patriotism Was stimulated, aud thei
reverence for God WIN had shielded them in $
many dangers Increased
, There was the poetry oi worship, with inlu
ences more potent for good lrUul the blending
nature with the religious Inspirations than
multitude Of forms md ceremonies, Arms tht
+ have seat mmiy Il leulgu messenger Of death N
! stacked in front ot the uolnmls aud the warcio
who have stood ur hI1ycly hct' 10 the foe, hay
for the time, forgotten the couilet, and al
u thinking now only Of the sacrcdness Of the bou
A General leads the singing and the Office
general, join in. The Gh0paius are all prcsc
n 10 assist in the exercises of the morning. a
y return to their respective camps pleased that tn
Z had thus spent poltion Of the morning, Al
z well satisfied that such nssemblagcs encourag
by DIVISION Commanders were calculated
/. quicken the religious sense of the military aud
v make the ocGasioms memorable. Yours,
i. nILLY