Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-11-24
MOrtester 4allg SPY,
Letters from a Worcester County Cle' gynlaH,
No. g


WARRENTON JUNCTION, NOV. 10, 1000
One week ago left home, and now have
become quite accustomed to our present mode
of life Night before last we had severe
thunder storm, and it rained through the
night Virginia like. In the morning it still
rained, and finding that our plans for the day
would be thwarted, threw my rubber blan-
ket over my shoulders and issued forth. For
a short time devoted myself to the work of
teaching the blacks to read. Little primers
have been distributed among them, and they
are much interested in learning to read. As
l looked into tent after tent, found them
working on the alphabet and short words, and
all were thankful for a little help. | think
our children do not excel them in quickness
have been surprised to notice how readily
they learn. The idea has dawned upon them
that they are free, and they "expecs they s
got to take care O. theirsels now
By this time the rain had ceased, and the
clear sky appeared. therefore passed on to
the reserve battery of the first corps, where l
had arranged to preach. The assembly call
was sounded on the bugle, and on little
knoll in the open air, with the wind blowing
fresh, we held religious service. Those
who chose were free to go; and yet few left,
and those who remained seemed interested.
We sang together, and l spoke to Them and
prayed with them. There were only about
sixty present, others being engaged else
where, and the companies having been greatly
reduced by battles and sickness. They had
been IN most of the great battles. They had
not heard preaching for more than a year.
and to some of them it was "A great favor
On this walk to and from the batteries, the
misery of Virginia mud was illustrated NY
course was over slippery fields, through deep
sticking mud and forded a stream, wishing
my boots were longer, rather than shorter
After noon | mounted a horse and rods
through woods, over great fields, trampled by
horses and wagons, and through little streams
of muddy water, which the men drink. At
length came to the encampment of the sec
ond division, where is battery and five or
six regiments of infantry-among them the
18th and 39th Massachusetts regiments. |
visited these regiments the day before, and
was very kindly and politely invited to hold a
service with the 18th, which has no chaplain.
One of the companies is from Natick, and
there [ met JOurdan, Wilson, and Sawyer,
from Shrewsbury-all well. Col. Bachelor
had invited me to dine with him. Our dinner
was quite Il nice one for this country, consist
ing of beef, pickles. hard tack, butter, and
cheese. After dinner the small part OF the regi-
ment not on fatigue duty were drawn up. The
colonel introduced me, and said any who
wished could leave. Only two left, and | ad-
dressed them and offered prayer while stand
ing in line. 1t was a service they had not
enjoyed for long time, and to many of them
| learned u n St1ptjOn | bOpp
to some it may be IA means of good. After
cOnverSing with few men and witnessing
the inspection of the 18th flor this day Was
chosen for inspection, and the payIndster was
also arOund), | remounted and started tor
headquarters.
On my route | could see the long trains of
wagons coming and going-an immense pro-
cessiOn Of miles upon miles. No one who
has not seen can imagine what work it is to
transport the provisions for an army like this
Passing on half mile came to Il squad of
picket, gave them some books, and then held
little meeting with them. A little further
on was another squad to whom had to show
my pass in order to cross the line. There
stopped and gave them books, and, without
getting off my horse, talked with them and
prayed with them. These pickets seemed to
enjoy the service, and one OF them said it re-
minded him of nome more than anything he
had experienced for many days.
1t was getting dark, and my way was
through a thin wood. | realized, while riding
along here for few minutes, that WAS in the
enemy'S country, and that guerrillas were how
ering all along on the outskirts, but our picket
lines are SO established that the whole section
included is quite secure. | soon saw the
camp fires of fatigue party, and crossing in
the cart road with some difficulty, rode into
their camp. There were perhaps hundred
of them sitting down around their huge log
fires. There | found two men whom | had
met before, and proposed to hold meet
ing. We accordingly approached one of the
fires, and by its light and that of one can
die, sang from our army hymn book
striking up old "CorronatiOn," the attention
of the men was attracted. They Joined in
the music, and one by one came up till quite
circle, perhaps sixty, were around me.
Others could hear from their several fires
The singing was fine and the effect quite
romantic. l addressed them, prayed with
them, and the service was concluded with
the D0Xology. 1t was the most interesting
exercise OF the day. The attention was I'M
divided.
The trees above us, the tents and fires
around. the faces of the men made visible by
the light of the fires, the close attention of
the hearers, and the richness of the music,
all gave unusual interest to the occasion.
Again mounting | turned toward our camp,
recGossed the railroad, fOrded one or two
runs, and was guided to the tent by the in
stinct of my horse. 1t was a most picturesque
scene. Hundreds Of camp-hres were blazing
on every side, the stars were here and there
peeping through the clouds, railroad trains
and wagon trains were passing and repassing
the hurry and hustle of war disturbed the
sacredness of the day-and there was not an
object that reminded us of the peace and sa-
credness of IA New England Sabbath. On
every side were heard shouting, rumblng
and rafting; only from the contraband camp
proceeded the sound of vocal music, heard
above the dina grateful melody amid the
jargon. We held meeting in the tent in the
evening, which was well attended, and in
which the soldiers took prominent part. So
passed my first Sabbath in the army, and
very pleasantly. A.Hc.
FEMALE AND OTHER PRISONERS TO BE SENT
TO MAssACHUsETTs.-A correspondence has
recently passed between the state aud nation
al authorities in regard to the following SUBJ
ject-Whether there is any proper place OF
confinement in this state, where ''disloyal,