The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-05-12
FROM EAST rhnNEsscr.

There is a meeting house near where
we are encamped, which we arc using.
We have occupied it now two Sab
baths, and on several other occasions,
by permission of the brigade comman
der. The department Of our soldiers
especially ofthis regiment--is excel
lent. Wicked as many Of our men are
it affords me great pleasure 10 say that
they know how to conduct themselves
properly at religious meetings, wheth-
er in the house Of God or in the tented
field. Scarcely can a man be seen to
whisper or in any way interrupt the
dcyotions Of Gods people. Better at
tention to the preaching of the W ord,
and other religious exercises, both by
officers and privates, could scarcely be
desired. Our prayer meetings are in,
teresting and profitable. There are
indications that our frequent meetir gs
have accomplished SOM good. .s5
In this section of East Tennessee
heavy crops were raised last year but
nearly all were taken By the rebels
Many families are destitute There
are, undoubtedly, many loyal people
in these parts. The people of this
country are at least fifty years behind
the people OF the North. They plow
with wooden plows.a dTaashiB By one
horse Or Iaale, and just scale the sur.
face. Many Of tho women wash their
clothes BY boiling or soaking them in
water, then place them on u bench and
beat them with clubs. They have
never seen washboard. The women
also chew tobacco, like filthy men. So
far as have seen, there is but very,
little refinement among them, The
people almost unanimously desire
peace, by the success Of our arms
The whites nearly ali talk like the
blacks. To illustrate the ignorance Of
the masses Of the people generally,
they may be heard to talk thus:
"Whar Is you'ns a gwine?" Does
you.ns intend TO hurt we'ns?" Ask
them where the rebel army is, and
they answer: "Don know, sab they $
dono gone What ! have said CON
cerning this people will not apply TO
all, but to them generally. This war
terrible as it is-will pay as mis-
| lsionary. enterprise. .~
! | have become acquainted with sew
cral chaplains, and heard OF many
more, and / am disposed to think that
as a class, they have been slandered
Some of them have acted badly, by
indulging in card-playing and whis-
ky-drinklng; but, as class, they are
good and true men. And if they
received the encouragement from
officers that should be given, there
would be but little ground for COM
| plant. l am happy to say that the
officers Of this regiment have given me
all the encouragement that could be
expected, and if our future is as full ol
comfort and hope as the past three
weeks have been, l can say that tht
lines have fallen to me in pleasan
places.
Our soldiers are cheerful and hope
full. They are anxious to end the wal
this Summer by hosting the old fal
upon every Southern city and fort
Fathers, mothers, wives, sisters pray
for your kindred in the army. Writ,
them CHEEKY and religious letters
And if you would save them from tn,
wicked influences around them. en-
courage cnlistmcnts, and forward re
endorsements, and it will not be Ions
till many Of you will welcome loved
ones home again.
This regiment was actively engage;
and its ranks depleted, in the blood,
battles of Stone River and Chickamau
ga, and it is ready to meet the foes .
the country again when necessary
Its record was untarnisAed in thos
engagements.
W. C. HOLIDAY,
Chaplain 9Oih Ohio Reg't.
Colwath, Tenn