The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-04-05
THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA
From the Greensboro Patriot.


MR. ED1roR: Having just returned from mis-.
sionary visit to our Army of Northern Virginia it
has occurred to that short account of it might
be interesting to your readers.
Perhaps / ought to say, for the information of
such of your readers as not personally acquain.
| ted with me, that am the pastor of the Presby-
terian Church of Greensboro; and the presbytery
of Orange to which belong sends ont her youn.
ger and more active members twice year, a
month each time, to preach and labor among the
soldiers. My month was from the idle of Feb
ruary to the middle of March.
have written two letters to the N G. Presby-
terrain, but that paper is taken chiefly by Pres
byterian families, have thought brief account
in your paper would be agreeable and interesting
to your readers
Cookies Brigade was the portion of the army
which [ visited. 1t so happened that they CON-
menced erecting chapel for the brigade, the very
day l arrived within their lines, and in one week
it finished. l dedicated it to the service of
God, and administered the Lords supper in it on
the first Sabbath that followed. At least two hun
dred partook of the communion. 1t is the largest
chapel in the Army of Northern Virginia, being
about SO or so feet long, and about As or so wide
It has six fire places, and very neat and conven.
lent pulpit. 1t is thought that it will easily seat
500, and with crowding, one or two hundred more,
aud this large chapel is filed day and night with
attentive and serious hearers.
Cookies Brigade is made up of the 18th, 9th,
46th and 4Sth Regiments of N. G. Troops There
is at this time great and increasing degree of at
tention and seriousness the subject of religion
in this brigade About 60 are asking what they
must do TO be saved, and about IS or 40 have
| within the past month professed conversion.
The brigade is at present about Fl miles from
Orange q. H, Va, in very comfortable winter
quarters, consisting chiefly of cabins, made of pine
or oak logs aud snugly covered in,-fre place,
and all daubed with clay, so that they upon
the whole pretty cosy, except in the very worst of
weather, when the rains or cold winds may get the
better of their roofs and daubing. A goodly num-
Der are cloth tents, and some part logs and part
tent covers, &C. &c. Wood is abundant, and at all
hours by day, you hear the wood choppers
and crash of falling trees. This brigade was
never in better health, (this is the with our
whole Army of Northern Virginia,) and they are
in still better spirits. Everything you convin-
ces you that the men hearty, cheerful and
hopeful. The best thing for any man, who feels
respondent and gloomy, would be, to be ashamed
and penitent for his cowardly distrust and croak-
ing, and visit the army; and see our noble men
and boys,-the brave, patient, cheerful, hopeful,
sclfdenying defenders of our rights our homes
and families, &c. Everything looks cheering. 1t
is something like boarding school OF some
two thousand fellows at play time. A month or
so hereafter, and now terrible may be the change!
The generally attentive and serious at
preaching; polite and kind and obliging to the
preacher; ready and eager to take your bibles,
tracts, and papers, and listen to your words. You
can't be with them and minge with them day
without feeling aud saying God bless our soldiers.
If you have any bibles testaments, send them
on, they need them greatly. Their food and fare
is very plain and by means abundant; still it is
sufficient: corn bread with sometimes salt beef, or
mddng, molasses, coffee and sugar, rice, &c.
When boxes come from home the boys can vary
their diet with dried apples peaches, hominy,
ham, butter, pickles, &c &c.
Here let me say don't quit sending boxes of
provisions, and other comforts and convenences.
Let the soldiers share with US to the last and Of
our best. The average diet at home is better than
men get in the army They are always eager
ly looking for the boxes from home; fill them aceu,
and forward them on, and be sure to put in good
supply always of real good smoking tobacco The
suffers make them pay about SIS or S20a pound
for ordinary medium quality. Think of our
boys paying 81 an ounce for their smoking tobac
CO, and about the same for their soap and cdndles
Remember the soldiers, help them, pray for
them, cheer their hearts by cheerful letters, and
substantial tokens of hearty love and good will
from home; and God will bless you and them, will
prosper and succeed our country and her noble
cause. J. HENRY SMITH.
Greensboro, N. G., March 20, 1864
THE WEATHER AND CROPS.