Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-04-06
Special corssrss:snoe Of The c..dansu esss.e-n
Exsrasrainary revival 81 neiigieu.
NxAx RE " rs1 BAxx o., FIsz Rrvrz, Ala 4
A.~~h O.

The firing which was heard quite freq1ently
along our lines tventy-four hours ago has ceased.
Our camp has resumed It's wonted air Of peace
fulness and quiet. The little stream just IL
front Of our quarters pursues lie way as at any
time before 4 great army encamped along is
banks. The birds are chatteriDg gAily as when
the silence OF the forest vas upbroken save by
their songs alone. AT such a time as this, gen
tier thoughts than those usually connected with
scenes OF warfare steal over me, and 1 recall,
amongst other things Of a similar character. s
spectacle which / Witnessed = night or two ago.
BEGINNING OF THE REVIVAL.
Let me preface a little For nearly "a month
past q religious revival has been 10 progress
amongst certain regiments OF the 18Th corps. IL
commenced 5000 after our arrival az New Or
leans. and during our stay az Dauphin Island
assumed the decided and Interesting character it
at present bears.
IT'S GKSEEAL cHARsoTEE-
Ministers OF all denominations cordially unite
in the work. and endeavor TO induce their hearers
70 make a profession OF faith In Christ and hold
themselves aloof from the wickedness incident 10
life ia camp. The repentant solder is asked 20
subscribe TO no form OF doctrine. nor to unite with
sny particular denomination Thus the revival
10 entirely free from sectarisnism, and no ones
predictions or are at all offended. All honor TO
the faithful ministers whose zeal for their Mas
ter's service has enabled them 10 lay aside all the
tranmels which might hinder their cordial coop
Grafton in the good work. and TO labor solely for
the glory Of Christianity and the good Of men.
INCIDENTS IN ITS PROGRESS
The revival has been confined to no particular
portion Of the corps, bot | have observed It's pro.
gress principally in the % division (Mrj Gen. Gar
rard and more closely in the 81 brigade (Breyet
Brig. Gen. Gilbert than in any other. Meetings
take place every night, and from earliest candle
light to 10 r n. there may be heard all over the
camps the voice Of prayer and praise. In fact,
unless military duty forbids. meetings are held
frequently In daytime, and groups Of soldiers may
frequently be seen. who. instead OF indulging in
low, unseemly and vulgar iests, vile slang inter
mingled With profanity, or coarse, obscene aud
indecent anecdotes, are talking earnestly Of the
condition Of their souls, Of their obligations TO
God. and OF their duties TO their fellow men.
Nay, | have, in rambling amongst the woods,
Tore than once CHANGED TO pass by young re
cruits, as we'll "a battle scarred veterans. who
had sought the solitude OF the forrest To be alone
with God. aud there upon their knees were fer
vently beseeching him either for grace and par
don fol themselves. or mercy for their erring
comrades. Surely the Deity who never turns =
deaf ear to prayer. delights in listening to such
petitions. presented under such circumstances
and In such a sacred cause.
MEETING on rHr NIGHT OF MARCH 23p.
But ! must pot forget the particular spectacle
about which | commenced to write.
IL was the eve OF the 23d OF March. All day
the sun had shone with a mild and subdued rsdi
ance: and after his beams had ceased TO illume
the world. the sentinel stars came out oneby one
and took their eternal stations In the heavens
above. No moon rode through the celestial
host 90 shame them into feeblcr efulgcncc;
no cloud across the sky Co dim or ob.
scure their lustro. IL was a calm, still, starlit
southern night. Retreat had Just been sound.
I'd from tho different headquarters. when from a
portion OF the forrest 10 tho wet OF our tenis.
heard sung forth by a chorus Of manly voices
to a simple aud delicious melody. the words OF a
| sacred hymn.
Without any vol defined purpose In nv mind
I found myself ~strsving toward the place whence
the music proceeded. A bright broad fame
streaming up from several different points. indi.
catci the ground where the worship Of God was
| going on. AL came near the soug ceased aud
then All earnest suoplicition went up TO God. FOR
His blessing upon tho soldiera assembled there,
aud Tor Hia aid aud presence that night. The
prayer concluded jast NJ took my seat among
the throng.
REMARKABLE SPECTACLE
What A scene was thai Under tho brAnoh,s
4 W hNNtV VWVI IlNtt NlINWkU WUlhU " WlNN
| oil centuries had thanted their s,lcmn anthems,
those plncs which had never before witnessed
any other worship save that Of nature TO her
| great Creator. nearly q thousand living men
were assembled. 20 worship In the name OF
Christ. On the three angles OF an immense trl'
angle werc erected three platforms. resembling
rude affairs, each about ak feet Ia height, Upon
lhese had been placed heapp OF pine knots, which
being set ablrxo. illuminated tho entire audience
aud the woods for many rods around. with =
bright aud steady light.
Near Que OF these was a smaller platform,
similarly constructed. behind which stood the
miniaier Who was that evening TO reprove for
wlekedness, and point the srfing 10 tho Lamb OF
God thar tAketh away tho ainz OF the world -
Such OF the soldiers ~ had amidst oil temptations
| endeayofed 10 lead moral and religious life. 10
gethcr with those who had been converted "a
God during the progress Of this revival, were col
lected Ia a larls group near the preacher. A
deep aud aOlemn silence hupg over tho crowd
aud tie be ,utiful bright, stars, peeping through
the branches OF tho trees. shone on In mild. calm
radiance. No doubt. to tho vision Of faith. each
member OF that starry host vas an eye OF God
looking down p~ilyingly aud approyingly upon the
scene
ruk sknsos.
The minister. Rev. ID Cobb. chaplain Of the
9th Minnesota. commenced pronounclng a plain
earnest and practical discourse upon The 9Th
verse OF tho % chapter of Acts Aud when they
heard u they were prieked Ia their hearts F" The
sermon vas very properly brief. aud vas listened
To With the closest attention by every man Ia the
audience did not hear a single whisper, even
amongst those who we're standing upon the very
outsk rs OF the crowd.
tina NouRSlas.
When the preaching ended = call was mad,
for mourncrs A number came forward whose
souls were evidently thrilled with agony under
conviction oi guilt. those were NJ once surround
oil by tho'e Who had already proisssed faith Ia
the Savior; aud prayer after prayer, Of deepest
eatnesiness. and power, and ictyof. Was of Tered
up to heaven for the pardon OF those sIricken
souls some OF these petitions were couehed 10
words OF cloquence No rude. 30 Wild. so thrilling
that the kneeling lhtong around caught the Ia
SEPARATION aud hundreds of voices Ia concert
bfcathed out a loud Amen
AnYsS 90 KErrsrAsef AND fAIrn.
Then all rose To their feet. The words Of one
q Charles Wesley's Immortal melodies we're
chanted by n large number Of voices. aud At the
close OF each stanz, the Whole joined la a chorus
whose tones loaded the still air. and piercing the
silence OF the night. rolled In prolonged eshoe,
through the dark aisles OF the forest, making the
lone sentinel upon the ou,pss.s pause on his besl
10 listen.
II will arise and 60 10 Jesus,