Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-07-21
CfFom tie Philadelphia Weekly Times
Annals Of th3 War.
Chapters of Unwritten History.
By REV. ]. WILLIAM JONES, u. n.

On those famous marches Of Il c valley cam
paien of 1852, which won for our brave fellows
the souJriquet Of" Jackson's Foot Cavalry, |
never found the men too weary to assemble in
large numbers at the evening prayer meeting,
and enter with hearty zest into the simple SER
vice. At half-past seven o'clock in tue morn
ing the day Of the battle Of Cross Keys, large
part Of Keys Brigade promptly assembled on
an intimation that there would be preaching ;
the chaplain Of the 25th Virginia Regiment
REV DR.. George B. Taylor, now missionary
to italy, was interrupted at " thirdly" IN his
able and eloquent sermon by the advance Of
the enemy. and soon the shock OF battle sue
cecded the invitations OF tne gospel.
The morning Early's Brigade was relieved
from its perlJus position at Warrenton White
Sulphur Springs on the second Manassas cam
paicn. and recrossed to the south side Of the
Rappahannock, one of the largest cougrega-
tions ever saw assembled for preaching, un-
mindful of the fierce artillery duel that was
going on at the time, until the service was IN
terrup,ed hy the falling Of an immense shell
in the centre of the congregation, but was re-
sumed and completed so soon as the command
could be moved back to more sheltered posi-
ton. The night before the last day at the Sc
cond Manassas. Col W II. ). Baylor was in
command Of the old Stonewall Brigade, OF
which he was made brigader general the very
day he WAS killed. Sending for his friend
Can't. Hugh \. bite, he said TO him " know
the men arc very much wearied out by the
battle If to-day, and that they need all OF the
rest they can get to fit them for the impend-
ing struggle Of tomorrow but cannot con-
sent that we shall seek our repose until we
have had brief season OF worship 70 thank
God for the victory Of to-day, and 20 beseech
His continued protection aud blessing during
this terrible conflict" The men were quietly
notified that there would be a short prayer
meeting. and nearly the whole Of the brigade
and number from other commands assembled
at the appointed place. Capt. Hugh White
led the ,hyetng with the intelligent zeal Of the
experienced Christian Col. Baylor joined IN
it with the f6rvOr OF one who had but recently
felt the prcciousness Of q newborn faith in
Christ, and it was solemn and Impressive
scene to all. In the grea, battle which fol-
loved the next day, Col. Baylor, with the flag
of the " Stonewal. brigade in bis hands, and
the shout Of victory on his lips, fell, leading
splendid charge. and gave his Loble life to the
cause he loved so we'll Hard by, and about
the same moment, Capt White was shot down
while behaving with most conspicuous gallant
~. and these two young men had exchanged
the service Of earth for golden harps aud fade
less crowns Of victory.
tIrrEES rHuUsAND CONVERTS.
remember that on the paratiyely quiet
Sabbath with which we were blessed at Cold
Harbor, in June, 1864 preached four times
to large and deeply solemn congregations, and
that all during that memorable campaign, as
well as in the trenches at Petersburg, the -e7i-
9al spirit was unabated, aad incidents Of thril-
ling interest occurred. have in my posses
sion carefully colated statistics to show that
during the four years Of its existence at least
fifteen thousand soldiers Of the Army Of North
ern Virginia proiessed faith in Christ, and that
these professions were as genuine and as last
ing as those Of any Of the churches at home
Some surprise has been expressed and some
complaint made at the North that since the
war So many Of the Offices within the gift Ct
the Southern people have been flled by Con-
fcderate soldiers; that our Goyernors, Legisla-
tors. Senators, CoDgrcssmen, Judges, etc, have
nearly all been selected from the men who
wore the gray" 1t might be added that
neasly all our professors chnirs are filed by
Confederate soldiers that the engineers 90 our
WORKS Of internal Improvement; cur editors; /;