Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-09-22
PAPER NO. 1-INTRoDucToRY.

l
PAPER NO. 1-INTRODUCTORY.
The history of the Army of Northern Vir
| ginia is yet to be written. Much concern
ing it has already been pubished-much
that is valuable as "material for the future
historian" and far more, perhaps, that is
utterly worthless, but it remains for some
masterhand to gather the fragments, sepa-
rate the wheat from the chaff and tell the
true story of the heroic deeds and splendid
achievements of that grand army which
shed lustre upon the American name
| which is fast becoming the pride of the
| whole country-North as we'll as South.
| 1t will ever be source of profound sor-
row to all lovers of the truth of history.
that the great chieftian, who led this army
to so many splendid victories, sheathed his
stainless sword at Appomattox and retired
to the shades of scholastic life at Lexing-
ton the idol of his people and admiration
of the world, was not spared to finish the
task he had begun of writing the history of
his campaigns; for the world would have
achieved what he wrote as implicitly as it
did those modest dispatches which used to
be signed "R. E. Lee, General"
But he was called from his work to wear
his glittering 'crown of rejoicing before
he had completed his task, and we must
wait for ''the coming man" of the future,
who shall be able calmly to study the mate.
rial, estimate the Overwhelming numbers
and resources" against which the Army of
Northern Virginia fought, and give to pos
terity its history.
But any history of that army which omits
an account of the wonderful influence Of
religion upon it-whch fails to tell how the
courage, discipline, and morale of the whole
was influenced by the humble piety and
evangelical zeal of many of its officers and
men-would be incomplete and unsatisfac
tory. The Army of Northern Virginia has
a religious history as distinct and as easily
traced as it's military exploits, and the ma
terial for large volume on this feature of
its history is so abundant that he who should
attempt to write it would be embarrassed
chiefly by the richness of the niue he would
be called on to work.
l shall not, of course, attempt to write
that history within the compass of few
papers for the Religious Herald. But it
having been my proud privilege to follow
the fortunes of that army as private soldier
or chaplain, from Harper's Ferry in 81 to
Appomattox G. H. in '65-to know person.
ally many of its leading officers-to mingle
| freely with the private soldiers in the camp,
on the march, in the bivouac, on the bat
tlefeld, and in the hospital-and to have
labored in those glorious revivals witch
made nearly the whole army vocal with
Gods praises-and having also gathered
vast amount of material illustrating this
phase of our history-it will be for me
real s1abor of love' to Gull here and there
an incident, to recall here and there re-
miniscence, to paint here and there pic
ture which will serve merely to illustrate
| the subject, and to show beyond all cavil
that religion in Lees army was not
myth, but blessed reality, 'silver lin
| ing" to the dark cloud Of war, bright
| spot in the gloomy picture, solace in hard
| ships, sufferings and Affections, and a bright
| guiding star to many of our brave men
| when called on to ''cross over the river and
rest under the shade of the trees"
| THE SPIRIT IN WHICH THEY WENT TO THE
FRONT.
| On the memorable 18th day of April, 1861
the day on which the Virginia Conven-
| tion, in response to Mr.. Lincoln's call for
| 5000 men to coerce the seeded States,
passed its ordinance of secession-tbere oc-
CURED at the little village of Louisa 81.
| a scene similar to those enacted all over Vir-
ginia and the South which none who wit
messed it can ever forget. The "Louisa
Blues, volunteer company composed of
the best young men of the county, were
drilling at noon on the court-green, when
telegram from the Governor of the State
ordered them to be ready to take a train of
cars at sun-down that evening Immedi-
ately all was hustle and activity-couriers
were sent in every direction to notify ab-
sentees-and in every household there were
busy fingers and anxious hearts preparing
those brave men to meet promptly the call
OF the sovereign power of their native State.
remember one doting mother who wept
IN secret the tears she restrained in the pre-
sence of her loved boy of just sixteen sum-
mers, who had but recently risen from Sc
we're illness, but whose frame grew strong
with eagerness to march with his comrades
to the post of duty. When asked if she
was not wi ling for her boy to respond to
his country's call, she replied in that spirit
OF patriotism which characterized the wo
men OF the South throughout the war;
Certainly l am! l wish him to go, and
should be ashamed of him if he were un-
willing to go. But there is one thought of
which l cannot rid myself, and which causes
me the bitterest anguish. I have always
looked upon an army as complete school
of vice. and fear that, amid the demoral-
izing influences of the camp, my boy (care-
fully nurtured though he has been) will
wander far from the paths of virtue and
religion, and will come back, if spared to
return, not the innocent boy send forth to
my couptry's service, but reckless, vicious
man."
An hour before the appointed time that
splendld company-mustering considerably
more than its previous roll strength, for
number of new recruits had enlisted in its
ranks-marched to the depot where an i'm
mense crowd had assembled to see them off.
An aged minister of the gospel (now gone
to his reward) spoke words of earnest coun-
sci, and led in fervent prayer that the
God OF Jacob might go forth with these
young men, keep them in the way whittier
they went, and bring them back to their
homes in peace and safety-but above all,
that he would shield them from the vices
of the camp, and lead them into paths of
righteousness
The man Of God is interrupted by the
shrill whistle of the iron -horse-the train
| dashes up to the depot-all are soon aboard,
and, amid tender farewels and suppressed
sobs of anxious friends, and the waving of
handkerchiefs and vociferous cheers by the
vast crowd, those patriot-soldiers hurry
forth at the bidding of their loved and hon
ored Virginia
At Gordonsville they were met by COM
pahles from Augusta and Albemarle, and
two companies of students from the Uni
verslty OF Virginia, who marched forth from
those classic shades to illustrate bright
page in the history of their Alma Mater.
Orange, Culpeper, and other counties
along the route swelled their numbers as
they rushed to the capture of Harper's Fer
ry, and the defence of the border.
The call of Virginia now echoes through
the land-from seaboard to mountain val
ley, from Allegheny to Chesapeake, from
the Potomac to the North Carolina border,
the tramp of her sons is heard-Maryland,
the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Alabama,
Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkan-
sas Louisiana, Missouri and Texas catch
the sound, and her sons in every cline heed
the call of their Mother State The farmer
leaves his plow in the furrow, the mechanic
his job unfinished, the merchant his books
unposted, the lawyer his brief unargued, the
physician his patient unattended, the pro-
fnSSOr his chair upfl1o1 fbo l,;r