Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-09-22
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF
NORTHERN VIRGINIA. Feb. 7. 1854.

A>onAHhhN F1hdlNlA, req. {, 1904. }
General Order No. 15.-1. The atten-
ton OF the army has already been called to
the obligation of a proper observance of the
Sabbath, but the sense of its importance,
not only as a moral and religious duty, but
as contributing to the personal health and
we'll being of the troops, induces the Com
mauding- General to repeat the orders on
| that subject. He has learned with great
pleasure that in many brigades convenient
houses of worship have been erected, and
earnestly desires that every facility con-
slstent with the requirements of discipline
shall be afforded the men to assemble them
serves together for the purpose of devotion
IL. 10 this end he directs. that none but
duties strictly necessary shall be required
| to be performed on Sunday, and that the
labor, both of men and animals, which it is
practicable to anticipate or perform, Or the
immediate performance of which is not
essential to the safety, health, or comfort of
the arm, shall be suspended on that day.
III. Commanding officers will require
the usual inspections on Sunday to be held
at such time as not to interfere with the
attendance of the men on divine service at
| the customary hour in the morning.
They will also give their attention to the
maintenance of order and quiet around the
place of worship, and prohibit anything
that may tend to disturb or interrupt re-
ligious exercises.
R. E. Lee, General.
We then talked with him about the
general religious work in the army, and he
manifested the liveliest interest and express
ed the highest satisfaction.
AS we were about to leave his tent, Mr..
r L., 1T kl~ l. - u 4
say to you, General, that the chaplains of
this army have deep interest in your well
fare, and that some of the most fervent
prayers we offer are in your behalf" The
old hero's face flushed, tears started in his
eyes, and he replied, with choked utterance
and deep emotion: ''Please thank them
for that, sir-I warmly appreciate it,
And 1 can only say that am nothing but
poor sinner, trusting in Christ alone for
salvation, and need all of the prayers they
can offer for me.''
He used to attend the meetings of our
Chaplains' Association as often as his Off
cial duties would permit; he was most re-
gular attendant upon religious services and
the simple, soul-saving truths of the gospel
had no more attentive, deeply interested
listener than the Commander-in.chief.
Gen. Lee never announced victory with
out an expression of thanks to s'the Giver
of Victory" and many of his thanksgiving
and fast-day orders were models of graft
tude to God, humble confession of sin, and
stirring appeals to the soldiers to come back
from their sinful wanderings, and consecrate
themselves to the service of God, which
even Christian ministers might appropriate
ly study. I have collated these orders,
| along with those of President Davis, Stone
wall jackson, and others of our Confederate
leaders, and they make a chapter of our
history we'll worth preserving, and which
shall some day publish. But have space
for here, and give as specimen of their
character, only the conclusion of Gen. Lees
order for the observance of the fast-day ap-
pointed by President Davis in the spring of
'63. He makes the following appeal:
"Soldiers! No portion of our people have
greater cause to be thankful to Almighty
God than yourselves. He has preserved
your lives amidst countless dangers. He
has been with you in all your trials. He
has given you fortitude under hardships,
and courage in the shock of battle. He has
cheered you by the example and by the
deeds of your martyred comrades. He has
enabled you to defend your country success
fully against the assaults of powerful op-
pressor. Devoutly thankful for signal
mercies, let us bow before the Lord of hosts
and join our hearts with millions in our
land in prayer that he will continue his
merciful protection over our cause; that he
will scatter our enemies, and set at naught
their evil designs, and that he will gracious
y restore to our country the blessings of
peace and security"
And he always treated the religious ser
vices held in the army, by even the humblest
of his men, with the utmost respect. While
the army was in the line of battle at Mine
Run in November, 1863, Gen. Lee and Gen.
A. P. Hill were riding along the lines when
they suddenly came upon group of ragged
soldiers engaged in one of those tender,
precious prayer-meetings which we so often
held on the eve of battle. A battle seemed
imminent, and the Commander-in in chief had
pressing duties; but he took time to dis
mount, uncover his head, and join devoutly
in the services, which were led by one of
the privates. The rest of the party of
course, followed his example, and those
humble private soldiers found themselves
leading the devotions of their loved and
henored chieftains.
As the army was crossing the James in
the campaign of '64 and hurrying to the de-
fence of Petersburg, Gen. Lee dismounted
by the roadside, knelt IN the dust, and join
ed minister present in an earnest prayer
for God S guidance and blessing in the new
stage of the campaign upon which we were
then entering.
Not long before the evacuation of Peters
burg, was one day on the lines not far
above Hatcher's Run, busily engaged in
distributing tracts and religious newspapers,
which the soldiers were eagerly crowding
around to get, when saw large cavalcade
approaching AS they drew near l recog
nized Generals Lee, A. P. Hill, Gordon,
Heth, and several other generals, who, ac-
companied by large staff, were inspecting
the lines. l stepped aside to let the cav
alcade pass, but the keen eye of Gordon rec
ognIzed and his cordial grasp detained me
while he eagerly inquired about my work.
Lee reined in his noble steed (.'Traveller,
whom we all remember so welD and joined
in the conversation, the rest all gathered
around my old Colonel A. P. Hill, pleasant
ly asking as he gave me hearty greeting,
"John," as he was accustomed to familiar
ly call me, s'dOn't you think the boys would
prefer hard tack to tracts, just now?"l
and the centre of group whose names and
deeds shine on the brightest pages of the
history they contributed so much to make.
remember that Gen Lee asked me if
ever had calls for prayer-books among the
soldiers. l told him that frequently had,
and he replied "Well, you would greatly
oblige me if you would call at my quarters
and get and distribute few which I have.
| bought new one when in Richmond the
other day, and upon my saying that l
would give my old one, which had carried
through the Mexican War and had kept
ever since, to some soldier, the bookseller
Offered to give me dozen new prayer books
for the old one. l, of course, accepted so
good an offer; and now have dozen to
give away instead Of one."
called at the appointed hour; the Gen
eral had been called away from his quarters
on some important matter, but he had (even
amid his pressing cares and responsible
ties) left his prayer books with a number
of his staff. with directions concerning
them. In each one he had written, in his
own wellknown handwriting, presented
| to- by R. E. Lee" Had been dis
posed to speculate, I am quite sure that
could easily have traded each one of these
hOolyc tho o,to nh, of o,1r