Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-12-01
mate, at least 1900 professions of conver-

mate, at least 1900 professions of conver
sion in Lees army. --l-l
The march to Gettysburg, the great bat
tie and fearful loss of many of our nobles
and best officers and men, very seriously
interfered with our regular meetings, bul
by no means suppressed the spirit of re-
vival which really deepened until, when We
came back to rest for season along the
Rapidan, the "Great Revival began with
all of its power and made well nigh every
camp vocal with the praises of our God
A large number of our most efficient
chaplains felt it to be their duty to remain
with our wounded at Gettysburg. and were
CONTRARY to the ''cartel'' and the usage OF
civilized warfare) thrown into prison, thus
| depriving their men of their services at a
most important juncture. But the differ
ent denominations sent to the army num-
Der of missionaries and colporters, many OF
the pastors came on visits to the camp, the
chaplains present we're stirred up to double
| diligence by the circumstances which sur
rounded us, and invaluable Co workers we're
| found among Christian officers and men.
At Winchester, as the army was return
| ing from the Gettysburg campaign, my
regiment acted as provost guard and had
opportunity, in the hospitals and in some
special services which we held in several OF
| the churches. of coming in contact with
representatives of nearly every brigade and
| OF learning that there was a very decidedly
hopeful religious feeling throughout the
army.
We were exceedingly fortunate in having
| as preachers in our meetings, and workers
among the soldiers at Winchester, besides
| our chaplains, such men as DR.. VIM. j.
Hoge. VIM. f. Broaddus, j. A. Broadus,
j. l.. Burrows, &C., and there was every
prospect Of general revival among the
troops around Winchester when we took
| up the line of march across the mountains.
Lit was on this march that our honored
brother, DR.. J. L. Burrows, walked the 90
miles from Winchester to Staunton, and
putting his coat in one of the ambulances
had it stolen from him by some mscreant.
Arriving in Harrisonburg on Sunday morn
ing in his shirt sleeves, with his suspenders
strapped over his blue worsted shirt, he
thought that he would quietly slip into the
Presbyterian church, and, preserving his
| lncog, hear sermon from the pastor. But
some one recognized and reported him, the
pastor insisted upon his preaching, and at
last the good doctor (who never knew how
to say 'sNoV' when anybody wants work
out of him) yielded his objections saying:
swell! if you and your people can stand my
filling your pulpit in this garb, 1 reckon I
can, and mounting the pulpit, preached
what some of his friends pronounced the
most powerful sermon they ever heard from
him. BY the way, our gifted and loved
brother, who has done so much in every
way to epdear himself to Christian people
of every name, has no brighter record of
faithful, useful service than that made by
hisself-sacrificinglabors among our soldiers,
and will have no brighter stars in his
''crown of rejoicing" than these won to
Christ by his efforts among "the boys in
gray."]
By the middle of August General Lee 8
army was camped along the line of the
Rapidan Qrom Liberty Mills, above Orange
G. H., to Raccoon ford below, and God
blessed us with seasons of refreshing from
the presence of the Lord" in nearly every
| camp.
large volume would scarcely suffice to
give the details of this great work, and l
can only give here few illustrations as
specimens of the whole character of the
work.
From the 18th of August to the 1st of
October l averaged tive sermons every day,
besides other work, and other chaplains
were even more laborious, so pressing were
the demands upon us, and | witnessed the
professed conversion of hundreds of our
brave men.
by own brigade (Smith's, formerly Ear
ly's Virginia) was fortunately camped nsar
Mt. Pisgah Baptist church, and Metho-
dist church in the lower part of Orange
county. and Rev. J. P. Garland of the
Forty Ninth Virginia. Rev. Mr. Slaughter
of the Fifty Eighth Virginia, and myself
united in holding meetings in both of these
houses. We we're fortunate in having at
different times Rev. DR.. ]. A. Broadus, Rev.
F. NJ. Barker, (the gifted eloquent, and
lamented preacher who took in my tent the
cold which resulted in his death), Rev. L
j. Haley and others to help US, and the work
went graciously ON until interrupted, but
not stopped, by the "Bristol campaign" I"
There were $50 professions of conversion,
and a revival among Christians Of the high
est value.
During this period had also the general
conduct of revival meetings in Hoke's
North Carolina brigade, Gordon's Georgia
brigade, and Hays Louisiana brigade
having services at different hours and pro-
viding other preachers as was able-and
helped brother chaplains in number of
other b1igades.
l had a beautiful baptistery made at the
foot of the hill near our camp, and had
some Of the most impressive baptisms there
which have ever witnessed.
The revival in Hays brigade was enc of
very great power and happiest results, and
originated under circumstances of peculiar
interest.
A youth of the Ninth Louisiana regiment
named Ble6soe professed conversion in hos
pital at Charlottesville, under the instruc-
tions of Post Chaplain J. G. Hiden, and
returned to his brigade with the burning
zeal of the young convert, determined to
do something for the spiritual good of his
comrades.
1t is no harm to say that Hays brigade,
though as gallant fellows as ever kept step
their irreligion. They had had no chap
doubt, did their duty as they understood
it, but were, of course, entirely out of SYM
pathy which evangelical religion as we un-
derstand it. and up TO this period there had
been few, if any, efforts made for the con-
version of these brave fellows to the simple
faith of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Bledsoe hunted diligently through the
camp for men who would unite with him
in a prayer meeting, ard at last found five
others who would agree to do SO.
These six young soldiers, afraid to begin
their meeting in the camp lest they should
be interrupted by the jibes and jeers OF
wicked comrades, went out into clovei
field beyond the hearing of the camp anG
began to pray for gods blessing upon them
selves and the brigade. The meeting grew
nightly in numbers and interest until wher
in about week Bledsoe came to tell me
that number of men had professed con
version and they wanted me to go up anG
take charge Of the meeting. found some
100 in attendance, Is protesting conversion
and number of inquirers after the way O
life. The meetings grew in interest, W,
moved them into the centre of the brigade
and the work went graciously on until ove
200 professed to find 'peace in believing
Our Chaplain's Association at this periot
was continued period Of rejoicing, al
nearly every chaplain and missionary re
ported that the Lord was with him in hi
work.
+ But this paper has already exceeded it
proper limits, and 1 must reserve for m,
next (and cOnclu udinp paper of the series