The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1893-09-13
A Prayer-AIeeting inst Before the Bat
tie Of Piedmont.

tie Of Piedmont.
Column halt and Bryan's Battery
was halted in strip of woods near
the banks of the Shenandoah river,
and not far from the village of New
Hope in Augusta county, Va, on
that bright and beautiful June
morning in 1864.
All nature was draped in the garb
of summer. Tho leaves and grass
were green, and in harmonious con
trast with the modest little violet
at our feet. All was quiet with that
dreadful hush of just before the bat,
tie, save for the distant boom of the
solitary cannon, and thesharp report
of the rife, as it echoed back from
the distant skirmish line, which to
the practical ear of the veteran,
told that the struggle was about to
begin. How quick how soonl the
scene changes from oneof peace and
quiet TO one Of strife and struggle.
las the battle lines Of North and
Sonth'surge back and fourth con-
tending for the mastery The chirp
of the bird will give place to the
rebel yell and the shout ofthe North,
as the soldiers rush into battle. The
music of the woods will give place
to the death-dealing rattle of mus.
kerry and the terrible roar of artil-
lory. Shot and shell will plnw the
ground, while the feet of the war
horse, and the heavy wheels of the
artillery will crush the little violet
into shapeless mass and the grass
will be dyed by the blood of both
armies. 1t twas under circumstances
like these that the few praying men
of our battery requested permission
of the captain to hold prayer-mcet
ing, which was readily granted,
while familiar hymn was being
sung a goodly portion of the battery
assembled, three or four prayers
were offered for the protection and
preservation of the company in the
coming battle.
Although L was not a praying
man myself, my heart responded
with i'm amen to every prayer. ]
thought l had never heard prayers
SO fervent and sincere before, and /
had an abiding faith and confidence
that the God of all grace heard and
would answer those sincere and
fervent prayers. Listen to the
shrill blast of the bugle as it blows
for drivers mount column forward!
and away we go to take position in
the right wing of the line of battle.
Unlimberl cannoneers, to your
postst load firel booml Shot and
shell were sent on their mission OF
destruction, while the shrek and
bursting of shells, ard the whiz of
the minnie balls plainly told us it
was game that two could play,
and though our horses were cut
down with shell and bullet, and the
spokes and wheels were cut to
pieces, and we could look into each
others face to see who was struck,
not a man in our battery was
seriously hurt. Whom we knew
our commanding general was killed,
and we saw the decimated ranks of
the infantry as the remnant of them
left tho field of battle, and found
the ground strewn with dead and
wounded, then we could realize
from what we had been saved, and
though nearly thirty years have
passed away and many of my old
comrades have gone to that bourne
from which no soldier Ger returns,
1 have never doubted that Gods
especial providence was over our
company that day in answer to
those prayers. Prayer is mighty
and did prevail.-"J a. f." in
Salem. (Ya.,) Times Register