The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-04

utcIS cAcainpeu upon the Rappahan-
mock, and many of them EN- braced tine
doctrines taught in childhood ut the
mothers Knee. and demonstrated the
faith they professcd by walking up
rightly therein.
Some interesting incidencies of tho
great religious revival In the army that
winter are given b. Major Bob" Stiles
In hls charming -Four Years Under
Marse Robert He writes:
This element of Importance in all
our armies. from the outset to tho end.
was recognized and fostered az such
by our leading generals. many OF whom
attended the religious services among
the men of their commands. some OF
them taking loving directions OF these
services.
L remember on ono occasion, when
my father was preaching to General
Tom Cobb's brigade, on tho lines about
Richmond In '62, that the service was
interrupted By sharp firing in the
front and the command marched off
into the woods. 1t proved n false alarm,
however. The troops soon returned,
and the service was resumed. But tho
men were preoccupied. nervous and
widely scattered and everything
dragged until tho general. rising,
begged my father to wait q moment
and called out: Mon, get up close to-
gether here In front till your shoulders
meet. You can't mako a fire liz the
sticks don't touch They closed up,
and the meeting proceeded with great
power
But as the revival at Fredercks-
burg In the winter OF 'e2-63 concerned
especially the infantry brigade with
which l was longest and most closely
associate ] may be pardoncd In Civ
ing Il brief sketch of what was prob
ably the most marked religious move
inent in our war. and. as l believe.
rarely parellelcd anywhere or at any
time.
The religious interest among Barlts-
dale's men began about the time of or
soon after the battle of Brodericbs-
burg, which was about tho middle of
December. 60. and continued with I'M
abated fcrvor up to and through the
battle of Charlottesville, ana even to
Gettysburg
In addition TO tho labors of the regi-
mental chaplains the abIest and most
distinguished ministers in Virginia. of
MI denominations. delighted to come
up and preach TO the men. My father
who was nearly seventy years old
camo over from Jackson's Corps late
in February and remained for many
weeks. The fraternal spirit of the
IN a letter by Rev. William j. Hogc,
n. u, of the Presbyterian Church.
written from Fredericksburg in the
spring OF 60:
"A rich blessing has been poured
upon the Jealous labor OF the Rev. Mr.
owen, Methodist chaplain of Barks-
dalcs Brigade. The Rev. DIR. Burrows.
or the Baptist Church, Richmond, has
just arrived, expecting 10 labor with
him for n few days. AS L was TO stay
but ono night, DR.. Burrows courteously
insisted on my preaching. So we had
y Presbyterian sermon, introduced by
a Baptist service, under the direction
Of II Methodist cha plain, In an Episco-
pal Church. Was not that q beautiful
solution OF the vexed problem of Chris
tian union?
The Baptist Church had been so In
jured during the bombardment that it
could not he used. Tho meetings were
first held in the Presbyterian Church;
then the Methodist, and finally trans
ferred TO the Episcopal Church. St
Georges. which was tho largest in the
city. and accommodating, ] should say
packed rs il always was, from 1000 to
l,200 men. i have never seen such
eagerness to hear the Word or God
nor greater simplicity, directness and
earnestness In religious services.
The singing, in which every one
Joined, WAS hearty anc impressive; the
prayers offered generally by the men
themselves were soul-movtng cries
distinguished divine from Richmond
sometimes one of the army chapIains
sometimes private soldier from the
ranks but whoever he might be, he
preached the gospel, and the gospel
only.
There was soldier in red blanket
oyercoat. who had u voice like the
sound of many waters, and who almost
invariably sat or stood on the pulpit
steps and led the singing. l remember,
too, tho many marks or cannone balls
upon, in and through the building, and
vices to realize that we wcro gathered
under the frowning batteries upon
Stafford Heights. and while I greatly
enjoyed the powerful sermons we heard
from distinguished minister's, yet | was
Still more impressed by the simple song
and prayer and experience meetings Of
the men, which were generally held for
at least an hour before the regular SER
vice began
Many OF these talks delivered by
the private soldiers In these prepare
tory services. wero thrilling beyond
expression. Let mo attempt to repro
duce two or three OF these, promising
employed by, tho speakers. | will not
fail TO reproduce the substance and
spirit or their addresses.
II remember that ono or these pri-
.uto soldiers, in illustrating and en-
forcing the folly OF living In 1t forever.
asked his comrades what they would
think of the good sense or even tho
sanity OF one OF their number who
would tomorrow morning send to
Richmond for an elegant wrapper. vel
vet smoking cap and slippers. and when
Hoy came throw away his blanket,
stout shoes and clothes and insist in
-rrayinG himself In these butterfly
things In the face OF tho fact that
the next moment the long roll might
turn him out into the deep snow. or the
Guns of the enemy batter down his con-
tainmcnt over his head.
Another; n great, broad -shouldere6.
double jointed son OF Anak, with a
head like Farnesc Jove and n face
.uGd frame Indicative OF tremendous
power. alike OF character and muscle,
delivered himaelf OF his experiences in