From the flag to the cross;
Billingsley, A. S. (Amos Stevens), 1818-1897
Liis;^!^^-^^.. 11 i' ffi : ihilV 1 .:« |i J 0fm/f J^ 'WJ ■: -»-^>;:v. r-, I *^ , '"...-1^.*'^ '-'^■i ». .^'M ' . » «' ■'' >f '■'"•. . ■' ■' ," ; ,■-■: ^ ■ .'^.^v' "v,^/V >•>,■• *^.' -•'>;-''r' /'* £<i il ■ ;i: ?^ ;^v:^ ^,r?' W/; .\- %^..''._ , . •■• "■ . . .. i- ;-«-<■"-■•.: '^ ■!?;*►. " , •, •" -. -.- ' ■ ;:£»** ---V'' '■*'*■ ■' , .■ -■' L ■ • • ' . - ' . ■ ■■ '- »^"^- * \S Vs'-' "J-'- >••/-'.'■•' . ' .'.v.;'-.. -■'■■ . •' '. \ \ FEOM THE Flag TO THE GEOSS; OR, Scenes and Incidents OF Christianity IN THE War. THE CONVERSIONS, PRAYERS, DYING REQUESTS, LAST WORDS, SUF- FERINGS AND DEATHS OP OUR S0LDIER6, ON THE BATTLE- FIELD, IN HOSPITAL, CAMP AND PRISON j AND A DESCRIPTION OP DISTINGUISHED CHRISTIAN MEN AND THEIR LABORS. By a. S. BILLINGSLEY, LATS CUAPLilN U.S. ARMY. ' Stand by the Flag, and cling to the Cross.''— E. M. Schneider, 57th Masa. Vol. 2^ NEW-WORLD PUBLISHINa COMPANY,. PHILADELPHIA, PA.: BOSTON, MASS.: LANSING, MICH.: R. T. ROOT, BURLINGTON, IOWA. 1872. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, by NEW-WORLD PUBLISHING COMPANY, In the OfBce of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. TAKE NOTICE !— The publishers of this work assure the public that they neither deal with Booksellers nor publish Trade. Books — being exclusively engaged in the subscription bust' ness — and that none of their publications can honestly and legitmcUeiy go into the stores. They therefore caution all just and fair-minded persons against buying " From the Flag to the Ceoss" from any others than Canvassing Agents. OF THE DEPARTED SOLDIERS, SAILORS AND OFFICERS OF THE UNION, WHO FOUGHT, BLED, AND DIED FOR THEIIi ^ COUNTRY; AND IN HONOR OF THE SURVIVING SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AND OFFICERS WHO FOUGHT AND SUFFERED IN QUELL- ING THE LATE REBELLION, his look 18 GRATEFULLY INSCRIBED AND HEARTILY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Rev. a. S. Billingslet Frontispiece. Abraham Lincoln " Fort Sumter in 1861 Street in Cincinnati in the earlit part of the War Harper's Ferrt Ret. Jas. Marshall, U. S. Army .... ^ Pratt Street, Baltimore . . . . ^ • Rev. E. P. Roe, U. S. Army Hampton Hospital ' Hospital Scene "^Pittsburg Landing . . . ^ Cooper Volunteer Refreshment-Saloon, Philadelphia Y Uncle Jacob ^The President's Reception Room during the War View of the Antietam Battle Ground / ■^National Cemetery, Fortress Monroe, Va. /Rev. p. D. Gurley, D.D Rev. Matthew Simpson .... 'Geo. H. Stuart, Esq. .... ' Henry Ward Beecher .... ''Independence Square, Philadelphia PAas. 15 16 20 32 42 46 59 92 119 124 210 235 283 300 315 334 346 364 383 418 PEEFACE. niHE late war was one of the greatest conflicts that ever stained -*- the historic page. Involving the life of the nation and the great question of man's self-government, its results will very ma- terially affect the progress of Christianity and the destiny of the world for generations to come. When we look at the extent, the duration, and the severity of the mighty struggle, the number of men engaged, the number of lives lost, and the glorious vic- tory achieved, for awfulness, grandeur, and glory, it excels all modern warfare. And as such a war occurs only once in an age, it is well to havceits history recorded as tully as possible. And although it has already given rise to a great many books, — yet, as those already issued relate more particularly to the cause, rise, and progress of the Rebellion, and the great sacrifice and mighty up- rising of the North in putting it down, together with the military genius and heroic achievements of great generals and officers, — there seems to be a demand for another, giving a more detailed account of the sufferings, piety, and heroism of the private soldier and patient in the hospital. Thus far there seems to be a ten- dency in the historian to ascribe too much honor and glory to the officer, and too little to the private soldier. There were, doubt- less, among the rank and file of the late Union army and navy many unknown heroes, whose piety, worth, and heroism deserve to be written on leaves more durable than brass; men whose sagacity, courage, and military genius, if fully developed, would to-day shine as bright in the galaxy of military glory as many of those whose names will go down to posterity crowned with glory and honor. Now, to record some of the sufferings, hard- ships, prayers, conversions, sayings, and dying messages ot the V VI PREFACE. Pati tnt in the Hospital and of the Captive in the Prison, and to aid a little in giving the Private Soldier the honor due him in the great conflict for our national preservation, and to comfort the soldier's bereaved mother, widowed wife, and orphaned child, is the object of this little book. Laboring for a long while in the United States General Hospital, Fortress Monroe, Va., one of the largest in the country during the war, and visiting daily from seven hundred to nine hundred patients, canvassing the hearts of the worst cases and noting down their religious experience as they gave it in their own words, the writer had a fine opportu- nity of becoming acquainted with the general character and moral condition of our soldiery. We have written out but a very small proportion of the number of patients visited whose spiritual diagnosis we recorded in our diary ; but in making our selections we have taken some from all classes, so that the reader can see at a glance the general moral character of the American soldier. Thus furnished with the materials, at the request of friends the author now sends forth to the world this little volume, with the hope that it may be a source of comfort to the soldier's bereaved friend, praying that it may lead some wandering soul, who has so long borne his country's flag, to take up and bear the Cross of Christ. New Beighton, Pa. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTORY. Tour to the Rocky Mountains — The Devil Outflanked — "The Biggest Gun ever Fired in America" — Plucking Flowers and Making Snow- balls at the Same Time — Gathering up the Lost Sheep — Preaching to Colorado Volunteers — Late Papers "go off like Hot Cakes" — The Mighty Struggle waxes Hotter — Going to the Army — Visiting and Bidding Good-bye to Friends — Touching at Pittsburg and Baltimore, We enjoyed a very Pleasant Foretaste of Army and Hospital Life at Washington, Fortress Monroe, and  Plymouth — Found our Regiment, the 101st Pa. Vol., comfort- ably Housed — The Garrison Hungry for the Gospel — Christmas Ser- mon— Big Turn-out — The Rebels Captured and Drove us off . . 21 CHAPTER II. SKETCHES OF SOLDIERS AND OFFICERS. A Fort-Fisher Hero — A Heroic Soldier: " I Don't Backslide " — "Jesus is All I Want" — " Stand by the Flag, and Cling to the Cross" — "All is Well!" — A Soldier's Farewell — Capt. Tresouthick — Lieut. Ransom: His Dying Prayer and "Glory to God" — Capt. Fee: His Request, "Please Pray for Me" — A Rolling Chaplain — "You Saved My Life" — A Dying Soldier's Letter — Lieut. Merrill : Baptized at Midnight — The Dying Captain: "Hurrah for Jesus." By Chaplain Marshall. . 22 CHAPTER III. SKETCHES OF SOLDIERS. "When I go into Battle, I put Jesus in Front" — A Hero of Plymouth: " I will Fall right into His Arms " — " Jesus is Precious to Me Now " — "Why did You Call Me back?" — "1 don't Fear Nothin' at all " — vii VIU CONTE:N'Tg. PAOI " The World is Hollow and Empty " — "I came out to Conquer or Die " — «' They left Me for Dead "— " Good-bye, Old Arm ! "— " Put the Bright Side out to Mother," he said, as he died — "Oh, if I only could! " — "I am Happy, Day and Night" — Value of the Union: "Pray, Labor, Fight for it." ........ 46 CHAPTER IV. THE FALL OF PLYMOUTH. The Rebels Attack Us, April 17, 1864 — The Garrison numbered about Nineteen Hundred Men fit for Duty — Excitement Great — • Alarmed Women fled to Me, crying, "Come and Pray for Me!" "Come in and Pray for Us!" — The Army and Navy both Engage at once — The Scene was Grand, Awful, Sublime — Rebel Iron-clad attacks our Gun- boats — Fight Severe — Lieut. Flusser Killed — The Garrison Overawed by the Rebel Ram — " The Combat Deepens " — "In the Last Ditch " — Hard Fighting — The Capture — Gen. Wessels Surrenders — Massacre at Plymouth — Visiting the Wounded — Preached in a  Ready to Start for Richmond To-morrow Morning at Four" — Sail up the Roanoke to Halifax — Take Cars — Enter Libby with Loud Shouts of " Fresh Fish ! Fresh Fish ! " — They took our Money — Life in Libby — All Sorts of Things going on — Very Hard Place — Preach to the Prisoners — Big Congregation — Visited the Hospital — Not Allowed to Preach to the Sick — Released — Farewell to Libby — The Exchange — We Cheered the Dear Old Flag — Rebels Handle our Men very Roughly — Belle Isle — U. S.  MONROE, VA, Location Fine — Buildings Splendid — Chesapeake Hospital — Bethesdian Chapel — Interesting Meetings — Reading-Room and Library for Pa- tients— Hampton Hospital, Organized 1862 — Head-Quarters — "New Camp" — Contraband Hospital — All Consolidated into One General Hospital in 1864 — Called by the Above Name — Disbanded in March, 1866 — Managed by Dr. Eli McClellan, Assistant Surgeon U. S.'A. — Hospital Garden — Very Extensive — Twenty-five Thousand Head of Cabbage — Hospital Hennery — Camp Distribution — Soldiers came and went by Thousands — Chaplain Marshall Preached to Them by Night — Military Prison — Preaching to the Spirits in Prison — Gan- CONTENTS. IX Tkas grene Camp — Interesting Scenes — "None but Christ" — Arrival of Patients: from Two Hundred to Eight Hundred a Day — Transferring Patients — Voyage to New York with a Load of Patients — Big Job for the Chaplain — A Patient Kissed my Hand — A Weeping Mother and Hard-hearted Surgeon — " All Fast on the Potomac." . . 79 CHAPTER VII. THE RELIGIOUS WORK AT HAMPTON HOSPITAL. The Harvest, Great and White — The Prayer-Hall — No Church — Sol- diers'Earnest Prayers and Eloquent Exhortations — It was the Elo- quence of the Heart Melting All into Tears — Ward Prayer-Meetings — Interest Increasing — The Power of Prayer — Soldiers' Prayer-Meeting — Bush Prayer-Meetings — Preaching to  A Dying Soldier's Letter to his Brother — Solemn — His Will — "Yours in Death" — "Letters of Death" — "lam Ready" — Letters from the Bereaved : No. 1. The Bereaved Wife — No. 2. The Bereaved Brother — No. 3. The Weeping Widow — No. 4. The Dying Husband's Letter to His Wife — No. 5. A Weeping Southern Family — Canvassing Patients' Hearts — Diagnosis of the AVhole Hospital — "Oh, Chaplain, Stay, and Talk to Me more about Jesus!" — "Before I would cry, 'Fort Pillow, and Let 'em have it I '" — " Save Me, Lord ! Save Me, Lord ! " . . 107 CHAPTER IX. THE WOMEN OF THE HOSPITAL. Their Valuable Services highly Appreciated by the Patients — Chesapeake Hospital well Supplied — Here Mrs. Mary B. Dully was Directress and Head of Sanitary Department — "She did what she Could" — Miss Amos, of Baltimore, Kind, Faithful, and True — Mrs. Chaplain E. P. Roe — "She went about Doing Good" — Mrs. Meecham and Many Others did Likewise — Mrs. Carver, with her Tent, Cooking-Stove, and Provisions, did much for the Patients — Mrs. Mary Alexander — Plain, Earnest, Heroic, Loved the Soldiers Ardently  Patchwork won't do for Eternity — "Jesus Saved Me Twice " — " I Never Forget My Saviour " — The Blind Exhorter — "I have very Sweet Communion with God" — His Death — Letter from X CONTENTS. PASS His Wife — Corporal John Creed, 23d 111., Co. B — Honored for Hia Bravery — Soldiers Die Clinched — Courage of Pompey — Joy an Ele- ment of Strength — Ananias Montgomery — "He had a Ball in His Side, and God in His Heart" — "! Feel Happy" — The Backslider — "I Lost My Religion" — "Now I am Miserable" — George H. Vanloan — "I do Love Him" — "It would be Hard to Live in the Army without Religion" — The Fixed Heart — "I Pray Often" — "I do Feel Happy" — "lam Too Wicked for That" — "I Swear a Great Deal" — "I Can't Pray" — "It's Too Late" — "I am a Great Sinner" — "I Have Given Up " — " It is Better to Die " — " I am Willing to Go " — "All is Well " — Midnight Calls — "0 Chaplain, I Feel Most Awful! " . . 124 CHAPTER XI. SCENES IN ANDERSONVILLE. The Prison — Its Condition — Cruel Treatment — " Can this be Hell ? " — Prisoners' Awful Condition — Mortality One Hundred and Fifty a Day — Apathy of U. S. Government toward Them — Hundreds Died of Broken Hearts — Many went Deranged, and turned Maniacs — A School and Church there Now — " The Dead-Line " — Execution of Union Prisoners — Band of Robbers and Murderers — Six Tried, and Con- demned to be Hung — Awful Tragic Scene — They Expected to the Last to Escape — The Crisis of Andersonville — Murder will Out — Patriotism in Andersonville — "I would rather have Died a Dozen Deaths " — "I am not Sorry that I Enlisted " — Your Patriotism never Dies: "It is Stronger than Death" — Died Praying for Victory — Andersonville Hospital: an Awful Place — No Beds but Bare Ground — Rations — Diet — Enlarged — The Food would Produce Disease among Swine — The Moonlight Prayer-Meeting — Religion Sweetens the Bitterest Cup. 151 CHAPTER XII. THE EXCHANGE. Long Looked for — Many Exchanging Time for Eternity — They Cheer the Old Flag — "It never Seemed so Dear" — They Wept Profusely — Rejoicing — Sung the "Battle-Cry of Freedom" — What a Happy, Grateful Crowd — Furloughed Home Thirty Days — The Departune — "Be Ready to Depart" — Filled with Rejoicing — They Cried "Thank God ! Thank God ! " — " The Year of Jubilee is Come " — Loud Shouts of Joy burst from Thousands — Farewell, Andersonville — Sad Disap- pointment— It was no Exchange : Only a Removal — "Hope Deferred maketh the Heart Sick." ... ... 164 CHAPTER XIII. ANDERSONVILLE CEMETERY. Contains Fifty Acres — Thirteen Thousand and Seven Hundred and Five Graves — Who are the Dead? — What did They Suffer? — How did CONTENTS. XI PAOS They Die ? — As They Lived and Fought — The First Prisoners Buried There — The Last One — The Stars and Stripes AVave over Them — Captain Wirz — His Birth — Entering the Rebel Army — Promoted for His Cruelties to the Prisoners — Proven Guilty of Conspiracy against the United States — " I will give you Bullets for Bread" — He Shot a Prisoner — "Oh, do Let Me Down ! " — His Last Days — Found Guilty — Received Sentence to be Hung very Coolly — Attended by the Priest — No Signs of Sorrow — His Execution — Hurries to the Gallows — The Closing Scene . . , . * . . . . 169 CHAPTER XIV. SKETCHES OF SOLDIERS. •' My Heart is so Hard, I Can't Pray " — Converted on the Field of Battle — "I Went to Church Cursing, and Came away Praying" — "I Can't Get Religion" — '•! Can't Help but Pray" — A Hero of Andersonville Saved by His Wife — A Boat-Load of Andersonville Prisoners — "Con- verted on Picket by Two Men Talking to Me" — "I am Resolved to Quit Swearing" — Died Calling to the Chaplain to Pray for Him — "I am Ready to Die " — " Tell Them I am Happy " — " Converted through a Sister's Letters " — ^" If I go to Hell, I will go Praying " — " Prayer is a Great Privilege " — " Oh, that I had Ventured Before ! " — " I am Guilty of Everything but Theft and Murder" — "I Expect to get Re- ligion when I get Home" — Bleeding to Death, yet" Resting, on Christ" — "Praying for Sport" — "I Gave My Heart to Jesus'' — "Christ is Everything to Me" — "My Sins are Great and Heavy" — "Satan is Often at My Heels"— James Ward, 81st N. Y., Co. I— A Soldier's Creed — "I See so much Bad Christianity, I am Discouraged" — "Jesus is Still Precious" — "I Still Hold on to God" — "I Pray much in Battle" — A Soldier with Seven Wounds — "lean Afford tp SuflFer" — A Happy, Shouting Soldier — "I would Like to be a Chris- tian, if 1 Could Keep It" — "I Can't Live without Prayer" — « Th« Lord is Mine " — "I Can't Pray " — "I Found Jesus " — "I Leave it all ■with the Lord " — A Swearer Brought to Tears. . . . 178 CHAPTER XV. SKETCHES OF SOLDIERS — CONTINUED. The Bomb-Proof Prnyer-Meeting — "Are You Ready to Go?" — Little Lizzie's Letter — " I Prayed in the Street" — "I Love Everybody" — "I Have no Fear" — Sergeant James Tustison: "I am Dying, But I am very Happy " — " I have Got It !" — Satan Repulsed by Prayer — " Hell Seems to be Gaping for Me " — "I am Happy in the Lord " — " Converted in the Army through Sin " — " Do You Trust in the Lord ? " — "Urge Him to Come to Jesus" — " Thank God for My Wound" — Ser- geant Dwigbt Kneeland: "My Work is Done "— Died Calling for the Chaplain — " Just as God Wishes " — " Tell My Mother I Died Happy '' — "It is Easier to Serve Satan" — "I am Better in the Army than at Home" — William J. Johnson, 142d N. Y., Co. D — "All is Well" — XU CONTENTS. PA9B *' Old Jacob," the Grave-Digger — " The Bible Better than Greenbacks " —"Somehow It Worked upon Me" — "God Still Sticks to Me " — " O Chaplain, What Will I Do?" — "I am on the Devil's Side" — "Pray for Me, Chaplain, till I Die: " His Bereaved Wife's Letter — "I would as soon Go to My Heavenly Home " — "I am Too AVicked to Come to Jesus " — " God Grabbed Me into His Heart at Once " — "I Prayed on, and God Changed My Heart " — " The Devil Coaxed Me Off." . . 210 CHAPTER XVI. EXTRACTS FROM THE AUTHOR'S DIARY. Preaching in the Wards — A Melting Prayer-Meeting — Hospital Church Organized — Church Creed — A Weeping Scene at the Grave — The Naked Heart — Mortality Increasing — -"Try Again" — A Soldier's Prayer-Meeting — Catholics ' Turning Protestants — Christmas Dinner — Holidays in U. S. Hospital — Week of Prayer — The Lord's Supper — Revival in Hospital. ....... 256 CHAPTER XVII. MISCELLANEOUS FACTS. Celebration of Washington's Birthday — Religious Interest in New Camp — Soldiers' Entertainment — The Fall of Richmond — Unbounded Rejoic- ing— Lee's Surrender — Death of President Lincoln — Largest Inter- ment— Dedication of New Hospital Chapel — Arrival of Fort Fisher Wounded .279 CHAPTER XVIII. BOMBARDMENT OF FORT FISHER. The Wounded Arrive at the Hospital — They are very Jubilant — Admiral Porter Commands the Fleet — "The World never Saw such Fighting" — The Scene Awfully Grand and Sublime — Great Slaughter of Sailors — Awful Hand-to-Hand Fight for Hours — The Surrender — Buoyant Wounded from Richmond — Dying that the Nation might Live — Hos- pital Variety Monotonous — Desire to go Home. . . . 288 CHAPTER XIX. LINCOLN'S FUNERAL. Lincoln's Funeral — Deep Feeling: Solemn, Impressive — The Author's Address at the Funeral — Sudden Change from Rejoicing to Weeping — His Death a Loss to the Entire World — National Grief Unspeakable — His Character — The Great Emancipator and Friend of the Slave — Self- Made — The Saviour of His Country — Religious Character: Brought up to Pray, and Read the Bible — His Last Request: "Pray for Me " — "I Leave Myself, my Country, and All in the Hands of God." 294 CHAPTER XX. THE STREAM OF DEATH. The First Soldiers Killed in the War — Rebel Cruelty to the Dead — CONTENTS. Xlll PAGE Death of Col. Baker — Gen. Lyon's Bravery and Death — Death in the Mississippi Valley and on the Peninsula — Removal of Gen. McClellan — Gen. Rosecrans' Bravery at Stone River — "The Bloodiest Battle of the War " — The Battle of Gettysburg the Death-blow of the Rebellion — Gen. Grant Assumes Command in Chief — "On to Richmond" — Death of Gen. Sedgwick — Battle of Coal Harbor — Simultaneous Movement of Armies — Gen. Sherman at Atlanta — Gen. Sheridan's Victories in the Shenandoah Valley — Battle at Franklin, Tenn. — Gen. Sheridan's Stratagem at Cedar Creek — Lincoln Calls for More Volun- teers— Gen. Sherman Completes His " March to the Sea" — Slavery Abolished by Congress, Jan. 31, 1865 — Grant's Last "Great Strike" — Fall of Pvichmond, Flight of JeflF. Davis, and Surrender of Gen. Lee — Mortality During the War — The Deserter. .... 300 CHAPTER XXI. THE NATIONAL CEMETERY AT FORTKESS MONROE, VA. Number of Graves — The Place of Many Prayers, Sighs, and Tears — The Old Man Weeping at his Son's Grave — Who are the Dead ? — How did They Die? — Soldiers' Dying Words — The Monument — The Inscrip- tion— Burying the Dead — National Cemeteries — General Summary. 315 CHAPTER XXII. SKETCHES BY CHAPLAIN MARSHALL — THE U. S. CHRISTIAN COMMISSION. A Theatre turned into a Religious Meeting — Masses of Soldiers in Camp Distribution — Their Profanity — Burlesque Military Drill — The Chap- lain's Resolution — A Shout upon his Entrance — Theatrical Prepara- tions— They Black Themselves up — They Sing — Devotion Rises — ■ God Helps — The Chaplain Reads, Speaks, Prays — They Sing with Great Power — They Visit the Reading-Room — Great Good done in a Short Time — "No more Swearing" — Sunday Night with the Dying — The Dying Sergeant sends for the Chaplain — The Weeping Father prays for his Dying Son — The Dying Lieutenant desires to be Prayed for — The Dying Captain's Warm Grasp — The Friendship of Christ — The U. S. Christian Commission — Its Origin — Officers — First Meeting — Its Spirit and Zeal — Head-Quarters — Its Object — Fidelity of its Delegates — Its Efficiency and Contributions — Its Popularity. . 326 CHAPTER XXIII. DISTINGUISHED CHRISTIAN MEN IN THE WAR. REV. P. D. GURLEY, D.D. His Birth — Pious Mother — Babyhood — Desire for the Ministry — His Education — Works his own Way through Union College — His Piety when a Boy — Studied Theology at Princeton — His Standing in his Class — Graduates at Princeton, and Receives a Call to Preach in In- dianapolis— His Marriage — His Ordination — Successful Labors — XIV CONTENTS. vion Accepts a Call to Dayton, Ohio — Leaves Dayton, and goes to Washing- ton, D. C. — Summoneil to Lincoln's Death-Bed — Impressive Scene — Prays at his Death — Presides at a Meeting of the Clergy of the District of Columbia — Preaches at Lincoln's Funeral — Dr. Hall reads the Episcopal Burial-Service — Bishop Simpson's Opening Prayer — " Cling to Liberty and Right " ^Coftposed a Hymn for the Funeral — Bishop Simpson's Sermon at the Grave — Dr. Gurley's Christian Character — His Ability in Prayer — Successful as a Minister — His Gifts — He Com- forts the Afflicted — His Popularity — His Death — His Rapturous Foretastes of Heaven — His Dying Requests to his Family and Friends — Last Words — Dr. Sunderland's Remarks at the Funeral — His Peo- ple's Affection for him. ....... 334 OLIVER O. HOWARD. His Birth — Boyhood — Early Religious Training — A Christian Gentle- man— He Graduates at Bowdoin College; also at West Point Academy in 1854 — His Patriotism — Appointed Colonel of Third Regiment Maine Volunteers — Is Promoted for Bravery — Joins Army of the Potomac — Wounded at Battle of Fair Oaks — Had his Arm Ampu- tated— Returns Home the Next Day — Lectures the People, and Urges Them to Come to the Rescue of the Country — He Returned in Time for the Battles of Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellors- ville — His Position at the Battle of Gettysburg — His Calmness in Battle — Is Temperate — Gen. Sherman's High Opinion of him — His Warm .attachment for Capt. Griffin — He Prays with him, and Bids him a Final Farewell — "It is the Last Time " — Appointed Commissioner of the Freedman's Bureau — Howard University a Monument of His Benevolent Efforts. ....... 343 BISHOP SIMPSON. His Nativity — His Education — Enters the Ministry — His Popularity — Elected President of Asbury University — Elected Editor of "Western Christian Advocate" — His Success — Elected Bishop — His Success and Administration — His Patriotism and Zeal in Quelling the Rebel- lion— Lincoln's Trusted Friend — His Prayer at Lincoln's Funeral — His Preaching Abilities — His Oration at Lincoln's Grave — Powers of Discrimination — Delineates Lincoln's Characteristics, and Points out the Secret of his Power — His Style of Preaching — He Preaches Christ — What he Covets — His Tour to the Rocky Mountains — Intimate with the Presidents of the United States — Appointed by President Grant to Visit San Domingo — His Present Standing, Influence, and Power — His Touching Peroration at Lincoln's Tomb . . . 346 ADMIRAL FARRAGUT. A New Era m Naval Affairs — Fight between the Monitor and Merrimac — Progress in Destroying and Saving Man — Satan's Whetting his Sword should Arouse the Church — Farragut's Birth — Enters the U. S. Navy — His First and Second Engagements — Heroic Courage — Wounded — Highly Esteemed by his Commander — His Heroism Sleeps — Sails all CONTENTS. XV TAQS over the World — Promoted — His Loyalty — Went North — Commands a Naval Expedition vs. New Orleans — His Large Fleet — Captures New Orleans — Daring Feats in Capturing Vicisburg — His Stratagem and Heroism in Capturing Mobile — Lashed Himself to the Rigging of his Ship in Battle — Calls upon God for Help ai^d Direction — Severe Fight with a Rebel Ironclad — He Whipped Her — She Surrenders — Pro- moted Again — His Habits — Decorating his Grave — His Prayer in the Battle of Mobile Bay — "Go Forward" — His Religious Life — Testi- mony of Lieut. Montgomery. ...... 353 GEORGE H. STUART. Sketch of, by Dr. Wylie — His Birth — Parents — Education — Arrival in this Country — Religious Profession — Elected Ruling Elder — His Christian Zealand Liberality — Missionary Spirit — A Sabbath-school Worker — Suggested the National Presbyterian Convention, and Pre- sided over it — His Suspension from the Church — Refused a Position in President Grant's Cabinet — A Successful Merchant — His Natural Talents — Christian Character — An Expert Presiding Officer — His Natural Eloquence — Attractive Speaker and Successful Beggar — He Always Succeeds — Goes about Doing Good — His Marriage — Family — Personal Appearance — His Labors in the Christian Commission — Its Leading Spirit and President — His Qualification and Devotion to the Work — Secret of His Success — Distributes Books — Overcomes an Infidel — The People's Faith in Him — Money Flows in at his Asking — His Importunity Prevails — His Zeal to Supply the Needy Soldiers — His Kindness to the Rebels — Rebels V/eep at Northern Kindness — His Fondness for Army Relics — " His Generalship in Prayer" — He can always have Prayer — "An Eminent Christian at Work" — His Chris- tian Sagacity — His Popularity — An Eloquent Speaker — His Speech in England. ........ 364 HENRY WARD BEECHER. His Distinguishing Traits — A Great Worker — His Style — Oratory — His Birth — Lost his Mother — Early Religious Impressions — Inured to Hardship — A Bashful, Stammering, Unpromising Boy — His Educa- tion— AVent to School Barefooted, and Hemmed Towels at Recess — Fond of Flowers and Full of Jokes — Drilled in Elocution — Tired of School — Wishes to "Go to Sea" — Subject of a Revival — Unites with the Church — Naval Project Given up — Attention Turned to the Ministry — Enters College — Choice of Studies — Preferring Rhetoric, Studies to Know "What to Say," and "How to Say it" — Strictly Temperate — Conducts Prayer-Meetings — His Creed — Religious Im- pressions — Troubled — Believed — Buoyant — Teaches School — Lec- tures and Preaches — The Slave's Friend — Graduates — Studies Theol- ogy— Perplexed about Entering the Ministry — Marries — First Pas- toral Charge — Did Everything Himself — Moves to Indianapolis — Style of Preaching — His Popularity — Revival in his Church — Moves to Brooklyn — Visits England and Europe — Lectures in England, and, XVI CONTENTS. PAQB Braving all Opposition, Pleads America's Cause Successfully — His London Letter glowing with Joy and Gratitude to God, and Love to his Enemies — Impression Favorable — Affectionate Enthusiasm for him — His War Sermons — Oration at Fort Sumter. .... 383 DWJGHT L. MOODY. Power of Individual Effort — Earnestness the Secret of Success — A Great Want — The Church and the World Asleep — His Birth — Lay- preaching Encouraged — Paul's Great Success — Labor, Labor ! — Moody's Early Religious Views — His Conversion — Joins the Congre- gationalists — Education Limited — His Labors Successful — A Great Worker in Sabbath Schools — Organized Mission Sunday School in Chicago — Its Growth — Started Prayer-Meetings — Labors Blessed — Young Men's Christian Association Begun — Daily Prayer-Meeting — His Trust in God for a Living — No Salary — His Active Labors in the Army — His Zeal at the Battle of Fort Donelson — Goes to God for Direction — EflBcient in Building — Calls to go Abroad — Crosses the Atlantic — Organized Daily Prayer-Meeting in London — Labors in Sunday-School Convention — Successful — Deeds, not AVords, a True Sign of Principle — His Success as an Organizer; as a Speaker; as a Revivalist — How to "Get up a Revival" — His Large Audiences in Chicago — His Popularity at Home — His Personal Influence over Others. 395 GARRETSON I. YOUNG. Solemn Warning — "Be Ye also Ready!" — His Birth ■■— Parents — Boy- hood— Education — A Diligent Scholar — His Academical Course at Calcutta, Ohio — Enters Jefferson College — Graduates — His Habifs — Taught High School — Studies and Practises Law — Elected Pi-obate Judge — A Neat Book-keeper — Marries — Early Religious Training — Read the Bible Daily — Joins the Episcopal Church — His Military Position — Labors in War Department — Resigns, and Returns Home — Purchased the "Buckeye State" — Edits it — His Success — Elected to the Ohio Legislature — His Character — Patriotic — Winning Ways — Noble Traits — "He Made Friends Fast" — His Sudden Death — Im- pressive Scenes at the Capitol; and at his Home — His Funeral — Marked Honors Paid him by the Governor and State Legislature — Eulogies by the Members. ...... 403 CHAPTER XXIV. FAREWELL TO THE HOSPITAL. A Brief and Solemn Review — Number of Patients in Hospital — Average Daily and Total Mortality of the War — Interviews with Soldiers — Chaplains much Exposed to Disease — Solemn to Part — Farewell to the Chesapeake ; to the Chapel ; to the Matrons ; to Hampton ; to the Chap- lains— Farewell to the Christian Soldiers — Appeal and Farewell to the Impenitent — Farewell to the Dead — The Great Christian Victory — The Rebellion Dissected — Source of the Victory — Munificent Gifts — Americius and Europeans Whetting One Another — Go Forward. . 411 ABmAMAM ILIIB'(D(Q)ILMo Entered iCCOrdum to At-r oi Coiigreson the yearlfiSSby 7ti.:e TtutterSCo-in the clerks office of fhc district court o£4p United Stales in and ibclhe eastern dis^ct of ftn^sylv^ CHRISTIANITY IN THE WAR. INTEODUCTOEY. Tour to the Eocky Mountains — Teie Deyil Out-flanked — "The Biggest Gun ever Fired in America" — Plucking Flow- ers AND Making Snowballs at the Same Time — Gathering UP the Lost Sheep — Preaching to Colorado Volunteers — Late Papers " go off like Hot Cakes " — The Mighty Strug- gle waxes Hotter — Going to the Army — Visiting and Bid- ding Good-by to Friends — Touching at Pittsburg and Balti- more, We Enjoyed a very Pleasant Foretaste of Army and Hospital Life at Washington, Fortress Monroe, and New- BERN — Another Sail brought us to Plymouth. THE present is an eventful age — an age for intellectual research, discovery, scientific investigation; and for great and mighty changes and revolutions in the social, moral, civil, and religious world, is unparalleled in the history of man. It is peculiarly a. fast age. Kingdoms and empires now rise, flourish, fade, and fall,^»almost in a day. And the human mind ever on the alert in search of new truths, under the present march of mind, we often see old creeds and platforms give way, and give rise to new and better ones. Although our country has just emerged from a baptism of blood, and although Satan Ls whetting his sword and rallying his forces, yet with oceans tra- versed with telegraphs, and continents spanned with railroads, knowledge is running to and fro, and Chrisilanity is spreading rapidly. When the nation's indignation was stirred at the rebel bom- 15 16 CHRISTIANITY IN THE "WAR. bardment of Fort-Sumter, April 12, 1861, the writer was wind- ing his way across the boundless plains of Nebraska, to Denver, and the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Leaving Omaha, Neb., April 21, after riding over six successive days and nights in the coach, and travelling over six hundred miles up the broad waters of the Platte, we reached Denver, and put up at the Cherokee House, at twelve dollars a week for boarding and lodging. It was here, in this bustling city, that we first felt the gloom that overspread the country, occasioned by the signal defeat at the first battle of Bull Run. Here we spent several months in preaching, and gathering up the scattered sheep of Israel, and preaching occasionally to small squads of Colorado volunteers. It was at Laurette — far beyond Pike's Peak, at the foot of the snowy range, between two lofty spurs of the back- bone of North America, in the regions of perpetual snow, where in July you can pluck flowers with one hand and make snow- balls with the other — that the glorious news of Lincoln's Eman- cipation Proclamation first fell upon our ears. A mountain merchant then said, " It is the biggest gun ever fired in America ; " while Lord John Russell, of England, pronounced it " an act of vengeance on the slave-holder^ Meeting here, beneath the shade of the lofty peaks and rocky cliiFs, for preaching, prayer, and praise, we often enjoyed precious times of refreshing. On one occasion, we out-flanked the devil, and broke up a Sabbath-evening auction, and had the pleasure of seeing the Sabbath-breaking auctioneer haul in his unsold goods, and come to church himself. And although we were separated from the seat of war by a distance of some two thou- sand miles, yet we watched the movements of the two mighty armies with intense interest. Every mail was looked for with tlie greatest anxiety, and the late papers, by thousands, "went off like hot cakes." But seeing the mighty struggle for our national existence waxing hotter and hotter, and feeling deeply anxious to aid in quelling the rebellion, we pulled up stakes and struck for home, and hastened to lend our assistance as chaplain of the 101st Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. Leaving these smoky twin cities, in the Pennsylvania Central Express, with lightning speed we hurried across the lofty Alle- ghanies, with their beautiful curves and deep ravines, and soon found ourselves promenading the broad pavements of Pennsyl- vania Avenue, overlooked by the splendid dome of the national capitol at one end, and the " White House " at the other. Here we visited a few U. S. General Hospitals, and, for the first time, enjoyed the privilege of preaching to the sick and wounded sol- diers, lying upon their narrow couches, in their airy wards. It was in Douglas Hospital, chaplained by Rev. W. Y. Brown, U.S.A. Having enjoyed this little foretaste of hospital life, we hastened back to Baltimore, where we fell in with G. S. Griffith, Esq., president of the Maryland Branch of the U. S. Chris- tian Commission, who, though a stranger, received me verv kindly, and gave me a rich supj)ly of Testaments, books, papers, and tracts for my regiment. Embracing the first opportunity, we sailed down the broad bosom of Chesapeake Bay to Fortress Monroe, Va., and soon made our way up to the Chesapeake Hos- pital, where we met with a very kind reception from Chaplain James Marshall, U.S.A., stationed at that point, faithfully labor- ing for the welfare of the large number of patients collected at that noted place. Waiting for transportation, we spent a few days here very agreeably ; preaching for the chaplain Sabbath morning to his patients, and to a regiment of colored troops, in Camp Distribution, in the afternoon. Having enjoyed this, another little taste of hospital life, early Tuesday morning we bade farewell to the thronged wharf of Fortress Monroe, and sailed in the splendid steamer Spaulding for Beaufort, N. C, rounding the dangerous coast of Cape Hatteras in the night, while wrapped in the sweet embraces of sleep, entirely uncon- scious of the danger encountered. But rocked by the raging billows of the troubled ocean, upon leaving my berth in the morning, I found my head so light, and my stomach so disturbed, that I could not walk for sea-sickness. But having fully recov- ered before reaching Beaufort, we hurried, " by rail," to captured 18 CHRISTIANITY IN THE WAR, Newbern, surrounded with fortifications and soldiers without, and teeming with colored people within. Here we visited sol- diers' camps, chaplains' quarters, hospitals, and delegates ^f the Christian Commission, preaching as often as we could ; and thus enjoyed another very profitable initiatory step into the panorama of hospital and army life. After waiting a few days, a Govern- ment transport arrived, and sailing down the broad Pamlico and up the placid Albemarle Sounds, we arrived at Plymouth, N. C, Dec. 19, 1863, where we found the brave boys of the 101st comfortably housed in their warm winter-quarters, and met with a very warm reception from Col. A. W. Taylor, then com- manding the regiment. CHRISTIANITY IN THE WAR. 19 CHAPTER I. ENTERING THE SERVICE. Arrival at Plymouth — Found our Regiment, the 101st Pa. Vol., Comfortably Housed — The Garrison Hungry for the Gospel — Christmas Sermon — Big Turn-Out — The Eebels Cap- tured AND Drove us off. ON arriving at Plymouth, we found the garrison, containing some two thousand men, made up of the following regiments and companies: the 103d Pa. Vol., Col. Leghman; the 85th N. Y. Vol., Col. Fidello; the 101st Pa. Vol., Lt.-Col. A. W. Taylor; the 16th Conn. Vol., Col. Beech; a New York Independent Bat- tery, and parts of the 12th N. Y. Cavalry and the 2d Mass. Heavy Artillery, all commanded by Brig.-Gen. H. W. Wessels. They had been there a long time, and were almost entirely destitute of preaching. Col. Taylor preached occasionally, and the Rev. Mr. Morris, a faithful delegate of the U. S. Christian Commis- sion, had just arrived, and held service one or two Sabbaths. 