Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 12.djvu/197

Rh in the Presbyterian church, assisted in this brigade in the administration of the sacrament of the Lord's supper. On the same day I preached to General Finley's brigade, where the general and his staff were present, and where he united audibly with our prayers. General Cleburae, the hero of many battlefields, treated me with much attention and kindness; had a place prepared for preaching in the center of his division, where himself and most of his officers were present, and where I was assisted by Brigadier-General Lowrey, who sat in the pulpit with me and closed the services of the hour with prayer. I partook of the hospitality of General Lowrey at dinner, and spent several delightful hours in profitable religious conversation. The general is a Baptist preacher, and, like the commander of the division, is a hero of many well-fought battlefields. He takes great interest in the soldiers' religious welfare, often preaches to them, and feels that the ministry is still his high and holy calling." A writer said of General Johnston's army not long after the opening of the campaign from Dalton to Atlanta: "It is wonderful to see with what patience our soldiers bear up under trials and hardships. I attribute this in part to the great religious change in our army. Our army seems to be impressed with a high sense of an overruling Providence. They have become Christian patriots and have a sacred object to accomplish—an object dearer to them than life."

Rev. L. B. Payne says of the work in General Johnston's army: "Since my last report, which was for April, we have been in line of battle or on the march nearly every day. Notwithstanding we have had prayer-meetings in the breastworks several times, and I have preached some six or seven times; and, thank God! the revival still goes on." Rev. L. R. Redding reported from the lines near Atlanta: "A most gracious revival is in progress in Gist's brigade. We have built a bush arbor in rear of our line of battle, where we have services twice