Page:Memorials of Capt. Hedley Vicars, Ninety-seventh Regiment by Marsh, Catherine, 1818-1912.djvu/132

Rh "July 26th. — Since I wrote the above, five more have died. One of them was my former servant, poor Hillyar. I took the service for the officer whose turn it was to command the funeral party, and said a few words to the soldiers who were standing around the graves, and asked them to join in prayer with me. I heard the voices of many, broken by their sobs. Not one of these fine fellows would hesitate to face a cannon's mouth or mount the deadly breach, yet they shrink from the fearful ravages of this unseen foe. Will you all pray for my regiment? Pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon them. Few are as yet prepared to die. God bless and keep you all. In the midst of these gloomy scenes I think as often as ever of L——, and, if possible, with even more overflowing thankfulness and love."

" One hundred and five have died since the cholera broke out; most of them were amongst the finest, healthiest fellows in the regiment. I have many opportunities now of speaking both to officers and men, and trust and believe, in some cases, not without benefit. I have taken the duty of burying the dead several times out of my turn, as some of the officers have rather an objection to it, and I have been enabled to speak to the men after the service. They endeavour to join me in prayer very earnestly around those open graves. As all the officers, excepting myself and two others have been ill either with fever or modified cholera, I have regularly gone to read with them; and all are kind, whilst many seem cordially to desire more of it. In one or two cases, from what I knew of the men when well, I thought the subject of Christ crucified might not be liked; but it was just contrary! The very fellows whom I had most fear about speaking to were those