Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 12.djvu/551

 Diary of Rev. J. G. Law. 541

of our boys in gray recognized his brother in blue among the pris- oners and gave him a bountiful supply of rations. One of the sad features of this bloody war is that it is a fratricidal strife. Brother is arrayed in arms against brother, father against son, and friend against friend. Especially is this the case among the troops of Kentucky, where there is such serious division of sentiment in families, some in unnatural sympathy with the Federals who are seeking to subjugate us and enforce a union that we do not desire, and some in sympathy with the Confederates who are battling for the sacred rights of inde- pendence and confederation. It was quite affecting to witness the meeting between the two brothers, one a ragged, war-worn and half-starved Confederate, and the other a well-dressed and well-fed Federal. Yesterday they were enemies and would have shot each other down in the heat of battle. To-day they ^re friends and the Confederate ministers to the bodily comfort of his Federal brother. Such are the reversible fortunes of war.

Richmond is a beautiful little town, and the private residences have an air of elegance and wealth. The church buildings are very hand- some, which indicates a refined, generous and cultured people. We are encamped in one of the most beautiful groves that I ever saw. To my mind the Arcadian grove would not be a sweeter resting-place than this lovely spot. Rations are now abundant, and we are enjoying the luxury of genuine coffee and sugar. I feel thankful that our Sab- bath rest has not been disturbed by the rude clash of arms

September i. — Left Richmond early this morning and marched eighteen miles. We crossed Kentucky river without opposition, as the demoralized Yankees fled on our approach. We are now march- ing through one of the wealthiest regions of Kentucky and find the sentiment of the people almost unanimously Southern, it being a rare exception to meet with an avowed Union man. The Kentuckians seem to be frantic with joy over the appearance of a Confederate army in their State, and have already began the organization ol a regiment at Richmond. It was hard to leave our blue-grass beds, but a soldier can't expect to sleep on a downy bed of ease every night.

September 2. — We camp to night only four miles from Lexington. The enemy continue to fly before our victorious advance, antl we ex- pect to make a triumphal entry into the city of Lexington to- morrow.

September J, Lexington, Ky. — This morning at 9 o'clock, our vic- torious army marched through the streets of Lexington, flushed with