Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/354

 348 &c.). about 20,000; Orville Victor, about 18,000—about three times the besieged.

"Banks," page 146, May 27—Killed, 293; wounded, 1,549; missing, about 300—total, 2,142.

June 14—No correct report—Orville Victor says about 2,000.

An Address of the Chaplains of the Second Corps ("Stonewall" Jackson's), Army Northern Virginia, to the Churches of the Confederate States.

[The following paper, from the pen of Rev. Beverly Tucker Lacy, was adopted by the Chaplains' Association of Jackson's corps, and is worthy of a place in our records.]

The relations which we sustain to the various branches of the church of Christ in our country, and the position which we hold in the army of the Confederate States, induces us to address you upon the important subject of the religious instruction of the soldiers engaged in the sacred cause of defending our rights, our liberties and our homes. The one universal subject of thought and of feeling is the war. The hearts of the people, with singular unanimity, are enlisted in the common cause. The object of special interest to all is the army. The political and social interests involved excite the patriotism and move the affection of all. There is little necessity for exhortation to love of country, or love to our sons and brothers, who are fighting and falling in our defence. These emotions, strong in the beginning, have become more intense from the heroic fortitude of our noble army, and from the wicked designs and infamous conduct of our enemies. The history of the past two years of the war has amazingly developed, and magnified the issues and strengthened and deepened the convictions under which the conflict began. Base, beyond all conception, must that heart be which does not swell with patriotic devotion to our dear and suffering country, which is not stirred with deep and righteous indignation against our cruel and guilty foes, and which is not melted with profound and tender sympathy for the privations of our soldiers and the afflictions of our oppressed fellow citizens in the invaded districts. While these emotions may exist in some adequate measure, is the religious interest commensurate with the demand of the times? Is the church