| The Life of Dr. J.R. Miller |
Chapter 2 |
Page 5 |
The following extract from a letter written by Mr. Miller a few weeks after the battle of Gettysburg gives an insight to the character of the work in which he was engaged:
“General Meade and staff were at the service last Sabbath morning. Two of his staff are known to be religious men, and take part in religious services, I have noticed, and Captain P. of General Meade’s staff remarked the same to me, that there is a marked change in the observance of the Sabbath around headquarters during the past month. Every Sabbath grows stiller and quieter.
I was at headquarters last Sabbath morning. It was the calmest and most like the Sabbath of any I have spent in this army. I blessed God for it. Flags were down, offices were closed, and none but the most important business was transacted. General Patrick called at our tent; conversed for a half hour, inquired concerning arrangements of service during the day, selected some books, papers, etc., and then attended services himself, morning and afternoon. He says: ‘We have just got what we want. We have talked the matter (of having service at headquarters) over many times, and have made efforts to have this end accomplished. Burnside tried it, and sent off for ministers, but the services never succeeded in awakening interest. Now we have the very thing we want, and we mean to keep it. Soldiers are becoming most deeply interested themselves at all our stations, and I believe that we have never had so much encouragement to work.’”
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