61                                  HISTORY OF THE SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT O.V.V.I.

cowed before his very appearance. He often came to my tent, and we had many talks on our experience. Once he said, 'I never before felt the importance of religion as I do here. Cut off from home and the public means of grace, I feel the necessity of leaning exclusively on the Savior, and committing myself entirely to a kind and good Providence.'"

           When disease was wearing away his life, he was urged to think of home, and the hope was held up before him that he would soon be conveyed to his mother and sisters. He replied: 'I am going to a far better home than any on earth. Tell my mother and sisters that I die happy. I am entering the upper kingdom only a few days before them. Tell them not to mourn for me. I would not have them do so. They rejoiced when I came into the lower kingdom, how much more should they rejoice to have me enter into the upper Sanctuary. Tell them to sing 'JOYFULLY,' when they hear of my high promotion from the army, and the high service of my country, to the bright, bright climes of bliss!'

           After he was placed on the boat at Pittsburg Landing, May 7, he seemed to rally, and expressed himself as being quite comfortable. On the evening of the 9th, however, he felt that he was drawing near his "time to die" – and being asked by his attending physician, if he had any message to send to his friends, dictated the following letter:

           "DEAR MOTHER AND SISTERS: – I am just entering the glorious portals of eternity! Jesus has not yet made his appearance, but I know that he will. Do not regret that you permitted me to volunteer. The happiness of the present moment makes up for all the suffering I ever endured. I soon expect to see dear father, grand-father, and above all – JESUS! One of the greatest objects of my gratitude is, that God has granted me the privilege of sending you this message from the chambers of glory. I never enjoyed myself so much as while in the army. You ought to be proud that you have a son to fall in so glorious a cause as that of human independence. Tell our church to be faithful unto the end, and get the glorious crown of life. Tell my dear pastor to continue in his faithful labors, for I know the blessing of God will follow them. Thank Mr. Chambers, the Baptist minister, for the interest he took in me at the good old Union Prayer-Meetings.

                               "Joyfully, joyfully, onward we move'

will be sung by me in nobler strains, in a short time, and

" 'Nearer, my God, to thee,               Nearer to thee;     Even though it be a cross       That raiseth me,     Still all my song shall be,       Nearer, my God, to thee,     Nearer to thee '–' I would be,       Still nearer to thee.' "

 

           Still he lived. He was conveyed to the West End Military Hospital, in Cincinnati, where the providence of his Covenant-keeping God brought him under the kind care of relatives and friends. Dr. Dodge, who, with his kind family, spent much time with him, in a letter, says:

           "He was perfectly rational as long as he had strength to articulate. Realizing fully that his work on earth was done, he departed with a confident assurance of meeting the Savior. From the time he left Pittsburg Landing, until his death, he gave to all around him the brightest evidence of the power of Christianity. Lawyers, physicians and nurses knelt, and wept, like children, around his dying bed. The memory of his example and faith in the Savior will never be effaced from the minds of scores of sympathizing friends."

           His remains were brought home, and interred by the side of his father.

 

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