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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
 
 ©Ijait.|^?:.l3api|nB!}f:^o 
 
 ' Shelf '.11.^.).. 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 
THE TWO ROADS 
 
 wrm A VIVID DKSCKIKTION Ol' 
 
 Sheridan's Ride, 
 
 A\r> 11 IK 
 
 BATTLE OF CEDAR CREEK. 
 
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 TRUMAN li. 1) i:\.\lS. 
 
 PRICE. TEN CENTS. 
 
THE TWO ROADS 
 
 WITH A vivin df:scrii'tion of 
 
 Sheridan's Ride, 
 
 AM) 11 IK 
 
 ( OEC 201889 ,) 
 
 BATTLE OF CEDAR CREEK. 
 
 f. 
 
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 TRUMAN B. DENNIS. 
 

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 I 
 
 Copyriglited by 
 
 T. B. Dknnj,, 
 
 1889. 
 
 All rights reserved, 
 
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INTRODUCTION. 
 
 It is the aim and hope of the author that this pamphlet 
 may not only prove interesting to the general reader, but that 
 it may, through God"s blessing and grace, which the author 
 most humbly invokes, create a lively interest in spiritual 
 things in the hearts of the Christians who may read it ; and 
 that it may awaken a desire in the minds of the unbelievers to 
 search after, and seek to find the great truths and promises 
 that are made in God's word, to the joy and salvation of their 
 souls ; for which reason the author has emlcavored to so 
 group the circumstances connected with the battle of Cedar 
 Creek, th.it they may have a spiritual aspect and bearing, and 
 hopes that the public will kindlj' read and carefully consider it 
 in that light. The etching which was made especially for this 
 work, and was designed by the author, and executed in pen 
 and ink drawing by A. R. Wood, an eminent battle scene 
 artist of New York, who was also with General Sheridan's 
 army at the time, is worth one dollar to cut out and frame, 
 and cannot be bought separately for less. 
 
 Most truly yours, 
 
 T. B. DENNIS. 
 
Whither shall I tjo from Thy spirit, or whither shall I 
 flee from Thy presence? If I ascend into Heaven, Tluiu 
 art there ; if I make my bed in liell, behold ! Thou art there. 
 If I take the wings of'the morninj^, and dwell in the uttermost 
 parts of the sea, even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy 
 right hand shall hold me. 
 
 Brethren ! it must have been a great source of strength to 
 King David to know that God"s spirit was always with him, 
 and of comfort, to know that (Jod's presence always over- 
 shadowed him; in all of his early life he hail unmistakable 
 proofs of God's watchful care over him. 
 
 Likewise, it ought to be, and undoubtedly is, a great com- 
 fort and help to all Christians to believe and know that God's 
 spirit and presence is continually with them : that his loving 
 hand leads them, and that the power of His right hanil u|)lio!as 
 them ; it certainly is to me ; and it ought to be a matter of 
 great concern to the unredeemed to know that they cannot 
 possibly escape from God's presence. There is no heights, no 
 depths, no lengths, no breadths, nor any secret place where 
 they can, for one moment, hide themselves from the all-seeing 
 eye of God, who observes their every action and discerns their 
 most secret thoughts and motives. 
 
 Fearful, indeed, will be the reckoning for those whose sins 
 have not been cleansed, antl whose garments have not been 
 made white by the blood of the lamb. 
 
 The picture which David, the great poetic artist, lias 
 sketched for us, is one that is most beautiful to the believer, 
 
arnl one well worth our studv and contemplation. I. for one, 
 am glad that he painted it. 
 
 But, brethren 1 I would like to ask, why such sulicitude 
 and watchful care over us on tlie part of Gotl ? \\'h\' the 
 necessity for His spirit guarding us.' Why for His |)resence 
 to surround us, I know that God's wisdom is past fnuling 
 out, and that His purposes are not full}- revealed unto us ; hut 
 in matters where we are so personallv and individually con- 
 cerned, it will be pardonable, vea, praiseworthv, in us ti) seek 
 for the cause. 
 
 God does nothing haphazard, or by chance, and wherever 
 God's hand is niatle manifest, ymi may be sure that there is a 
 motive and an end to be attainei.1, and possibly a necessity 
 which prompts God to action ; if so. what is the trouble here .■' 
 Shall I tell ynu.' Well, this beautiful jiicture which so en- 
 rai)tures us, has a reverse side. Shall I show it to yriu .' Here 
 it is. 
 
 Whither shall 1 go, oh, Satan, to escape from thy spirit.' 
 or whither shall I flee from thy presence.' If I seek a hermit's 
 .retreat in some vast wilderness, thi.iu art there ; if 1 build my 
 cottage b}' the lonely seaside, thou tindest me ; if I seek shelter 
 in the humble home of the laborer, thy footprints are there to 
 be seen. If 1 would hide me in the mansions of the wealthy, 
 the stains of thy ])ollutiiig [lower and the odors of thy tlnminion 
 repulse me. 
 
 I will flee to the home of the moralist, one whose boast is 
 that he ii\es up lo the Law, or nearly so ; that he is better 
 than any of the Christians that he knows ; thai he has no 
 knowledge of the existence itf a devil — excejit by hearsay — 
 
anil for these reasons, God is under obligatiims to save him 
 and liis lioiise. Surely, I shall be safe there. 
 
 I rinjj; the bell, I step into the large vestibule : while wait- 
 ing, I glance behind the door; ho, what is this? A queer 
 piece of statuary, indeed, for a moralist's house — one ofsatan's 
 imps — with a broad grin of satisfaction spread all over his face. 
 It moves, and as it recognizes me its whole demeanor changes, 
 and in threatening tones, and with fearful gestures, it charges 
 me not to make any disturbance here. These people are 
 drifting, quietly and peacefully, down the broad road ; and it 
 is better for them to be allowed to go peaceably along than 
 for me to be compelled to take them liy force. Almost fright- 
 ened out of my senses, I rush for the house of a Christian. 
 Surely, I will find peace and rest here. I enter — oh. horrible ! 
 the scarred consciences and lacerated, bleeding hearts, warn 
 me too forcibh- of the many and recent conflicts with satan. I 
 make for the- doors, and meet the Devil, face to face ! 
 The Lord save me ! Lord give me the power for victory. 
 Ho ! Satan ! whence comest thou .' and wiiat doest thou here .' 
 "From going to and fro, up and down, through the earth, 
 seeking whom I may, by deceit, by flattery or by violence, de- 
 stroy. These Christians are the hardest of all mankind to 
 overcome. Many will die rather than surrender ; hence my 
 jiersonal presence. 
 
 Hut how dare thou to encroach on the precincts of God's 
 ledeemeil ground.' Has not Christ declared that all that God 
 gavest me have I kept, except one .' True, but Christ en- 
 juinetl on His followers that they watch and pray, lest they 
 fall into temptation ; but manv become wearv, and fail asleep 
 
8 
 
 in Zion, and I come upon them unawares, and hmv I do lacciv 
 ate their souls ; some I kill before ever the}- awake. 
 
 JMost of 3-ou, brothers and sisters, have heartl of Sheridan's 
 Ride. I was with his armv at the time, and know some facts 
 and circumstances that you will not find in history. Hemmed 
 in on either side by the rugged ranges of the blue mountains, 
 lies the Shenandoah Valley traversed lengthwise, crosswise, 
 and at right and loft aii;,des. In- small rivers and large creeks; 
 about sixteen miles below Winchester, Cedar Creek crosses it, 
 from S. W. to N. E On the S. E. side of the creek the 
 country is s<Hnewhat broken and partly covered with forests. 
 About four miles to the south is a long bold ridge called 
 Fisher's Hill, up whose bold front the Winchester and Stanton 
 turnpike winds it way. On this ridge the rebel General Early 
 with his army, which had been recently reinforced, was 
 strongly posted, on the 15th of November, 1864. 
 
 On the north and north-western side of Cedar Creek lies 
 several plateaus or low table-lands, with small grades or em- 
 bankments between them ; back of these the ground gradually 
 ri.ses for a mile or more, to a ridge, which slopes off again to- 
 wartls Winchester. On the evening of the iSth the Union 
 army, under command of Major-General Sheridan, was en- 
 camped, facing towards the south, and but a short distance 
 from the creek, on those table-lands First came the 8th 
 Corps, on a slope, immediately to the right of the turnpike ; 
 next to them, on their right, on a stretch of table-land, was a 
 part of the 19th Corps. About two miles to the left, at the 
 junction of Cedar Creek and the Shenandoah River, the 'ith 
 Corps was encamped, in a strong position. All of these camjis 
 
were fortified with breast-works, with their batteries in position, 
 and was thought to be strong enough to resist any force that 
 the rebels would be likely to have to bring against them, and 
 besides, the ollicers and men were all old and wcll-trainetl 
 soldiers, who had faced death on many a hard-fought field, 
 and who had so nobly and bravely routed the rebel army out 
 of Winchester, on the iSth of September, previous. 
 
 General Sheridan, not anticipating an attack from the de- 
 feated enemy, made his headquarters in Winchester. A few 
 days previous General .Sheridan had been called to Washing- 
 ton on important business, which fact was undoubtedly con- 
 veyed to General Karly by some of the many rebels that were 
 permitted to live within our lines. On the iSth there was a 
 reconnoisance made to within a short distance ofFi.sher's Hill, 
 and no indication of any movement on the part of the enemy 
 was discovered. 
 
 About half a mile to the south ol Cedar Creek, through 
 fields and forests, acro.ss the valley, stretched the Union picket 
 line, which, under the circumstances and peaceful appearance 
 of the enemy, was thought to be all the safeguard that was 
 needed, and the camp-guards, which ought always to be kept 
 ]iostcd around the camp in an enemy's country, was dispensed 
 with, at least that was the case in the 8Ui Corps. As soon as 
 the rebel General learned that the great commander had gone 
 on a long journey, he began to bestir himself, that he miglil 
 take advantage of the loyal soldiers while they were deprived 
 of the counsels, wisdom and warlike spirit .of their great and 
 good leader. He immediately sent out his spies, to seek out 
 the weak places and unguarded points in the loyal camp. It 
 
10 
 
 so happened that one of the corps was under marching orders, 
 (tliai is, was ordered to keej) themselves in reatliness to march 
 at a moment's notice, witli three day's rations). Some of his 
 s])ies soon learned of this fact, and also the position of the 
 picket line that this corps picketed ; after which, and carefully 
 looking: over the a;round in front of that part of the line which 
 was in the woods, and the best and easiest approaches to it, 
 and leavin;:: two or three siirewd sjiies to carefully locate 
 any careless, drowsy or sleeping picket that might be found 
 along the Union line ; the others reported to their master, 
 all that they had seen or heartl : how that the Sth Corps was 
 without canip-gu.ird, that the lytli was under marching cirtlers 
 ami that their picket line was through a large piece of timber- 
 land, with such other information as they had been able to 
 gather. 
 
 As soon a.'--, having heard their reports, General P'arly's 
 [ilans were quickly formed ; he immediately sent out orders 
 f(i,- ammunition and rations to be issued to all of the men, anti 
 that all of the Colonels should hold their regiments in readiness 
 to march in light marching order, and for the batteries to be 
 in readmess : then selecting some nf the shrewdest, bravest 
 and most trust}- men, he orderetl them to attire themselves in 
 the uniforms of Union soldiers, and placing them under the 
 command of some of his most discreel ,uul lrusl\' aitis, ordered 
 them under cover on the night of the uSth, to a])proach as 
 near as possible to the Union lines, without being observetl ; 
 to throw a parallel picket line along the front of the Union line 
 that under the guise of friends they might intercept and hold 
 any I'nion spies that might attempt Ui pass to or from the 
 
11 
 
 rebel armv, and lo hold a reserve in the centre of the woods, 
 and await further orders. 
 
 Waiting ])atientlv until after miiiniglit, to avoid liie |}ossi- 
 bility of his moveinents being discovered, and the alarm given 
 to the Union army, he quickly and quietly concentrated all 
 of his forces in and behind the forest, and after learning froin 
 his sjiies that they had located several Union pickets who had 
 fallen asleep, he ordered the spies to lead as many files of 
 soldiers as (iiossible) stealthily, on to the sleeping pickets and 
 to capture or kill them, without making any alarm or noise; 
 to force from any faint-hcartetl ones the Union countersign ; 
 lo leave two rebels on each post thus captured, who by strategy 
 should keep the Union pickets on either side of them from 
 discovering the change. As soon as this was accomjilished 
 he marched a company of disguised rebels through one of the 
 gaps, and boKlly approached the watchful Union jiickets from 
 inside the lines, with the right countersign, and reiirescnting 
 themselves as a relief ]>ickel guard from one of the other corps 
 that had been sent lo relieve them, so that they could march 
 with their corps, ordered them to fall in the rear, where they 
 were carefulb' received, disarmed and kept ipiiet, uiukr pen 
 altv of immediate death. When a sufficient opening hail thus 
 been made, (leneral Karly carefully and quickly marcheil his 
 infantrv through It ; ordereil his cavalry and artillery to move 
 up as quietly as possible, within supporting distance. Hanked 
 the other corps, and took a position close by and on all sides 
 of the Sth corps, who, as well as the other corps, lay hushed 
 in quiet slumber, unconscious of danger ; some of the soldiers 
 dreaming of peace, some of war, some greeted again their 
 
12 
 
 fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters ; some hastening to the 
 hiinie of their love — clasped again in love's long embrace. 
 Tlie idol of their hearts, poor souls! this was their last em- 
 brace, for the cruel fates of war soon robbctl them of the 
 possibility of ever meeting again on this earth. 
 
 Others fought over again the battles of former days, and 
 amid hail storms of shot, shell and canister, and the rattling 
 of musketry over the bodies of the dead and d}ing, friends 
 and foes, with bayonets fixed, and every muscle and nerve at 
 its higest tension, boldly charged into the rebel ranks. I have 
 heard it said, that some dreams are freighted with realism, and 
 thus it was with theirs ; for at the earliest ilawn of day. the 
 rebel army fell on to the unguarded and sleeping 8tli C'urps 
 with demoniac fury. Hundreds were shot ami hayonetcd 
 before they were fairly awake, or could get on their accoutre- 
 ments, or grasp their guns. Hundreds llrd wiiliout guns or 
 accoutrements; many of whom were shot as they lied. The 
 whole of the 8th Cor])s was thrown into confusion, and a 
 large portion were taken jirisoners : the balance beat a tlis- 
 orderlv retreat. 'I'lie lyth grasped their arms, and atlenipted 
 to form a line of defence, but before they could get into 
 ])osition, they were ])elted with a sti-irm of shot, grape and 
 canister from the rebel batteries which had come into position ; 
 also by those which hail been captured from the 8th C'orjis and 
 assailed, and (Linked by the onsurging hordes of rebel infantry, 
 were thus forced to make a hasty retreat, tlefending them- 
 selves as heroically as possible under the circumstances ; and 
 covering the fleeing 8th, they fell back some two miles or more 
 and took a jiosition on the second riilge towards W'incliesler. 
 
13 
 
 The 6lli Corps, under command of General Rickett, (who 
 was wounded in the breast early in the day) were hurridly got 
 into ranks and ra|)idly marched U> the scene of contlict, antl 
 arrived in lime to see the retreating lyth stubbornly resisting, 
 but constantly giving way and falling back towards Winchester, 
 and the rebels in possession of both of the camps, with many 
 l)risoners and some eighteen guns, and everything in the 
 wildest commotion. 
 
 General Rickett soon discovered that he was to be made 
 the special object of Early's warmest regards. Hurriedly getting 
 liis troops into line under a galling fire of shot and grape from 
 the rebel batteries, and none too soon to meet the rapidly ad- 
 vancing infantry, they boldly and bravely withstood the onset, 
 reluming bullet for bullet, blow for blow, and bayonet thrust 
 for thrust, and although furiously assailed on front and Hank 
 by overwhelming numbers, they for a time beat back and held 
 in check Early's whole army, thus relieving the 19th hum 
 eminent danger, and giving them time to take and hold a new 
 position. Ihil ihcy were soon so hartl pressed and llankcd b\' 
 the victorious enemy, that they were compelled to give way. 
 Stubbornly contesting ever\ ft)(>t of the ground, thev fell 
 back to the brow of the hill, where they bravely held their 
 position, in defiance of everj' effort niaile to drive them. Our 
 arlillcrv , u here were lhe\-, when prompt action was so nece.ssarv .•' 
 Ah! iMorpheus had spread Ins deadening wings over them, too. 
 Oh 1 iIkiu guardian angel, why hast thou not soundeil forth 
 thy bugle notes of alarm, art thou also aslee]).' Nay, but their 
 cars are dull, anil they would not hear ni\ notes of warning. 
 .\nil lhu> the artillerymen were asleep, the horses were asleep. 
 
14 
 
 and even the guns that shrmld have been speaking m tones dI" 
 thuntlcr, and vomiting rorlii messengers of death and carnage, 
 were asleep, with no one standing by to awake them ; and 
 thus many of the ginis ( I think eighteen ) and horses fell an 
 easy prey to the rebel horde. And in that ill-lated and de- 
 serted camp, hell reigned supreme for the space of about three 
 hours. 
 
 Where is General Sheridan, the impulsive, indomitable 
 Sheridan .•' Late in the evening of the iSth, he arrived in Win- 
 chester, from Washington ; finding no reports from the front 
 to indicate the need or knowledge of his i)resence there, 
 wear}- w ith traveling, and in need of rest, he retired, to sleep. 
 Without his own officers at the front, or the rebels knowing of 
 his return, his peaceful slumber was disturbed at early dawn 
 by the distant roar of artillerv, which was a message to his 
 quick ears that he was needed at the front. Hastily attiring 
 himself, and springing into the saddle, without waiting for 
 aids or orderlies, he turned the head of his war-horse towards 
 the front. 
 
 .\s sweeps the' tornado over the landscape, so swe]it Shcriihin 
 and his foaming charger, over the intervening miles between 
 himself and his retreating army, through MidiUeton, and on 
 the northern slope of the ritlge, he met tiie demoralized Sth 
 Corps interspersed with men from the 19th and 6lh. Ileeing for 
 their very lives. Without slackening his speed, his clarion 
 voice rang out rei)catcdlv, ' ' To the front men I to the front ! )i lu 
 shall sleep in your old quarters to night ! " His voice and pres- 
 ence, was like a j)owerful current of electricitv in its magical 
 effects on the fleeing men, who caught his inspiration, and the 
 
15 
 
 most of them turned and boldly advanced to the front, and 
 was soon formed into lines of battle, made up indiscriminate!)' 
 of men without regard to what regiments they belonged, and 
 were ranged behind those brave men, that with a perfect con- 
 sciousness of having already sustained an overwhelming dis- 
 aster, but with a knowledge that they were on the side of God 
 and Liberty, were nobly and resolutely holding and defending 
 the brow of the hills. When General Sheridan slackened his 
 pace, and halteil on the top of the hill, amid a storm ofbullcts, 
 shot and shell, where he could take a survey of the whole field, 
 and his faithful soldiers discovered their noble commander, 
 seated on what appeared like a small white cloud, but was 
 really his foam-covered charger, there rang nut such shouts 
 along the whole line as could not have been evoked by the 
 re-enforcement of a whole corps of soldiers. General Sheridan's 
 plans were quickly made and executed ; sending his whole 
 cavalry force on a tlctour with orders for thcni to vigorously 
 attack the rebel left flank, then carefully supervising the ar- 
 rangement of his whole line, and waiting only long enough 
 for the cavalry to reach their point of attack, he boldly and 
 rapidly advanced his whole line, antl fell like an avenging 
 angel upon the exultant rebels, wh<;i had flattered themselves 
 that the Union army was so thoroughly tiemoralized, that they 
 had only to throw out their nets and scoop them in like fish. 
 They were neithir exjiecting nor prepared for such an on- 
 slaught, and before iliey hail time to comprehend the situation 
 and prepare for it, tiny were as utterly routed and demoralized, 
 and as fearfully slaugluercd as the Union army had been in the 
 morning. They lost all of the prisoners and guns that they 
 
16 
 
 had captured in the morning;, and whicli in their flattered 
 security they had not thought it necessary to send to the rear, 
 and a great many of their own men and guns besides. In 
 their haste to get over the bridge tliat crossed Cedar Creek, 
 they crowded eacii other and llieir horses and guns over tlie 
 sides, inio the "creek ; in fact, liic\- were as panic stricken as 
 il'tlie tiav of judgment hat! suddenly burst upon them. 
 
 Tlius, a defeat was turneti inti) a \iclor\- ; a dire calaniit\-. 
 into a triumph : rejoicing filled the hearts of those who had 
 been snrrowful, and loud shouts of victory! victory! rang 
 tlirough the okl camps. liut wlial ol the thoughtless, heedless, 
 sleeping, Sth Corps.' ]Man\' of llicir bndies lay cold antl sLark : 
 the light of whose eyes was gone out into utter darkness, and 
 the drums of whose ears could never again hear the encouiag- 
 ing voice, nor the approving words of their great and good 
 leader. 
 
 The watchful and the faithful rejoiced in their salvation : 
 but the heedless, the disobedient, and the sleepers bodies 
 were cast into trenches to be trodden over by men. 
 
 Oh! mv brother, oh! my sister, as ilicd these sleeping 
 soldiers, so dies the Christian soldier, who neglects lo keep on 
 the breast plate of righteousness ; w lio Iim\ is olf Hu- lulnul o| 
 salvation; who fails to keep on ih.- niinour ol ( iods word, 
 and falls asleep in the camp of Zion. Chrisl, the righleous 
 judge, .shall c oiiic down in ilic pow < i ol 1 I is iin;;lil ; 1 lis l.iiih- 
 liil and ilioscii liosis, shall be marshaled and led on lioiii 
 \itlor)- nnlo \ iclory — from rejoicing unto evi'ilasliiig anil ini- 
 measurablc joys. lUit llii' fiithless and the slolhlnl, sIkiII be 
 eiigidird inio everlasting darkness and despair W'hal a dan- 
 
17 
 
 genius aiul fearful comlition (or a t'linsiiaii in l.o fomiil in. 
 asleep in Zimi. Not only in daiii,'ci- of llie assaults ni' satan, 
 but also expiiSLiI Ui (Joil's antjer aiul cdnileiiinaliun. Wliu 
 lias hreatlioil nut lliMat.Miini,'s a.;;ainst ili.ni Imm tiie liei^'iiinini^. 
 ■■ Tliey are barren trees, imh iinilK-rin;,' the L;r-. umu! with, .ut \ irhl 
 in.i; any fruit, therefore siiall tiu-y he liewn dnwn, ami last inio 
 liie fire," sailii the Lord. Kinply \ehieles blockiu;; the mad to 
 salvatinn, will n.ither umve on themselves, nor make room 
 for others to pass, 'rherelore, shall the I,..i,| in lli> anger 
 remove them. 
 
 '• I would that ye were either cold or h.>t, but becau.se of 
 your lukewarmncss, 1 will spew you out of ]\Iy mouth," saith 
 the Lord. 
 
 Christ would much radier have \ou U< be an outspoken 
 enemy, whom He could conquer by His power and love, than 
 a sleepin.g, worthless friend, of whom He can make no use. 
 
 Now, brethren, these are not cunningly devised fables, lo 
 tickle your eyes and cars, ami feed your imaginations, but 
 ihey are solid truths from heaven, and facts from earth, which 
 I do speak forth in sobriety and candor, telling you of the 
 thin.gs that I have seen anil heard. Vea, that I have felt and 
 sulVcrcd in my own boih- and soul. 
 
 Oh ! m\ Lord, is there no escape from this demon, this 
 destroyer of the present, and the future ha|)piness of mankind.^ 
 Listen, hear the answer of the Lord ourdod : 
 
 "Whosoever will come, may come, and partake oi the 
 Waters of Life, freely. ' 
 
 " Whosoever believeth on Me, and that the Father sent Me' 
 
18 
 
 anil keejieth My comniandmcnts, halli everlasting life. He 
 that believeth not, is danineil, already." 
 
 To as many as l)elie\e on His name, gave He power to 
 become sons of God. 
 
 For all power is given unto Christ Jesus to judge the quick 
 and the dead ; to give life everlasting to as many as believe on 
 His name and seek after righteousness, and also to bind and 
 cast the devil and all of his followers that do not repent, into 
 a pit of never-entling ilarkness and desjniir. But Cjod has de- 
 clared, that He lakes no pleasure in the death of a sinner, but 
 that He would, that all men should repent and be saved. 
 For which reason, and His great love for us, while we were 
 yet sinners, God freely gave His own, antl only begotten son 
 for a sacrifice and an atonement, that we might escape through 
 faith in Him, the just reward of our manifold sins and trans- 
 gressions. And there is no other way given, neither in Heaven, 
 nor anmng men, whereby we can escape, and be saved. But 
 Christ has declared, "except we become as little children, we 
 shall in no wise enter the kingdom of Heaven." That is, we 
 must first feel our need of salvation, of the forgiveness and love 
 of God, and our dependence on Him ; we must also have im- 
 plicit faith, confidence and trust; as a child looks to, and 
 leans on its father and mother for what it wants antl needs, so 
 we should have implicit faith in Gotl's love and ability to do 
 all things for us ; and as a child is rcipiireil ( or should be) to 
 bentl and \ield its will to the will of its parents, so we should, 
 and must yield ours to God's. We also must lay aside all 
 self righteousness ; for Christ has declared, that there is none 
 good ; no not one. For all have sinned and come short, (that 
 
19 
 
 is, there are none perfect in the sight of God), and Hu a-lso de- 
 clared, that He came not to save the righteous, but to bring 
 sinners to repentance. 
 
 We must also lay aside our pride ; and why not ? For what 
 is man when he stands before Ciod ? Not so much as an angle 
 or ground wurm is when compared to man. And God has 
 told us, that He resists the proud ; that the proud hcartshall he 
 brought low. And what are we, when God's power is brongiit 
 against us? David said, that we are as the dust of the earth, 
 before God ; like the dust of the earth which is blown hither 
 and thither, before the wind. Nevertheless, we are assun.-d. 
 because God has created us in 11. s own Hkeness. that we. our 
 souls, are precious in His sight, and that His mercy and loving 
 kindness is from everlasting unto everlasting to them that love 
 and serve Him. And He does not ask our service for naught. 
 But Paul tells us, that all things are ours ; that if we are Goii's, 
 and God is ours ; that the earth and the fullness thereof which 
 belongs to God, is ours. Yea, more, for Heaven is ours ; 
 the present is ours, and the future is ours ; and if we endure 
 faithful to the entl, God has promised that we should reign with 
 Him. and wear a crown of glory. Therefore, my brother, let us 
 make haste to flee from the wrath to come, and lay hold of the 
 Rock, Christ Jesus, by faith, while we are called to-day. For 
 to-day, is the day of salvation ; the present is the acceptable, 
 and the only acceptable time. Then harden not your hearts, 
 but accept Christ while He maybe fond of you ; for He has de- 
 clared, that His spirit shall not always strive with man, but that 
 He will at some fixed time, which may be the present with vou, 
 for aught you know. Leave the trifler, the mocker, and the 
 
20 
 
 rejecier alone, lo tlie Iwaliicss of iliL-ir licarts. 'I'liat tliusc who 
 rfject Him, He will rcjei't, :iiul lliat llicsu who tumk al Imn, He 
 will mock when tear cunus U|ioii them. How leariulK' (hni.i;er- 
 oiis it is for voii, m\ li'dllier, to Jelav lurone moimiit ; lor (iiid 
 is a jealous CjulI, jealous of His glory, ol His honor, and of 
 His just recognition and adoiatioii, by His created and lawful 
 subjects. It is dan_i;erMti.v, my biothei, to mile wiih (iud, and 
 reject His profiered mercy lest our cup ol iniquilv be declared 
 full, and we be cut oft" without a moment's warning. 
 
 I beseech von, therefore, my brother, in the name of Ciiiist, 
 to repent of your sins, and accept God's merev. throni;h faith 
 in His son, Christ the Lord of all, and to do il ihiw wiihont one 
 moment's delay ; for when the door of salvation is closed against 
 vou, there will be no more opening, neither is there anv other 
 possible way of escape. 
 
 Oh, God ! I know not, care not, v;ha.l ioo/i others may ask ; 
 but as for me, give me wisdom, to love and serve Thee aright, 
 for Christ sake, Aincn. 
 
 Vour humble servant, 
 
 Truman B. Dkxms. 
 
It is tlie jtnrposc of the author, to place this pamphlet 
 wiihin the reach of every person who may iiave a desire to 
 read it. and for that reason he lias publishetl it himself, and 
 offers it to the public at the followinc:: rates : 
 
 I copy by mail. - - - - - .I2C. 
 
 10 copies " " - - - - - $i.oo 
 
 lOT " " express, - - - - 7.00 
 
 1,000 " " " . - - - 60.00 
 
 A iliscount to jobbers who can handle 5,000 or more; 
 it can be IkhI by apiilyin,<i: to the Amkkicvn News Cojipaxy, 
 39 — 43 Chambers -Street, New York. 
 
 Or, to the author, 
 
 T. I!, hf.xxis, 
 
 No. yis'i I IrrkiiiiLT St., 
 
 lii.M.klvii. N. Y. 
 
The author is now working; on a history which will contain 
 from 700 to 800 pages of print, and about 50 full-page etch- 
 ings, designed expiressly for the work on which the author has 
 already secured a copyright under the title of 
 
 THE TREE OF LIBERTY, 
 
 How planted, how preserved, 
 
 A Coursery and Poetic I'rose History, from the time of the landingof 
 
 tlie Pilgrims to the present time of our birth and struggles for existence. 
 
 Written with much care and study by 
 
 Tkuman B. Dennis. 
 
 This work will be prefaced with a short sketch, scanning 
 the history of the discovery of America, and the political and 
 religious events and persecutions in Europe, which compelled 
 our forefathers to abandon their homes and seek shelter and 
 freedom in the wilds of America. 
 
 When published, on or before the first of April next, it will 
 be substantially bound in cloth, and sold for $3.50. 
 
 Also handsomely bound in sheep and morocco, with gilt 
 edges and decorations on cover, and will be sold for ,^5.00 
 
 Subscri])tions for the Tree of Eiberty may be sent to the 
 author by mail or otherwise, any time on or before the first of 
 March, 1890, accompanied by 25 cents, for cloth bimling, 
 and 50 cents for leather and gilt bindings, an acknowledge- 
 ment antl receipt for which will be immctiiately returned to 
 siibscrilier by mail, and whidi will entitle the subscriber to 
 receive one copy of the first ])uhlicatiiiu of the aloiesaid history, 
 which will be forwarded b\' mail on receipt of the balance of. 
 the aforesaid jirice, or liirwarded by express C. O. D. , at the 
 option of the subscriber. 
 
 A lilieral discount will be given to agents forwarding orders 
 fur icu I ir more copies. 
 
 All orders atul communications should be sent to 
 
 T. B. DENNIS, New York City, 
 
 Or, No. 956 Herkimer St., Brooklyn, N. V. 
 
' ^ -■ '- '-MSfiM^-. ■ 
 
 UBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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