THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA THE COLLECTION OF NORTH CAROLINIANA C 970.73 B£6e c.2 This book must not be taken from the Library building. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hil http://archive.org/details/experienceofconfOObetts Experience of A Confederate Chaplain 1861-1865 A. D. BETTS. EXPERIENCE OF A Confederate Chaplain 1861-1864 By Rev. A. D. Betts, D. D., N. C. Conference Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Chaplain joth N. C. Troops. Edited by W. A. Betts. i Rev. A .D. Betts, Chaplain, 4 Rev. A. W. Mangum, Chaplain, 30th Regiment. 6th Regiment. 2 Rev. L,. A. Bikle, Chaplain, 5 Rev. A. I Y . Stough, Chaplain, 20th Regiment. 37th Regiment. 3 Rev. A. A. Watson, Chaplain, 6 Rev. William S. L,acy, Chap- 2d Regiment. lain, 47th Regiment. 7 Rev. R. S. Webb, Chaplain, 44th Regiment. Rev. A. D. BETTS, D. D., of the North Carolina Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, South. INTRODUCTION. HISTORY rightly defined is more than a narration of events transpiring within certain periods of the Calen- dar. That most useful of the sciences deals with the philosophy and results of occurrences, deriving there- from an array of principles which form a part of the world's necessary and priceless treasure. The histor- ian takes the crude materials time pours into his hands, digests, filters and refines the mass, thereby securing the simplest and most serviceable products. These he places on the market where buyers always wait, eager and affluent. Artists and artisans these buyers are, who for their own and others' wellbeing build struct- ures, weave fabrics, or portray the perfect pattern. The chronicles of a Confederate Chaplain's diary will doubtless furnish the staple for weaving a most en- gaging story when the true historian shall find them. The perusal of these plain annals will surely revive in the memory of many a Confederate Veteran the vivid panorama of that unequalled and heroic struggle for the perpetuation of certain principles that underlie the purest and best form of government in the estimation of loyal Southrons. It is devoutly desired that all who may trace the indentures of this diary will reflect gratefully upon the allwise and gracious providence of God that seeks to save even unto the uttermost. It is believed that many persons, at home and in the army, were led to accept Christ as their Saviour, who under other circumstances might never have known His forgiving love. Joseph T. Derry in his "Story of the Confederate States," says: "There was throughout the Southern army a strong religious sentiment, and many of the officers and men were deeply pious. ***** Firmly believing that God gave to them all the brilliant victories that shed such lustre on their arms, they also believed that God in His wisdom had given them final defeat. It is this feeling that has caused the Southern people, without any consciousness of guilt, or shame, to accept in perfect good faith the result of the war and the changed order of things, and at the same time to use every constitu- tional method to maintain the rights of their States as co-equal members of the Union." W. A. B. THE WAR OF THE CONFEDERACY. EDITORIAL NOTE. The discriminating minds among our intelligent young people of the South will readily perceive that there is a manifest and important, because truthful, distinction to be maintained touching the style and title of the conflict waged on this American continent during 1861-1865, between The United States and the newly born nationality known as The Confederate States. The following from Dr. S. A. Steel, of Rich- mond, Va., will be appreciated: "The term 'Civil War' ought to be abandoned be- cause it embodies an error. A civil war is a war be- tween factions contending for the control *of the same government, like Caesar and Pompey, like Lancaster and York. If the Southern people had fought in the Union, it would have been a civil war, and the defeated party would have been rebels. The movement was a revolution. The object of it was to maintain a separate government. The war was between the government of the United States and the government of the Confeder- ate States. We went out of the Union ; went so com- pletely that we had to be re-admitted. We were not 'rebels,' but patriots, wisely or unwisely, exercising the the inalienable right of self-government in an honest effort to rectify political diffiiculties. This is the ver- dict history will ultimately pronounce upon that struggle." While our friends, the enemy, persist in calling us "Rebels," and refer to that struggle for Southern in- dependence as "The Rebellion," we are content to bear the obloquy, knowing the injustice of it ; yea, we glory in it, as did the now largest of protestant religious de- nominations accept and wear the term of reproach designating them "Methodists." But let us not forget that "We be brethren!" Greenville, South Carolina. EXPERIENCE OF A CONFEDERATE CHAP= LAIN, 1861=1865. One day iu April, 1861, I heard that President Lin- coln had called on the State troops to force the seceding States back into the Union. That was one of the saddest days of my life. I had prayed and hoped that war might be averted. I had loved the Union, and clnng to it. That day I saw war was inevitable. The inevitable must be met. That day I walked up and down my porch in Smithville (now Southport, N. O.) and wept and suffered and prayed for the South. The drum and fife were soon heard there, and all through the Old North State companies of our best men, young and middle aged, offered themselves to the Gov- ernor of the State. He organized them into regiments. .2,