Experience of a Confederate Chaplain—Rev. A. D. Betts, 30th N. C. Regiment
    

December 1863

Dec. 1—Go to Hillsboro. Call on Aunt Martha Utley. The Lord is with her. Reach Greensboro and stop with Bro. Wm. E. Edwards, near depot.

Dec. 2—Conference meets in M. E. Church.

Dec. 3—Army Commission reports.

Dec. 4—Dr. Deems preaches funeral of Rev. J. C. Brent. Wife comes on night train.

Dec. 5—Wife and I dine with Sister Bumpass.

Dec. 6—Bishop Pierce preaches at 11 a. m. Communion at night.

Dec. 7—Conference closed late at night. Wife and I sup at Mr. Van Bokelin’s. Bro. N. F. Reid gives us an order on Bro. Selby for three months’ salary.

Dec. 8—Leave Greensboro at 3 a. m, and go to Hillsboro, and over to Chapel Hill in p. m., with Mrs. John Watson.

Dec. 9—Pay rent, etc. Gather Bibles, Testaments, etc., for my Regiment.

Dec. 10—East and pray. Preach in M. E. Church.

Dec. 11—Walk and ride to Mrs. Fearingtons’ and get Melvin Baldwin’s horse, and ride by William Merritt’s and thence to Bro. Purifoy’s and then walk home.

Dec. 13—Hear Bro. William Closs preach at 11 a. m. and Bro. Jenkins at night. Last evening with my family.

Dec. 14—Leave at 3 a. m. See Bros. Pell and Crowder in Raleigh. Try to see Bro. Hufham. Leave at midnight.

Dec. 15—Go to Richmond.

Dec. 16—Get to Orange Court House. Meet Rev. Mr. Harris, of Lynchburg. Stop at Dr. Black’s.

Dec. 17—Rain and sleet. Cannot get to Regiment.

Dec. 18—Ride to Regiment near Morton’s Ford.

Dec. 22—Visit Cook’s Brigade. See Lieut. Hanner Revs. Plyler, Dodson, Marsh, and return by 55th Regiment and see Lieut. Hoyle.

Dec. 23—Snow and very cold.

Dec. 24—No chimney to my tent. Very cold.

Dec. 26—Ride to Orange Court House and learn that J. A. Pegram had died suddenly last night at Dr. Black’s hospital.

Dec. 27—Rain. Rain. No preaching. Prayer meeting in Co. E.

Dec. 28—Get tent of my own. Rain.

Dec. 29—Clear and very muddy. Meet Chaplains at Pisgah Church. Night in my own tent. Pay fifteen dollars for building wall and chimney.

Dec. 30—Prayer meeting in some Co. every night—in “G” tonight Good men. Every night, everywhere, Co. G. has family prayers Cheatham is sick.

Dec. 31—Writing and reading until near midnight. Write to Mary. Keep “watch night.” On my knees at midnight. A New Year begins! Oh, may it be a good year! May it bring peace to my land! May it carry me and my fellow soldiers to our several homes. Sorry for the follies of the past year. May I be able to spend the new one more for God’s glory!

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