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

March 1864

Mar. 1, ’64—Start at 3 a. m. Meet Bros. Selby, Branson, and Cunninggim in Raleigh. Meet Bros. Burkhead, Henderson, M. C. Thomas, J. B. Williams and W. B. Richardson on train. Night in Richmond.

Mar. 2—Meet Bro. H. H. Gibbons

Mar. 3—Detained in Richmond by the raiders between us and Lee’s army. Bros. Gibbons, Richardson and I visit hospitals and penitentiary.

Mar. 4—Visit Federal prisoners on Belle Island and hospital No. 24.

Mar. 5—Bros. Gibbons and Richardson go with me to my Regiment near Orange Court House and spend night with me.

Mar. 6—Bro. Richardson preaches for me in a. m. and Bro. Gibbons for 2nd Regiment in p. m. Very unwell at night.

Mar. 7—Walk with Bro. Richardson to his Regiment. Bro. Gibbons preached for me at night.

Mar. 8—Bro. Richardson preaches for me at night.

Mar. 9—He leaves for North Carolina against my earnest advice. Bro. Gibbons goes to see R. S. Webb. Squires starts writing school again. I preach at night. My Colonel was kind enough to detail Squires to teach a writing school in my chapel. The Captains allowed men to attend the school when not on duty. (Many men learned to write during the war).

Mar. 10—Rain all day. Write many letters. Hear from wife, and Rev. L. S. Burkhead.

Mar. 12—Walk to see Revs. Colton and Harding. Bro. Gibbons preaches for me at night and spends the night with me.

Mar. 13—Preach to Daniels’ Brigade in church in a. m. and return to Power’s Chapel in time for communion, where Bro. Gibbons had just preached. Bible class in my chapel in p. m. I preach at night.

Mar. 14—Go to Orange Court house with Bro. Gibbons and see him off to North Carolina. Prayer meeting at night.

Mar. 15—Prayer meeting in K.

Mar. 16—Prayer meeting in B.

Mar. 17—Prayer meeting in I.

Mar. 18—Prayer meeting in F.

Mar. 19—Regiment goes on picket. I preach for 4th Regiment.

Sunday, Mar. 20—Hear Bro. B. F. Long preach in 5th North Carolina; communion there. I preach to division provost guard and prisoners in p. m. Bro. Richardson arrives from North Carolina.

Mar. 21—Visit Daniel’s Brigade. Very cold.

Mar. 22—Meet Chaplains. Dr. Granberry preaches. Gen. Lee there. Snow falls about 18 inches. Bro. Richardson with me.

Mar. 23—He moves his Regiment.

Mar. 24—Snow still on ground. My pony gives birth to a female pony.

Mar. 25—Gov. Vance arrives in Daniel’s Brigade.

Mar. 26—Visit Bro. Richardson. Gov. Vance addresses large crowd.

Sunday, Mar. 27—Preach in a. m., “Love God.” Bible class in p. m. Preach at night, “Love thy neighbor as thyself.”

Mar. 28—Gov. Vance reviews North Carolina troops in this corps and addresses them—”Fellow Tar- Heels!”

Mar. 31—Finished reading Trumbull’s “Christ in History.” Began “Mercy Seat” by Dr. Spring.

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