Dear Brother
The hour of
battle has ceased and victory is ours, but at fearful
cost and now the thousands on thousands of woun
ded are being brought in to the hospitals; and
as you may not understand it I will say
that the wounded of our army are brought to
Alexandria, while the sick are carried to
Washington and Georgetown and the northern
citties. Our duty as Provo guard brings us directly
in contact with the most horrible side of war
I will not harrow your feeling with any
discription of the scenes which we daily witness
Every possible form of mutilation which the
human form is capable finds a representative
here and in great numbers; I am informed that
there are 70 hospitals in this place and they
are all full to overflowing: It is from the
midst of such scenes that I sit down to write
you a few lines and give you a few of my
reflections: It is night: the days duties are over
the guards are set and save the sentinel
solitary cry (alls well) all is still. We are
in the midst of ennemies and as I think of
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this and feel that at any moment we may
be called to the deadly fray my mind reverts
to the only source of power and protection
and I look upward from the midst of all
the excitement and confusion which surrounds
me, and see the stars shineing in all their
splendor, I am insensibly led to dismiss
all earthly cares, and trust all to Him who
has declared that He will do his pleasure
The words "And He who sitteth in the Hev
ens shall laugh" came to my mind with great
force and I can but feel that while with arms
in our hands we contend for the Government
which our Fathers established, God's Eternal
purposes, are also being carried out, though
men may not see it or recognize it
Every day I am strengthed in the belief and
here I rest my hope firmly believeing that
the Judge of all the earth will do right. God
has declared that he will be worshipped and
obeyed. honored & loved and who shall say
in reviewing our past history as a Nation, that
we have not sinned grieveously and who shall
say that it is not Just in God to punish us
even though it be with the last scourge of
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nations, war God is Just: and must punish
sin: We have sinned and must suffer the
penalty: and if, after we have been punished
we shall as a nation repent of and forsake
our sins, then may we hope for the return
of the blessing and favor of God: But we
must remmember that God is not mocked
"Return unto me and I will return unto
you," is the command and we only decieve
ourselves if we hope for the favor of God
until we are willing to comply with the
divine requirements. It may clash with our
preconceived opinions but we must remmember
that God looks upon the heart and Judges
by an unerring standard and while we may
err in our opinions we are dealing with one
who cannot err and who knoweth all things
from the beginning even unto the end: My
Brother
us as in the dust when remmember our
shortcomeings I know not how it is with
you but with me I have felt as never before
the inconsistancy of my past christian life
bitterly and in tears have I repented of
the neglect of opportunities for personal
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growth in grace and also my neglect of the
opportunities of benefiting my fellow men; by
urging them to accept of the offers of mercy
through the merits of a crucified and risen
savior Oh my brother let me urge you kindly
to labor for the salvation of your fellow man
and when in the closet you seek for blessings upon
yourself and those in you midst remmember as
a little band of christians struggling to do our
duty under circumstances which God forbid tho
you may ever be placed in: We have no temple to worship
in but in the darkness: out in the open air with nothing
but the heavens above us we raise our hearts and
voices to the great author of all humbly asking that
he will
with strengthen us to duty: this we humbly ask for the
sake of him who died for us and who has redeem
ed us with his blood. I must stop With love
Josiah
PS Please sent this to Nathaniel
When you have done with it. I do
not get much time to write and
one letter must do the work of
two. you will of course let Phebe
read it and you may read it to any
one you please.
PS Daniel Manhoney is in my tent this
afternoon he has had a hard time
but is in good spirits: he is in the hospital
not having been discharged yet
JM Perry
Josiah M. Perry, Co. K, 33rd Massachusetts
MSS 2215
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