1863 January 1 across the Rappahannock from Fredericksburg, Va.

[from the diary of the Rev. Francis E. Butler, chaplain of the 25th New Jersey]


Thurs 1st. Jany 1863. bright cold, lovely day. Vist. hos - & tents – compared
Muster rolls. funny letter fr. Henry, with extracts fr. papers,
Col. unwell – Men arrived fr. Fairfax Serv.  Still under orders –
but no movement.  What will this year bring forth. Oh God
let it bring peace – liberty & prosperity & Union to this
Country, success to thy cause in the earth & glory to thy
name thro. Jesus our Lord.  Adjt. Murphy came.
Compared muster rolls – met an interestg. case of enquiry.
Wm. Gray, Co. D – deep & thoro. conviction – was in action – will read
in bible – prays – cant appropriate X – prayed & counseled him.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935