Our Lent services in St. Paul's Lecture-room, at seven
o'clock in the morning, are delightful. The room is always crowded to
overflowing — the old, the young, the grave, the gay, collect there soon after
sunrise; also military officers in numbers. When General Lee is in town, as he
now is, he is never absent, and always one of the most devout worshippers.
Within a few days I have seen General Whiting there; also Generals Ransom,
Pegram, and others. Starred officers of all grades, colonels, majors, etc.,
together with many others belonging to the rank and file; and civilians of
every degree. It is delightful to see them, all bending together before high
Heaven, imploring the help which we so much need.
The Transportation Office is just opposite to us, where crowds
of furloughed soldiers, returning to their commands, are constantly standing
waiting for transportation. As I pass them on my way to the office in the
morning, I always stop to have a cheerful word with them. Yesterday morning I
said to them: “Gentlemen, whom do you suppose I have seen this morning?” In
answer to their inquiring looks, I said: “General Lee.” “General Lee,” they
exclaimed: “I did not know he was in town; God bless him!” and they looked
excited, as if they were about to burst forth with “Hurrah for General Lee!” “And
where do you suppose I saw him so early?” “Where, Madam — where?” “At
prayer-meeting, down upon his knees, praying for you and for the country.” In
an instant they seemed subdued; tears started to the eyes of many of those hardy,
sunburnt veterans. Some were utterly silent, while others exclaimed, with
various ejaculations, “God bless him!” “God bless his dear old soul!” etc. As I
walked away, some followed me to know where he was to be seen. One had never
seen him at all, and wanted to see him “monstrous bad;” others had seen him
often, but wanted to see him in town, “just to look at him.” I told them where
his family residence was, but as they feared that they could not leave the
Transportation Office long enough to find “Franklin Street,” I dare say the
poor fellows did not see General Lee. This morning I had almost the same
conversation with another crowd in the same place. It is delightful to see how
they reverence him, and almost as much for his goodness as for his greatness.
SOURCE: Judith W. McGuire, Diary of a Southern
Refugee, During the War, p. 255-7
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