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native vileness, and because they make you an object so offensive in the sight of God. This done, the first step is already taken. Will you stop here? Have you nothing to ask for? "Ask," says the voice of Divine love, and in the same breath comes the assurance of a favorable answer, "and ye shall receive."

I know it is a difficult matter to deliberately place one's self into the presence of the all-seeing and all-searching God, and there make application for himself; but infinite interests are at stake. The mind may be confused, too; nevertheless, the direction stands as clearly out, "Ask." "What shall I ask?" you think. This is a worthy confession and petition to make in behalf of your soul. "Our Father in heaven, my sins condemn me; I have no claim upon thy favor, yet I plead thy mercy; God be merciful to me a sinner." The second step is taken. It has brought you to Christ, the "door;" over that door is inscribed," He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." The act of faith required is to believe Christ's teachings, as he is "the truth," and believe the provision He has made for your salvation, is fully adequate to secure that end, and you need to trust it confidingly, "committing the keeping of your soul to Him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator," and you are saved. The door of faith is entered-you are Christ's and Christ is yours; God is your friend; heaven is your eternal home; the angels are rejoicing; God is glorified in the efficiency of his calvary offering, while you, a new-born child of God, go on your way rejoicing.

Finally, beloved fellow-soldiers, there is but one grand, overwhelming desire in my heart in respect to you; that is, that not one of the veterans of the Tenth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers shall at last fail of the grace of God. Are you satisfied that that grace is already yours? Perhaps you are conscious that it is not. What a work then remains to be done, before you are fitted to make the noble offering of your life for your struggling country on the battle-field, or by the casualties of the camp or of the march. The great things to be provided for beyond that time, demand your first and most earnest attention. Why delay a matter of so vast importance?

Your connection with the army of the United States is drawing to a close. Already you are measuring the period in your advance, by the declining number of months, and should you pass beyond that time, still your connection with our suffering country, and

with this world, is rapidly approaching its termination. When the great passage of death shall have been made, and your disembodied spirits shall be engrossed in the new scenes and interests of that invisible world, one thing only will be of paramount importance to you, viz: that you are an heir of salvation. That inherit

Shall any of you

ance secured, all is well. fail of it? My daily prayer is that God may, in the fullness of his mercy, and the infinitude of his resources, give every one of you his Holy Spirit, to harmonize your thoughts, your moral sentiments, and your will, with the spirit of heaven.

The Lord bless you, fellow-soldiers, guard you from popular and disqualifying faults, give you victory over our enemies, cover your heads in battle, grant you forgiveness of sin and hope unto eternal life through the eternal Spirit, and return you to happy homes again, at the conclusion of this war, or of your terms of service, to enjoy the blessings of domestic and civilized life, rewarded with the love, respect and honor of a grateful people, for the endurance you have shown under hardships, the valor displayed in the face of the enemy, and for your fortitude amidst the thickest of dangers-FAREWELL.

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CHAPTER IX.

The new commissions-March to Briar Church - Return to camp-Discharge of Captain Pierce-Review by Generals Hooker and SedgwickReviewed by President Lincoln-The balloon corps-Marching ordersPromotion of General Devens and his farewell address to his old brigade -Once more crossing the Rappahannock - Salem Heights - Gallant charge of the Thirty-sixth New York-Advance of the Tenth under terrible fire-List of casualties-Recrossing the river after repulse of Hooker at Chancellorsville-Back into the old camp-Letter from General Newton to Governor Andrew.

TUESDAY, January 13.-The following new commissions and promotions were announced, to fill vacancies caused by the discharge of the old officers :-First-Lieut. George W. Bigelow of Springfield, to be captain, November 3, 1862, vice Lombard, discharged; Second-Lieut. William A. Ashley of West Springfield, to be first-lieutenant, November 3, 1862, vice Bigelow, promoted; Quartermaster-Serg. Edward H. Graves to be second-lieutenant, November 3, 1862, vice Ashley, promoted; First-Lieut. Homer G. Gilmore of Springfield, to be captain, November 26, 1862, vice Clapp, discharged; First-Serg. Edwin Whitney, to be first-lieutenant, November 26, 1862, vice Gilmore, promoted; FirstLieut. William Streeter of Shelburne, to be captain, November 26, 1862, vice Newell, discharged; First-Serg. L. Oscar Eaton of Springfield, to be first-lieutenant, November 26, 1862, vice Streeter, promoted; Second-Lieut. Edwin L. Knight of Springfield, to be captain, November 26, 1862, vice Traver, discharged; Serg. George W. Potter of Greenfield, to be second-lieutenant, November 26, 1862, vice Knight, promoted; Second-Lieut. Willard I. Bishop. of Northampton, to be first-lieutenant, September 29, 1862, vice Woodward, discharged; Serg. Henry A. Brown of

Northampton, to be second-lieutenant, September 29, 1862, vice Bishop, promoted; Second-Lieut. Nelson H. Gardner, to be first-lieutenant, November 26, 1862, vice Keith, discharged; Serg. Simeon N. Eldridge, to be second-lieutenant, November 26, 1862, vice Gardner, promoted; SecondLieut. Edwin B. Bartlett, to be first-lieutenant, November 26, 1862, vice Bennett, discharged; Serg. Terry S. Noble, to be second-lieutenant, November 26, 1862, vice Bartlett, promoted; First-Lieut. Mark Cotrell of Lenox, to be first-lieutenant, November 26, 1862, vice Remington, discharged; Serg. Levi Ross of Springfield, to be first-lieutenant, November 29, 1862, vice Wells, discharged; Serg. Alanson E. Munyan of Northampton, to be first-lieutenant, December 26, 1862, vice Wheeler, discharged; commissarysergeant William F. Darby, to be second-lieutenant, November 26, 1862, vice Hagar, discharged; Serg. Charles H. Knapp of Holyoke, to be second-lieutenant, November 26, 1862, vice Moore, discharged; Serg. James C. Gassner of Springfield, to be second-lieutenant, November 26, 1862, vice Knox, discharged; Serg. George C. Kaulback of Montague, to be second-lieutenant, November 26, 1862, vice Crane, discharged.

FRIDAY, January 16.—Orders to have three days' rations in the haversacks, and to be prepared to march at an early hour to-morrow morning. Afterwards countermanded.

TUESDAY, January 20.-Last night the rebel pickets informed us that "Burnside was going to try and cross the `river at Banks' Ford, and that he would find full preparations made to receive him." Who told the rebels, we don't know; but, sure enough, this morning broke camp, fairly started at noon, and marched to Briar Church, about eight miles to the left of our former camp. Just before dark, turned from the road to encamp for the night. It now commenced raining, and rained hard all night. The men built fires and pitched shelters, but the rain soaked everything through, and an uncomfortable night was passed at best.

WEDNESDAY, January 21.-Turned out at half-past four, A. M.; no time to make breakfast; raining very hard, and road very bad; passed pontoon train, stuck fast in the mud; pontoniers full of whiskey, and swearing vociferously. Halted about ten o'clock, A. M., built fires and cooked breakfast. Had shelters up, when ordered to pack up, and marched half a mile to a new position on a side-hill. Otis Littlejohn, of Company I, was here taken sick and died, from the exposure of the camp and march.

THURSDAY, January 22.-Ordered to pack up and be ready to march, but this was soon countermanded, and the day and night was passed in the same place. Misty all day. FRIDAY, January 23.-Packed up at four, A. M. At six, ordered to report to Captain McCarty's battery. One company was detailed to each gun and caisson to help them along through the deep mud, and in this way camp was reached about three o'clock, P. M. Men were left all along the sides of the road, having fell out from exhaustion and fatigue.

SATURDAY, January 24.-Took all day to clean up. The pioneers were sent out to dig up the pontoons and bring them back to camp.

MONDAY, January 26.-Inspected by Captain Reed, inspector-general. Lieutenant Putnam went home to-day, having resigned.

TUESDAY, January 27.-General Franklin's farewell address was read.

WEDNESDAY, January 2S.-Snowing hard. Eight inches fell during the day.

SATURDAY, January 31.-Judge Wells of Chicopee, and Mr. Tiffany of Springfield, are visitors in camp to day.

SUNDAY, February 8.-On picket duty again on the bank of the Rappahannock. This duty is done by regiments, three days at a time. Communication is kept up between the pickets on the opposite bank of the river, notwithstanding the most stringent orders to the contrary. Miniature ships are made to carry coffee to the "rebs," and

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