is last resolve,'

I joined in the second verse;

'I'll go to Jesus, though my sins
Have like a mountain rose,
I know His courts, I'll enter in,
Whatever may oppose.'

In an instant, each man turned and would have stopped, but I sang on
with moistened eyes, and they continued. At the close, one burst out,
'Why, ma'am, where did you come from? Did you drop from heaven into
these rifle-pits? You are the first lady we have seen here,' and then
the voice was choked with tears. I said, 'I have come from your friends
at home to see you, and bring messages of love and honor. I have come to
bring you the comforts that we owe you, and love to give. I've come to
see if you receive what they send you.' 'Do they think so much of us as
that? Why, boys, we can fight another year on that, can't we?' 'Yes!
yes!' they cried, and almost every hand was raised to brush away the
tears. 'Why, boys,' said I, 'the women at home don't think of much else
but the soldiers. If they meet to sew, 'tis for you; if they have a good
time, 'tis to gather money for the Sanitary Commission; if they meet to
pray, 'tis for the soldiers; and even the little children, as they kneel
at their mother's knees to lisp their good-night prayers, say, God
bless the soldiers.' A crowd of eager listeners had gathered from their
hiding-places, as birds from the rocks. Instead of cheers as usual, I
could only hear an occasional sob and feel solemn silence. The
gray-haired veteran drew from his breast-pocket a daguerreotype, and
said, 'Here are my wife and daughters. I think any man might be proud of
them, and they all work for the soldiers.' And then each man drew forth
the inevitable daguerreotype, and held it for me to look at, with pride
and affection. There were aged mothers and sober matrons, bright-eyed
maidens and laughing cherubs, all carried next these brave hearts, and
cherished as life itself. Blessed art! It seems as though it were part
of God's preparation work, for this long, cruel war. These mute
memorials of home and its loved ones have proved the talisman of many a
tempted heart, and the solace of thousands of suffering, weary veterans.
I had much to do, and prepared to leave. I said, 'Brave men, farewell!
When I go home, I'll tell them that men that never flinch before a foe,
sing hymns of praise in the rifle-pits of Vicksburg. I'll tell them that
eyes that never weep for their own suffering, overflow at the name of
home and the