Experience of a Confederate Chaplain—Rev. A. D. Betts, 30th N. C. Regiment
    

May 1864

May 1—Hear Brother Power in his chapel, and commune with about one-hundred in a. m. Meet my Bible class in p. m., and preach in my chapel at night. Receive two into the Church.

May 3—In Richmond. Hear Bro. Christian in Clay Street at night. Good work there.

May 5—See over a thousand Federal prisoners enroute to Orange Court House.

May 6—Meet many wounded. Pleasant worship with my Regiment. Sizemore of Co. G. killed.

May 7—Not much fighting. Spend day nursing wounded Federals. Find a son of Rev. B. H. Hedge, of Detroit Conference, M. E. Church, of Co. I. 24th Michigan Regiment. Wounded through left thigh. Did he get home? Is he still living?

May 8—Marching and fighting. Capt. Mark Moore fearfully wounded. Sergeants Wells, Morrison and Whitehurst killed.

May 9—Among wounded. Visit Rev. W. B. Owen, Chaplain 17th Miss. Regiment, who is wounded. Left elbow joint taken out.

May 10—Terrible fight for Dole’s and Daniel’s Brigades. Col. Hall of 5th Ala., lost left arm.

May 11—Visit Capt. S. A. Sutton of 45th N. C. Regiment, who is wounded and was my college classmate. He died there. Lieut. Eubanks, 32nd N. C. Regiment dies in peace.

May 12—Terriffic fighting. Many are wounded and many killed.

(NOTE—Nine years of married life. How many more?)

May 13—Send off the slightly wounded. My wife’s birthday—27 years! John Hagler dies suddenly.

May 14—Among the wounded.

Sunday, May 15—Ride to Brigade and take a shelling. Pray with 2nd and 30th Regiments. Suddenly they are ordered off.

May 16—Send off a few wounded.

May 17—Send worst wounded to a new corps hospital. Womack and Ross die.

May 18—Send more wounded off to Railroad.

May 19—Second Corps has a fight. Many are wounded and some killed. Spend part of the day at General Hospital. Am up nearly all night.

May 20—Very unwell all day. Take medicine.

May 21—Rev. Evans and I, too unwell to march, report to Dr. Black at corps hospital and receive kind attention.

May 22—Dr. Black puts me on ambulance. His train moves till in the night.

May 24—Move on. Get three letters from my wife.

May 26 – Ride through wind and rain to wagon train.

May 27—Walk past Ashland. Rest and receive kindness from Mrs. Charles Stibbins. Halt at midnight below Hanover Court House.

May 28—Walk on rapidly and spend some time with my Regiment. Fight begins at twelve.

May 30—Go to Richmond. Capt. Freeman, Lieut. Lemay and George Stanback are killed.

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