March 3, 1865—Regiment goes on picket. Revs. O. J. Brent and NV. H. Moore arrive from N. C. and stop with me.
March 4— Brother Brent goes to Richmond. Brother Moore remains with me.
March 5 (Sunday)—I walk nine miles and preach to my Regiment in picket camp.
March 10 (Friday)—I fast and pray. Preach to my Regiment six times in their quarters. Rain all day. God help our nation in this sore extremity!
March 12 ( Sunday)—Preach to my Regiment. Hold prayers at night.
March 13—Brother Power preaches at night.
March 14—Hear from wife and Brother Willson. Preach at night. Brother Power and I alternate in our chapel, preaching every day and night.
March 18—Go to Petersburg to see John (negro servant) nearly dead. Get him into hospital.
March 19 (Sunday)—Preach to Weiseger’s Brigade in a. m. and ours in p. m.
March 20—Brigade moves near Dunlap’s and relieves Thomas’ Ga. Brigade.
March 21 – Meet Chaplains in Petersburg, and see John and Capt. Allen.
March 22—Go by 11th N. C. Regiment and spend night in 56th with my brother. Preach to R.’s Brigade.
March 24—Meet Cousin Grey Utley in P. He raised three daughters. Two became wives of Rev. L. S. Burkhead, D.D. One Sunday night in October, 1853, Rev. J. L. F. opened the doors of his church in Chapel Hill to receive members. Just as I started forward that good man, Grey Utley, began to sing “Jesus, I my cross have taken.” That soft, sweet voice and the sentiment of that hymn stir my heart to-night in October, 1897, as I write these lines—44 years after that solemn scene.
Jim Davis, of Chapel Hill, my wife’s cousin, comes to see me.