French had 200 killed and wounded; and the Rifles lost eleven men. We are anxiously expecting our batteries to open in good earnest; but they say there is not quite enough shell or shot up yet. Nothing could be more favorable than the weather has been lately, and the roads are in capital condition. My love to your beloved father, and sister, and brother-in-law, to Mrs. M———, and to dearest Louie. I enclose a letter to my own L———. God bless you, my own most beloved mother-sister. How delighted I am you told me the day which is appointed for national prayer. We shall keep it in the camp, too, please God. Jesus is near, and very precious to my heart and soul. May He ever be to you also, my own second mother. Ever your most warmly attached son and brother,
On the Sabbath which followed—his last on earth—he seemed to have climbed, like Moses, the Mount whence this promised land is seen; and to have caught the twilight dawn of the Eternal Sabbath so near at hand. Amidst unceasing work for his Master, he entered at the same time, in his mortal measure, "into the joy of his Lord." A serene happiness filled his soul as he went, in the intervals between the tent services, with the message of peace to the hospitals of other regiments. The morning service was conducted in Major Welsford's hut, where the usual number assembled. In the afternoon they were joined by Captain Crofton and Captain Anderson, of the engineers.[1]
Hedley Vicars seemed peculiarly to enjoy these hours of social prayer. In the evening he met Major Ingram in Lieutenant Derman's tent, and these three Christian brothers read together the 14th, 15th, 16th,
- ↑ Captain Crofton was mortally wounded by the bursting of a shell within three weeks afterwards, to the deep regret of all who knew him.
