CHAPTER XXIV.

Brief Stay in Richmond.—Amelia County.—Amelia Springs.—Jetersvllle.—Paineville.—Kautz and Wilson's Raid.—Flight to Horse Pasture.—Bro. D.H. Spencer.—Henry C. H.

    We left Bowling Green with a very sad heart. We had spent such a peaceful, happy time among those people, it was hard to leave them to go we knew not where. The last two days and nights we were there the roar of the artillery could be heard, and the concussion rattled our windows all day long and nearly all night. I felt I could bear it no longer. The thought was terrible to me that at every volley hundreds of souls were sent, perhaps unprepared, into the presence of their Creator. We left Wednesday evening, and Friday morning at sunrise six thousand Federal troops rode into the town.
    The day after our arrival in Richmond the Doctor walked out on Broadway, where the cars were bringing in the wounded of both armies. They were lying on gravel-cars, waiting for ambulances to take them to the hospitals. All the length of the train the citizens with buckets of water were giving the poor fellows drink. The Doctor secured a bucket and tin cup and went to the assistance of the others. He noticed that but little attention was paid to the Boys in Blue, and immediately commenced giving them water and pouring it on their dried bandages. They seemed very grateful. Some one said to him: "Let them go. Let us take care of our own first. They are our enemies." Dr. Hopson said   [book page] 141

"I read in my Bible, 'If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink.' Let us do good to all as they come."
    We made a very short stay in Richmond, the Doctor accepting the invitation of Dr. John Jeter, of Amelia county, to make him a visit and remain with him during the coming summer.
    The battle of Cold Harbor was fought the week after we reached there. We felt we were now safe from further molestation. The Doctor immediately made appointments, accepting the numerous invitations to hold meetings, and began work as soon as he was fairly settled in our new home. We were now forty miles south of Richmond, near the Danville & Richmond R. R., where we were very sure we should only hear rumors of war.
    The day the battle of Cold Harbor was fought was a hot, sultry day. It seemed there was not a breath of air stirring, and I am certain that, though such a long distance lay between us and the battle-ground, we heard the cannonading. It was like the roll of distant thunder. The result of the battle of the third of June was made very sad to us by the death of Clarence, Sister Pichegru Woolfolk's youngest son. He was killed just at the close of the battle, with a stray shot, as he was resting for a few moments on a log. How our hearts went out in sympathy to that beloved family in their first loss of the war! Col. Pichegru came near dying from a wound received at Gettysburg, but he was spared to be killed in the fall of the capitol at Richmond after peace had spread her wings over the land.
    Again we found our lot cast in pleasant places. Dr. Hopson held a number of meetings in Amelia county. Jetersville, Paineville and Amelia Springs were three     [book page] 142

points. When the weather became very warm we spent six weeks at the Springs, the guests of Bro. Sam. Cottrell and wife. The Doctor preached nearly every Sunday there during that time, and held a protracted meeting with over thirty additions; indeed, the whole summer was like one protracted meeting. September and October he preached in Prince Edward, Nodaway, Lunenburg, Charlotte and Mecklenburg counties, and had good success everywhere. We returned to Amelia county and to Dr. Jeter's the last of October. The Doctor was taken very sick from over-exertion. Dr. Jeter and Bro. Thomas Crenshaw nursed him as if he had been a brother in the flesh. He was too ill to be up, when Kautz and Wilson made their raid through the country. We could see the burning depots and bridges from Dr. Jeter's house very plainly. The Doctor decided that as soon as he was able he would move on; this time he would make sure and get clear beyond the possibility of trouble. Bro. D. H. Spencer, of Horse Pasture, Henry county, had invited us to visit him and spend some time. Again the Doctor had to bid good-bye to friends and hunt new fields of labor. He had been greatly aided during his meetings by Brethren Crenshaw, Holland, Walthal and Wilson, but he must find other co-workers now. We left Amelia as soon as the railroad was repaired. On arriving at Danville we took stage for Horse Pasture. The first night we reached Henry Court-house and stayed there all night. Four miles from the court-house, on the Danville road, we passed Leatherwood, once the home of Dr. Hopson's grandfather, and where his father was born. We reached Bro. Spencer's the next day in time for dinner.      [book page] 143

History Home       History Index Page     Next Chapter       Contents Page