I live in the glories of God, I know that His merciful rod Extends o’er a sorrowful world; I see how His Providence glows With sweet hues of azure and rose, His banner, the heavens unfurled. The universe sings to my soul, And I join with my voice in the whole, And God is the spirit of Law; The Power of blessing and blight, The Giver of morning and night, Whose judgments are all without flaw. Behold! I am given to see That the darkness and sorrow that be, Lie low and cling closely to earth; But the light of God’s glory descends, And the might of His justice attends The souls that are weeping in dearth. A Hand that is brilliant with truth, And gentle indeed in its ruth, Shall point out the way and defend, And the gloom of each fearful abyss, The serpents that threaten and hiss, Shall be conquered and slain to amend. _IN BATTLE AND IN PRISON._ A REMINISCENCE OF THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. BY WILLIAM E. STEVENS. The events I am about to describe took place at a critical period of “the war to keep the Union whole,” and cover that date in the career of the army of the Potomac beginning with Hooker’s flank movement against Lee, entrenched on the heights of Fredericksburg, and ending with the disastrous repulse which attended that finely planned, yet poorly executed, and ill-starred campaign. Of course, I am not writing history, except in a small way; nor do I essay to describe in detail or with accuracy the events in question. My purpose is to give my own observations and experiences, mainly from memory, reinforced by a few scraps and half-illegible memoranda saved from the accidents by flood and field.