There is yet a few minutes to spare before starting, and the time is occupied in one of the

most impressive religious ceremonies I have ever witnessed.

The Brigade stood in column of regiments.

As a large majority of its members were Catholic, the chaplain of the Brigade, Reverend William

Corby proposed to give general absolution to all the men before going into the fight.

Father Corby stood upon a large rock in front of the Brigade.

Addressing the men, he explained what he was about to do, saying that each one could receive

the benefit of the absolution by making a sincere act of contrition and firmly resolved

to embrace the first opportunity of confessing their sins, urging them to do their duty well

and reminding them of the high and sacred nature of their trust as soldiers and the noble

object for which they fought, ending by saying that the Catholic Church refuses Christian

burial to the soldier who turns his back upon the foe or deserts his flag.

The Brigade was standing at order arms, and as he closed his address, every man fell

to his knees with head bowed down.

Then, stretching his right hand toward the Brigade, Father Corby pronounced the words of

the general absolution.

The scene was more than impressive, it was awe-inspiring, and while there was profound

silence in the ranks of the second corps, yet over to the left, the roar of battle rose

and swelled through the woods, making music more sublime than ever sounded through cathedral

aisles.

I do not think there was a man in the Brigade who did not offer up a heartfelt prayer.

For some it was their last, they knelt in their grave clothes.

...