Catherine Marsh

“ And would add a humble prayer, not only for that gallant regiment (in which all who loved Hedley Vicars must ever feel a peculiar interest) , but also for every soldier in the British army, that each may tread the same path to endless glory, by finding Him who is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life;" that taught of the Holy Spirit, as this young soldier was, they may learn, as he did, to follow Jesus "in the blessed steps of His most holy life;" and may at last inherit with him, those pleasures which are at God's right hand, for evermore.
"If any man serve me, let him follow me ”

“ Soon we shall follow. Oh! may the faltering steps be quickened, and the soul be made to mount up with wings as eagles, longing, panting, thirsting more ardently and more constantly for the living God. ”

“ If you have not lost that crocus which Vicars sent a few weeks ago, please to keep it. Oh! blessed are the dead that die in the Lord.
"Farewell, Vicars, my loved companion! I knew when he went into action he would show that a Christian soldier was a brave as well as a happy man. I do not exactly know how it all was. I only vouch for the above facts, and the terrible reality of poor Vicars' noble frame lying in the hospital tent, where I saw it. We are in tent here, too. God bless you, dearest mother; and may He sanctify this severe trial to my soul.
"Your own
"Douglas." ”

“ My Dear Wife—Oh the night of the 22d we had a visit from the Russians. A strong force pushed up to our advanced works, and succeeded in getting into the trenches where there was a weak point. Several of our regiment got killed, and amongst them was our gallant Captain, poor Mr. Vicars, who was so deeply loved by all the regiment. Even the officers almost all cried the morning after the affair. ”

“ On this account, I feel sure you will forgive me for taking upon myself to break to you — one of his dearest and most valued friends — the melancholy news of the death of our dear companion in arms, and brother in the Lord, Captain Vicars, 97th.
"Yes, our good and gracious God has seen fit, at this His own good time, to take unto himself the soul of our beloved friend. Yet, if we find in these words much to cause deep affliction, surely they contain much of comfort also. Our loss and sorrow are great ”

“ But I know that, painful and severe as the blow must prove, it is much better that the worst should be told, in a direct and certain form, by letter, than to have your feelings tortured unnecessarily by the uncertain reports which could not fail to reach you through the newspapers. ”

“ Madam — The name of Captain Vicars is engraven on the hearts of the private soldiers of the 97th, with feelings of love and gratitude. believe here is not a man in the Regiment but would have run any risk to have saved his life. ”

“ But she is a Christian: and has lived to see her once wild and reel, less son come to the fold of Jesus, and prove his sincerity by a long, and unswerving, and consistent course. I also cut a lock of his fine, curly hair this morning, as I knew his mother would like to get it If I was to try to write all the good that my beloved friend did, I should not have room. ”

“ It has taught us solemn lessons. It has caused the deepest affliction. We seek grace to bow to the will of the Lord, and to feel that His ways are not our ways, nor His thoughts our thoughts. You know the circumstances. (Then follows a statement of the facts already given.) He 'fell asleep in Jesus' His work was done on earth — his race was run — his conflict ended— his crown awaiting — and now he wears it.
"I heard of his death on the evening of the 23d, and yesterday hastened to the front. I met one and another of the 97th, and the deepest sorrow filled each heart. ”

“ I am requested by the soldiers of the 97th to say how pleased and thankful they will be for the little books about him when they reach; and I believe there are many of the men will keep them till the day they die. ”

“ It was Inkermann on a small scale — an attack in very great force, and on all points; and everywhere they were beaten back with vigour and heavy loss. I saw at least three hundred Russian bodies lying on the field. We calculated that their loss must have exceeded twelve hundred men. The French lost five hundred, and the English four officers and about fifty men.
"Vicars was in the advanced parallel of our right attack, with a picquet of his regiment. The enemy attacked the French lines close alongside where he lay ”