Oh! cease to chastise us and fill us with grace.
V.
O merciful God! by thy marvellous might
Keep far from us slaughter and war’s fierce despair;
‘Neath the sway of the angel of peace and of light
Let all be united in love and in prayer.
Great God! to thine altars we suppliants come;
Give us back the blest freedom of faith, hearth, and home.
The soldiers, kneeling, repeated this in chorus, and, rising, gave another cheer for Poland. Then Gen. Chmielinski, who was standing to the right of Father Benvenuto, turned to them and said: “Now, my children, go and rest and recruit your strength. You will need it all; for the enemy we have to fight is strong and numerous, and many among us will appear before God to-morrow.”
The soldiers did as they were bid, and prepared themselves to pass the night as comfortably as they could, feeling that it was indeed the last many would spend on earth. I was going to do the same when I was sent for by Gen. Sokol, whom I found talking over plans with Gen. Chmielinski. “Lieut. L——,” he said to me, “we are very anxious for exact information as to the amount of the Russian force. Are you tired?”