Christian memorials of the war: or, Scenes and incidents illustrative of religious faith and principle, patriotism and bravery in our army. With historical notes

Front matter

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Preface

It is hardly possible that too many books should be written in illustration of the objects and spirit of the present war. Among them all, may there not be room also for one like this ?

The object has been simply to gather up some fragments of this great history that otherwise might be lost. Most persons will agree that the incidents recorded in these pages are worth preserving ; and yet from their nature, as not falling distinctly within the province of biography or history, and from their being scattered in so many different quarters^ they are liable, after having been read at the moment, to pass out of sight and be forgotten.

I have put these materials together in this manner because I thought it might be a grateful service to the friends of our brave soldiers, as well as an act of justice to the soldiers themselves, and because I felt a

VI PREFACE.

hearty interest in the work. Facts Kke those here spread before us are adapted to give us our strongest impression of the intelligence, the earnestness, the Christian principle and heroism of so large a class of men, who have come forward to support the Government in this great emergency, and to give us also our strongest conviction that a cause which such men support cannot and will not fail. The least we can do for those who thus lay themselves on the altar of sacrifice for us is, to show ourselves grateful to them, and to cherish the memory of what they have done and suffered. History, in due time, will render to many of them its fitting tribute of commemoration ; but not to all. Such imperfect memorials as these form the only record that will ever be made of names not a few, and of deeds of suffering and valor never surpassed, which we and those after us should not '^ willingly let die."

Nothing has been inserted here that I have not reason to suppose to be strictly true. It will be seen that the names of persons, the names of places and dates, have been freely given ; and when they are not given, it will be seen that the statements themselves bear with them the marks of their truthfulness. The interest of the fiicts lies in their sober reality. Accounts that might be thought by some very interest-

PREFACE. VII

ingy and entitled to a place here, have been excluded, if they were drawn up in such a manner as to seem to be written for effect.

I have endeavored to give to the selections as much variety as the scope of the book allowed. The events related take place under circumstances more or less different, and serve in each instance to illustrate, to some extent, a new class of ideas or a new phase of character. This fact will account for the absence of some narratives which the reader may have seen elsewhere and may be disappointed not to find here. It was impossible, of course, where the noteworthy incidents are so many, to insert them all ; and it was unnecessary to mention those which are so similar to others that to insert them would be to repeat very nearly the same things.

The author's task has been chiefly that of selection and arrangement, but not without some additional labor. I have inserted explanatory remarks here and there, sometimes in the text, and sometimes at the bottom of the page. I have made some of the articles fuller, where the means of information enabled me to do so, and have abridged other articles, as it seemed, in the one case or the other, to agree best with the object of the present publication. It was

Vin PREFACE.

necessary to give some uniformity to the style of the book. I have felt at liberty to make occasional changes in the language, such as the writers themselves, with an opportunity for revision, might be supposed to make ; yet taking care always never to interfere with the facts, or the spirit and tone of the original articles. With this exception, the articles verbally, as well as in respect of the subject-matter, have been left in the state in which their authors wrote them in the presence of the scenes and events which they describe ; and which, in consequence of being thus written, will be found to be distinguished often by touches of pathos and a vigor of expression which no skill of rhetoric could heighten or improve.

H. B. H.

Newton Centre, March 18th, 186i,

Contents

, CHAPTER I.

FIGHTING FOR THE GOVERNMENT ACKNOWLEDGED

AS A CHRISTIAN DUTY.

Chapter I Fighting For The Government Acknowledged As A Christian Duty

The examples of our motto in this chapter show, among other proofs, how strongly the Christian sentiment of the country has been aroused by the object and issues of the present war, and illustrate the true connection between loyalty to God and loyalty to the government. The examples have been selected with impartiality, from a wide range of religious and social life. They are specimens only (which is true also of other portions of the book) of the many similar incidents that have appeared from day to day in the public journals since the outbreak of the rebellion. They are instances of an unselfish, heroic devotion to the claims of patriotism and humanity, which, instead of being admired and praised merely, should rebuke our apathy if we are not in sympathy with such ideas of public duty ; which, at all events, shdlild strengthen the universal determination to crush the rebellion, and save from overthrow our institutions of liberty, self-government, and law, to which these costly sacrifices are giving, if it were possible, new sacredness and value. On subjects of this nature

16 JfEMORIALS OF THE WAR.

facts supply the most effective teaching, and those presented here may as well be left to make their own impression, without amplification or comment.

I. THE FIRST OHIO VOLUNTEER.

The name to which this enviable distinction belongs is never to perish. Colonel Lorin Andrews, late President of Kenyon College, in Ohio, was the first man in that State to offer his services to the governor. Having raised a company by his own efforts, he was elected captain, and afterwards was appointed colonel of the Fourth Regiment of the Ohio Volunteers. At the expiration of the three months for which he had been called out, he enlisted for the war, and commanded his regiment until disease, contracted in camp, compelled him to resign. He then went home, already death-stricken, and soon ended his days. Though he had no opportunity to share in any actual fighting, he was considered a very efficient and brave officer, as well as a devoted, exemplary Christian.^

"I well remember," says Bishop Mcllvaine, in the address at his funeral, "Avith what pleasure he related to me a circumstance that had just occurred, which put his decision as a Christian to a severe test. On the previous Sunday, some good minister of the Methodist denomination had preached to them. At the close of his discourse, very unexpectedly to Col. Andrews, he called on him to pray, lirwas atrial. But immediately he saw what an opening it afforded him at once, in the sight of the whole thousand, officers and soldiers, — to the far greater portion of whom he was as yet personally a stranger, — to take his stand as a

iThe compiler has learned these facts from a private letter.

FiKST Christ's, tqen our cottntrt s. 17

Christian, and as one who intended to walk before them in the confession of Christ. He therefore, without hesitation, stood up and j^rayed, — praying for his men and their families. The impression was very strong and general; and he was happy and thankful. About this time, in expectation of soon taking the field, he said to me, ' I have no fear that I shall not have courage enough for the dangers of battle. All my anxiety is that I may have firmness enough to be faithful and decided as a Christian in all the various circumstances in which I may be placed. I feel that to do that requires higher courage than to stand unmoved before the mouth of cannon.

" Such a man," continues the bishop, " was fitted to have command in our army. He could be trusted. In writing to me about the motives which led him to become a soldier, he said he had no love or desire for a military life. It was not his taste. He did not covet military distinction. He was a man of peace and quietness. But he was moved entirely by the consideration of duty to his country, in the time of her great and awful trial. He said he had carefully and solemnly, before God, considered his duty; and he had prayerfully arrived at the conviction on which he was acting.",

"He died," says his successor in the college, "in the full enjoyment of his faith, and trust in his Redeemer, and, I believe, has gone to that perfect rest prepared for the saints in heaven."

n. FIRST CHRIST'S, THEN OUR COUNTRY'S.

Bishop Simpson, of the Methodist church, soon after the outbreak of the great treachery, delivered a sermon on the national crisis, at Chicago. It is represented as one of the ablest ejfforts of this clergyman, so distinguished for his

2* power in the pulpit. A^ it was one of the anniversaries of the denomination, thousands Avere present to hear the discourse. Suddenly, at one point in the sermon, and as the fitting close of a most impassioned paragraph, he gave utterance to the following noble sentiment: "We will take our glorious flag — the flag of our country — and nail it just below the cross! That is high enough! There let it wave as it waved of old. Around it let us gather: 'First Christ's, then our country's.' "

The efiect was electrical. Every heart resjDonded to the appeal. The sentiment, the preacher's manner, the solemnity of the crisis, moved the great assembly as men are seldom moved under the power of human speech.

in. SONGS ON THE BATTLE-FIELD.

The sanguinary battle of Shiloh was fought on the sixth and the seventh of April, 1862. The ordinary scene which presents itself, after the strife of arms has ceased, is familiar to every one. Heaps of the slain, where friend and foe lie by the side of each other ; bodies mangled and bleeding ; shrieks of the wounded and dying, are things which we always associate with the victories and defeats of war. But seldom do we read that voices of prayer, that hymns of exultant faith and thanksgiving, have been heard at such times and in such places.

The following account was received from the lips of a brave and pious captain in one of the Western regiments, as some friends who visited Shiloh on the morning after the battle were conveying him to the hospital.

The man had been shot through both thighs with a rifle bullet ; it was a w^ound from which he could not recover. While lying on the field, he suffered intense agony from thirst. He supported his head upon his hand, and the rain

SONGS ON THE BATTLE-FIELD. 19

from heaven was falling around him. In a short time, a little pool of water collected near his elbow and he thought if he could only reach that spot he might allay his raging thirst. He tried ^o get into a position which would enable him to obtain a mouthful, at least, of the muddy water ; but in vain, and he must suffer the torture of seeing the means of reUef Avithin sight, while all his efforts were unavailing. "Never," said he, "did I feel so much the loss of any earthly blessing. By and by the shades of night fell around us, and the stars shone out clear and beautiful above the dark field, where so many had sunk down in death, and so many others lay wounded, writhing in pain, or faint with the loss of blood. Thus situated, I began to think of the great God who had given his Son to die a death of agony for me, and that he was in the heavens to which my eyes were turned, — that he was there, above that scene of suffering, and above those glorious stars; and I felt that I was hastening home to meet him, and praise him there; and I felt that I ought to praise him then, even wounded as I was, on the battle-field. I could not help singing that beautiful hymn : —

' Wheu I can read my title clear To mansions in the skies, I'll bid farcAvcll to every feai-, And wipe my weeping eyes.'

And though I was not aware of it till then," said he, " it proved there was a Christian brother in the thicket near me. I could not see him, but was near enough to hear him. He took up the strain from me ; and beyond him another, and then another, caught the words, and made them resound far and wide over the terrible battle-field of Shiloh. There was a peculiar echo in the place, and that added to the effect, as we made the night vocal with our hymns of praise to God."

20 MEMORIALS OF TUE WAR.

It is certain that men animated by such faith have the consciousness of serving God in serving their country, and that their presence in the army adds to it some of its most important elements of strength and success.

IV. THE MISSIOXARY S SON.

The memory of the devoted missionary, Rev. William H. Pohlman,^ of his saintly life and martyr death, is yet fragrant in all the churches. Let them add to this treasured memory still another as fresh and beautiful, — that of his only son. Lieutenant "VYiUiam Henry Pohlman, Assistant Adjutant of the Fifty-ninth Regiment of the New York Volunteers, who died July 21st, 1863, aged twenty-one years, of wounds received in the battle of Gettysburg.

Late in the afternoon of Friday, the eventful third of July, his left arm was frightfully shattered by a Minie ball; but the brave spirit did not quail. " ISTo," he answered those who urged him to withdraw from the front, "never, while I have a sword-arm left to fight with!" An hour later, his sword-arm failed him too. Another ball, glancing from his sword-hilt, which it shattered, pierced his right wrist, severing an artery, and his battle-work was done. But not for him should the great work of the hour, the salvation of the republic, suffer interruption for a moment. "Boys," he said to the soldiers who would have borne him from the field already almost won, " stay in your places ; your country needs every man of you." And so he left them, regretting most of all that he could not recover the sword his mother gave him. Its empty scabbard, battered and blood-stained, but with its glorious legend, the keynote of his life, unmarred, "For God and your Country,"

1 He was a missiouary of the Ameiicau Board in Chiua, and lasit bis life by sbipwi-cck iu ISi'J.

PASTOR A^D PEOPLE EXLIST TOGETHER. 21

is now the most cberishecl treasure of her who filled a mother's place to the orphan boy. He reached the camp at last, fainting on the way from loss of blood, and was laid beside his beloved colonel.

And now a new phase in the character of this knightly, nay, Christian hero, was to be developed. A trial, heavy for such as he, so full of exuberant vitality and rejoicing in his strength, was laid upon him, and he was cast into the fiery crucible of bodily anguish and bodily weakness. Sustained by strength beyond his own, nobly did he endure the test. His beautiful unselfishness and utter freedom from degrading vanity were most conspicuous. Withholding his name from the newspaper reporters, lest the sigh|; of it among the killed and wounded might too rudely shock the tender hearts which he fain would spare all needless pain, his first care was to break the news of his condition as gently as possible. For this purpose he dictated a characteristic note on the day succeeding the battle. Beginning, not with his own achievements or sufierings, but with an exultant announcement of the victory won, he adds: "But the usual good fortune which has attended me in thirteen battles of the war has forsaken me in the fourteenth engagement. I bear honorable wounds in my country's cause."

V. PASTOR AXD PEOPLE ENLIST TOGETHER.

A pastor in one of the Western States had in his congregation fifty-one men who had enlisted in the service of their country. They assembled to listen as they supposed to his parting address; but when he saw their jDatriotic zeal, he said to them, that if they were all going he should go too. At the door of the church they chose him as their

22 MEMOEIAL^DF THE WAR.

captain, and now pastor and people are fighting together in this great struggle for the national life and the rights of humanity.

It is estimated that the chm-ches of the different Christian denominations throughout the country have been represented in the army, on the average, in the proportion of one to every seven of their male members. They have gone as volunteers, and not as drafted men. The churches in the older States, it is to be remembered, contain large numbers beyond the military age, and thus, of those liable to serve, this proportion is greater than that of one to seven. Many of the Western churches have exceeded this ratio of membership, in the contributions which they have made to the ranks of the army. Not a few of the smaller churches, ^ in the less populated regions, have been left almost without any men at home, clergy or laity.

VI. HE MADE HIS WILL BEFORE BATTLE.

I transcribe the following sketch, with slight changes, from the Boston "Journal," under date of June 18th, 1862. Alas, that one so full of promise, more than a Marcellus in every augury of civic and private virtue, should only " be shown to us," and then be withdrawn !

Yesterday, the remains of the late Major Edwin M.Smith passed through Boston on their way to Maine. He was the son of the late governor of that State, and was of a character so charming and so rare that public testimony should be borne to his virtues and services. He fell at the battle of Fair Oaks, in the van, leading the Fifth Michigan Regiment of Berry's Brigade, in their splendid work of that day. " Better," said his general, " better that I had lost a hundred men than that brave boy ! " He was acting

HE MADE HIS WILL BEFORE BATTLE. 23

as the chief of that general's staff, and that true officer knew him well. Young Smith had just returned from Europe, at the age of twenty-one, when the war commenced. Having gained much credit for his bravery and discretion, he was soon commissioned as major in the Maine Fourth, but at the urgent request of General Berry, finally accepted a place upon his staff, and acted as chief of his staff at the battles of Williamsburg and Fair Oaks. In fact, he led one wing, while General Berry commanded the other, in that brilliant charge and fight which saved Hooker's division, at Williamsburg. Smith there dashed forward with his Michigan regiment, and the Thirty-seventh ISTew York, and, leaping the enemy's rifle-pits, forced his way through the abatis into the strongholds with an impetuosity which astonished all. Four of the enemy's bullets passed through his clothing, but left him unharmed- So popular and beloved did he become with these regiments, that they would often cheer him as he passed. His heart though brave was tender as a woman's. His hand was always open to the needy ; and the sick found him the gentlest of all who breathed around them. Fond of all befitting sports, and active as a child, he was nevertheless of a mature and thoughtful nature ; having a real love of country and the highest reverence for truth and law. Frail in body, he had an exalted spirit and an energetic will, and won the love of all who knew him. When his horse was brought to the White House to be sent home, a Michigan soldier said, " There goes the noble horse that leaped the - rifle-pits at Williamsburg ! " " Yes," said his comrade, " he had a noble rider then, but he has gone ! " and the sturdy warrior could hardly utter his name.

It was Berry's brigade which at the battle of Williamsburg came up just in time to save the day, after Hooker's division had been fighting at terrible odds for several hours,

24 MEMOrjxiLS OF THE WAR.

had exhausted their ammunition, and were on the point of giving way. At this critical moment, the newly-arrived soldiers, having fired five deadly rounds into the enemy, and repulsed five of their desperate charges, made that memorable charge, which recaptured all the lost artillery and the ground which the exhausted soldiers of Hooker's division had yielded.

During the night of the fifth of May, which followed the battle, young Smith wrote in his journal: "We stood in arms amidst the enemy's dead and dying, cold, wet and weary enough. For all this bravery and skill our noble general was publicly thanked by General Heintzelmau, and eulogized by General McClellan." But the modest journalist does not say, what was the fact, that one of the most distinguished generals openly pronounced the youthful officer himself " one of the bravest of the brave, one of the heroes of the day, from whom we might expect a future of great usefulness and honor."

Before the attack on Yorktown he made a short will, yet in all the haste of a camp, he closed it by adding this remarkable paragraph : " And now, having arranged for the disposition of my worldly estate, I must say that, possessing a full confidence in the Christian religion, and believinsf in the rio^hteousness of the cause in which I am engaged, I am ready to ofier my poor life in vindicating that cause, and in sustaining a government the mildest and most beneficent the world has ever known."

So he gave that life to his country. Let his memory and that of our kindred martyrs be embalmed forever in the nation's heart. He was fit to live and fit to die, and his crown was ready for him.

THE TTTO BKOTnERS. 25

Vn. THE TWO BROTHERS.

The following simple anrl touching letter is from the brother of John W. Chase, a member of Co. G, of the Fom-th Rhode Island Regiment, who recently died in the hospital in Carolina City. James and John were twins, and both members of the same regiment, — noble boys, of whom a friend writes very justly : " This letter will convey a touching idea of the loss which the mother has experienced in the death of one of these Christian youth, who might truly be called 'Cromwellian soldiers.' " With genuine patriotism, childlike faith in God, a filial and fraternal affection, James conveys the sad news to his mother ; and this is another instance, in the humble classes, of that genuine heroism which has been brought to light by this war.

Carolina City, Saturday, 2Gth.

Dear Mother : — I now take my pen to say that there has been a great change since I wrote last. John has got through with fighting, and with all his hardships and trials. He has gone to rest. His sickness was short. He was seized with typhoid fever, and soon followed Denham and William. This makes three deaths in our company.

John wrote you a letter two or three days before he was sick. Then, mother, he was as well as I was ; so you see we cannot tell what to-morrow will bring forth. Death is certain, and life is uncertain. But the Lord knows best about these things ; and when he calls us, we have to go. Oh! I wish that I was in John's place! Thank God, mother, there is one consolation, that if we do not see each other again in this world, we shall in the one above.

I prayed every night while John was sick for the Lord to bless him. I left him in His hands. It was so ordered that John was not to be shot in the battle-field, but to be taken by sickness ; and it has turned out all for the best.

I have tried to do my duty since I have been in the war. I have felt that this was the place to remember and look to Him who is our best Friend. And he has proved so. He brought John and ine both safe out of danger in the field, and now he has called one of us to go to him. He may call for me next. I do not care, mother, how quick; for I can say that I am ready to go when God calls me, and I believe I shall meet John with the angels above.

He died at four o'clock this morning. I send you a lock of his hair. Remember, mother, if we part with our friends here, we shall sooner or later meet them before God.

I close by saying, do not take it too hard. The Lord bless you.

From your dear son, J. S. C.

Vm. THE BIBLE IN THE KNAPSACK.

A gentleman from one of the Western cities, say^ the " Banner of the Covenant," at a recent prayer-meeting in New York, rose and said, —

A few days ago, I was present where a body of soldiers, an entire regiment, having been drawn up in line, were asked if they would accept of copies of the Bible. The question was put to them by the commanding oflicer, after having stated that the citizens of the place, anxious to show their interest in them and to promote their welfiire, would be happy to supply each one of them with a Bible if they were willing to receive it. "Now," said he, "as many of you as are willing to receive the Bibles are re-

THE PENNSYLVANIA KOUNDHEADS. 27

quested to raise your right hands." The result was, (said he,) every hand was raised, and many tears were falling as they responded to the proposition. In addition to this, as the commander stood on the steps of the hotel, one of the distributors approached him, and gave to him, also, with appropriate remarks, an expensive and elegant copy of the Scriptures, in the sight and hearing of all the men. It so happened that one of the spectators in the crowd was a missionary from Turkey. " Oh," said the missionary, " I never expected to live to see such a day as this ! I never expected to see such a sight as th^s. I never expected to see the legions of an army going out to battle, voting the word of God into their knapsacks." The men declared, by this act, that they needed the Lord of hosts as their ally, and that, in performing their duty, they could look to him for his blessinjz on them.

IX. THE PENNSYLVANIA EOUNDHEADS.

The interesting sketch which follows is from Rev. Solomon Peck, D. D., so well known for his philanthropic labors in belftilf of the freedmen at Beaufort, S. C. : —

It was said by Cromwell of his regiment of " Ironsides," who "were never beaten," "I raised such men as had the fear of God before them ; as naade some conscience of what they did." It is from them the " Roundheads of Western Pennsylvania, descendants of Scotch Covenanters and English Puritans, derive their name — a name first given in derision by the " Cavaliers," but afterward well understood to be a synonyme for Invincibles.

Soon after the battle of Bull Run, and on the expiration of the " three months " service, application was made to the Secretary of War, by Colonel D. Leasure, for leave to

28 MEMOPJ.^ OF THE WAR.

raise a regiment for the war. The Pennsylvania "Reserves " by that time had been filled out. " Can you bring Roundheads, Bible-men?" asked the Secretary. "I can bring no other," was the reply.

It was my lot to meet the Roundheads, officers and men, for the first time in the house of God, the Sabbath after I landed in Beaufort, December twenty-second. The chaplain of the regiment, Rev. Robert A. Brown, of Newcastle, Pa., lay ill of fever at that time, and the colonel had invited me to preach to them at the usual hour of morning worship. The appointment was made accordingly ; and at bell-ringing the colonel marched his men, nine hundred strong, into the Baptist meeting-house, under arms, and with measured tread ; but quiet and reverent, as became the place, the service, and the day.

It was an impressive spectacle. The soldiery, intermingled with members of other corps, filled the entire area of the lower floor, and most of the spacious galleries, which projected on either side. At the end stood, close crowded together, groups of " colored people." There, listening to the word of God, or rising in prayer, or singing, after their ancient metrical version, some of the Psalms of David, the Roundheads joined in worshipping the God of their fathers, — their God and our God, — just as they had been wont to worship, in their several sanctuaries, Avith kindred and friends at home. What added to the interest of the occasion was the presence of two other ministers, who took jjart in conducting the services, one of them the chaplain of the Eighth Michigan Regiment, Rev. Mr. Mahon. The service, moreover, was only the second had by the Roundheads, in Sabbath public worship, since coming to the South.