Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-03-13
A Fighting Preacher.

| when our revolutionary war first broke
out, and Congress called upon several States
| to furnish regular regiments for the Cont
mental line, Peter Muhlenherg, q pastor il
the Tenth Legion, mounted his pulpit one
fine mourning, told his congregation he was
going to war, and exhorted Us many of them
as could raise tho pluck, to follow his ex.
ample His words took like wild-6re-a re.
ment was soon raised-and Peter himself
was appointed Colonel. Never was there a
heiter choice. Peter fought even better
than he prayeI. His regiment was every.
where, where hard knocks were going on-at
Trenton, at Princeton, at Brandywine, al
! Germantown, at Monmouth at Yorktown,
and reter was always at the head Of his re-
| giment. SO prominent was he upon such
occasions, that with some Of bis admirers be
| obtained the name of Devil Pete, while by
the army generally he was known as Fight
| ing Parson. His skill seems TO have been
equal to his gallantry for in short time be
bt came General. and was one among the
highly esteemed of Washington's officers
lie was striking example Of tie fact that
man makes none the worse soldier for SER
wing his Creator with fidelity.
Gen. liuvelock seems to have been a man
OF very much the same build of Gen. Mullen
berg. lie was Que of the genuine, old school
Cromweli,n breed--a real Z" fearthe. ord
nd-keep.your-p -powder-dry generation He
preached 10 his men--he prayed with them
aud even baptsed them On one occusion
he was c(urt-mart aled for this offence. An
inquiry into The state Of his regiment proved
SO satisfactory that the Governor General
said he wished he would baptise the whole
army. Now, the exploits OF this man and his
little force are absolutely marvellous. lie
has shown all the qualities of IL great officer
one worthy TO take the place by the side
Of wellington and Marlborough They
have shown all the qualities Of the best and
bravest soldiers. They fought six battles in
six days, and each time against the odds oi
ten to one, and were victorious every time.
They marched through "A swamp of foes fight.
ing at every step, in the burning climate OF
India, ut the rate Of fifteen or twenty miles q
day. They entered the city they were sent
to relieve, and were Immediately surrounded,
sud shut in by twenty tiHes their number
Nothing dauntad, they held on for months
lighting and victorious every day, and living
upon few ounces of rice, without any Of the
usual supplies OF European soldiers. At last
they were relieved, and the old parson had
the glory aud satisfaction OF having by his
indomita5le bravery, perseverance and skill
saved the lives Of hundreds of his country.
men! We cannot think OF these things--oI
The old mans simplicity his modesty and Lis
great xploils-without feeling disposition
to throw up our hats and shout loud and
long Tor the brave old Baptist Preacher"
The exploits OF Havelock and his mep
dissipate the idea long entertained in Eug-
land, aad openly ayowed by former Minis
try, that the more profgate tue army. the
better the soldier. 1t is our firm belief that
honesty, morality, and above oil, religion, are
essential to man in the performance ug earthly
duty, even the duty Of a soldier, and here.
after, if we ever hear u man dispute this
pout, will refer to fighting old Havelock
and his glorious regiment of true blue Bap,
fists, in support of our opinion. Depend
upon il, soldier does not fight the worse
for commanding his soul TO his Maker if he
! fall