The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-12-31
For the Union


promoted to the regular army,
his promotion coming from the APP
pointment Of President Lincoln. This
if correct, would prove gratifying TO
the chaplsin's friends who esteem him
ss a good worker and a worthy man
But the statement Of the Times is
hardly correct It eyinces, in regard
70 the chaplaincy, misrepresentation
Of the subject, shared indeed by many
Others, and which. for the benefit Of all
whom it may concern it may be proper
to explain.
There are three classes of chaplsins
in the U. S. service on land, two Of
these having been created since the re-
bellion began. The FIRST is the regi-
mental chaplain; he is nominated by
the Colonel of regiment and IS az
pointed, with the concurrence of the
commissioned officers of the regiment
His duty is confined to the specific reg
! iment to which he has been elected
chaplain, unless the commander of
department detail him. is occasionally
done, to serve for time elsewhere.
This class is the most numerous
The second IS the Hospital chaplain,
whose appointment was recommended
by President Lincoln in one of his ear
lest messages to Congress, and who by
subsequent act Of Congress, receives
his nomination from the President, and
if confirmed by the Senate, is duly APP
pointed His duty is confined to the
Hospital, and the cardinal object Of this
appointment is spiritual ministry to
the sick, wounded and dying soldiers
not excluding, however, such physical
ministry as circumstances may require.
The number of this class appointed |
may be, in round numbers, some 10 or
$50, distributed among the various Hos
pitfalls which the war rhas rendered |
necessary.
The third class is the Post chaplain
located at military posts, such as Gov
errors Isl1nd, Fort Hamilton, Fortress
Monroe and the like He receives his
appointment from the Council of Adj
ministration at the post, subject to the
confirmation of the War Department
The number of this class is small, from
the small number of posts found in the
country before the rebellion opened.
All the chaplains, by law of Congress,
hAso-pqusl rank and equal enolunlenL.
There are no grades and nc promo
tons The pay is 800 month, with
two rations, forage for two horses, if in
their service, fuel and quarters, with q
rank next to that of major, or chief
surgeonl Of regiment The term
Of service of the regimental chap
lain expires when that of his regi-
ment expires. The hospital chaplain
serves during The pleasure Of the Presi-
dent, and his service in hospital will
probably end, for the majority of chap
lains at least, when the war is over and
the hospitals are broken up The post
chapla;ns Imay remain while the par
ticular post remains, to which he is as
signed--thAugh he may Of course be re
moved for cause, before So that if
there be for 4 chaplain, anything like
being in the regular army" it is his
being connected with post, in the
manner described.
have heard one and another chap
lain here occpionally addressed as
post chaplain, As if this gives them
higher position or more prerogatiyes
thsn his brother chaplains, There is
in il. Length Of service or
residence confers no superiority what
ever There is no post chaplain in :
Nashville, for Nashville is no military
post, where one chaplain, and no more,
is stationed, all regularly assigned to 7
duty here, commissioned by the War l.
and hospital chsplsins, and 4
other chaplAins have strictly no right
nat is legitimate 70. exercise their func 0
tons about the hospitals Occasionally 4
chaplains have been detail s
I'd for this purpose in rome pressing Q
emergency, and in the Absence Of others
July appointed for this specific work \
put not yet assigned 10 ihs locality. q
When these arrived on the ground, how !.
sver, the others, here for time, we're
10 their regiments. as their 3
duty lay with these and not y
It a distance from them. o
At the present time there are eight
capital cbaplains connected With the +
various hospitals at Nashville Chap D
ain Poucher dominated but not yet 0
confirmed, } of Hospital No ehsplsin :,
Van sartOod, No and II tofBcers =
lospital), chaplain Ormsby No 8 Fa- \
her Steven, assigned I believe % Cum a.
icIAhnu AO1 PlLelf bh% cANANhthg Al1
unctions among the Catholics in All
he hospitals chaplain Goodfsllow, ="
70, 8; chaplain Hoover No 81; chaplain 4
Jay, Cumberland Hospital and chap %
ain Eggers, assigned 70 the Gambler =.
and Hospital, but ministering to he A.
ierman soldiers in whatever hospital -
e may find them. In addition to
hese there is chaplain Arlington (rs-
imental) detailed in consequence Of !.
health, to temporary service z
{ No. a. and chaplain whose name ..
not now remembered, onduty at fhs
eat hospital These chaplains, il :
elieved, are rendering, ss far as ability =
lows, faithful and true service 70 the n
ANY brave, suffering soldiers coulait-
d to Iheir charge The pay they re
i've is not earicbing, especially in
lese trying times Some At least, are