Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-05-01
Confession and Death of an Army Chaplain.

Confession and Death of an Army Chaplain.
MN. Pomeroy the editor of the La Crosse (Wis.j
Democrat, gives the following death bed scene,
which he was called to witness in his recent visit to
Chicago:
The Rev. Henry Clannard an ex-army chaplain
who left Off expounding Bible and recruiting for the
Saviour, and by ndorsng the niger and abolition
lists became an army chaplain in one of the Wiscon-
sin regiments, passed from life to home beyond
blessed immortality, the other day.
A physician had called on him two or three times
a day for a month, doctorng him for an ague
brought on while stealing cotton in Arkansas while
with Gen. Curtis. On learning that the ex-mnster
and ex-chaplan wOuld hardly live the night out we
called with the physician.
feet square, in obscure boarding honse in Chicago
we found the invalid. The room was bare of furn-
ture except poor bed, little dirty washstand, two
wood bottom chairs, an old trunk, pine table, on
which was spread newspaper on which lay an Old
bible, pair of old SHUTTERS, some pill boxes and
such stuff The dying man was propped up in bed
while faithful negro woman sat on the foot Of the
bed As we entered, he rallied little and asked the
doctor who he had brought with him. On being
told he sank back, closed his eyes-raled little
and said perhaps it is as well. He might as well
know it as any one"
And he proceeded to make his dying statement,
which was in these words, as we took them in
our memorandum book as the physicians reques-
ted: ...t.... .I....
My name is Henry Clannard am forty. one years
old. am Methodist ministerial least was one.
was once happy and conented and loved Christ,
my Master, with all the zeal Christian ever had
At last grew cold in religion, selfish and envious
of the good fortunes of Others. wanted to make
money and to have some fun, so thought l would
be Republican politician. began by preaching
politics from the pulpit and praying for the negro
II paid me in money, but | lost influence at the
Throne of Grace But did not care for that, il ]
spH,a tha 1inan lar
forgot Christ and became interested in the negro.
had influence with few members of my church, and
talked politics to them. was paid by ofhceseekers
to influence Christians.
/ found politics paid better than religion, and ]
worked for the chaplaincy of regiment and got it..
Then let religion go and went to war. There !
wrote letters home denOuncing Democrats as copper
heads. And stole cotton, and silver ware and pic
lures and books and dresses for my wife and sisters
and horses and mules for my brothers. and piano
for the Governor who gave me my commission, and
gold watch for my captain, and lot of household
furniture to send to my colonel And robbed the
soldiers of stuff sent down to them to use while in
hospital, and had my share of goods stolen from
the Sanitary fairs and made lots of money.
but was not happy. drank whikey with the
boys when away from home, and indnlged in eX-
cesses not worth mentioning and laid up quite pile
of money. And was taken sick while out stealing
cotton from plantation where widow lady lived.
had cOaXed her niggers to run away, and they are
all dead now. When the war was ended l came
home TO Wisconsin, but could not stay there. So ]
came to Chicago. And grew sick. And have
got TO die. ! have called on Christi have prayed
to God but somehow | cannot get relief for my
soul The door of mercy seems shut against me-
forsook religion for politics, and now God has for
saken me. pray to my saviour, but he don't hear
me- talk to this faithful negro womar-she says,
! know | can't live long. feel that am dying
feel certain that am going to hell. want these
things written down as warning to Others who for
get Christ for politics. | feel that the negro can't
save-that Christ won't save me. was unfaithful
to my religion and am forgotten. was faithful to
the negro but, alas the negro can't help me where
| want help; he can't ease my guilty soul. am 60
ing to hell and know it. i expect to meet many
persons there who forgot religion for politics. | do
not expect to you again in this world or the next
but want this confession printed.
And thus died the Rev. Henry Cannard