The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1866-07-07

y n ~ 4
AN ARMY CHAPLAIN.
VI. NJ. Pomeroy, the able editor Of the
La Crosse wisconsin, Democrat, gives
the following death-bed scene, which he
was called to witness on his recent visit
40 Chicago:
The Rev Henry Clannard, an ex-army
chaplain who left off expounding Bible
and recruiting for the Saviour, and by
indorsing the niger and Abolitists be-
came an army chaplain in one of the Wis
home beyond blessed immortality the
other day, and thus shufled off his mortal
coil. "A physician had called ON him two
or three times day for month, doctor
ing for an ague brought on while Seal
ing cotton in Arkansas while with Gen.
Curtis. On learning that the ex-ninis-
fer, and ex-chaplain would live the night
out we called with the physician. In a
little wooden looking room not over twelve
feet square, ia an obscure boarding house
in Chicago we found the invalid The
room was bare Of furniture except poor
bed, little dirty washstand, two wood
bottom chairs, an old trunk. pue table,
on which was spread newspaper ON
which lay an old Bible. pair of old snuff
fers, some pill boxes, and such stuff The
dying man was propped up in bed, while
a faithful negro woman sat On the foot of
the bed. As we entered lie rallied and
asked thedoctor who he had brought with
him. On being told that it was 9 Brick .
Pomeroy. he sank back, closed his eyes
rallied a little and said :. Perhaps it is as
well. He might as we'll know It az any
one.n
And he proceeded TO make his dying
statements, which was in these words. as
we took them down in our memorandum
book, as, the physician requested.
My name is Henry Clannard; / am
forty-one years old l am a Methodist
minster-at least | was one. Twas once
happy and contented. and loved Christ,
my Master, with all the zeal Christian
ever had, At last | grew cold in relig
ion, selfish and envious Of the good for
tunes of others / wanted to make money
and TO have some fun. | had no partic-
plar education so | thought | would be
ia Republican politician. / began by
preaching politics from the pulpit, and
praying for the negro 1t payed me in
morey, but lost influence at the Throne
of Grace But / did not care for thar. if
| could only have influence with the Re
publican party. forgot Christ aud be-
came interested in the negro. | had in
fuence with a few members of mi church,
and talked politics to them. ! was paid
by ofice-scckers to influence christmas
Sometimes | made as high as fifteen dol
lars at an election for my influence with
christians. At last found politics paid
better than religion, and worked for the
chaplaincy of regiment aud got it. Then
| let religion 20 aud went to var There
wrote letters -hone denogEcing Demo
crats and Copperheads And | stole cot
ton, aud silver ware, and pictures. and
books, and dresses for my wife and sis
ter, and horses and mules for my brothers,
and piano for the Governor who gave
me the commission. and gold watch for
my captain. and lot of household fur
niture to send home to my colonel And
| robbed the soldiers Of jelly and such
stuff sent down to them to use while in
hospital, and | had a share of the goods
stolen from sanitary fairs, and made lots
of money. Please give me little piece
of that pounded icey
The physician gave it to him, when he
continued
But I was not happy. drank whisk J
with the boys when away from home, and
INDUCED in some excuses not worthy men
tioning. and laid up quite pile Of money
And / was taken sick while out stealing
cotton from a plantation where widow
lady lived l had eoaxed her niggers to
run away, and they are all dead now.
When the war was ended | came homo
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 some
how | cannot get relief for my soul The
door of mercy seems shut against me.
forsoak religion for politics, and now God
has forsakcn me. pray to my Saviour.
but he don't hear me. talk to this faith
full negro woman-she says yes massa r
and that is all can get out Of her.
know | can't live long. | feel that am
dying. I feel certain tLat am goipgsto
hell. Please give me piece more of ice
before | go. | want these things written
down as warning to others who forget
Christ for politics. ] feel that the Negro
can't saye-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 soul,
am going to hell, and know it I expect
to meet many persons there who forgot re-
ligion for politics. Edo not expect to see
you again in this world or the next, but
| want this confession printed. Please
-me-a-small small-piece Of
-of-of-ice
And thus died the Rev. Henry Clan
nard.
Some twenty or thirty " military priso-
ners arrived here last week and were
placed in the Ohio Penitentiary. upon the