Maryland free press., 1866-05-17
Confession and Death of an Army Chap
lain. ..


lain.
NJ. nj. Pomeroy, the able editor of the
La Crosse (Wisconsin) Democrat gives the
following death-bed scene, which he was
called to visit in his recent visit to Chicago.
The Rev. Henry Clannard, an ex-army
chaplain who left off exponding Bible and
recruiting for the Saviour, and by indorsing
the niger and abolitionism became an
army chaplain in one of the Wisconsin
regiments, passed from life to a home be-
yond blessed immortality, the other day,
and shuflled off his mortal coil.
A physician had called on him two or
three times day for a month, doctoring
him for an ague brought on while stealing
cotton in Arkansas, while with General
Curtis. On learning that the ex-minister
and ex-chaplain would hardly live the night
out we called with the physician.
In a little wooden looking room not over
twelve feet square, in an obscure boarding
house in Chicago, we found the invalid
The room was bare of furniture except a
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
snuhers, 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 that it was Brick
Pomeroy, he sank back, closed his eyes,
rallied little, and sal II. "pe hap, it is a,
we'll. He might as well know it as any
onc."
And he proceeded to make his dying
statement, which was in these words, as
we took them down in our memorandum
book, as the physician requested:
My name is Henry Clannard; I am four
ty-one years old; am Methodist minis
ter-at least was one; was once happy
and contented, and loved Christ, my Mas
ter, with all the zeal Christian ever had;
at last grew cold in religion, selfish and
envious of the good fortunes of others; l
wanted to make money and to have some
fun; I had no particular education, so I
thought I would be Republican politician;
began by preaching politics from the pull
pit, and praying for the negro; it payed me
in money, but l lost influence at the Throne
of Grace; but I did not care for that, if
could only have influence with the Repub-
lican party; I forgot Christ and became
interested in the negro; l had influence
with a few members of my church, and
talked politics to them; was paid by
office-seekers to influence Christians; some
times made as high as fifteen dollars at
an election for my influence with Chris
tians.
eat last I found politics paid better
than religion, and worked for the chap
laincy of regiment and got it. Then |
let religion 60, and went to war. There l
wrote letters home denouncing Democrats
as copperheads. And I stole cotton, and
silver ware, and pictures, 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 a
lot of household furniture to send to my
Colonel. And I robbed the soldiers of
jelly and such stuff sent down to them to
use while in the hospital, and l had my
share of goods stolen from Sanitary fairs,
and made lots of money. Please give me a
piece of that pounded ice." The physician
gave it to him, when he continues:
"But Twas not happy. drank whskey
with the boys when away from home, and
ndulged in some excesses not worth men
tioning, and laid up quite pile of money.
And [ was taken sick while out stealing
cotton from platation where widow lady
lived. I had eoaxed her niggers to run
away, and they are all dead now.
When the war was ended I came home
to Wisconsin; and grew sick; and I 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; I forsook religion for poll
tics, and now God has forsaken me; pray
to my Savionr, but he dou't hear me; talk
to this faithful negro woman-she says,
'Yes, massap p' and that is all can get
out of her; 1 know that I can't live long; 1
feel that am dying; l feel certain that I
am going to hell; please give me a little
piece more of ice before go; I want these
things written down, as a warning to others
u,bn foroot Christ foy poIitics. I fool tbat