The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-05-18
The @edford 6azette.
CONFESSION AND DEATH HOFAN ARMY
CHAPLAIN.

VI. VI. POmeroy, the able editor Of
the La Crosse Wis., DeHl0crGt, gives
the following death-bed scene, which
he was called to witness on his recent
visit to Chicago:
The Rev. Henry Clannard, an ex-ar-
my chaplain who left off eXpounding
the Bible and recruiting for the Savior,
and by indOrsing the niger and aboli
tionists became an army chaplain in one
of the Wisconsin regiments, passed
from life to home beyond Il blessed
immortality the other day, and thus
shuffied off his mortal coil. A physi-
elan had called on him two or three
times a day for month, doctOring
him for an ague brought ON whilesteal-
ing cotton in Arkansas while with Gen.
Curtis. On learning that the ex-minis-
ter, and eX-chaplain would not live the
night out, we called with the physician.
In 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, a little
dirty Washstand, two wOod-bottOm
chairs, an old trunk, pine table, on
which was spreadaneWspapero on which
lay an old bible. a pair OF old snufiers,
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 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 a
little and said "Perhaps it is as well.
He might aS we'll know it as any one"
And he proceeded to make his dying
statement which are in these words, as
we took them down in our memOran-
dunn book, as the physician requested:
My name is Henry Clannard, | am
/ fOrty-one years old. ] am a Methodist
minister, at least I was one. | was
once happy and contented, 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.
/ had no particular education, so |
thought l would be a republican poll
tician. l began by preaching politics
from the pulpit, and praying for the
/ negro. 1t paid me in money, but |
/ lost influence at the Throne of Grace.
/ But / did not care for that, if / could
only have influence with the Republic
an party. | forgot Christ and became
! interested in the negro. | had lntiu-
ence with afew members Of mychurch,
and talked politics to them. ! was
paid by Office-seekers to influence Chris
tians. Sometimes ! made as high as
! fifteen dollars at an election for my in
! huence with Christians. AtlaSt | found
politics paid better than religion, and
/ | worked for the chaplaincy of a regi-
ment and got it. Then / let religion
90 and went to war. There | wrote
! letters home denOuncing Democrats
and copperheads.-And | stole cotton
and silver ware, and pictures, and
/ books, and dresses for my wife and sis
ters. and horses and mules for my
/ brothers, and a piano for the Governor
who gave me the commission, and a
gold watch for my captain, and lot OF
/ household furniture to send home to
nv colonel. And | robbed thesOldiers
of Jelly and such stuff sent down to
them to use while in hospitals, and /
/ had a share of the goods stolen from
sanitary fairs, and madelOts Of money.
/ Please give me a little piece Of that
pounded ice -
The physician gave it to him, when
/ he continued:
"But l was not happy. l drank
whisky with the boys when away from
home, and INDUCED in some eXcesses
not worth mentioning, andlaid upquite
a pile of money. And | was taken
sick while out stealing cotton from a
plantation where a widow lady lived.
/ / had coaXed her nigger5 to run away,
and they are all dead now. When the
war ended 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.
| forsool religion for politics, and now
God has forsaken me. pray to my
Savior, but he does not hear me. |
talk TO this faithful negro wOman-she
says Eyes massa !" and that is all that
can get out of her. ] know | can't
live long. | feel that ! am dying. !
feel certain that ! am going to hell.
Please give me a piece more Of ice be-
fore 90. | want these things written
down as 81 warning to others who for,
get Christ for politics. | feel that the
negro can't save-that Christ won't
save me. | 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.
expect to meet many persons there who
! | do no