Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-05-08
Confession and Death of an Army Chaplain

CONCESSION and Death OF an Army Chaplain.
NJ. NJ, Pomeroy, the able editor of the La
Crosse wisconsin, Democrat, gives the follow
ing death bedscene which he was called to
visit in his recent visit to Chicago:
The Rev. Henry Clannard, an ex-army chap
lain, who left off expoundng Bible and recruit
ing for the Saviour, and by indorsing the Mig
ger and abolltionism became an army chaplain
in one of the Wisconsin regiments, passed from
life to a home beyond blessed Immortality, the
other day. and thus shuffled off his mortal coil.
A physician had called on him two or three
times day for month, doctoring him for an
ague brought on while stealing cotton in Ar
kansas 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 poor bed, a little
dirty washstand, two wood-bottom chairs, AN
old trunk, pine table, on which was spread a
newspaper, on which lay an old Bible, pair Of
old snuffers, 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 a 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
said Perhaps it is as well. He might as well
know 1t as any one.
And he proceeded to make his dying state
ment, 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
years Old am "a Methodist ministerial least
[ 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 cnvious of the good fortunes
of Others [ wanted to make money and to
have some fun. [ had no particular education,
so [ thought [ would be Republican politi-
clan. l began by preaching politics from the
pulpit, and praying for the negro. It 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 Republican party.
forgot Christ and became interested in the ne
gro. had influence with few members OF
my church, and talked politics to them. Twas
paid by ofice-seekers to influence Christians
Sometimes have made as high as fifteen dol
lars at an election for my influence with Chris
! tians.
SAT last I found politics paid better than re-
ligion, and [ worked for the chaplaincy of reg
iment and got it. Then let religion go, and
went to war. There [ wrote letters home de
nouncing Democrats as copperheads. And
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 lot Of
| household furniture to send to my Colonel
And | robbed the soldiers of jelly and such stuff
sent down to them to use while in hospital and
| had my share of goods stolen from Sanitary
fairs, and made lots Of money. Please give me
little peace of that pounded ice" The ply
sieian gave it to him, when he continued
| But was not happy. [ drank whisky
with the boys when away from home, and in
dulged IN some excesses not worth mentioning
and laid up quite pile of money. And | was
taken sick while out stealing cotton from plan
tation where widow lady lived had coaxec
+; her niggers to run away, and they are all deaC
now. When the war was ended I came home
to Wisconsin, but could not stay there. SO
came to Chicago. And | grew sick. And
have got to die. [ have called on Christ
! have prayed to God, but somehow | cannot ge
relief for my soul. The door of mercy seems
shut against me. [ forsook religion for poll
ties, and now God has forsaken me. [ pray tC
my Saviour. but he don't hear me. I talk tc
this faithful negro woman-she says, Yes
massa !! and that is all can get out of her.
know can't live long. feel that | am dying
feel certain that | am going to hell. Please
give me q little piece more of ice before | GO
| want these things written down. as warning
to others who forget Christ for politics, | fee
that the negro can't save-that Christ won
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 go
ing to he'll, and | know it. [ expect to meet
itics. do not expect to see you again in this
world or the next, but I want this confession
printed. -give-me-a-sm small-small-
piece e-of-of--of-oGice -
And thus died the Rev. Henry Clannard
"bo,, L. fr