Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-10-28

| highest order, n gentleman IN the lOlues
sense, soldier Of unsurpassed valor, and
a Christian Of irreproachable excellence
he fell on the field, where the brave love
TO die. Nothing that our poor pen could
write can add TO the glory Of this Chris
tan hero. There were others. lees dls'
tinguished, whose names we deslre 70
rescue from oblivion. b. 1. Crouch, OF
Aberdeen, Mississippi, was chaplain 10 q
Mississippi regiment. He was a Ken.
tuckian, with all the chiyalry, and
high mettle, and noble bearing OF q
Helm or Breckenridge. Eloquent IN
the pulpit, jealous for the cause oil his
Master, ferveut in prayer, he ever won
the confidence of the Southern soldiers.
Although not required by his position as
chaplain TO encounter the dangers of the
field. he determined to share with the
lbraye men who listened to his sermons
ali the fortunes of war. AS jealous for
the cause of the South as Peter, the Her
nit. Mr. Crouch determined to peril his
life on the bloody field of Shiloh
| Aroused, too, by the noble and eloquent
address of his brother Kentuckian, Al
bert Sydney Johnston, he was eager
for the fray, and never did Christian
knight meet more CALAMITY the
infdel Saracen than did he meet the
hosts Of Yankees on the banks of the
Tennessee. Urging the men to fight for
their homes and fresides-for their affairs
and sires-for God and their native land
this humble and talented Methodist
preacher fell with his face to the foe.
We never can forget Kentucky-her
great Johnston-her exiled Breckenridge
her chivalreus Helm-her chosen Gov
ernor-fghting in the ranks, and her
many private soldiers, ever foremost IN
the fray, always patient on the march
and the last to surrender She sent
no more gallant son, no more devoted
Christian, no Drawer hero, whose
blood was poured out like water on
the soil which he felt bound to defend
than was B. I. Crouch. The fall of
Selma is well remembered by Forests
cavalry. Overpowered by four times our
number, as many as could followed the
lead Of the indomitable Forrest and
escaped from the ruins Of city they
were not able to protect. Two Christian
heroes fought side by side. They were
Rev. DR.. Baldwin, of the Methodist
Church, and Rev. Mr. Small, of the
Presbyterian Church. When required
to retreat, they did so with quiet calm
ness becoming Christians. They were
walking leisurely to their homes, con-
versing sadly on the fall of their beloved
city, when some Yankee troopers came
galloping up to them. In moment, |
though they were discovered, Mr.. Small |
was shot down. He fell dead This |
was civilized warfare. In sight Of his |
home, this good man gave up his pure
spirit into the hands of the Good Being
whom he lsved and honored. He was a
man of the deepest piety, gentle and
good, wise and virtuous, brave and
patriotic. The blow fell heavily upon his
family, and was severely felt by the
entire community. All that knew him
loved and honored him. Like our own
great and good c. A. Davis, whom
we consigned only last Sabbath TO
his last resting place, be was the prop.
erty of the whole Church. No sect can
ever appropriate to itself all of a great
and good man. This holy Sabbath is for
all. Its sacred associations, its holy
affairs, its sacred melodies, its mute ap-
peals are for all 1t is Gods day, and
made for the universe. So is the great
heart ola great man. 1t throbs for the
world. And when it ceases to beat, those
who felt its warm pulsations feel for the
lime a sadness which no language can
express, void which nothing can fill.
Such and so good were these ministers
IF God who gave up their noble lives for
he lost cause.-Apalanche.
No language Of eulogy can do more
han justice to such men as these. 1t
makes no difference on which side they
ought, or whether they we're successful.
They were still American patriots and
pure Christians-men of integrity, who
,beyed the convictions of their judg-
of human nature,
whose praise should be in the mouths of
heir enemies. OF the case of Mr.. Small
md his character and worth, we hap
,ened to have personal knowledge. He
vas a man of mark, and unobtrusive,
,ure, intellectual, brave and pious. What
le conceived to be duty he did with all
lis might, and when he was called on
beyed without question. He had pre-,
lousy acted as chaplain in the Con
ederate army, but had retired to his
harge in Selma, in consequence OF fail
No health. The defense of Selma was a
ruly desperate venture, and he lost his
ife in obedience to orders which some
imposed had been better omitted and
he place surrendered, which it was i'm
practicable to defend. Rev. Messrs.
,luskey and Witherspoon, of our own
ity, as chaplains, incurred the same
isks, and performed all the same duties
IS soldiers; and although they have for
unately escaped the issue of the war,
deserve similar eulogy. Good men
tand by their friends and country in the
lay of peril, without stopping to ask
whether their countrymen are
without fault, and can sustain the issues
presented
Rev. Mr. Miller, of Pontotoc, who fell
near Ripley, Mississippi, is another
,rave and noble man Of the same char
lcter, whose memory should be ever
,reen in the hearts Of his survivors We
should be glad to be furnished with par
iculars as to him.
ne9- The Mississippi papers which
ave hitherto favored convention IN
Ter the Congressional reconstruction