The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-02-23

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this house from thieves and burglars was hi
reply. Brandishing their weapons, they at
tempted to drive him from the place, when III
looked them quietly in the face and asked, How
tall are you when you are fat y The impertur
babe GOODNESS of the Irishman was too mucl
for them, and they left him to enjoy the salts
faction of his heroism, and the grateful atten
tons of the family had 80 nobly defended
His mission did not end there, but taking from
his knapsack his ration of coffee and sugar
which had not been consumed, he insisted thai
the good minister and family should accept il
for their own use.- The nature of this-Inan'
service was the more appreciated when the ed
jacent plantation was soon after consumed by
fire. The husband and father died suddenly
from the shock, and the widow and children
were left homeless and foodless in the negro
cabin, to lament that no Irish soldier was there
to shield them fe'n the cruel wrath of theil
Icountrymen.
"Again, upon the visit of Sherman's army tC
:. Mecklenberg county after the surrender, the
estate of Mr.. s., the brother of the ministe,
referred to, fell q prey to the same species OF
violence. His mansion, one of the most mag.
nificent in the State, was despoiled. His wife,
being i'll, was confined to her chamber when it
was suddenly threatened by an excited group
of soldiers, maddened with liquor. In vain did
the physician who was in attendance remon-
strate with the rufians, who insisted upon
forcing the door in search of plunder...At this
| moment an Irish soldier came to the rescue,
took his place as sentinel at the door, hurled
back the crowd, and remained there for several
hours, the faithful of hat sick cham.
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Every nook and corner, was searched, every
! thing plundered that could be taken away
every apartment ritled save that sheltered UNI
tier the ;egis OF the brayehearted Irish solder.n
The 9th Connecticut an exclusively Irish
regiment was quartcred in New Orleans during
It's occupation by the force under Gena Butler.
Its officers maintained the chivalrolls character
OF the Irish soldier, who fought for principle,
NOT Tor Plunder or'opprcssion. They remained
IN their marques, and would not take possess
sion of the houses of the wealthy citizens,
which, according to the laws of war, they
might have done. .Me came to fight men,
sad they. not to rob women They soon won
the confidence and respect of the inhabitants
n soldier OF this regiment placed us SEN
tinel before one gt the finest houses in the town.
winch Gen. Butler Intended for his headuuar-
tiers; and his orders We're that he should allow
nothing to be taken out-nothing to pass
through that doom The sentinel was suddenly
disturbed III his nonOtonous pacing to and fr0>
before the door of the mansion, by the appear
ance OF smart Young girl, who. with an air
half timid and half cnaxng.-siid: Sir, /
suppose you will permit me to take these few
TOYS III my apron Surely, Gen. Butler has no
chlldrcn who require such things these ~
Dung woman" replied the sentry, in Il
sternly abrupt tone, that quite awcd his petit
tioner, my orders pcremptory-not n tow
or thing of any kind, pass this door while
l am here But, MISS" added the intexible
guardian, IL quite different tone, "if there is
such Il thing us another door, or back window,
yon may take away as many toys as YOU can
ma, OF Whatever else you wish-I have no
orders against it and the more Won take the
better III be pleased, God knows" The palpa-
bic hint was adopted, and it is to DO hoped hat
something more than the toys was saved to the
owners of the mansion.
There is passage in the diary Kept by Father
Sheeran, which eXemplifes~fhe conduct of tbe
irish soldier better thap>any description could
do Father Sheeran~Was one day rebuking a
SIMPLE freshman, who with Others had been
Federals for having taken part, as he alleged
ne na1,>1n the plumber and oppression of the
South. The Irishman's reply, while bearing
Inc impress OF truth, represents accurately
trymen during the war.
" Well, father" said he, az know they done
them things, but l never took part with them
Many day 1 went. hungry before would take
anything from the people, Even when we had
to fall back from Lynchburg under Hunter
through Western Virginia, and our men were
dropping by the roadside with hunger and some
We're eating the bark off the trees never took
meal OF yictuals without paying for it,
Inc truth is, not only was the freshman free
from the angry passions by which others We're
animated, but he was constantly impressed by
the strongest religious influence; and to this
cause may Ire ascribed much of the chiyalrous
bearing which he displayed in the midst of the
most trying temptation to license and excess
Inc war had in it nothing more remarkable
IMAM the religious devotion of the Irish soldier
whenever he was within the reach of a chap
am ram. me practice of their faith, whether be-
lore battle or in retreat in c:mD or in biyou.c
exalted them into heroes. The regiment thai
In some hollow, of the field knelt down to re-
ce!Ve, bare-headed, the benediction of their
pflest; next moment rushed into the fray with
II Wilder cheer and more impetuous dash That
benedlction nerved, not unnamed, those GAL
iaht men, as the enemy discovered to their cost.
Even IN the depth of winter, when the snow
lay thick upon the earth, the Irish Catholic
Federal OF Confederate, it mattcrednot which,
would hear mass devoutly on tue aJlcak plain
or the wild hillside, standing, only when that
posture was customary, and knceinr in the |
snow and slash during the greater part of the
tnme. The same Fat!ter-Sheeran to whom
nave referred, told me how he was impressed
perate Cliristu1as morning. when, SO heavy xyas |
I ne snow storm, that he quite lost his way and
dld not for II considerable time reach the an
pointed place where he was to celebrate mass
But there, when he arrived, was a great crowd
OF whitened figures clustered round the little
tent, IN which an altar had been erected by the |