The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-03-31
miscellaneous Selertions.
THE CHAPLAlN'S DUEL.

After leaving the Theological
School Twas settled over a flourish
ing society in the western part OF
New York, where / preached three
years; but hard studyand unceasing
application to my pastoral duties,
broke down my health, and my ply.
sician told me if l would live must
leave the pulpit and the study, at
least for while. ! had once
thought that a constitution like
mine was labor-prOof; but / had
found the labor that had stole my
sleeping hours from rest, and there
suit was a regular collapse. / Ididn't
exactly want to die even in such
harness; SO / resigned my pastor
age, and went up into the Genesee
valley to stop with my brother, who
owned one of the largest farms in
the county. l donhed a working
suit and cent at it with hoe, fork,
shovel and axe, and when the SHOWS
of winter came l was a well man.
/ was astonished at myself. 1 was
stronger of limb and more enduring
under physical labor than ever be-
fore. And the labor IF a farm had
come to have charm for me, too.
Ny brother offered, ifI would stop
with him to give me a half interest
in the place. / worked on, and grew
stronger and stronger, and had about
msde up my mind to accept nay
brothers offer, when my ambition
was suddenly turned in another di-
l'ection.
The war was in progress, and 8
regiment mas being raised in our
section. had no Wife-no family
and / felt tito be my duty to join
in the work ofrescuing our country
from the danger threatening it. My
brother expostulated, but l would
not listen. l enlisted as q private.
and when Ehe regiment was orga IL
ed | was elected and commissioned
chaplain, | had not expected this,
though l am free to confess that J
thought might get a commission 0
some sort; and lam furthermore fret
to oconfess that | would have preferreo
a fighting position to the one assign
ed me. / had been in camp long
enough to gain q taste for military
life.
Our regiment went to Tennessee.
and thence down the Mississippi
In our first fight sook q muskei
and went out with the advanced skir
mishers. On the occasion of ouT
second fight our Brigade inspector
was sick, and the general took me in
his place. 1t was there / stopped
and turned back four companies of =
regiment that had broken
and were retreating from the field.
not only turned them back, but
led them into position just as Rose
,ranz had ordered q charge, and went
With them and captured arebel bat
terry Of four guns.
Early in the month Of January we
went into sort Of temporary win
Ter quarters to await reinforcement;
and there gave myself, heart and
soul to the work of ministering to
the sick and the distressed. While
Ia camp we we're joined by an Indi
ana regimeut, among whose officers
was e captain named Barney Nc
Wayne. He was clustering loud
fellow, intensely military,
and intensely profane. One day the
'egiment was on drill, with Nc
H'ayne's company on the right.
Several blunders were made, all of
which the result cf false movements
If this Captain. l stood by the side
If the adjutant and pointed out to |
him the difficulty, and he proceeded !
% set McWayne right, at the same |
line informing him that a New York |
chaplain had discovered his mis-
axes. Captain McWayne hated me
rom that time.
In less than two weeks after its i
.rrivsl the Major of the Indiana
egimeut was discharged and sent
lome sick. McWayne, as holding
he oldest Captains commission,
vas appointed in his place. 1t was
low Major McWayne, and he blus-
cred and strutted worse than ever. |
lie was full of fight and eager to
meet the enemy. And he had not
orgiven me. He sought on every
possible occasion to annoy me, and
kept out of the way as much as
possible.
One day l was in the hospital, sit
ing by the cot of one Of the Indiana !
men. Major McWayne came in and |
ordered me to leave. He said they
lad a "preacher of their own"
Rather than to have high words |
among the sick and suffering. L
arose without q word and withdrew.
evidently took this for