The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-03-01
[FOr the ADVANCED
INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES
OF THE LATE VAR. f.
FROM THE DIARY OLA HIGHPRITATE
= IN THE REAR RANK
Nc. VII.
PRAYING SOLDIERS.


Soon after going into active service
it was observed that several soldiers
and Abram Groom "a man As years of
age who had enlisted as teamster and
drove our ambulance) were at all times
of leisure to be seen with their Bibles
reading and studying its truths, and
they were often seen in the woods
short distance from camp, in secret de-
votion, praying to Him that seeth in
secret. These men would read their
Bibles and exchange views on it's teach
ings, thus passing all their leisure hours
profitably. Although our company was
noted for good morals generally, yet.
there were i few III it who were very
rough, prOfane men, and who pretended
to not believe in Christianity. These
men ridiculed and heaped all manner of
abuse on the praying soldiers, even ac-
cusing them of making profession to
hide cowardice. But, notwithstanding
all this buffeting and abuse, coming as
it did from officers, comrades and mess
mates, the praying soldiers still chung
the closer to their Bible and their
prayers. Mr.. Groom seemed to take
the lead, often preaching and admOn-
ishing all that came in his way, but,
like Thomas OF old, they doubted, de-
string to see the wounds in hands and
side. But they got the proof they de-
sired when the rebel Generals Price and
Van Dorm advanced end attacked Cor
NTH, Miss. Our company had been re-
lieved from escort duty by their own
special request, and sent out twenty
miles on the road on which the rebels
were advancing, meeting the enemy on
the Hatchie River, where we burned
the bridge and gradually fell back to
the TuscOmingo River, burning bridges
and telling trees, picketing every by
road and path and skirmislling for the
purpose of checking the enemy and
preventing their bringing up artillery
or baggage. Every man was taxed to
the utmost of his endurance. We had
neither sleep or food for days and
nights. On the morning of the third
day we were 50 exhausted that when
we fell behind a brigade of our infantry
to rest thirty minutes I fell on the
ground and went to sleep, so that when
a division of rebel infantry by 4 right.
flank movement compelled our men to
fall back to new position I was left
on the field alone, all unconscious of my
danger, my horse held fast by the halter
being wrapped around my arm. The
first knew I was laying across the
saddle as If dead, and on opening my
eyes saw my friend Groom with one
hand firmly holding me fast while with
the other he was urging my horse to il
full run. The enemy were within i
few rods of us and were calling to US
to halt and surrender. The balls flew
thick and fast, but we got away safe
and sound to the new lines Il few miles
back, and felt truly grateful for the
escape.
But the next day, the Sd of October,
1862, Mr.. Groom exhibited such a spirit
of courage that none of the company
could gainsay it. All that day a small
army of six thousand under command
Of Generals OgltSby and Macarthur
held in check the whole rebel force of
thirty-seven thousand men. Our little
army were driven back step by step
from one position to another. All day
Mr.. Groom stuck close to the line with
his ambulance and under Il heavy fire
of musketry took out his Bible and
read Il chapter when he saw all oppor-
tunity. lie soon filled up a load of
men too badly hurt to get away them
selves, and hurried back with them
where they could be cared for. THUS
while other amDulanceS STAYED at q safe
distance, lie went back into the thick
est of the fight for load after load of
badly wounded soldiers. Not man in
the company who saw him that day
will ever fOrg.'t his appearance for he
was covered with blood from head to
foot, and the ambulance was full of hu-
m n blood, shed to save the Union.
Like a good Samaritan lie had really
done more to save the Union that day
than any Of lis. Many a poor wounded
man owes his life to that brave ambu-
lance driver, for all who did not get
away fell into the hands of the infu-
rated rebels who bayonetted them and
murdered them as they lay helpless on
the field. MIR. Groom did not fail to
preach to the wounded and dying Of
Christ and Him crucified as he assisted
them from the field. Not man in the
company ever after doubted of the
sincerity of those praying soldiers, but
"a men OF the company afterwards
came out and said that they wanted
that same religion, and they would
pray and read the Bible with US, fully
realizing that true religion would sus-
the n in the hour of greatest trial.
While we were doing escort duty for
General Grant there was encamped
near 10y 4 brigade Of Infantry consist
ing of the 5Oth, 56th and 57th regiments
Of Illinois volunteers. The Chaplain
Of the 57til stuck faithfully to the work
he had undertaken (he was the only
Chaplain to my knowledge that did not
resign and 60 home soon after getting
into active field service) and remained
through all the llardsli},s of active field
service, laboring faithfully and earl-
estly for his Masters cause and against
the vices of camp life, amongst the
soldiers of his own brigade and other
troops. He preached several times in
our camp at head quarters. On the
first occasion (Aug. II, 1922 lie had
Grant and his staff and our company
tor his congregation. His text was the
words: IF God is for US who Shall be
against us?" Ills earnest manner car
ried weight with his words to his hear
ers. About this time he was rewarded
for his labors by Il revival of religion in
his own brigade. Some of us attended
their camp meetings, where they had
erected 4 church by making seats Of
Southern fence rails in tile SHADY woods.
Here we enjoyed some of the best relig-
lous meetings that poor mortal man is
permitted to enjoy on earth, and l be-
lieve that those soldiers then enjoyed as
rich blessing us was enjoyed on the
day OF Pentacost Ivy the disciples and
the multitude, such Il power of faith
and good works was made manifest.
Ii | am not mistaken nearly half of
that brigade el,i0vau tr,,a ralir;nn