The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-05
SAVED FROM BEING SHOT.
How an Indiana Priest Secured the Re-
prieve of a Condemned Soldier.
Father CoOney's Good Work in the Army Dur
ing the Late War-RecollectiOn of Err
ratio and Eloquent Dick Ryan.

Rev. 81. Alerding, and tonight will lecture at
St Joseph's Church on "The Question of CUES
tons" Father Cooney was chaplain of the
Thirty-f Indiana. the Irish Regiment, during
the war. He likes to talk of incidents of the
late Rebellion and particularly of the Thirty
fifth. "Do remember Dick Ryan, said Father
Cooney, taking up the reporters interrogatory.
Indeed do /. He was a rare genius, man of
wonderfully quick and fine perceptions; a nat
ural orator, but wholly unfit for military life.
When the regiment was about to leave for the
war we were drawn up in line on the Governors
Circle, in front of Mr.. McKernan's residence,
and the ladies presented beautiful green silk
banner with golden harp upon it. Dick Ryan
made the speech. receiving it. 1t was a fine
oratorial effort. and his promise to bring back
the banner though lightly worded, yet had a
touch of pathos in it. we will bring back
this beautiful banner, he said, of
course we will. The rebels can't kill
all of US. He was lieutenant colonel of the
Thirty fifth for time and many are the anec-
dotes told of him. While we were at Bards-
town, KY, he and several other officers were ex-
amined and found wanting in military knowl-
edge. Ryan paid no attention to tactics; he read
the newspapers and cared nothing about disci-
pine With his Quickness he could have learned
the tactics in very little while, but military
science appeared to be distasteful to him. He
resigned before we left Kentucky and was sue
ceeded by Major Balfe who was promoted to his
place. Martin Igoe quartermaster, was another
genius of whom many anecdotes are told. had
him take the pledge to abstain from drink and
he kept it after that until the close of his service.
He did not much like to kneel down in pre-
scribed form-thought it was too much style
and afterwards got even by bringing in tall
lieutenant, standing by while he was on his mar
row bones, as Igoe called it, going through the
ceremony as he had done being made "a tenn
perance apostle"
Father Cooney Is held in Affectionate remem-
brance by many old soldiers Hehas been called
the Father Mathew of Indiana. During the war
he was continually propagating temperance
among the soldiers, and for many months. had
what was called Temperance brigade, many
of the soldiers of several regiments uniting to-
gether Sunday after Sunday to hear him lecture
on total abstinence.
General Rosecrans," said the father, "com-
manded at Stone river. On the first day of the
battle, Dec. 80, 1862 the right wing was scat
tered by BraggS attack with his whole strength
Many officers and men, who were not captured,
ran. R0secrans repaired this by an immediate
attack on Bragg's center, and the rebel column
was broken and our right relieved. Cavalry was
sent out In the rear to stop our staggiers from
running toward Nashville. Among those picked
up by the cavalry was young man named
Michael Nash. a private of the Sixty
fifth Ohio. He was charged with desertion,
tried by court-martial, and condemned
General Rosecrans had signed the proceedings of
the court martial, and the execution was to take
place on the 18th, at 2 o'clock p NJ, at Nash
WILLIE was at Murfreesboro, and on Sunday.
the day before the execution, soldier handed
me paper containing the news that Michael
Nash was to be shot did not know the man,
but 1t troubled me greatly. / could not rest /
had to 60 to Nashville. On Monday morning
went and talked to the young man to prepare
him for DEATH He told me of his capture by
the cavalry, while running, but that he was not
deserving, only doing as hundreds Of others were
doing in the panic. / knew his story to be true,
but without telling him what intended doing,
went to headquarters Of the general command
ing at Nashville to ask him if Nash was certainly
to be executed that afternoon. He told me that
he was General Rosecrans was at Murfrees-
boro hurried to the telegraph Office and hur-
riedly wrote him the following dispatch:
Major general Rcsecrans:
I speak for mercy without forgetting justice.
Michael Nash, Sixty-ffth Ohio Volunteers is under
the impression that he is to die to-day have con.
versed with him all the morning. / am convinced he
had intention of DESERVING. He gives the facts.
which prompt me to hope for mercy from you, with
every evidence of sincerity and truth He speaks to
spiritual adviser He found himself among
stragglers from his own and other regiments moving
to the rear and with this current he drifed to In-
cerne, and unfortunate as to be one of the
captured out of many stragglers. We're under tho
impression that he is Intentional deserter l would
not say word for hinthe good of the service would
require his death-but convinced to the contrary
therefore respectfully beg for him other pun
ishment than death.
This dispatch was sent about half past IL
o'clock. The man had but an hour and a half to
live. What IL the General is at dinner. and the
dispatch Is not delivered to him until too late?
At o'clock l returned ] asked if anything had
come from the General hardly dared hope it
had. Yes. there was a dispatch, but It was
sealed, and for the general commanding at
Nashville. might not open it or know its con-
tents. l asked to be allowed to deliver it, and
the telegrapher handed it to me. ! few with it
to the commanding general. He vas not at
headquarters, but had gone to dinner. gave
It to captain to carry it to the general and
hurried to the prison. / concealed from the poor
fellow the efforts I had been making in his be-
result, though hoping for the best
talked with him until Ave minutes of 2 o'clock.
AT that moment an officer entered the prison.
All the other prisoners came around poor Nash
to bid him goodbye. The officer opened an en-
velope and, while all were breathless with sus-
pense, read the words, 'Repreved by command
of Major general Rosecrans.' 1t was then told
Michael Nash of my efforts and their success
The poor fellow threw himself on my shoulder,
and could say nothing, but a shambllng fellow,
overcome with emotion, camo up, and. reaching
out his hand. while the tears trickled down his
face, exclaimed, We'll. I'll be dog gone if you
amt the bes. fellow ever see!
Meeting of Equal Suffragists.
The Equal Suffrage Club. Of this city, will