Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-10
AFTER FIVE YEARS
Nick Young Receives His Card With
a Request for Information.
CONGRESS ASKED TO RESTORE
The Psssapatanzy Church, Destroyed by
Federal Troops in 1868.
INTERESTING TALE OF THE LATE WAR

A reminder Of war times with very in.
teresting story in connection comes from 9
little hamlet in Virginia, where the Metho-
dist congregation of that place is in need Of
new building, and an appeal will be made
to Congress for assistance. All sorts Of
claims are made on the national lawmakers,
but this is probably the first time they have
been asked to build house of worship.
Five years ago Nick Young, the ex-de-
tective and former proprietor of the old st.
Nicholas Hotel, had a yearning to visit
some of the battle fields in the South in
which his regiment participated. He was
a member Of the One Hundred and Seventh
Pennsylvsnia Volunteers. In the course
of his rambles he found himself in Common,
King George county, Va He became
very friendly with the landlord of the little
hotel in the town, and when he came away
he left his card with the name of hts regl-
ment on it.
In Passapatanzy, nearby, was a small
pital during the Rebellion. A number of
Pennsylvania men were nursed back to life
in the White Oak Church, as it was called.
Smallpox Hospital in a Church.
In 1868 smallpox scourge broke out
among the troops, and the church was then
turned into pest house. At the close of
the war the commanding officer ordered the
army marched back to the North, leaving
the Methodists of Passapatanzy impover-
ished and without place of worship. The
burned building was strong and substantial,
and the cynosure of the country folks. In
its stead fimsy structure was reared, and
until recently the poor people have used it
as their church. This temporary building
is now on its last legs, having weathered
the storms for 30 years, and the town
authorities have condemned it. Once more
the Methods. Aook is without a church,
and the aged men who remember the White
Oak property sign for the good old days be-
fore the war.
The people are too poor to pay for new
building, and at last it was suggested that as
the church was burned by Federal troops
that possibly Congress would replace 1t.
An appeal will be made to the House, but
the next point was to gain information.
Nobody remembered the names of the Of
fcers in command of the hospital or the
regiments that camped in the neighborhood.
In this emergency the landlord of the hotel
fshed out Nick Young's card from his col
lection, and the ex-detective was surprised
the other day to receive letter from E. +.
Whitehouse, of Common.
Congress Is to Be Convinced.
The writer inclosed Mr.. Young's card, and
explained that the congregation was in need
of a church which they intend to ask Congress
to build and they were in search of informa-
tion. He wanted the names of the officers
and regiments Mr.. Whitehouse stated that
he was not a Southerner. He emigrated
from Maine 16 years ago, and has been liv-
ingjn Common since. He said he thought
it would only be fair for the Government to
rebuild the church, and, as Northern man
willing to do a neighborly act and help his
fellows in the South, he would preset Pc
tition to Congress.
Mr. Young decided to answer the letter
through THE DISPATCH. The One Hun
dred and Seventh Eegiment, Pennsylvania
Volunteers, used the church as smallpox
hospital in March, 1868. The surgeon was
DR.. Daniel, now of Morrisville, Pa.
General F. F. Mccoy, of Lewistown, was
Colonel of the regiment at the time and
Major f. B. Thomas, now of Wanamaker's
store, Philadelphia, was the adjutant.
Major Schater, of Harrisburg, was another
Young says he has no doubt they will give
the Passapatanzy Methodists all the infor-
nation they need to convince Congress that
the church was burned by Federal troops.
Mr.. Young will add his testimony if neces-
sary. Nick is glad that his card has proven
OF so much service to the Virginians