The National tribune., 1892-02-25


but had their organizations for mutual prOtec-
tion in this line Of work. Meetings for prayer
were common. Preaching or service Of some
kind was held every Sunday, aud daily prayer
meetings ia many regiments. i remember dis
tinctly a camp scene that was common at
that time. / was q member OF the Marietta
Blues" Capt. Frank Buell's company. On our
arrival in Columbus. o., we were assigned 10 the
Capitol. Many companies were dOmieiled IN
the building temporarily. One company Il
think from Geyeland) commenced singing
good old church tune, followed by prayer.
This exercise was kept u p for some time. At Its
conclusion two distinguished personRge5 pushed
their way onto the steps. The one who had
long flowing feather in bis cap was Gen. Car
rington. ID called ont in loud voice. Allen
ti0R ] am instructed by Gov. Dennison TO say
that the position OF Co. A is given this Christ
ian company, believing that they are COM
posed Of the right material TO form the
neceus of good regiment, and it is our hope
that they will keep up their religious zeal, rs
God will certainly hear and answer the prayers
OF his people" Gov. DeunisOn followed IN like
strain. Being transferred to a Pennsylvania
regiment soon after, ! failed to follow this
company in its meanderings. To what reg-
ment were they attached aud how long dad
they keep up their religious enthusiasmy
Soon there was a lull i'm church enthusiasm.
Meetings were less frequent, and the Chaplain
found other means of employment. sometimes
not complimentary to bis profession sui,
while these things existed. there were those SO
indOctriuated that they remained true TO their
early training. This / have no doubt is true
Of the Southern soldier as well. remember
well singing rebuke j received from Lieu
tenant Of a Tennessee regiment. We met IN
the cOrnGed 10 the left OF the Mine near Pc
tersburg in August, 1864 had canteon filled
with eommissarv, which / offered him.
mo" said the Lieutenant; whisky has
never passed my lips"
found he was intensely religious. deplored
the war. but his sense Of loyalty 10 the South
aud his friends, who were all rebels forced him
10 remain with the lost causa." as he then
pronounced il. l invited him into our lines,
promising him protection.
No" said he; =" j never expect to live to sec
the end; j am not in sympathy with the war,
but cannot become a deserier; / can only stay
aud die, II ] must receiving my reward on the
other shore"
The sincerity Of this bright. beautiful char
acier made a lasting impression on me. How
often ] have thought OF him, aud wondered II
he got through safely. hope 50.
Here is a beautiful life. which, for the sim
plicity OF its Christian character, j present to
/ your readers in the hope Of bringing out the
/ good and beautiful of our army associates.
! Here ! would say j am not a religious crank,
but am known as an Agnostie. J. Il. Linn, q
Il o r.. Il a.
time my messmatc. occupying FOR nearly two
I years the same blanket with me. Jake was in
tensely eligious keeping up religious exercises
/ throughout his entire enlistment. i think i
never knew him 10 commit his body 10 sleep
! ere knoeling In prayer. Many Of our company
were enthusiasts like him al the beginning Of
our soldier experience. yet ! think he was the
only one who maintained the high character Of
| an earnest. Jealous Christian.
I Ia la formation az MR. mess Linn Eurota an
a set Of rules, and determined on their enforce
! ment in tie mess. They ran: There shall be
no profanity allowed; card playing is prohib-
tied ia our tent; tho Scriptures shall be read
sudibly by some member each day without ia
terruption; prayer at least once each day; no
| ungeutlomRnly conduct allowed. Any violation
Of either Of these rules will suspend the Violator
from this mess"
Some difficulty was experienced in securing
q mess, As each applicant was requested to read
the rules, which were pinned 20 the tent. Two
/ Of our mess quarrelod once; one Of them swOTc
and was Immediately expelled. lie came back
soon after, asking forgiveness. Card playing
was INDUCED IN by many OF our company.
/ have in my possession a letter j wrote 10
local paper, giving an account Of camp life.
said, among other things, that "card playing
was indulgcd in by many" For this ! wa
held 10 account by many, who said must not
write II such things as IL would bring reprOacl
upon them.
Corpl Linn and / were thrown together By
the merest ecident. We were as opposite a
The poles in religion and politics; he a shout
ing Methodist an Agnostic; he a Democrat
aud ! an AbOitiOnist. / had been TO Kansas
during the troubles, aud got my inspiration a
b the feet Of Jim Lane. Linn soon learned tia
slavery was the cause Of contention anC
Topped. whilst ] lost some Of my agnosticsu
! and joined him in his devOtions.
"A - L. 4
? honest, and tho simplicity Of his life attrscte,
I me in a way hal never before known. Their
was not the shadow Of seiishness ia his who'll
$ makeup; always the soul Of truthfulness ar,
!. 1 honor aud loyabie and kind 10 all. He be
s came a favOrite, soon all learned 10 know d.
was what be professed. lie was never know
] b. shirk q duty. III one was sick, no would d,
{ anything 10 aInoliorate his condition. His &C
= tiyity was the admiration Of his fellows. ii
q was an adept with tho gloves. Few in ia
a regiment could touch him.
e ] spent much time la this manly sport wit
0 him. ] even thought was an expert. Alas
d low ] got relieved Of the idea. Ny nose lre
$ quentiy told the tale. by weeping in blood
G Never during the period that we were togethe
r was there circumstance TO mar our friend
h shin. We remained tho closest Of friends unit
q ] was commissioned aud assigned 10 anothe
Y regiment i bear testimony that i ever fe
k his influence FOR good. ] tried to pattern aftc
Il his example. Always pure aud good. hi
opinion was sought by others, and when differ
z CnCes arose between comrades, his was the o
5: that soothed tho troubled waters
1, His courage bordercd on the herOic-alway
"a cool under difficulties. AT Mechanicsville on
s, company was on picket on the 18th day
: june, 1852, when A. L. Hill attacked our linz
u Our company was in the swamp. The follow
10 Ing day found them in their position. Here
y will say that our company had during Oh
IA night reported 10 camp. Lieut.-Col. Oliphan
ie who was Ia command, was drunk, aud l
ordered US back 90 our position, TO which n
d, returned, knowing full well that our who
N line had fallen bEck.) The rebs immedialel
"a commenced an attack. Linn discovered a wa
N out. and so reported 10 the Captain Of the con
TO pauy, who only said that he was ordered
re hold this line aud would do so until owe
le powered or captured, adding that any dcsirir
GO 10 Try 10 escape could do so. Linn succeedt
le in getting into our lines with several men.
AT Charles City Crossroads he went into q
ia fight with three men; two were killed aud ~
10 captured, and Linn soon Joined the rest Of h
nc company In Libby. On entering Libby q
s., prisoners were required TO surrender all arr
~ cles, a list being kept. "What have you got
i'd asked the officer in charge. Linn pulled out
Cd pocket-bOok Of silver. Put him down
he pocket-book full Of silver" said the 0flict
tx What olse2" Linn pulled out another peck,
IT. book like the first. Two pocket books full
dc silver. What else2p Linn fshed from q
en- other pOcket-book No 2, like the first. "Thr
~ pOcket-bOOks foil Of silver" said the onict
mt What else2 Ont with IT," Again Linn pl