The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1893-11-10
A Chaplain's Predicament.
How a Parsons Clothes Made Against
Him During the War.
Confederate Veteran.

bOnlcucfatc etcFan.
An incident that occurred the day
after tie battle of Franklin m:y Illus
trate how important good clothes may |
be in settling preachers identity.
Pardon the use of the first person sin
gular, and I'll tell it as it occurred.
was chaplain of the Forty-ninth
Tennessee, but as was the only chap
lain in the brigade, | did duty for the
whole brigade.
Originally | enlisted as private,
and for long time served as chaplain
by detail, so | got to feel easier in the
Jacket, trousers and brogans of the pri-
vate soldier than in a regulation uni
form; and then,as had no money to
get uniform, and as we had no
chance to get anything from home,
my plain apparel was necessity,
From long exposure to the changes
of climate and scene, my uniform be-
came more picturesque than elegant.
AS we came into Tennessee the nights
were often quite cold, and as ! stood
around the blazing camp-tires sud
den change of the wind would some
times whip the blaze about my legs
and scorched the lower extremities of
my trousers. In the battle | had
thrown off my jacket, and Il shell eX-
ploding just over it had dropped a
!, spark of fire in the middle of the
4 back, which gradually spread until it
burned hole perfectly round and
about four or five inches across.
Dressed 'cap-a-plc," the following
! was my outfit: A hat made of brown
jeans, quilted. and which, when soak
ed, took in half gallon of water; "A
check cotton SHIRT that would not
meet about my neck, and which had
no button on the collar anyhow; my
. Jacket with the ventlator in the
$ back my trousers, fringed with
scorched strings from thu knee to the
.nklc socks with no feet but sound
legs shoes, in which the sole and
A upper were only held together by
! strings.
My hair hung on my shoulders, and
bleared eyes looked out from a long
. and scraggy beard that covered all my
c face.
It In battle our brigade lost dreadful
ly. The highest officer left, as re
: member, was lieutenant. We hat
: large numbers of wounded Our brig
l. adler General Quarles, was desperate
y ly wounded. Every field officer ant
captain was killed, wounded or cap
IS tured. We had great many Of ou
ID wounded in the buildings on the farm
$, of that noble gentleman, Colone
,e John McGavock After getting then
placed as comfortably as | could,
rs started into the town to hunt up any
y thing that might minister to thel
AZ needs. The ladies Of the old tow
es were angels of mercy. They wer
H. abundant in their labors, preparin
v food, bandagcs and medicines for TIL
~ ~ soldiers. / looked in at door an
rs saw dozen ladies hard at work o
at the very things | wanted. though
he not Il moment on my Outlandish az
pearance, but addressed them in
ny manner that | thought was Cheste
Ne Ne feldian in its insinuating elegance.
at The leader of the party and directc
is of the work was an old lady, who's
IT, looks | shall always remember. ST
wore a cap with lace border, and
q, pair of silver-bowed spectacles, IL
at eyes of which were large and roun,
lr- She was rather short and stout, an
DC while her countenance beamed wit
business and benevolence, yet she ha
IN a quick positive way about her th;
he seemed to settle things.
u Bowing to the ladies, | addresst
the leader:
81 have a great many wounded me
to look after, and | should like to &,
anything that would relieve then
wc w such as food, delicacies, clothing
ep bandages and lint"
his The old lady looked at me rath'
a doubtfully and then said dryly,
NV NV eyes, l expect you would"
| Eyes, madam" said |, "my M