The Irish standard., 1895-08-17
How C0PPIN| E'A|Rl||TE|D.
Omaha's Nsw Department connandsr
Was sOne of ths Pop,s 4
d.. Guards. t,ss HI.
VATICAN.
~ , & 49, :,
LINCOLN


which the Washington Post has rescued
from history. The comfng3of Gen. Cop
pingersto Omaha as head Of this depart
ment makes this little narrative exceed
ingly interesting, says the World Herald
of that scity. & In 1851 President Lincoln
requested Archbishop Hughes, of the do
cese Of New York. to come to Washing
ton on conditional mission. The atti-
tude of the high dignitaries of the Roman
Catholic church touching enlistments in
the Union army and the war was unde-
fined. 1t was very desirable that some in
timation in regard to their position should
be<given to the public. Bishop McC losky
Of the Albany diocese had preached a
most patriotic sermon in that city, declar-
ing it to be the duty of every American
to put aside his political predictions
and stand by the administration, for
which Mr.. Lincoln thanked him in per-
sonal letter.
If the other archbishops would take
this ground it might prove of indefinite
service to the union cause. Personally
those communicated with were, strong
union men, but the practice of the church
was not to NEEDLE with political affairs.
This was explained to the president by
Bishops Hughes and Rosecrans-the lat
ter brother of the union general of the
same name. ..%.
" StTTyi11 on, +o tho
and ask him to issue a circular letter to
the. clergy in the United States allowing
them to help us?'' asked the president.
Bishop: Hughes accepted the mission.
Pope Plus TX. responded in a letter to
the. bishops, and clergy of his faith that
was Invaluable to the union cause. !
Bishop Hughes requested as personal
favor for. the appointment of twelve
young Roman Catholic gentlemen as cap
tains in the new regiments then organic
ing for the regular army. Among them
was the present Gen. Coppinger. He had
served in the corps Of papal guards at
Rome-perhaps Of the best drilled and
most aristocratic. body of troops in the
world. None but gentlemen of the high
est social position could be admitted to
the rank and file. Its commander, COL
now General-de Charlotte (who mar
ried the famous beauty and heiress, Miss
Antoinette Polk, of Nashville, Temp
was nobleman Of French birth and
most distinguished soldier.
The gentlemen named for commissions
were all of English and Irish blood, the
cadets Of distinguished families. General
Coppinger was fourth in rank of those
appointed. Their drill and discipline in
the Papal Zouaves made them most desir-
able accessories to the commissioned
strength Of the United States regular
army. No, soldiers ever served g. country
With more distinction than these gaaffant
gentlemen served the nation whose COM
mission they, bore. More than one-half
died for the flag. General Coppinger is
the last of them, so far as known, left
on the United States army rolls. !.
= Among those heartily recommending
Colonel Coppinger's promotion outside of
his military superiors, it is said in army
circles, was his eminence, Cardinal Glib
,bons.
There is a great deal Of conjecture as
to the real purpose of sending General
Kruger to Washington, as the office as
signed him there is not equal in import
ance to the command at Chicago. Dur
ing the absence of General Schofield IN
the west his services will temporarily
be required, but General Schotield's in
speeding tour will not be Of longer dura-
ton than two months, and the revision
of drill regulations upon which General
Kruger will be engaged will not require
more than three months time.
A rumor comes from Washington that
the president means to cut the depart
ment of the East in two and give Ruger
the command of the new department, or
upon the retirement, in September of
General Schofeld when General Miles is
advanced to the head of the army, assign
Kruger to the department of the East with
station at New York.