Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-10-03
ABOUT GEN. CoPplNoER.


How the Newly Promoted Omesr Hap
psned to Enter tho Union Army.
The promotion OF Col. Coppinger to
the rank Of brigadier general recalls
an interesting incident Of the late war.
In 1861 President Lincoln requested
Archbishop Hughes, Of the diocese Of
Cincinnati, To come to Washington on
confidential mission The attitude
Of the high dignitaries Of the Roman
Catholic church touching enlistments
in the union army and the war was un.
defined. 1t was very desirable that
some intimation in regard to their po-
sition should 10 given the public.
Bishop McCloskey, Of the New York
diocese, had preached q most patriotic
sermon in that city, declaring 1t to DO
the duty Of every American to put
aside his political predictions and
stand by the administration, for which
Mr.. Lincoln thanked him In personal
letter.
II the other archbishops would take
this ground 1t might prove OF infinite
service to the union cause Personally
those communicated with were strong
union men, But the practice OF the
church was to not meddle with polk-
ical affairs. This was explained to the
president by Bishops Hughes ind Rose
crans--the latter brother Of the union
general OF the same name.
"Will you go to Rome, ace the pope
and ask him TO issue circular letter
to the clergy in the United States al
lowing them to help usp" asked the
president. Bishop hughes accepted
the mission Pope Plus x. responded
In a letter to the bishops and clergy OF
his faith that was invaluable to the
union cause.
Bishop Hughes requested as o per-
sonal favor the appointment Of twelve
young Roman Catholic gentlemen as
captains In the new regiments then or
ganizng for tile regular army. Among
them was the present Gen. Coppinger
lie had served in the corps OF Papal
guards at Rome perhaps the best
drilled and most aristocralio body OF
troops In the world. None but gentle
men Of the highest social position
could be admitted 10 the rank and file.
Its commander, Col.--now Gen. de
Charrette (who married tho famous
beauty and heiress, Miss Antoinette
Polk, Of Nashville, Tenn. y was noble
man OF French birth and most dis
tingulshed soldier The gentlemen
named for commissions were all OF
English and Irish blood, tho cadets Of
distinguished families. Gen. Coppin-
ger was fourth in rank of those APP
pointed. Their drlll and discipline in
the Papal Zouaves made them most
desirable accessories TO the commits
stoned strength of the United States
regular army No soldier ever served
country with more distinction than
those gallant gentlemen served the
milton whose commission they bore.
More than one-half died for the 0lg.
Gen. Coppngcr is the last of them SC
far as is known, left on the United
States army rolls
Among those heartily recommending
Col Coppingers promotion outside o.
his military superiors, It Is said II
army circles, was bis cminence Car
dinal Gibbons. Washington Post
IT would be hard to convince an ole
soldier that there's no such thing al
luck in this life. Lew Wallace's guide
stumbled into the wrong road neal
Shiloh, and the future OF Grant trem
blcd In suspense. Gen. Hooker nigh
have won the battle OF Chancellors
Vile, and there and then DETECTED TIL,
tide Of history, had he not leaned
against a pillar in the "stoop' OF
house where his headquarters had
been, to read dispatch from the field