The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-02-16
How Yankee Soldiers Fed a 'sRebel
Preacher.


they were making the best Of it. They
had long been living on starvation
rations, consisting chiefly Of sweet
potatoes.
DIR. Sylvanus Landrum, pastor Of
the first Baptist Church, went to the
commanding officer and asked permis-
sion &C preach.
He was asked if he sympathized
with the Confederates. He replied
that he did. He was asked if he
would pray for the success of the Con-
federacy, to which he replied that he
would preach the gospel and would
pray for men who needed salvation.
| The doctor was given permission to
preach, but the guard was sent along
to stop the services if anything un-
favorable to the Union army was said.
Sunday morning the church was
crowded with men, not woman being
present. Soldiers filled the seats and
sat on the floor in the aisles. 1t was
remarkable gathering, and every
man seemed to enjoy the sermon, al
though it came from the lips OF a
"rebel' preacher.
In closing DR.. Landrum said it
might be that some present desired to
shake hands with him and pledge
themselves anew to the services OF
God. Almost as one man the soldiers
came forward and gave them the hand,
among them young doctor from In
diana, who said he desired to speak
with the preacher. He asked DR..
Landrum to let him 60 home with
him to dinner. This was very embar-
RAISING to the good man. for he had
nothing but potatoes for his meal.
The soldier did not mind this, and
seemed to enjoy the potatoes. When
they had been finished he told DR..
Landrum that although he was from
Indiana nhe sympathized with the
South. He was Baptist, and wher-
ever he went always tried to find out
the Baptists. The day passed very
pleasantly and the young physician
took his departure.
The next morning two-horse army
wagon drove up to the door with a
great quantity Of provisions.
1t was Godsend to the preacher
and his family and many were the
fervent thanks given to the young
doctor for his kindness. Money, at
that time, was an unknown quantity
in Savannah among the Confederates.
The soldiers from the Union army,
however, had plenty of it. The young
doctor saw DR.. r.Landrum frequently af-
ter the gift Of the provisions and asked
one day informed him that the sol
diers had just been paid off. He
asked him why he did not have col
lection taken up next Sunday. He
declared it would result in much
good. DIR. Landrum did not object,
so a conference was held with the
dcacons and at the close Of the SER
vices one Of the deacons arose and
permission from the preacher to take
collection. He turned to the con-
gregation and said that the preacher
had no money, as the congregation
was scattered, and those left at home
had no money to pay him and might
never have any. He put up a good
plea that touched the right spot.
DR.. Landrum told him he could
pass around the hat and anybody who
felt like it could contribute. The old
deacon went around among the SOL
diers, nearly everyone of whom drop
ped in some money and it was good
money at that. The congregation
was dismissed and the next morning
with beaming face the old deacon
called to see his pastor and reported
the collection to amount to $175, a
princely sum in those days, and as the
old man counted it out to the thank
fui preacher, he said with tremulous
voice: "Brother Landrum, would it
be possible for you to lend me little
Of that money to get something to eat
for my family?" OF course it was
possible and thus by the thoughtful
ness of the young physician, those
two families were made glad and we're
tided over the tightest period of the
war.-.itlonto Journa{
The Dog Voted.