The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-03-02
Converted by Wholesale.


were stationed on opposite sides Of
river A chaplain went to work on the
men composing the regimeos stationed
on the north side of the river with q
view of converting them. A number
of the men responded to his efforts, and
be left that regimen: aod went to
continue his missionary work in tt,
regiment on the south side of the river.
After Iaboring some time, a longer time
than he had done with the other regi-
ment. be found that be would pot be as
suocessful. Only about a dozen men
wsre baptized from the last regiment.
The chaplain bad a talk With the colo
nel sud mentioned the fact that so few
of the men had been baptized.
"How many men did you say we're
baptized in the other regiment? 2" the
colonel asked the chaplain sharply.
Twenty four" was the reply from
the chaplain.
The colonel turned quickly around to
his orderly with the quick command: /:
Detail tbirty.6ve men at once to be
baptized by the chaplain. l don't pro-
pose to let any one horse regiment get
thead Of US in that way. We've got
reputation to sustain
This reminds us of q story that was
told BY the late General John Bratton,
Which he regarded as good joke on
the Presby.erians. 10 the summer Of
1868. not long after the siege of Suf-
folk, in which, jenkins brigade bore
the brunt Of she hardships and ptiva-
tioos incident to the siege, the brigade
vas stationed at Petersburg. whore it
had sn easy time compared with any
of it's previous experiences. Each
regiment had a chaplain except the
Sixth, which was then under Bratton's
command. and for some reason he bad
set bis head upon securing the services
of VIM. E. Boggs. recens.graduate Of
the Columbia theological seminary,
who is now the distinguished president
Of the University of Georgia. Mri
Boggs vas from fairfield County, aud
vas regarded as uuusally bright
and promising. Col Bratton bad made
application: to the professor in the
seminary asking that Mr.. Boggs be
sent to his regiment prior to gradua-
tion, but this was refused and the ap.
plic..;on was suspended, though the
officials in Columbia were notified that
the position would be kept open for Mr..
Bdggs. Several mon.hs elasped, and
the request of Col. Braston was not
needed, but Mr. Boggs was assigeed
to other work in The vicinity of his
home. In the meantime widespread
religious interest sprung up among
the soldiers Of jenkins brigade, and
the chsplains we're holding nightly
meetings, which proved very success
! fol, and hundreds of men connected
themselves with the three denomipa-
tions represented by the respective
chaplaius, namely. Methodist, Pres
| byterian. and Baptist The prepoD-
derance of converts joined the Bsptisss,
however, and it. was not an uncommon
sight for large numbers to be immersed
in the canal. hard by the soldiers
camp. These imme,sions we're Wit
oessed generally by the oficers aud
men of the entire brigade, and Col.
Brattou observed that considerable
number Of the Sixth had gone down
int, the water with the Bsptist chap
lain.s He resolved to use this fact in
order to hssten the coming of Mr..
Boggs. and accordingly be wrote to one
of the seminary professors very point
ed uote, which read about as follows :
"Wby don't you send Boegs? If you
delay much longer. the Bsptists will
have the last one Of my men 10 the
canal before be can get hsre.' The
result was that Mr.. Boggs came on i'm.
mediately. and within week or so he
was duly installed ss chaplain of the
gallant Sixth, to the great joy of its
beloved commander. The new chap
lain wa. cordially received by the other
preachers, and it Was only short time
! until be became one of the most popu:
lar and useful chaplaius in the army
Greenville Mountaineer.
~ g7ys al II