The National tribune., 1900-10-25
A PLUCKY CHAPLAIN.
Stories of Man of the Cloth Who Was
Man of the Sword.

Man VI Ine oWOTO
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: A fight
ing Chaplain, Rev. James b. Hamilton
31st Ind, who died not very long ago
aged so years, was so modest that he nev.
er would give out anything for publica.
tion about himself during his lifetime.
have been waiting for some cOmrade 10
publish something about one of the best
and most earnest men who ever lived. The
incidents given here are true in every par
ticular
The Chaplain was an itinerant Metho-
dist preacher, fearless in speech intensely
loyal, and, of course, hurt feelings while
preaching in Sullivan CO., Ind, a home Of
copperheadism and Humphries and Other
shining lights of the knights of the Gold
en- Circle.
Rev. Hamilton was travelling the Linton
Circuit in the Spring of 1864, and had tC
preach at the funeral of a soldier about
four miles from town at one of his regu.
lar preaching places. He-was to meet
the procession at the church. After he had
promised to 20 he received an awkwardly-
gOtten-up notice by mail that he must not
go or he would be egged. Well, the fu-
neral procession arrived at the church
first, and was seated when he got there
He cOOlly walked into the pulpit and laid
out his Bible, opened it, and then drew
two seven-shooters from his pockets and
read the notice he had received and said:
These fellows who gave that notice
could not egg anything, as they had no
hens, and, of course, had no eggs They
had no money to buy eggs, and were too
cowardly to steal them He went on,
saying: Il have two hens here" and as he
picked up the rcyOlvers and cooked them
he said, They lay seven eggs each, ami
cackle every time they lay an egg. If
there is the least disturbance they will
cackle"
All was quiet during that service.
At one time he and his wife were in
their buggy driving home from regular
services, when they came upon the no
tOrious cOpperhead, Capt" Sisson, who
was drilling his men. The Captain drew
his company across the road and gave the
command, Right dress, front, order arms.
Now, not a d man move" The parson
drove up to within eight or ten PAGES, gave
the lines to his wife, and raised in his
buggy with Il revolver in each hand, and
said:
If you don't get ont of the road I will
move manSwho will be damned pretty
quick also" And the towards literally
ran over each other to get out of the way
Nothing more was said, and he and his
wife drove on their way.
Hamilton was appointed Chaplain of the
3lst i'll September, 1864. Col Smith and
he went to the regiment together, and
they arrived on Saturday in the forenoon.
just about the time dinner was ready. The
Quartermaster came up and was intro
duced by the Colonel to the new Chaplain
This Quartermaster was ever profane. but
that day he was more than usually so. The
Chaplain had scarcely time to return
thanks between the Quartermaster's
Oaths. The Chaplain finished his dinner
first, and walked around in front of the
tent, and was walking back and forth.
When the Quartermaster came around
also, the Chaplain walked up in front of
him and said:
Captain, you were introduced to me by
a gentleman, and | understood you were
as 4 gentleman, but | find that
you are not a gentleman. IOu are moth
ing but vulgar, profane blacEguard, and
if you have sense enough you have pur-
pOsely tried to insult me. | will give you
just two minutes to apologize. If you do
not in that time, will whip you until you
have to have help to get to your horse"
He took q step toward the Quartermas-
ter and he wilted and begged off. In the
meantime the whole regiment caught on
and crowded around and yelled and
cheered themselves hOarSe. They all be-
Iieved in and loved their Chaplain after
that. There was always a big turnout of
the boys when the Rev. Hamilton, of the
51st Ind, was to preach.
The Chaplain was reported by eye-wit-
nesses to have been on the front line in
very battle in which his regiment was ell.
gagged while he was Chaplain, and there
we're lots of them. 1t was told me by an
eyewitness that on Dec. 10 at Nashville.
N the late afternoon, charge was or
Tered to take rebel fort in front of the
Slst. The fort was surrounded by wide
Itch and high banks of earth on a hilltop,
Up which the charge had to be made. The
'Oys went up gallantly, the Chaplain with
carbine loading and shooting in front.
When Bob Crockett, of Co. X, got on top
# the fort, and looking down in the fort
aw the Chaplain knocking down and Or
iering JOhnnies to surrender, in stem,
orian voice Crockett cried, who ever
aw Chaplain in a fight before?" and |
hey all cheered and gathered around to
elp him.
After battles he would take his place |
nd do the duties of Chaplain. Is it any
Wonder that the boys all loved him and |
would have followed him anywhere?-T. |
/. b. BAKER, Co. u, 9Th Ind. Cav, Pc |
in, Ind.