The age-herald., 1902-01-26
Ain Army Chaplain.

some of the noble characteristics of that distinguished divine-one who often shar- ed with him the same blanket in camp and bivouac.
 The army chaplain, though a non-com- batant, when inspired with the justice of the cause of the war on hand with abid- ing religious faith and zeal and purity of character, and who industriously exer- cises these high qualities in the presence of his comrades never fails to wield potent influence for good in an army controlled by moral forces and intelligent reason. The army chaplain should be at once, courageous and assertive He should at all times be ready to advise and counsel the soldier away from the re- straints of home and civil life. He should encourage him, especially to endure pa- tiently the privations of field and camp, and inculcate the importance of obedi- ence, the first cardinal duty of the sol dier. He should not hide his light under a bushel." but he should let 1t shine to guide the erring steps of the forgetful soldier With such qualities the chaplain is a monument of good to the military command.
 John J. D. Renfroe, D. D., the army chaplain of whom it is proposed to contri- OulC lhcSS Dlltl llilCSt poSSSSSGp III eminent degree the qualities heretofore announced and was widely known to the people of Alabama.
 It was the privilege of your correspond ent to meet Dr. Renfroe some years be- fore the civil war. He came to Talladega in the late fifties to assume the pastorate of the Baptist church of that city, and then was the beginning of a lasting per sonal attachment.
 Dr. Renfroe, as already shown, pos- sessed all the high essentials which go to form the character of the successful minister of the Gospel. He was sympa- thetic jealous, logical, alert, assertive and not without aggressive and comBa- tive tendencies. He was well informed in all that pertained to the history of his church. He believed firmly in the ritual of Baptism, and was always ready to take up the gauntlet when thrown down by the representative of a different faith and denomination Indeed he was never known to avoid controversy and would often meet it more than half way. He was, therefore, regarded as controversial in temperament and seldom failed to get the better of his antagonists. In politics he was an old-fashioned state-right Dem- ocrat and an ardent secessianist. He possessed more of the spirit of the cava- Her than of the Puritan, but he would have been quite at home with the dis senters In the days of Cromwell-such being the strictness of his religious faith
 The war between the States had been on hand perhaps a year and a half before Dr. Renfroe entered the army. He was now appointed chaplain to the Tenth Alabama regiment, one of the regiments composed in Wilcoxs Brigade, noted for gallant and heroic service. Without delay bQ joined that Uh manifest improvement was soon observed fin the moral bearing of it's men. He took rapidly to the habits of the soldier. He bore the restraints and privations of army life with great fortitude without complaint, and followed the fortunes of his command. braving the fierce arctic blasts of winter, with its snow and ice, and the torrid heat and blaze of the sum- mer sun. For when Lee led the army of Northern Virginia, whether at Frede- ricksburg, Charlottesville. Gettysburg, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania or Peters burg, there was found Chaplain Renfroe with his command discharging the fullest measure of duty.
 Dr. Renfroe held the highest concep- tions of the duty devolving on the army chaplain, and to faithfully discharge those duties regained courage, physical indurance, tact and versatility. When the battle was on in the conflict of arms amid the rattle of musketry and thunder ing artillery he conceived the chaplain's duty to be at the front. And on such oc- casions he was always there. Not with musket in hand, but with as little ex- posture as possible he was near by, ready to aid the ambulance corps in staunching the flowing blood of the wounded com rade or to administer the last Christian consolation to the dying soldier.
 The battle over and the wounded re- moved to the rear our chaplain speedily sought the surgeons field hospital, where he faithfully administered to the wants of the wounded. Cool courageous, tact full and versatile he was of great service to the surgeon whom he often served as a most competent hospital stewart In this capacity he not infrequently administered the anesthetic while the surgeon operat- ed. And more frequently when the medi- cal staff was overrun In attention to the urgent demand of the wounded Chaplain Renfroe was detained by the surgeon to make a list of the wounded giving nam es, rank. description and character of wounds. He never failed to discharge this trust in highly satisfactory man. ner.
 In the versatility of his usefulness and adaptation there was an occasion when
 
 role of the hospital stewart. played a part not altogether consistent with iris character. The scene was at the field hospital of Wilcox's Brigade, in the rear of the Confederate lines at Gettysburg. The great battle was over. Wilcox's Brig ade had advanced on the Federal lines as far as any part of Pickett's Division in that historic charge. This brigade of Alabama veterans suffered terrible loss. in killed and wounded. Among those des- perately wounded was Col. W. H. Forney of the Tenth Alabama, who in person led his regiment in the terrible conflict. The necessary surgical attention had been given him. He was now resting in com parative comfort The field hospital was on a central and accessible part of the line. Surgeon Guild. medical director of Lees army, and a class mate of Colonel Forney in the University of Alabama. was there anxious for the welfare of his old college chum. The medical director of Hilrs Corps was there as were also 8 number of other prominent army sur geons. The pressing needs of the wounded for the moment were practically ended.
 At this juncture it seems to have oc- cured to these visiting surgeons after the traditional manner of the Carolina gover- nors, that it was "about time to take drink With this purpose in view. one of them turned to the chaplain. whom he took to be an attache of the medical de- partment, and address him: Please bring us some water''
 The chaplain promtly obeyed, fetched the water. and awaited their pleasure, while they mixed the water with the Anfn ERnWa