The National tribune., 1903-06-04
BRAVE AND FAITHFUL
How Chaplain whitehead. Of the 18th Ind.
Won the Congressional Medal of Honor.


EDITOR NATIONAL. TRIBUNE: The Rev.
John NJ. Whitehead, formerly Chaplain
of the 18th Ind, recently wrote lie let
ter in which he paid the regiment the fol-
lowing tribute: II have often said i'll pub
lie and private that l had. as Chaplain,
Il regiment of MS good men as anv IN the
State of Indiana. or any other State. l
often say better than any other"
Comrade Whitehead's letter carries me
back in memory to the march. the hivouac
and the bloody battlefield. especially that
of Stone River, where none was more
conspicuously brave and faithful than
Chaplain Whitehead. The following is
his own modest statement, found In n
volume entitled "Deeds of Va!or of Of
ficers and Privates Who Were Awarded
the Congressional Medal of Honor:
son the night of Dec. 30, 1862, the 18th
Ind was ordered to cross Stone River at
the ford. The command was obeyed, but
as We advanced up the hill on the oppo-
site side, we met the enemy in force, and,
countermarching. recrossed the river.
Here we bivouacked. Early the next morn
ing our Colonel passed along the officers,
lines and said: Get your men up. Our
pickets are falling back. The enemy is
advancing In a second we were all
astir, and at the dawn of day the bloody
battle of Stone River commenced.
Our position was between Stone River
on our left and the railroad and turn
pike on our right, and directly in front OF
| Breckinridges Corps. The firing from the
Confederate batteries was terrible and
very destructive.
Col. &. A. Wood, who commanded our
regiment, was ordered TO hO.d our posi-
ton on the left, nearest to the river, at
all hazards. Three times he charged
Jackson's Brigade, and three times put
the enemy to flight, capturing greater
i of thov, fhnrn rvtnn n
in on: own command when We went into
battle; but this was accomplished only
with n fearful loss of life. OF my own
regiment, every alternate man was either
killed or wounded. Though a non-com-
batant. I was with my regiment during
the entire battle, comforting the dying,
CARRYING off the wounded and caring for
them.
During the struggle Capt. Temrleton
fell, fatally wounded. carried him to
the rear and remained at his side until
he breathed his last. / copied his last
message and sent it to his friends at
home. Capt. ]. w. Foster dropped NOR
tally wounded into my arms, the same
bali killing two other brave soldiers. Col.
| /. G.. b. Suman. of the 9th Ind, was
shot twice, one ball severing the artery
in the arm, the other penetrating the
body and lodging between two ribs,
whence l pulled it out. One boot was
| filled with blood. and he was bleeding his
| life away. / dressed his wounds ana
helped him on his horse, and he rode
back into the raging battle. John Long,
private. had one leg shot to pieces. He
cut the dangling limb off with his pocket
knife and hObbled off, using his gun for n
crutch until l took him up and carried
him to the rear. Calvin Zenner, of Co.
G., received fatal wound. l carried him
back. A number of soldiers gathered
around the dying comrade and l offered
prayer for him. He talked to all OF
us, and then said: Now, boys, let us all
once more sing Il song together and he
struck up the hymn, %, Sing to Me OF
Heaven. Then lie said: Goodbye. boys:
| am going home. l am mustered out.
He closed his eyes and ceased to breathe.
After nightfall, when both armies were
quiet along the front lines, l helped to
bring the wounded to the general hos
pital, carrying those who could not walk
ON my shoulder to the ambulance"
| Chaplain Whitehead, restrained by
characteristic modesty, fails to mention
hundreds of instances where lie coIlfortcd
the dying, cared for the wounded and
preached funeral sermons at heroes
graves. Col. Suman says: when Chap
| lain Whitehead gave me assistance, he
was all besmeared with the blood of the
wounded he had cared for. He seemed to
be an angel among the wounded, Yankees
and Johnnies alike. 1 came in contact
with many Chaplains during my long
service in the army, and can truthfully
state that Rev. John NJ. Whitehead was
the most worthy one that ever came un-
der nv notice. In camp, on the march,
| and on the field OF battle, especially that
of Stone River, his services were per.
formed admirably, without the hope OF
reward or promotion"
The inscription on the medal is as fol
lows:
| The Congress
to
Chaplain John NJ. Whitehead.
18th Indiana Infantry,