Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1905-10-04
HERO AND PATRlOT
In Memory OF Joseph Little,
Soldier.

always been busy noticing promi-
nent events and miphty achieve
ments of the lives of great men
who welded power.
In the Union army of '6l-65.
there were men who performed
heroic acts for which they never
received any recognition but for
whom nevertheless crowns are
awaiting above.
Joseph Little, Chaplin of the 5tb
W. Va, Infantry, was a striking
illustration of this truth. No SOL
dier of the civil war, however ex-
alted his rank, is more deserving of
grateful remembrance than Joseph
Little.
Walter Scott described Old Nor
tallty as working in the cemeteries
of Scotland, chiseling anew upon
the tombs,ones the names which
had been inscribed there but had
been obliterated by times corroding
action. Interrogated for an explain
alton, he answered that he wished
to see the heroes Of the past march
side by side, with the youth OF the
present. That nation is on the
sure road 10 decay whose people
forget their patriots who died on
their country's battle fields. Nv
motive is, first, TO revive the mem
ory of one of Yves Virginia's hum
BILE patriots. Another is, to help,
In this imperfect way, preserve 10y
ality to Old Glory as the counter
sign.
Joseph Little was of humble par
eDtage. He was one of the com
mon people of whom Lincoln said
that there were SO many that God
must exercise care for them. He
entered the army from near Hunt
ington. Before the war he had
been a preaSAer. He had also been
singing school teacher. He was.
too, very good singer Of the songs
and hymns whose melodies never
weary us. His pulpit ability was
limited, not above the average, but
the bigness of his heart, his energy
and sincerity atoned for every de-
ficlency of intellect aud learning
No father ever had a more tender
affection for bis children than this
model chaplain had for his com
rades. When his regiment, the 5th
West Virginia, one of the best in
the service, was in battle, he was
right at the front. He would carry
from 30 to so canteens of fresh
water on his horse right up to the
fighting line while the heaviest fir.
ing was in progress. When a SOL
dier was wounded, straightway, the
kind hearted chaplain was by his
side, ready to furnish water or slim
ulauts and bandages, soothing,
tending, comforting and If recovery
was hopeless Little helped To- make
his page over the river of death
easy. Ntbe hospital the chaplain
was an inspiration. He had with
him musical instrument, half &C.
cordian and half melodeon aud ac-
cOmpanyiBg himself with music on
this, he would sing thrilling songs
and hymns. Often his musical rem
edy was more effective than medi.
ciues and nursing. While the Ell
rpent was stationed in a permanent
camp, as IT was in some of the winter
seasons, the soldiers of the regiment
would build him rude tabernacle
of logs and shingles bewed and
rived with their own hands. There
he would conduct successful revival
meetings, teaching temperance, Sc
curing pledges Of total abstinence
and intoxicating the fatherhood Of
God, and brotherhood of man. lie
also taught school aud it was said
that FIVE hundred soldiers learned to
read and write under his tutelage.
Soldiers and officers reposed an
unquestioning confidencs in Little's
integrity. After pay days, he ould
take their money back to their
homes, carrying thousands of dol.
lars at a time, OF which not a cent
was lost. lie was captured by
Mosby's men and confined in Libby
prison. He was custodian of two
watches aud these be had hidden
under bis clothes on the back of his
neck. While he was being searched
the happy inquiry whether they ex-
pected a prisoner who had been
searched by Mosby's men to have
anything, caused an immediate
abandonment Of further search and
the watches were returned TO their
- -.
he raised the enthusiasm Of his fell
lows to such pitch by bis singing