New-York tribune., 1906-12-16
BRAGG AND THE BISHOP.
The Confederate Commander Was
Confirmed on Ere of Battle.

Thousands of Southerners remember the Rev. DIR.
Charles Todd Quintard. Episcopal Bishop of Ten
nessee and General Braxton Bragg, commanding
the Confederate forces in Kentucky and Tennessee,
While the Bishop was as an open book whose pages
all might read. only one man was ever known to
penetrate the shield of digni1ed austerity which
the general raised between himself and the world,
and that man was the Bishop himself.
It was Just before the battle on that bloody field
known both as Murfreesboro and Stones River.
and the Confederate Army In and about Murfrees-
boro. Tenn. gradually thawing out of winter
quarters The Bishop was exerting himself to the
utmost for the spiritual welfare of the army, and
his united Bible and confirmation class was grow
ing into the hundreds. Men from every regiment
were preparing themselves for confirmation and
the communion that to follow. and in the great
class rank known. though every grade was
represented there. from the private to the general
officer
Confirmation Sunday also the Sunday before
the great battle, and the Bishop. ponderng me
possibilities of bringing yet others into the class
before that day. suddenly realized that he had
spoken word to General Bragg about his
soul And Vet to ask such question of this man,
OF whom all ranks stood in awe. was no easy mat
ter. In the solitude of his quarters Bishop
Quintard nerved himself for the toughest task of
his clerical experience. and when he believed that
his courage screwed to the sticking place he
FASTENED to headquarters.
Never before had headquarters seemed in such
hustle Of hurrying aids. Fastening couriers and
officers imparting information receiving orders
awaiting consultation with the chief Certainly it
seemed that hour could have been more ILL
chosen for priestly mission but the Bishop stub
bornly refused his legs permission to bear him
away. matter how ardently they desired.
And never felt so like running away I'm my life
when stood before the general" said Bishop
Quintard, on the one or two occasions when he told
the story II have knelt by the dying when bullets
sung and shells shrieked and felt fear, for my
every thought was with the poor fellows and their
last pitiful messages to loved ones but that grim
countenance, with stern. cold eyes held under
a spell I speechless
"'Well, sir" the general flung at me, curty,
what can | do for you? Kindly be quick My
time is very valuable. sir'
He was standing. and made motion toward
seating himself or me. Secretaries busy
transcribng his dctations, and their pens seemed
as though ploughing across my brain. Two aids
stood near, travel splashed. though just
rived: the other evidently awaiting orders depart
could not open my subject amid such surround
ings of haste and battle and blOodshed. and with
each member of the little gathering frowning at
me AS though anything but blessing for my in
opportune Interference.
impatiently. have much 10 do and YOU will
op!1ge me by sta, stating your erra1d at once:
blurt out request for private interview The
dacity. and the others though they could scarce
credit their own I anticipated no less than a
officers as myself, he hesitated.
astonishment in his voice. Would you mind in
dicating its object. sir?'
L very much prefer not TO do that. general. |
replied And yet II is: TO me, urgent that beg
| you not to refuse. When | have named the sub
| ject, you may cut me as short you like
Again he hesitated; then, turning to the others
requested them to await his summons in the ante
room Inviting me TO chair and seating himself
| he again asked to my mission | had
mapped out tactful plan for my delicate task but
| this gone from my head, and / blurted
| out with know not to this day what eXhortation
| save that | called to his mind how all his men
| looked to him the head and front, whether in
Or nd he seemed
at all to the One who holds all in the hollow OF
His hand. and begged him. finally, TO be present
and receive the communion with his soldiers next
Sunday. | don't know what he thought | was go
| Ing TO say, but certainly II was not what did
|
| my preciDitancy had offended him Then my heart
| leaped and sung. for l great tears pouring
| down those bronzed cheeks. He sank his face In
| his hands, and with quvering voice cried;
| on 9uintard! How often-how often have
fet all this In self made solitude and nave been
eager 20 respond to the word that no man mas seen
/ nj 10 speak peforei But cannot JOIN IN the COM
| munion, for have been confirmed
| have you been baptiZedT asked
| II am not sure, even OF mat. he replied
| the hours talk that followed, while the outer
| chamber hlled with impatient men, VIII ever re-
| softened. earnest truthseeker before me no
would nave recogniz sd the Bragg or war ana car
| mage Ills baptism took place at once. ana pri-
vsteiy but on the great Sunday the general stood
| out IN pubnc with the soldier class, ana IN the
| midst or MS army. and with prvates on each side
and wine OF ths holy communion"