The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-03-28
SOLDIERS STORIES.
ENTERTAINING "REMINISCENCES
OF THE WAR.
Graphic Account of Stirring Scenes
Witnessed on the Battlefield and in
Camp-Veterans of the Rebellion Re-
cite Experiences of Thrilling Nature.

1t Is all interesting Story ludl IL IOiu
of the conversion of Gen. Braxton
Bragg, the famous Confederate soldier,
by Rev. DR.. Charles Todd Quintard.
Episcopal bishop of Tennessee. 1t was
just before the battle of Murfreesbero,
or Stones Piver, and the Confederate
army in and about Murfreesboro,
Tenn, was gradually thawing out of
winter quarters. The bishop was ex
spiritual welfare of the army, and his
united Bible and confirmation class
was growing into the hundreds.
Confirmation Sunday was also the
Sunday before the great battle, and
the bishop, bordering the possibili-
ties of bringing yet others into the
class before that day, suddenly real
lied that he had never spoken a word
to Gen. Bragg about his soul. And
yet to ask such question of this man,
of whom all ranks stood in awe, was
no easy matter. In the solitude of his
own quarters Bishop Quintard neryed
himself for the toughest task of his
clerical experience, and when he be-
lieyed that his courage was screwed TO
the sticking place he FASTENED to head
quarters.
Never before had headquarters
seemed in such hustle of hurrying
aids Fastening couriers and officers
importing information, receiving orders
or awaiting consultation with the chief.
Certainly it seemed that no hour could
have been more ill-chosen for priest
ly mission, but the bishop stubbornIy
refused his legs permission to bear him
away, no matter how ardently they SO
desired
And / never felt so like running
away in my life as when stood be-
fore the general said Bishop Quin-
tard, on the one or two occasions when
he told the story. IL have knelt by
the dying when bullets sung and shells
shrieked, and felt no fear, fer 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 me under spell.
| was speeches.
".Well. sir . the general flung at me,
CURLY. what can l do for you? Kindly
be quick. My time is very valuable,
SIR
lie was standing, and made no mo-
ton toward seating himself or me.
Secretaries were busily transcribing
his dlctations, and their pens seemed
as though ploughing across my brain.
Two aids stood near, one travel
splashed. as though just arrived; the
other evidently awaiting orders to de-
part / could not open my subject
amid such surroundings of haste and
battle and bloodshed, and with each
member of the little gathering frown-
ing at me as though anything but
blessing me for my inopportune inter
| ference.
"'Well. sir. Well. sir' exclaimed
the general, impatiently. L have much
TO do, and you will oblige me by stat
Ing your errand at once.'
1t was too late to retreat, and SO l
managed to blurt out request for a
private interview. The general stared
as though dumfounded by my audac-
| ity, and the others as though they
| could scarce credit their own ears
| anticipated no less than curt dis
missal. but, as much to the surprise
Of the officers as myself, he hesitated.
| "a private interview? he asked.
with decided establishment in his voice.
Would you mind indicating its object,
| sirT
81 very much prefer not to do that,
general 1 replied. And yet it is. to
me, so urgent that l beg you not to
refuse. When l have named the sub
| ject, you may cut me as short as you
like
Again he hesitated; then, turning to
the others, requested them to await
his summons in the ante-room- Invit-
| ing me to chair and seating himself,
he again asked me to name my mis-
sion. l had mapped out tactful plan
| for my delicate task, but this was now
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
as the head and front, whether In vic
tory or defeat, and how he seemed not
| to look at all to the One who holds
us all In the hollow of His hand. and
1 begged him, finally, to be present and
receive the communion with his sol
diers next Sunday. l don't know what
the thought was l was going to say, but
certainly 1t was not what | did say.
HE sat as though petrified, and at
first l feared my preciptancy had Of
Tended him. Then my heart leaped
and sung, for / saw great tears pour
ing down his bronzed cheeks. He sank
his face in his hands, and With quiv-
ering voice, cried:
".Oh. Quintard, How often-how
often have / felt all this in my self
made solitude, and have been eager to
respond to the word that no man has
seen fit to speak BEFORE But l can
not Join in the communion, for i have
never been confirmed
"'Have you been baptized?" / asked.
~ am not sure, even OF that he
| replied.
..The hours talk that followed, while
| the outer chamber filed with impa-
| tient men, will ever remain one of my
! sweetest memories, and In the soften
ed, earnest truthseeker before me no
one would have recognized the Bragg
of war and carnage. His baptism took
place at once, and privately, but on
the great Sunday the general stood out
| in public with the soldier class, and
In the midst of his army, and with
privates on each side he was confirm
ed, and publicly received the bread and
wine of the holy communion"
A short War Story.
Captain J. G. Morrison, In the
| Weekly Times. gives an interesting nc