The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1907-06-08
Soldiers of the Cross.
An Incident of the Civil War.

writes NJ. B. G. in an exchange, l
received instructions to proceed at once
to Richmond. I was furnished with
the proper credentials to obtain from
President Davis the necessary pass
port to the headquarters of General
Bragg, then camped near Chattanooga.
was attached to a London daily.
and was Fastening to furnish my pa
per with the news of the capture of
Rosecrans and Burnside. When I
reached my destination, Bragg was in
possession of the Missionary Ridge and
Lookout Mountain. The Union forces
were intrenched in Chattanooga VAL
ley but practically remmed in by
Bragg's forces. General Bragg re-
marked that l would have very little
fighting to report. because the army
of the Cumberland was defeated and
was then actually starving-in state
of siege-and that it's capitulation was
but a matter of a few days delay.
After a few days we learned that
General Grant had arrived in Chatta-
nooga, and had assumed command of
the entire force. But Bragg heard the
news with Indifference believing that
reinforcements would hasten the cap
itulation. and by the strangest coinci-
dence Grant shared the same opinion.
1 soon learned that Bragg was a great
soldier, but that campaign furnished
proof that Grant was both a great
soldier and a great commander.
This was my first experience as cor
within the Confederate
lines. and l took advantage of Bragg's
to study the character of his
army. l was attached to Colonel John
j. Sullivans regiment. and, strange
to say. though the blood of O'Sullivan
Beare flowed through his veins, he was
not Catholic And l may remark
here that in the Southern army I
met hundreds with purely Irish names
but they had all forsaken their faith.
This is unaccountable. met NV
in every condition in the
North, in large cities, in the fastness-
es Of the pine forests. in the plains
Of Montana, in the depths of the mines.
in the sunny slopes Of the Pacific, in
danger. in temptation, remote from the
friendly counsel of co-religionists,
away from the help and guidance of
their priesthood, and yet in ALL and
through all, they chung with mistaken
tenacity to the faith. Why have they
become recreant in the Southland?
The camp fires Of the Confederate
army, as a rule. had no social quality.
Perhaps the determination of the
Southern army was too grim to permit
them to be sociable: they were always
quiet and cherries when they were
grouped together to rest, while from
the camp fires Of the northern soldiers
the night breeze would bear the notes
Of sentimental songs about the absent
lovers. homes. and mothers; the weird
and passionate tones of kathleen
or the defiance breathed
in the Star Spangled Banner" On
November 81, the Colonel Informed
me that the Catholic chaplain had lust
arrived. and desired to see me at his
tent; that an esteemed friend of my
fathers was his guest.
The charlain's orderly was in watt
ing to escort me. We soon arrived at
the tent. Two men We're seated inside
on a rough bench. One was tall and
gaunt. with classical features; and
penetrating blue eyes, and his brown
hair fell in profusion over his shout
ders. He arose to greet me. and I
grasped the hand of the poet-priest of
the South--Father Ryan. His compan-
ion also arose: he was strong of stat
ure. with eyes whose darkness could
flash defiance. and on his lips scorl
had made permanent abode It was
John Mitchell. the Irish patriot Faith
er Ryan's name was on the lips of ev-
cry soldier in Bragg's army, and it was
always coupled with benediction. Pro-
testant, infdel. and Jew loved this ben
evolent Catholic priest. They knew
though he opposed the system of HUI
man slavery, he dearly loved the
Southland. Mitchell was cold and re-
served. He had just offered on the
altar the cause he esroused his son.
Dinner was announced but our ears
were stunned by the belching of heavy
guns from the Federal lines. Fathe,
Ryans orderly came running in with
the news that the Union forces, led b,
Sheridan. were attacking. The mists
that concealed the Federal troops were
lifted and Sheridan at the head of his
regiment could be plainly seen adyanc.