The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-01-30
AT GETTYSBURG.
Father corby Giving AbsoIution to the
Union Troops.

a movement is on foot in Philadel-
pnia to erect a statue of heroic size
to the Very Rev. William Corby, c. S.
c., on the battlefield of Gettysburg,
slowing him in the act of giving gen.
eral absolution to the Union troops be-
fore going into the fight on the after
rCon Of July 2, 1868.
Father Corby in his Memoirs Of
Chaplain Life" quotes from General
+NIulhollands history of the One Hun
dred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania
Volunteers, as follows: "Now (as the
Third Corps is being pressed back)
help is called for, and Hancock tells
Caldwell 70 have his men ready. Fall
in!' And the men run to their places.
Take arms!' And the four brigades
Of zook, Cross. Brook and Kelly are
ready for the fray. There are
yet a few moments to spare before
starting, and the time is occupied by
one of the most impressive religious
ceremonies have ever witnessed. The
Irish Brigade, which had been COM
manded formerly by General Thomas
Francis Meagher, and whose green flag
lad been unfurled in every battle in
Which the Army of the Potomac had
oeen engaged from the first Bull Run
to Appomattox, and was now COM
manded by Colonel Patrick Kelly, Of
the Eighty eighth New York, formed
a part of this division. The brigade
stood in column of regiments, closed
in mass. AS a large majority of it's
of the brigade. Rev. William Corhy,
proposed to give a general absolution
to all the men before going into the
fight While this is customary in the
armies of Catholic countries in Europe,
it was perhaps, the first time it was
ever witnessed on this continent, UNI
less, indeed, the grim old warrior.
Ponce de Leon, as he tramped through
the everglades of Florida in search of
the Fountain of Youth, or De Soto on
his march to the Mississippi, INDUCED
this act Of devotion. Father Corby
stood on large rock in front of the
brigade. Addressing the men, he ex-
planned what he was about to do, say
ing that each one could receive the
benefit of the absolution by making a
sincere act Of contrition and firmly re-
solving to embrace the first oppor-
Unity of confessing his sins, urging
them to do their duty, and reminding
tnem of the high and sacred nature
ct their trust as they fought. The
brigade was standing at order arms
AS he closed his address every man,
Catholic and non- Catholic, fell on his
knees, with his head bowed down.
Then, stretching his right hand to-
ward the brigade, Father Corby pro-
rounced the words of absolution."
Sc far General Mulholland, Father
Coiby himself goes on to say: "In
performing this ceremony I faced the
officers and men. I noticed that ALL
Catholics and non Catholics. officers
and private soldiers, showed a pro-
found respect, wishing at this fatal
crisis to receive every benefit of d.
vine grace that could be impaired
through the fundamentally of the
Church ministry. Even Major General
Hancock removed his hat, and, as far
as compatible with the situation,
bowed in reverential devotion. That
general absolution was intended for all
in quantum possum-not only for
oar brigade, but for ALL North or
South, who were susceptible of it and
who were about to appear before their
Judge"