New-York tribune., 1910-10-23
M'CABE AND MRS. HoWE's POEM
Some "reminiscences in Which the Late
Bishop Played a Large Part.


To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: In your excellent obituary sketch Of
Mrs. Julia Ward Howe 1 find the follow
ing which I read with peculiar interest:
The lines 1.-The Battle Hymn of the Re
PuoHc J attracted little attention I'LL more
than a year later when they found their
way into a Southern prison. A Northern
army chaplain, confined there az the time;
came 10 Washington after his release and
told how the federal prisoners had been In
spired BY the hymn 1t became immediate
~ popular battle song.
The Northern chaplain was the late c. c.
McCabe, a young Methodist preacher of
Ohio. who in 1862 became chaplain Of the
122d Ohio Regiment and went 70 the front.
He was captured at the battle OF Win
chester and sent TO Libby Prison. which he
found crowded with starving sick and de-
spairing men Friends of mine who were Of
the unhappy number have told me that the
coming Of this stalwart young man, in
the splendid physical and mental vigOr OF
early manhood. almost Immediately worked
a change among the inmates Of the old to-
bacco barn.
McCabe was blessed with a happy. Joyous
nature and good singing voice. strength
ened by much use in choiriess country
churches and Western camp meetings. His
memory was stored with hymns and pa
triotiC songs He made II his business to
rouse the sinking spirit of his fOrlorn fel-
low prisoners from their lethargy. and he
succeeded He preached and exhOrted, but
always on hope inspiring themes, but,
above all he sang and he made them sing;
the most hopeless could not Withstand the
inspiration of his voice or the spirit that
gave II full volume amid those darksome
scenes. and soon the outside prison guards
heard triumphant music issuing from the
windows whence groans and eXecrations
had come before.
This was the story told me by men who
had been part Of what they described, and
they said that many lives had been saved
and the sick had been restored TO health
through the ministrations Of Chaplain
McCabe-for it was by this name he was
popularly known, even after he became
bishop IN his church.
He remained in prison only four months.
and on his release retoined his regiment,
but soon went into the service OF the
Christian Commission. 1t was at this time
that he went to Washington, where he told
the people Of the popularity Of The Battle
HYMN" as stated by YOU. little later
he was in New York and preached one Sun
AT the close Of the service A V Stout.
president OF the Shoe and Leather Bank.
took him home to dinner. and 10 my de
light took ME with him. No others besides
the family were present. and Chaplain
McCabe was the hero OF the hour, 20 whom
all delighted TO do honor. He was splen-
did story teller, and for hours We sat lis
teniug 70 his graphic accounts Of battle
and prison experiences. In speaking OF the
revfvfng effect that song had had on the
broken spirited prisoners OF Libby. ne men
toned Mrs Howe's hymn. No one or US
had heard it, and as We returned 70 the
parlor Mrs Stout asked him 10 sing It. he
stepped TO the furthest end Of the long
suite Of rooms and sang it. From all the
memories Of the past no scene comes 10 my
mind so vivfdly as that one. His converse
ton at the table had fitted US for il. In the
gathering twilight We could see the crowd
of emaciated dying victims Of war and
could hear their feeble voices joining III
with that of the chaplain
II he told of The Battle Hymn TO the
Deople of Washington and OF the many
other cities he visited as ne told II in that
Fifth avenue house. the wonder would have
been If ii had not quickly become a popular
battle cry.
s CUSHMAN CALDWELL