The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-07-19
INSPIRED AND EN-
coURAGED BY RELIGION.
Father corby Imparts General Abso-
Iution.

Writing in America regarding the
fftieth anniversary Of the battle of
Gettysburg, Rev. Michael Kenny, S.
! j., says:
"The celebration of the fiftieth ami
versary of the great battle that set
forever the high water mark of the
Confederacy' and opened the way to
the establishment of the Union in
all our territory, makes it appropriate
to recall some incidents of the memor-
able conflict that have a special inter-
est for Catholic Americans. There
was scarcely battle in the four years
war that has not it's Catholic mem
cries, but the field of Gettysburg is,
we believe, the only one in which one
of the most striking of it's many monu-
ments represents a Catholic priest in
military uniform, stretching out his
hand to absolve and bless.
Father corby.
ION July 2, 1863, the second day of
dent which the Corby monument COM
memorates. AS the men of the Irish
Brigade advanced to check the onrush
of Anderson's Confederates on the en-
sanguined and now celebrated wheat
field, their chaplain, Rev. William Cor
by, C. S. c., took conspicuous posi-
ton on a boulder, and having in a
short address informed them that he
was about to impart general absolu-
tion, and that they could receive it's
benefits by making a sincere act of
contrition, with a resolve to confess
their sins ON the first opportunity,
ended, says General Mulholland, with
the declaration that the Catholic
Church refuses Christian burial to a
soldier who turns his back on the
foe or deserts his flag. The brigade
was standing at ''order arms" and as
he closed his address every man fell
on his knees with his head bowed
down. Then stretching his right hand
toward the brigade, Father Corby pro-
nounced the words of absolution.'
All Were ReVerent.
'1n performing this ceremony, -
writes Father Corby in his Memoirs
of Chaplain Life 'fI faced the army.
My eye covered thousands of officers
and men. noticed that all, Catholics
and non-Catholics, officers and private
soldiers, showed profound respect,
wishing at this fatal crisis to receive
every benefit of Divine Grace that
| could be impaired through the
Churchs ministry. Even Major Gen.
eral Hancock removed his hat, and as
far as compatible with the situation,
bowed in reverential devotion. The
general absolution was intended for all
lin quantum possum-not only for
our brigade, but for all, North and
South, who were susceptible of it and
who were about to appear before their
Judge .
"The Irish Brigade had very many
advantages over other organizations,
as it was at no time during the war
without chaplain, but was the only
one at the battle of Gettysburg Often
in camp, and sometimes on the march,
we held very impressive religious
services, but the one at Gettysburg
was most public, and was witnessed
by many who had not perhaps seen
the others. The surroundings there,
too, made vast difference, for really
the situation reminded one of the day
of judgment, when shall be seen "men
withering away for fear and expecta-
tion of what shall come upon the whole
world" so great were the whirlwinds
of war then in motion.
'The Irish Brigade we're but frac-
tion of the Catholics who fought at
Gettysburg. Sadly reduced in the
many battles of the long campaigns on
the Potomac, again reinforced by the
efforts and prestige of General Meag-
her, it had been practically annihilated
in it's heroic charges, many times
repeated, against the impregnable
rocks of Fredericksburg. It's conduct
there was of piece with that
of Pickett's men at Gettysburg, ex-
cept that the task assigned it was
still more glaringly impossible. Gen.
eral Meagher, who two months pre-
viously had resigned his command
when refused permission to recruit it
to its strength, was serving elsewhere,
and little over five hundred men fought
under its colors at Gettysburg, but
these, commanded by Colonel Patrick
Kelly, who fell at Petersburg, main
tanned it's high traditions. AS they
rose from their knees. the command