Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-01-31
CHAPLAINS.
Influence of Those Who Came
to America With French
Fleet.
With Washington i'm the Critical
Days of Struggle For
Independence.
Volunteered For American Mis-
sion When the Revolution
Ended.
CULTURED and EDUCATED men

The reference in our chronology
under date of February to the
death of the Capuchin chaplain
Father Onesime, in the wreck of the
unfortunate La ,Bourgogne of DE
Grasses fleet, prompts inquiry as to
the number and services of the
Catholic chaplains in the four
French fleets that came with such
timely aid to Washington in the last
critical days of the struggle for in
dependence.
AS the French army and navy
we're composed largely of Catholics
| it was to be expected that the troops
and ships were well supplied with
Catholics chaplains, and we find the
four fleets carried about ninety
Catholic priests, twenty of whom,
like Father Onesime, were sons OF
St. Francis in the Capuchin order,
and of these twenty four lost their
lives in the war.
After a series of disheartening
events, when Washington almost de-
SPARED of success and said: IF we
have not money and soldiers from
France our cause is lost" an alliance
was concluded between Catholic
France and "the free Protestant
Colonies" as some of the fanatics OF
that day were wont to designate the
young and struggling Union. This
event was as important for the
church as it was for the Colonies.
Such opprobrious terms as "Popish'
and "Romish" became questionable
and the general attitude of the
political leaders of the day toward
the church took on a decided change
which even the numbers of Catholic
officers and men in the Revolution
airy ranks had failed to effect.
Congress found it convenient to
assist at solemn thanksgiving masses
and TIE Deums in Difference to the
example of French, Spanish and
other Catholic diplomats, just as
President Wilson did recently
rather than offend their religious
susceptibilities. In all of this the
influence of Catholic France and
the Catholic chaplains bore no small
part. The latter were found to be
cultured and educated men, some oil
them of noble blood, all of then
men of. courage and devoted to the
| duties of their sacred calling.
From 1.-THE History of tbs
Capuchins in America" by the late
Rev. Otto Jeron, o. NJ. Cap, we
learn that the following CapuchiI
chaplains were attached to the ship:
of the four fleets:
Fleet of Count De Grasse-
Father Firmin on La Vile de Paris
Father Movin on L'Aigrette, Father
Remy, who died August rs, 1873, OIL
LIE Diademe; Father Onesime, who
as stated was lost in the wreck o.
La Bourgogne; Father Zephyrin OF
lie Glorieux, who was made a pris
oner when the ship was captured b!
the British, April IL, 1882; Father
Dorothe on L'Auguste, Father
Bernardin de Villar on Hector
Father Frederic de Bourges anC
Father Barnabe,. who died July 8
1871, on lie Sagittaire.
| Fleet of De Guichen-Fathers Du
pont and Sebastian du Rosey on l.;
Refiechie, Fathers Dieudonne an,
Damase on LIE Cttoyen, Father Mar
on lie valiant.
Fleet of Count d'Estaing-Fathert
Casimir, Durandeau and Bourdy OF
lie Magnifique, Father Nicholas, WIFI
died on board LIE PENDANT, Februar!
2, 1881.
Fleet of Count de Ternay-
Fathers Maurice and Frederic on l.
Jason; which brought Rocham
beau's army to Rhode Island ant
afterward was attached to ID,
Grasses fleet.
Not few of these chaplains, see
ing the scarcity of priests, volun
teered for the American mission
after the close of the war. Fathe
Charles Whelan, who was present a
the surrender of CORVALLIS, re
signed his chaplaincy to organic
old st. Peters church, New York
and was the first regularly settlei
priest in that city. Father Nugen
was also attached to st. Peters an
Father du Rosey did missionar
work in New England aud later II
Maryland. Fathers Flynn an
| HaIhrou mana nfhnr Nannohfno xuhl