The Irish standard., 1914-09-19
The Retired Catholic Chaplains.

Inc fteClre0 CaCnOnC Cnapla1nS.
Besides the sixteen Catholic chap.
lains on the active list of the United
States army, there are six others OF
the faith on the retired list-two OF
whom were retired by operation OF
army law, having reached the com.
pulsory age of Ga years for retire
ment, and the other four were re-
tired from active service on account
Of disability incurred in the line of
duty.
These chaplains have given to
their. country and the faith which
they represent, the most efficient and
faithful service, and reflect great
credit on both.
The dean or oldest of these chap
lains is Father Eli w. ]. Lindesmith,
who is now 81 years old, and who
served for eleven years as a post
chaplain.
Father Lindesmith was born Sept.
z, 1927; ordained priest on July 8,
1855; appointed chaplain in the
army July 1. 1880, and served to
Sept. z, 1891, when he was retired.
He comes of a family in which,
during the past, military men have
been predominant-his ancestors
serving in the revolution and the war
of 1912; his father the color bearer
of Captain Lucy's troop, volunteer
for the Seminole war. and his broth
ers and thirty-four of his cousins
serving throughout the civil war.
Father Lindesmith performed
much religious and patriotic service.
and paid $3.50 bounty for the Union
army during the civil war.
He was always great promoter of
temperance, and it is a matter of rec
ord that on one occasion during his
service as chaplain, he gave the to-
tai abstinence pledge to more than
500 soldiers at Fort Keogh, Mont.
Being an Ohioan he still makes
that State his home, and resides at
Saint AIMS Infant Asylum (where
he is chaplain) in Woodland avenue
in Cleveland.
The other chaplain who was retired
after reaching the age of Ga is Faith
er Edward j. Vattmann, whose home
is at Wilmetto. Ill.
Father Vattmann was born in
Prussia, Sept. IL, 1910. and is now
in his 18th year. He was appointed
a post chaplain from the State of
Ohio Dec. 6, 1890. where he had IA
years most active service.
He served successfully in the 10th
and Goth infantry and the 18th Cav
airy, and his service was in various
parts of the United States, and his
service was in various parts of the
United States, and also in Porto Rico.
He was appointed in the campaign
against the hostile Sioux Indians in
South Dakota in 1891, and for which
he wears an Indian campaign badge.
Father Vattmann was promoted to
the rank of major shortly before his
retirement in 1904, and on April 10.
1905, he was detailed with his own
consent) for special duty in the Blu
reau of 1nsular Affairs, which was
assisting the superintendent of Fill
Pine students in the United States,
and while on this active duty drew
the full pay of his grade, or rank as
major, and was stationed at Will
mette, Ill.
During the worlds Fair at Saint
Louis in 1908, Father Vattmann was
with the Filipino Scouts and exhibit
from the Philippine Islands.
He is now at his home in Wilmette,
ILL.,, enjoying the rest which is due
him after a long and distinguished
career.
OF the four chaplains retired for
disability in line of duty, the first
was Father Patrick J. Hart, another
Ohioan, who served for fifteen years
as post chaplain, then in the in
fantry, cavalry and artillery.
He was retired in 1908, with the
rank of major. He is living at White
Bear Lake, Minnesota.
No chaplain of any denomination
ever served his country with bet
ter record to his credit than Father
Edward II. FITZGERALD, whose work
with the sick and wounded during
the Santiago campaign and his gal
lantry in action is matter of official
record.
Father FITZGERALD was at that time
the chaplain of the famous 22nd in
fantry, and during the battle of San
tiago was most conspicuous on the
firing line.
A story is told of Father FitzGer-
AIDS conduct during that engage
ment. Some officer asked excitedly
of an enlisted man. Where is Father
FitzGerald," "He is everywhere"
was the reply, and this was true.
He was either nursing the wound
ed or giving the last consolation to
the dying men, or urging those who