Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-11-03
INTERESTING SERMON.
Rev. O. W. Triplett Occupies Pulpit
at Union Services Last Night.

Rev. O. w. Triplett, pastor Of the
Second Baptist Church, delivered d
forceful sermon last night at the
union services now in progress at the
First Baptist Church. He took his
text from Col. Ill, 1l-"Christ is all
and in all
| The speaker held the close attention
of his hearers from the beginning
to the end of his discourse. During
his sermon he told pathetic anec-
dote. laying the scene on a Missis-
Isippi steamboat shortly after the close
of the civil war. While not original
to a few: of his hearers. it was to the
bulk Of his congregation. as it will
be to the great Majority of the read
crs Of the Gazette. As first told the
scene was placed on the old steamer.
| Arrow. which about forty years ago
ran on the route between Washington,
| Alexandria and Mount Vernon. The
boat was commanded by the genial
Frank Holingshead, long since de-
ceased. We shall tell it with its local
| surroundings.
Shortly after the close of the civil
; war, a former Federal soldier who
| was visiting spots in this section Of
the country which he had traversed
several years before was on the
steamer Arrow on his way from Mt.
Vernon. Around him was seated sew
eral men. some of whom was en-
federal soldiers whom he was enter
tanning with his experience while 4
wearcr of the. blue. Among other
things he told of the dangers OF
picket duty on the Chicahominy, in
war times. He said night after night
pickets were killed while on posts of
duty by the Confeiierates who man
aged to creep within shooting dis
tance. One night when it WAS his
turn 10 do duty as picket he was
stationed alone at frontier post with
nothing but owls 70 keep him com
pany Every time he trod upon twIg
and heard it break under his weight
he imagined it was the snap of a rife
Of IA sharp shooter. He never was so
scared in his life. and while he walk
20! l.is lonesome hcar h;g sang $:i;itc'i-<;
es of that immortal hymn, "Jesus, !
Lover of My Soul" The lines "Cover
nv defenslesS head with the shadow
of thy wing" appealed to him more
powerfully than they ever had before.
In fact he hummed the hymn
throughout. the night. TO his great !
relief not shot was fred at him.
a man with dark complexion and !
a serious mein mot one Of the partly !
had been a close listener to the reel !
tai Of the eX-Union soldier, When /
the latter had finished his story the
ex-Confederate soldier. (for such he
was). drew near and said; "Gentle-
men. with your permission, ] would
like to add the second volume to our
friends story. During the time re-
ferred to by him shooting of pickets
was carried on extensively, on the
Chickahominy. ] re!hember one night
after several southern soldiers had
been shot by Federal sharpshooterS.
while acting as pickcts at Isolated .,
points, 7 was put on duty at spot
where I was satisfied | could drop
several lonely federals before day
break. ] crept close to one that J
saw was almost scared to death, had
cooked my gun and had taken aim
with the firm intention Of killing him.
As 7 was about to pull the trigger.
heard the soft strains of Il hymn
familiar to my childhood. distinct
" heard the words, "Cover my de-
fensIess head with the shadow of thy
wing" and fell into reverie. ] thought
here is Il defensless man alone.
trembling with fear and praying to
his Maker, to save him from the
death 7 had planned. asked my
self the question, Will the killing OF
this man end this fratr'icida war J
,oalizcd it would not. and lowering the
hammer of my gun. crept away as
stealthly as I had approached the
lone sentinel. The southerner then
advanced to the northern man and
said. "My good friend. thank God,
that He heard your prayer and pre-
vented me from committing murder
which many on both sides believed
picket shooting to be. "
The scene which followed was IN
.;, ,,J oIthOJrh the marty was