Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 October 1884 — He Went Into Battle. [ARTICLE]

He Went Into Battle.

Among the first Confedrate troops that went out from Arkansas was Parson Geesmore, who enlisted as a chaplain. He was a devoted Christian, and hiS prayers were regarded by the men as utterances from a higher power. Just before the battle of Jenkins’ Ferry the old man in a sermon said: “My dear boys, I have decided to go into the next fight with you. I don’t think a man can properly preach about the evils and sensations of war unless he has experienced the feeling of going into battle. Now, the next fighting we engage in shall have me numbered among its participants.” The old gentleman rode a large gray horse, and when preparations for the battle of Jenkins’ Ferry w r ere being made be appeared on the snowy charger. Some of the officers begged him to keep out of danger, but, with an expression of heroism, he replied that he would engage in the battle. The first artillery fire from the enemy shot the horse from under the old gentleman, and by the time he settled himself on his feet a bullet came along and carried off one of his fingers. He attempted to be calm, but just then a bullet carried away the right thumb, and, wheeling around, the old man struck a determined trot for the rear. “Hold on, parson!” called some one. “Hold on, !” he replied. “Ask a man to hold on when the whole universe is shooting at him! Take care of your body and the Lord will take care of your soul !”—Jrkansaw Traveler.