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American Civil War Home Chatroom
Transcript (Oct. 29, 2006) "For God and Country:
The Role of Religion in the Civil War": an online
chat with author Michael Aubrecht (continued)
TOPIC 4
10/29/2006 9:44 pm (et) MAubrecht:
Next up: FATHER CORBY, PRIEST OF
THE IRISH BRIGADE:
10/29/2006 9:44 pm (et) MAubrecht:
As a former Catholic - turned
Presbyterian, this subject is a familiar favorite
of mine. Those of you that attended last year's
muster at Gettysburg must surely remember the
famous Pennsylvania Monument. You may have also
noticed a much smaller statue - about 100 or so
yards away - on the interior side of the road -
opposite the battlefield. The simple sculpture
depicts the likeness of a stately, bearded man,
holding the Good Book in one hand, and raising his
other in an absolution gesture. This is the Statue
of Father Corby, the Catholic chaplain (or priest)
of the famous Irish Brigade and later, the
president of Notre Dame University.
10/29/2006 9:45 pm (et) MAubrecht:
Now for those of you that are not
familiar with Catholic doctrine, one of the most
important duties that a priest administers is the
act of "Last Rights," which is a form of absolution
that is given to a dying person. In time of war,
this provides a huge problem as men obviously fall
on the battlefield without having a priest nearby.
10/29/2006 9:45 pm (et) MAubrecht:
In order to "compensate" for this
absence, Catholic chaplains would perform a
"universal" form of this prior to the battle. Much
like their Protestant peers, the Catholics would
gather together on the eve of (or hours before) an
anticipated engagement, but their ceremony would
include a "Last Rights" that would "cover them" in
the case that they were killed.
10/29/2006 9:46 pm (et) MAubrecht:
This "Mass" was extremely important
to brigades that were made up of immigrants such as
the Irish and German contingencies. Perhaps the
most famous of these was "The Irish Brigade," who
"deployed" with Father William Corby. On "The
American Civil War" website, they describe his
invaluable service: "For many Civil War soldiers,
both North and South, religion served to provide
hope and meaning given what they endured during
this bloody, violent conflict. When possible, men
of the church would take an active role in lending
such to the troops both during times of idleness
and of combat."
10/29/2006 9:47 pm (et)
MAubrecht: They add, "The Reverend Father
William Corby, chaplain to the Union's Irish
Brigade among others, extended general absolution
to all soldiers, Catholic and non-Catholic alike.
He was also known to administer last rights to the
dying on the field while under fire. Prior to the
conflict in the Wheatfield on the second day of the
Battle of Gettysburg, he offered general absolution
to the Irish Brigade. Despite the loss of 506 of
their men during that day's battle, one soldier
stated that, because of Father Corby, "He felt as
strong as a lion after that and felt no fear
although his comrade was shot down beside him." Not
the only example of heroism by people of the
clergy, Chaplain William Hoge ignored the Union
Blockade to bring Bibles to Southern soldiers."
10/29/2006 9:48 pm (et) MAubrecht:
Father Corby was born in Detroit on
October 2, 1833 to Daniel, a native of King's
County, Ireland and Elizabeth, a citizen of Canada.
Daniel became a prominent real estate dealer and
one of the wealthiest landed proprietors in the
country. He helped to found many Detroit parishes
and aided in the building of many churches. His son
William was educated in the common schools until he
was sixteen and then joined his father's business
for four years. Realizing that William had a
calling to the priesthood and a desire to go to
college, Daniel sent him and his two younger
brothers to the ten year old "university" of Notre
Dame in South Bend, Indiana. The Congregation of
the Holy Cross staffed the school then, as now.
10/29/2006 9:49 pm (et) MAubrecht:
After graduation, Corby returned to
the school as a faculty member. During the Civil
War, he volunteered his services as a chaplain in
the Union Army at the request of Father Sorin, who
was the Superior-General of the Congregation of the
Holy Cross. Corby resigned his professorship at
Notre Dame and was assigned as chaplain to the 88th
New York Volunteer Infantry in the famed Irish
Brigade of Thomas Francis Meagher. It has been
written that he boarded the train with a song on
his lips - singing "I'll hang my harp on a willow
tree. I'm off to the wars again: A peaceful home
has no charm for me. The battlefield no pain"
10/29/2006 9:50 pm (et)
MAubrecht: For the next three years, Father
Corby ministered to the troops with great
enthusiasm. This made him popular with the men.
According to the Catholic Cultural Society,
"Chaplains, like officers, won the common soldiers'
respect with their bravery under fire. Father
Corby's willingness to share the hardships of the
men with a light-hearted attitude and his calm
heroism in bringing spiritual and physical comfort
to men in the thick of the fighting won him the
esteem and the friendship of the men he served.
Frequently under fire, Corby moved among casualties
on the field, giving assistance to the wounded and
absolution to the dying. For days after the
battles, he inhabited the field hospitals to bring
comfort to men in pain."
10/29/2006 9:50 pm (et)
MAubrecht: Known for their glorious (and
disastrous) charge here at Fredericksburg, the
Irish Brigade also made a gallant stand at
Gettysburg, where their priest has been forever
memorialized. The CCS recalls this as the defining
moment for BOTH the brigade and their chaplain:
"Before the Brigade engaged the Confederate
soldiers at a wheat field just south of Gettysburg,
Father William Corby, in a singular event that
lives in the history of the Civil War, addressed
the troops. Placing his purple stole around his
neck, Corby climbed atop a large boulder and
offered absolution to the entire unit, a ceremony
never before performed in America. Kohl, editor of
Corby's memoirs, tells us that Father Corby sternly
reminded the soldiers of their duties, warning that
the Church would deny Christian burial to any who
wavered and did not uphold the flag. The members of
the Brigade were admonished to confess their sins
in the correct manner at their earliest
opportunity."
10/29/2006 9:52 pm (et)
MAubrecht: With their sins forgiven, the
Irish Brigade plunged into battle and they were met
with a massive volley of fire from the Confederate
soldiers. At the end of the day, 198 of the men
whom Father Corby had blessed had been killed. A
tragedy? Yes. But it was dulled by the fact that
the departed heroes had been absolved and blessed
prior to the engagement. This surely made the
family and friends of the dead, a little less sad,
knowing that their loved ones were to be accepted
into the Kingdom. Therefore (IMO) Father Corby's
presence was invaluable and a great comfort to all
who attended his services. He is perhaps, the most
famous and revered Catholic priest of the entire
Civil War.
10/29/2006 9:53 pm (et) MAubrecht:
After the war, in 1865, Father
Corby returned to Notre Dame where he was made vice
president. Within a year, Corby was named
president. At the end of his term at Notre Dame
1872, Father Corby was sent to Sacred Heart
College. He returned to Notre Dame as president in
1877 where he became known as the "Second Founder
of Notre Dame" for his successful effort to rebuild
the campus following a fire. Later he became
Assistant General for the worldwide order.
10/29/2006 9:53 pm (et)
MAubrecht: Father Corby wrote a book of his
recollections, entitled "Memoirs of Chaplain Life."
He stated, "Oh, you of a younger generation, think
of what it cost our forefathers to save our
glorious inheritance of union and liberty! If you
let it slip from your hands you will deserve to be
branded as ungrateful cowards and undutiful sons.
But, no! You will not fail to cherish the prize--
it is too sacred a trust-- too dearly purchased."
10/29/2006 9:54 pm (et) MAubrecht:
He died in 1897, and as he was
being buried, surviving veterans of the Grand Army
Of The Republic are said to have sang this song:
"Answering the call of roll on high. Dropping from
the ranks as they make reply. Filling up the army
of the by and by." Are there any questions or
comments on the great Father Corby? XXXXXXXXX
10/29/2006 9:54 pm (et)
Basecat: ? comment here.
10/29/2006 9:54 pm (et)
amhistoryguy: ?
10/29/2006 9:54 pm (et)
MAubrecht: base, comment? then am...
10/29/2006 9:55 pm (et)
NJRebel: ?
10/29/2006 9:56 pm (et)
Basecat: As one who has been to the campus
of Notre Dame, Father Corby is still highly
remembered there. Not sure if all know, but an
exact replica of the statue at Gettysburg stands
there on the campus as well. Folks may talk about
Touchdown Jesus, but when I think of Notre Dame, I
think of Father Corby.
10/29/2006 9:57 pm (et) MAubrecht:
Thanks Steve. I did not know that.
am? - then NJ...
10/29/2006 9:57 pm (et)
amhistoryguy: A duplicate of the
Father Corby statue at Gettysburg, stands at Notre
Dame, often referred to lovingly as "Fair Catch
Corby."
10/29/2006 9:58 pm (et)
Basecat: :) Had forgotten the nickname
amhg..:)
10/29/2006 9:58 pm (et)
NJRebel: Not so much a question here
Michael but a general comment about your earlier
reference to the Last Rites and what Corby did...
IIRC it is referred to as a Conditional General
Absolution...........
10/29/2006 9:59 pm (et)
MAubrecht: Yes you are correct. They still do
that today. I have spoken about this process with a
couple U.S. Marine Chaplains here at Quantico.
10/29/2006 10:00 pm (et)
MAubrecht: In Iraq, they often hold a brief
ceremony w/ Catholic troops before patrols.
10/29/2006 10:00 pm (et)
NJRebel: For your info Michael...also a
former Catholic here, but now Methodist......Are
you aware of the Troiani painting showing Corby at
Antietam?
10/29/2006 10:00 pm (et) MAubrecht:
I believe that Corby was the first,
but this practice has been adapted in every war
since then.
10/29/2006 10:00 pm (et)
ks: ? more RC commentary
10/29/2006 10:01 pm (et)
MAubrecht: I'm sure that you remember the
Catholic Chaplain scenes in films like "Saving
Private Ryan and "Band Of Brothers." Yes ks?
10/29/2006 10:01 pm (et) ks:
Roman Catholic commentary on the
"Last Rights"...That's a term not used much these
days. The sacrament of anointing a critically ill
or weak person, with prayers for recovery and an
act of penance or confession, The "Anointing of the
Sick" is what takes places now. It replaced the
sacramental rite of Extreme Unction in 1972.
10/29/2006 10:02 pm (et) MAubrecht:
Thanks ks. I think in terms of
military deployments, they use the terms "blessing"
and/or "anointing" - not "last rights" - too
negative I would assume?
10/29/2006 10:03 pm (et) ks:
Probably
10/29/2006 10:03 pm (et) NJRebel:
? re Corby....
10/29/2006 10:03 pm (et) MAubrecht:
Yes NJ…
10/29/2006 10:04 pm (et) NJRebel:
Are you familiar with the Troiani
painting of the Irish Brigade at Antietam? Corby is
right there in front blessing/absolving the men of
the Brigade with Meagher in the left back
foreground?
10/29/2006 10:05 pm (et)
MAubrecht: Yes I have seen that piece. He is
excellent. BTW: I have 2 of Mort Kunstler's prints
hanging downstairs in my dining room.
10/29/2006 10:05 pm (et)
bluelady: I must be off. This is all very
interesting and will catch the rest and what I
missed in the scroll.
10/29/2006 10:05 pm (et)
MAubrecht: It's getting a tad late, I have
one shorter topic and then we'll do the TRIVIA
CONTEST and I'll stay on to discuss anything that
you want…
10/29/2006 10:05 pm (et)
bluelady: logs off.
10/29/2006 10:06 pm (et)
NJRebel: What I find interesting about that
painting is that Corby is doing what he is doing
under Confederate fire....
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