The War Romance of the Salvation ArmyHill, Grace Livingston
History
The War Romance of the Salvation Army
Hill, Grace Livingston
World War, 1914-1918 -- War work -- Salvation Army
The Salvation Army men who worked among the soldiers in advanced
positions from which all women are barred are among the heroes of the
war. Here during the day they labored in dugouts far below the
shell-tortured earth, often going out at night to help bring in the
wounded; always in danger from shells and gas; some with the ammunition
trains; others driving supply trucks; still others attached to units
and accompanying the fighting men wherever they went, even to the
active combat of the firing trench and the attack. These are unofficial
chaplains. Such a one was “La Petit Major,” as the soldiers called him,
because of his smallness of stature.
The Little Major commenced his service in the field with the
Twenty-sixth Infantry, First Division, at Menaucourt. Soon he was
transferred to command the hut at Boviolles. At this place was the
battalion of the Twenty-sixth Infantry, commanded by Major Theodore
Roosevelt. His brother, Captain Archie Roosevelt, commanded a company
in this battalion. He was for the greater part of the time alone in the
work at Boviolles.
By his consistent life and character and his willingness to serve both
men and officers, he won their esteem.
When they left the training area for the trenches the Major was
requested to go with them. He turned the key in the canteen door and
went off with them across France and never came back, establishing
himself in the front-line trenches with the men and acting as
unofficial chaplain to the battalion.
There is an interesting incident in connection with his introduction to
Major Roosevelt’s notice.
For some reason the Salvation Army had been made to feel that they were
not welcome with that division. But the Little Major did not give up
like that, and he lingered about feeling that somehow there was yet to
be a work for him there.
A young private from a far Western state, a fellow who, according to
all reports, had never been of any account at home, was convicted of a
most horrible murder and condemned to die by hanging because the
commanding officer said that shooting was too good for him.
He accepted his fate with sullen ugliness. He would not speak to anyone
and he was so violent that they had to put him in chains. No one could
do anything with him. He had to be watched day and night; and it was
awful to see him die this way with his sin unconfessed. Many attempts
were made to break through his silence, but all to no effect. Several
chaplains visited him, but he would have nothing to do with them.
On the morning of his execution, to the surprise of everybody he said
that he had heard that there was a Salvation Army man around, and he
would like to see him. The authorities sent and searched everywhere for
the Little Major, and some thought he must have left, but they found
him at last and he came at once to the desperate man.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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