The Daily Dispatch: September 15, 1864., [Electronic resource]

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A Queer Court-martial.

--The Macon Intelligencer contains the following account of the court martial of Rev. D. S. Snodgrass, Post Chaplain at Demopolis, Alabama. These are the charges and specifications:

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Confederate States vs. Chaplain D. S. Snodgrass.

Charge: Conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline.

Specification 1st. In this: that the said D. S. Snodgrass, Chaplain of Post, Demopolis, Alabama, did, in a discourse delivered before enlisted men, speak in such a manner as to prejudice the officers of the army in the estimation of the men of the command, saying: "In the great Christian army there would be no baggage wagons there — the officers would have to carry their own baggage there"--or words to that effect. All this at Camp Paroled Prisoners, near Demopolis, Alabama, on or about the — day of May, 1864.

Specification 2d. in this: that the said D. S. Snodgrass, Chaplain of Post, Demopolis, Alabama, did, in a discussion delivered before enlisted men, speak in such manner as to prejudice the officers of the army, and to bring the uniform of the officers of the army into dispute, in the estimation of the men of this command:

"Officers were swelled and puffed up like a frog with pride, and thought themselves better than their fellow-men, and bedizened with gold lace and brass buttons,"or words to that effect. All this at Camp Paroled Prisoners, near Demopolis, Alabama, on or about the 22d day of May, 1864.

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This charge was fully investigated before a court martial convened at Meridian on the 22d of June, and resulted in the speedy acquittal of the accused. The following is the decision of the court:

VIII. David S, Snodgrass. Chaplain of Post, Demopolis.

Charge — Conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline.

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Finding:

Of Specification First.--The court finds that David S. Snodgras, Chaplain of the Post, Demopolis, Alabama, in a discourse delivered before enlisted men, at the Camp of Paroled Prisoners, did say: "In the great Christian army, there would be no baggage wagons there; the officers would have to carry their own baggage there," or words to that effect; that, considering the connection in which the words were used, the court attach no criminality thereto, and the court find the accused not guilty of the balance of the specification.

Of specification second, not guilty; of charge not guilty; and the court do therefore acquit him.

Moral.--Legislators and brass should let the preachers alone.