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Calvin E. Johnson, Jr.
Rev. Emmeran M. Bliemel:
Hero of the Battle of Jonesboro
August 30, 2008
The following
is dedicated to the unsung heroism of America’s Military Chaplains.
The quaint-little town of Jonesboro, Georgia, a few miles south of
Atlanta, might have been the subject of a Norman Rockwell painting. In
1977, super-stars; Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason and Jerry
Reed helped put Jonesboro on the map with the premiere of the box office
hit movie “Smoky and the Bandit.”
Jonesboro is sacred-historical ground where Confederate and Union
soldiers clashed in a War Between the States battle on Wednesday, August
31 and Thursday, September 1, 1864. These mighty armies fought the
decisive “Battle of Jonesboro”, which ended the Campaign for Atlanta,
Georgia and ultimately led to Gen. William T. Sherman's infamous March
to the Sea.
From 1979 to 1984, the Sons of Confederate Veterans, United Daughters of
the Confederacy and Children of the Confederacy sponsored a
Commemoration of the Battle of Jonesboro with parade and memorial at
Jonesboro ’s “Pat Cleburne” Confederate Cemetery. A Reenactment and
living history of that battle has also been sponsored to the education
and enjoyment of both young and old.
Jonesboro’s citizens are proud of their city and county history, as they
continue to build for the future. Some folks call Jonesboro the home of
"Gone with the Wind." The past, here, is alive with historic treasures
that include; the Confederate "Pat Cleburne" Cemetery, the Old Jail, the
Old Courthouse, Stately Oaks and the Old Railroad Station.
Jonesboro is the proud home to respected historical organizations
that include;
Historical Jonesboro/Clayton County, Inc., the Sons
of Confederate Veterans of Gen. Patrick R. Cleburne Camp 1361, the
United Daughters of the Confederacy of Frankie Lyle Chapter and the
Daughters of the American Revolution of Augustin Clayton Chapter. My
Mother started the DAR, Augustin Clayton Chapter, on June 8, 1973.
In 1982, while living in Clayton County , my mother and I were visited
by Rev. Peter J. Meaney from Morristown, New Jersey . Father Meaney has
done much research on Confederate Chaplains of the War Between the
States that include; Rev. Peter Whelan and Rev. Emmeran M. Bliemel. He
asked us if there was an organization that recognized heroes of the
past. He hoped that such a group would be interested in honoring a
heroic Chaplain Priest of the War Between the States--Father Emmeran M.
Bliemel of the Order of Saint Benedict. I told him that the National
Organization of Sons of Confederate Veterans had such an award.
Rev. Peter Meaney, OSB sent me documented information on Rev. Emmeran M.
Bliemel who is said to have died a hero's death on the first day of the
War Between the States Battle of Jonesboro. I first set out to get
approval from my local Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp Cleburne 1361,
and then sent a request to the National Organization of the Sons of
Confederate Veterans. At the 1982 National SCV Convention in Oklahoma
City , Oklahoma a Medal of Honor, in honor of Rev. Emmeran Bliemel, was
approved.
This project would not have happened if it was not for Rev. Peter J.
Meaney, OSB and his first contact, my Mother, Margaret L Johnson.
The forgotten Confederate Chaplain, Rev. Emmeran M. Bliemel, was finally
remembered at a special ceremony in front of the Clayton County ,
Georgia Courthouse on Saturday, March 12, 1983. It was here that the
National Sons of Confederate Veterans presented the posthumous "Medal of
Honor" to the Gen. Patrick R. Cleburne Camp 1361 SCV, in Father
Bliemel's honor and tribute. It was then presented on loan, by the
Cleburne Camp SCV, to the City of Jonesboro and accepted by Mayor Hugh
Dickson. It was displayed there for many years.
March 12, 1983, was a chilly day in Jonesboro but many hundreds of
people attended this event including: then Chairman of the Clayton
County Commission--Mr. Charley Griswell, the late Mayor of
Jonesboro--Mr. Hugh Dickson, Rev. Peter J. Meaney, OSB, the President of
the Frankie Lyle Chapter United Daughters of the Confederacy--Mrs.
Margaret L. Johnson, the Commander of the 30th Georgia Reenactors--Mr.
Mark Tippens, many members of the Georgia Division Reenactors, United
Daughters of the Confederacy and Sons of Confederate Veterans, the
Chairman of the National SCV Confederate Medal of Honor Committee--the
late Col. Lindsey Henderson, members of Historic Jonesboro/Clayton
County, Inc.,the Commander of Cleburne Camp 1361 SCV the late Mathew
Thomaston ,Georgia Legislator and former Jaycee Mr. Frank Bailey
and members of the Children of the Confederacy of theTara Chapter.
Who was Rev. Emmeran M. Bliemel of Order of Saint Benedict?
Father Emmeran M. Bliemel, OSB the first American Catholic Chaplain to
die on the battlefield, was killed during the Battle of Jonesboro,
Georgia on Wednesday, August 31, 1864.
As Chaplain of the 10th Tennessee Regiment he courageously and
unselfishly ministered to the spiritual needs of all the wounded, both
under fire and behind the lines. He died while giving the last rites to
his Commanding Officer, Colonel William Grace. Rev. Bliemel also
ministered to the men of the 4th Kentucky Regiment (the Orphan Brigade).
Bliemel was temporarily buried at Jonesboro ’s Pat Cleburne Cemetery ,
but his remains were removed to Tuscumbia, Alabama in 1899.
Today, the Sons of Confederate Veterans Medal of Honor, honoring Father
Emmeran M. Bliemel, OSB, is displayed at the Knights of Columbus
building in Jonesboro, Georgia .
Let's never forget
those who helped make the USA great!! |
