

Themes of God, war and music dominate this portrait of Chaplain Joseph Little (1828-1882) of the 5th West Virginia Infantry. A Presbyterian minister, Rev. Little plays a type of lap organ called a rocking melodeon as he stands before a poster with what appears to be a sermon written on it. A musket is visible in the back corner. Little joined the 5th in October 1862 with the endorsement of the officers of the regiment, who petitioned the governor of loyal Virginia to commission him. “We have entire confidence in his ability, patriotism and Christianity. He is also a social, companionable gentleman and will exert a good influence over the soldiery.” Little served the spiritual needs of his comrades until captured near Winchester, Va., on Sept. 27, 1864. His Confederate captors determined that Little was a non-combatant, and sent him back to Union lines with an unconditional parole less than two weeks later. The chaplain returned to his regiment and remained with his comrades until the end of the war.




