Rev Moses Nathaniel MCCALL Jr.
"The Fighting Chaplain"
Baptist minister,
Confederate Army Officer, Christian Educator, was born 6
January 1831, in
Screven County GA, son of
Rev Moses
Nathanial MCCALL, Sr
and his first Wife Caroline
Magdelena GRIENER;
he was largely reared by his father and his second wife
Catherine Porter
DOPSON. His primary education was received in Screven County
GA. He was a very religious youth and joined the Black Creek Baptist Church
in 1847. He was licensed as a preacher soon after by the Middle Ground
Baptist Church (as his father had been in 1828) and he prepared for college.
In 1856, he entered the Freshman Class at Mercer University situated then at
Penfield, GA. In 1860 he graduated with second honor from the university.
Rev Moses Nathaniel MCCALL Jr. became pastor of the Baptist Church in Sylvania, Screven County GA, and was ordained there in Nov 1860. With Rev P. H. MELL, Rev William COOPER and his father acting as Presbytery. Like most young men called to the ministry at that time, he united his ministerial duties with those of the schoolroom, so he was headmaster of Sylvania Academy. His work is this field could not be of long duration however, for the War Between the States began.
Along with his father (a veteran of the War of 1812, and also Baptist preacher) and four of his brothers, Rev M Nathaniel MCCALL, Jr. volunteered for Confederate service at the very beginning of the War Between the States. He enlisted at Isle of Hope near Savannah, GA as a private in Company B 2nd Battalion, Georgia State Troops. Governor JOE BROWN commissioned him as Chaplain and he held that position until those troops were disbanded, later becoming Chaplain in the 5th Georgia Cavalry. He took a prominent part in the reorganization of the young men of Screven Co GA, and was elected Captain of the Screven Troop in May 1862, succeeding Captain Simmeon D. Connor who resigned. On 20 January 1863 the company became Company F of the 5th Georgia Volunteer Cavalry. His younger brothers 2nd Lt Thomas K. MCCALL, 2nd Corporal (later Dr.) Charles P. MCCALL, and (later Dr.) Daniel Tucker MCCALL, as well as the eldest brother Philip Griner MCCALL, all served at some time in his company. Rev Moses Nathaniel MCCALL, Jr. was always known as "The Fighting Chaplain" and led his men into many fierce battles around Atlanta.
Captain MCCALL obtained a furlough and hastened to Savannah, GA where on 17 Feb 1864, he married Janie Warren DANIELL, with the Rev Sylvanus LANDRUM, pastor of the First Baptist Church there, officiating. His wife was the daughter of Rev David Gonto DANIELL (d 1884), one of the best known and widely beloved ministers in the Baptist Denomination. Janie Warren DANIELL MCCALL was a woman of rare charm of great faith and a strong Christian character. She gave much of her time and talent for the benefit of the Confederate Soldiers, her father at the time being a chaplain in the Confederate Army and stationed in Savannah, Georgia. In early 1865 the home of her parents was burned on Sherman's March to the Sea, and she refuged with her parents to Augusta, GA.
As Captain of his company, after the surrender, Capt. MCCALL was paroled at Hillsboro NC on 3 May 1865. Captain MCCALL returned to Georgia riding his war horse to Screven County where he again became a preacher. Broken down in health after four years of continuous service in the war, and without means, for all had been swept away by the war, but with a brave and courageous spirit he joined his young wife in Augusta in 1865. They then resided in Longstreet in Pulaski (later Bleckley) Co GA where he taught for seven years, and where sons Howard Henry MCCALL, Sr, and George Daniel MCCALL were born in 1867 and 1870. He then moved to Hawkinsville GA where he taught high school for four years and where their third son Phillip Broadman MCCALL was born in 1872. While teaching he also served the Evergreen, Lauren's Hill, Friendship Harmony and Mount Zion Churches, located in Pulsar (Pulaski ?), Twiggs, Laurens, Dooly, and Houston Counties GA.
Finding his constitution up to the over taxation, Capt MCCALL was obliged to give up teaching and removed with his family to his mill seat and farm which he had purchased not far from the old homestead in Screven County GA. In 1880, he removed to Cochran GA where he had a splendid private school, and he preached in the surrounding churches. Mrs. MCCALL died there on 10 June 1881. In 1884 he was elected President of Monroe Female College (1849 - 1987, lastly Tift College) at Forsyth GA, and also served as pastor of the Baptist Church there. In 1885 he and his three boys removed to Dalton, GA where he was associated with his brother, Rev William C. MCCALL in the Joe BROWN College for Boys. He died there 9 May 1885,shortly after his father had died. With his wife and her parents he is buried in the Daniel Lot of Laurel Grove Cemetery in Savannah, GA "minister of the Gospel, Instructor of Youth." His Brother Rev George Robert MCCALL of Griffin GA (Died 1895) became the guardian of his three boys and gave them a home when they were not away at school. All three sons attended Mercer University.
Captain Moses Nathaniel MCCALL, Jr., CSA filled many high and honorable positions in the ministry; he was one of the deepest thinkers and ablest theologians of his day, and was recognized as one of the leaders of the Georgia Baptist Convention. He was a man whose influence was for good; as a teacher he had a wonderful power of attracting his pupils and stimulating them to study. He was regarded as one of the most gifted Baptist Ministers in GA and ranked among the first in ability, influence, and usefulness. [John Robert Peavy]
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Jefferson J. BOYD was born 12 Jan 1833, and died on 16 Oct 1894. Jefferson J. Boyd is buried at Botsford Baptist Church Cemetery, Burke County, Georgia. [Brig. Gen. John C. Carter Camp #207 ~ Waynesboro, Georgia]
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