Gardners Photographic Sketch Book Of The War. Vol. 2, No. 74. Poplar Grove Church.
Too great a measure of praise cannot be bestowed upon a more noble and industrious body of men than the Fiftieth New York Volunteer Engineers. In the midst of the great demand made upon their services in time of battle and of siege, the officers and men found pleasure in designing, planning, and building the beautiful rustic structure presented in this view, and devoting the same to the worship of the great God of Battles. The timber upon the spot, and the tools, with which they were provided for engineering purposes, furnished the material and means wherewith to exercise the taste, genius, and energy displayed. The first services, though they cannot well be styled a dedication, were conducted on Sunday, March 5, 1865, by the Rev. Mr. Duryea, of New York, and on each succeeding Sabbath day, and during many evenings of the week, the army chaplains and visiting clergymen were invited to officiate. It is built nor far from the site of the old Poplar Spring Meeting House, a plain country board church, which was used successively by both armies as a hospital during the operations of the 29th and 30th of September, and 1st and 2d of October, 1864, near the Pegram House, new the site of Fort Fisher. The present Church was used for the same purpose during the movements of the last of March, and 1st and 2d of April, 1865. The Regiment, upon moving away from its camp to take part in the pursuit of Lees army, left a wooden tablet over the entrance to the Church, with these worlds inscribe upon it: Presented to the Trustees of the Poplar Springs Church, by the Fiftieth Regiment New York Volunteer Engineers. Colonel Ira Spaulding commanded the Regiment, Captain McGrath, the architect and builder of the Church. In front is a group of several officers of the Regiment. On the foreground stands the architect himself. One view of the Church also shows, on the left, the quarters, neatly and tastefully arranged, of the Regimental officers.
Etched onto negative: 340. 932.
