The latest book from William Barnaby Faherty, S.J. takes a look at a Civil War chaplain with close ties to the St. Louis community. Faherty is professor emeritus of history at Saint Louis University and the author of 29 published books.
Exile in Erin: A Confederate Chaplain’s Story (The Life of Father John. B. Bannon) details the life of the pastor who built St. John’s parish in downtown St. Louis. He was the only chaplain who gave up his parish to help the men in the battlefields. Bannon was a member of the literary institute at SLU while in St. Louis.
“He was such an interesting man,” Faherty said. “He overcame big difficulties in life.”
As a chaplain, Bannon did not carry arms in battle. He helped both medically and spiritually on the front lines.
Bannon was involved in three battles–Pea Ridge, Corinth and Vicksburg.
After leaving his role as chaplain in the fields, Bannon returned to his native country of Ireland. Bannon was unable to return to Missouri due to laws that restricted confederates from returning to the state.
Bannon decided to join the Jesuit order and was often called the “greatest preacher in Ireland” during the 1880s, Faherty said. Bannon is still referred to as a popular and influential St. Louisan.
Most of Faherty’s books focus on St. Louis, featuring a variety of topics including area schools and universities, the history of the archdiocese, the history of the city and St. Louis Irish. One of his bestsellers is a look at SLU’s Parks College.
Faherty is currently writing a book on space exploration that looks at launches from the perspectives of people involved, including those from McDonnell Douglas.
“There are interviews with ordinary guys and gals who put the whole thing together,” Faherty said.
Faherty will also be writing a novel about Jesuits and the issues they are facing today and those they might face in the future.
As a SLU alumnus, Faherty earned his master’s in medieval history and a Ph.D. in social history of Europe and America.
Faherty retired from teaching 17 years ago. He taught courses on a variety of topics in his career, including western civilization, Civil War history, social reform, St. Louis history and the westward trend of the country.
Up until five years ago, Faherty would ski every winter. He swims at least three times a week in the gym and every day during the summer, usually in the Grand Forest pool. Faherty will be celebrating his 88th birthday next month.
