Shortly after President Jefferson Davis appointed him as envoy to the papacy, Patrick Lynch , the Bishop of Charleston, S.C. was reported preaching to a captive audience in the Confederate capital. From the Richmond Daily Dispatch February 26, 1864:
Interesting Services
–About eleven o’clock yesterday morning the Rt. Rev. Bishop Lynch, (Catholic,) of Charleston, S. C., delivered an eloquent and impressive discourse to the Federal officers confined in the Libby prison. He was listened to with marked attention, and at the close was heartily thanked by the prisoners for affording them the opportunity of hearing him preach.
During the services the opening of boxes of provisions which had been received from the North by the last flag of truce was commenced in another part of the large room in which the prisoners are confined, but even this attraction did not draw off many from the divine influence which the reverend father was exercising over them.
