When soldiers in the Civil War called on their religious beliefs in
order to cope with the horrors of battle, many looked to the
regimental chaplain for guidance and understanding. Clergy were
always present to address the spiritual needs of the common soldier
and administer to the wounded and dying. But as Warren Armstrong
shows, military chaplains provided more than comfort.
In a country profoundly shaped by religion, each side adapted
its version of Christianity to support its political views. This
book documents the role played by Union chaplains in making better
soldiers and supporting the North's military efforts. These
ministers in uniform focused on preserving the Union and reminding
soldiers that slavery was the central issue in the war, preaching
the righteousness of abolition in services held in the mud of
campgrounds, and often serving as advocates for freedmen.
Armstrong has drawn on a wide range of documents to explain the
duties of Union chaplains and differentiate them from their
Southern counterparts. He examines the organization of the
chaplaincy and reviews its manuals for guidelines on such matters
as cultivating desirable character traits and building makeshift
churches. He also sheds light on the personalities of the men who
served, examines their attitudes toward the war, and assesses their
unofficial role as morale officers for the Union army.
Wherever possible, Armstrong uses chaplains' letters, diaries,
and written reports to explain their thoughts and actions in their
own words. His book is narrative history with a richly human
element, including such episodes as a chaplain who took a fallen
soldier's place and died in battle and two chaplains of different
faiths who slept together for warmth on a cold winter night at
Fredericksburg.
Before the Civil War, the need for a military chaplaincy had
been challenged on the grounds of separation of church and state,
but the valiant service of chaplains during that conflict helped
prove their worth and establish a lasting military tradition. In
relating their story, Armstrong's work faithfully documents the
contributions chaplains made both to the Union victory and to the
form that victory took.
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