Chaplains During the Civil War

The Chaplains position during the Civil War was a much broader position than it is by today's standards.  The Chaplain Corps did not even exist in the Northern army until President Lincoln declared that religious guidance for the soldiers was needed.  Chaplains in the Southern army were chosen from those that were qualified, as most volunteered to be soldiers for the southern cause.  But in most instances there were too few pastors to fill positions for regiments so local pastors and churches would fill the need where ever the army was encamped.

Religious belief was very important to soldiers on both sides of the Civil War and played a large part in the soldier's life.  It was very important then that the military leaders meet the needs of their soldiers.  Both sides of this conflict met this need in a number of different ways; from creating a Corps to allowing pastors to come from local churches to meet the soldier's needs.

First we take a look at the Chaplain in service to the United States army, or the Northern army.  President Lincoln realized early on that there was a need for religious support among the troops.  He also realized that the way the military had been meeting these needs was inadequate, so for the first time in American military history, a Corps was formed specifically to meet this need of the soldiers.  Chaplains had served the needs of the military from the foundations of the military, but they were never recognized as part of the military.  Chaplains had served as volunteers and were not paid for the work that they did.  Now under President Lincoln, Chaplains would be recognized as part of the military and would also be paid for their work.  Because of their jobs and importance, Chaplains were given recognized rank as a commissioned officer on staff.  This meant that they were not able to lead troops on the battlefield, yet many chaplains felt such passion for the cause that as few as 100 were killed bearing arms for the North.

The Confederate State of America, or the Southern army, had chaplains serving as well.  The difference was that most of the men volunteered to serve in the army, therefore there many ordained pastors who were serving in the ranks.  The approach for meeting the needs in the Southern army was very different, as was the evidence of the religious beliefs in both armies.  Chaplains were chosen by the men in the regiments, there was no specified rank for chaplains.  But many chaplains were serving as officers already.  Many of those who were pastors gave up their call to serve a church to serve in the military, one example is General Pope who was an Episcopal Bishop but he gave up that position to serve the Southern cause.  Even though most gave up their posts to serve most of the congregations did not accept their departures as permanent, but allowed them to return to there posts of service to their congregations.

The uniforms of the Chaplains on both sides were quite different and changed as the war progressed.  In the North since the Chaplains were not fully incorporated into the army they originally had no uniform issued.  Because this was the case most Chaplains wore their regular civilian or clerical clothing, which was very plain to begin with.  As they followed the army they would get what they could to replace things that wore out; this meant that many Chaplains looked like they had a rag tag uniform.  Once they were fully incorporated into the military records they did receive officer's uniforms and an allotment.

Chaplains in the Southern army were quite different.  Most wore the uniform of the regiment that they were serving either as an enlisted man or as an officer.  If preachers were serving in more than one regiment as a circuit preacher, they wore a recognized uniform to be recognized at a distance.  They would also be issued papers proving their position and purpose.  Many if not most Chaplains served as staff officers in another position as well as chaplain.  

Since the clothing for the Chaplains in the North changed it was important that they had proper marking for identification.  At the start many Chaplains wore their everyday suit, but would have some sort of marking that they would wear.  Some wore the regimental designation on the lapel or pocket of their coat with a cross.  Some had shoulder boards of rank with a cross in the center.  Many others wore an emblem on their hats.  The common emblem that Chaplains wore was a cross surrounded by oak clusters on an oval patch of black velvet material.  In the South most Chaplains were known simply because they were elected, so they had no significant emblem worn.  Many of the same marking practices of crosses were recognized by both sides.

Most of the uniforms that the Chaplains wore, once they were incorporated, were of the same style as those of the regiments they were serving.  This was of the same styles for both the North and the South.  Most uniforms consisted of a sack or frock coat, shirt, vest, cravat (bow tie), trousers, socks and brogans and some form of head wear.  The head wear could be a bummer hat, a kepi, a Hardee hat or even a straw hat.  Other items they would have would be a haversack to carry all their small personal items, a canteen, a belt to wear; usually for dress; even a black silk sash; also for dress occasions.  In the South the style is the similar, yet most Chaplains were serving as soldiers so their extra items would consist of a cartridge box, a primer pouch, their weapon and probably a bayonet or sword.

The main job of the chaplains was to give spiritual guidance and support to the individual soldiers; this was the same for both sides.  But the Chaplains did so much more.  Because of the education of most Chaplains, they ended acting in many capacities for the soldiers he was serving.  The Chaplain was everything from a banker helping to keep and track each soldiers pay.  He was the family communicator; reading soldier's letters from home or writing letters for the soldiers to send home.  He was the one the soldiers trusted about anybody else and they did their best not to let them down.  There was also one last job the Chaplain did when there was time, he served as a teacher so soldiers could learn to read and write.

As one can see the Chaplain was a different position than what it is in today's military.  Yet we can see that the Chaplain was very important to the life of the common soldier, regardless of the side.  The Chaplain was the the one person that probably had the most to be responsible for and they did it all with gladness and humility for the sake of each soldier's needs.

Jon Baker

May 20, 2012

 References

The Spirit Divided: Memoirs of Civil War Chaplains: The Confederacy

            Brinsfield, John Wesley, Jr.

Civil War Reenactors Encyclopedia

            Davis,William C.

Answering the Call: The Story of the U.S. Military Chaplaincy From the Revolution Through the Civil War

            Dickens, William E. Jr.

Uniforms of the American Civil War

            Haythornthwaite, Philip J

The Spirit Divided: Memoirs of Civil War Chaplains: The Union

            Maryniak, Benedict R.

Chaplains in Gray

            Pitts, Charles F.