Revivals in CS Army

[Rmhisteach]

I am doing research on the Revials in the CS army. I was wondering what resources are out there. Any information is appreciated.

Rod Miller

[Emmanuel Dabney]

A host of books have been written on the subject of religion and the war or incorporate religion and war:

Addicott, Jeffrey F. "Values and Religion in the Confederate Armies." Confederate Veteran. Hattiesburg, MS: November‑December 1990, pp. 28‑38.

Bradford, M.E. "The Theology of Secession." Southern Partisan. Vol. XI. Columbia, SC: Fourth Quarter 1991, pp. 20‑25.

Jones, J. William. Christ in the Camp; or Religion in Lee's Army. Richmond: B.F. Johnson & Co., 1887.

Dollar, Kent T. Soldiers of the Cross: Confederate Soldier-Christians and the Impact of War on Their Faith. Mercer University Press, 2005.

Glatthaar, Joseph. General Lee's Army: From Victory to Collapse. Free Press, 2008.

Carmichael, Peter S. The Last Generation: Young Virginians in Peace, War, and Reunion. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2005.

[Pvt. Middleton]

Bell Irvin Wiley's "Life of Johnny Reb" references the religious/spiritual movements of the Confederate Army very well. You should give it a look.

Hope that could help some.

[bAcK88]

Woodworth, Steven E. "While God Is Marching on: The Religiouis World of Civil War Soldiers." University Press of Kansas, 2003.

A bit dry at times, but in my opinion, the best academic book on the subject.

BB

[boozie]

Daniel Larry J. "Soldiering In The Army of Tennessee" University of North Carolina Press, 1991

Chapter 8; The Army of Tennessee is the Army of the Lord.

[MO-Pard]

Rod-

There is a great book about the 9th Tennessee (who were eventually Brigaded with the 6th) detailing an account of a religious service in which a tree fell on the congregation killing & maiming. I'll retrieve the author and title off my shelf this evening. Like many of the AoT and Missouri Brigade units (see their battle flag), the 9th were deeply Religious.

Best Regards

[Benedict]

Glatthaar also deals with the topic of religion and revivals in a chapter in his book on the Army of Northern Virginia, General Lee's Army: From Victory to Defeat.

[Rmhisteach]

Good info thus far . I may also contact my freind Alan Farley with RMJC and see what he might have for me.

RM

[BumpusTN]

The book about the 9th is The Confederate 9th Tennessee Infantry by James R. Flemming. Soldiering in The Army of Tennessee by Larry Daniels is excellent.

Take care Rob,
Scott Bumpus

[stubbynick]

"The Great Revival In The Confederate Armies" by William W. Bennett,D.D.
published by Sprinkle Publications, Harrisonburg,Virginia, 1976.

Originally published in 1876 under the title:" A Narrative Of The Great Revival Which Prevailed In The Southern Armies During The Late Civil War Between The States Of The Federal Union"

William W. Bennett,D.D. was Superintendant of "The Soldier's Tract Association," and a Chaplain in the Confederate Army.

Gerald Smolik
Co. A, 4th Va. Inf.
ANV

[just4fun63]

Bell Irvin Wiley's "Life of Johnny Reb" references the religious/spiritual movements of the Confederate Army very well. You should give it a look.


I just finished re-reading this book, some interesting points.Worth a look

[Johann Van De Leeuw]

"Christ in the Camp" by J. William Jones, is definitely a must read!

[yeoman]

Sir, I will pass this along and hope it may help in your pursuit. This is a personal diary which is concise and is a somewhat telling work. I found his regiment was brigaded with my wife's great grandfather's regiment which brought his experience a bit closer to us.
"Experience of a Confederate Chaplain, 1861-1864" Rev. A.D.Betts, Chaplain 30th N.C. Troops.
http://docsouth.unc.edu/fpn/betts/betts.html

[Rmhisteach]

Excellent!

[chaplain]

The National Civil War Chaplain's Museum may be a good contact for you: http://www.chaplainsmuseum.org/default.html

[Pritchett Ball]

The Gray Winter of 1864 in Dalton by Darrell C. Roberts (Dalton College)

Distributed by Whitfield-Murray Historical Society
715 Chattanooga Ave.
Dalton, Georgia 30720

Tells of the revivals in the AoT camped there in the Winter of 1863-64.

Kevin Dally

[GermanDraftee]

To the above titles I'll add Robert J. Miller's Both Prayed to the Same God, 2007, Lexington Books. Chapter 12 deals specifically with revivals. The Further reading recommendations at the end of each chapter, as well as the notes and bibliography, may be even more helpful.

[boozie]

This covers revivals, prayer meetings (soldiers & civilian) etc. during the war. I know the title has been posted above, but it can be read on line.

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text;jsessionid=879EA1291F79D7224E9E05580A0DC393?d oc=Perseus%3atext%3a2001.05.0163

[yeoman]

Sir, here is a link you may find useful, Christian History: Revivals in the Camp.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/holidays/memorial/features/33h028.html
This may not be specifically C.S.Army.
I would believe at these times of revival with the prayers in both camps offered to the same creator, their common experiences and feelings would likewise be shared.

[J. Donaldson]

You might wish to look into these titles as well:

Harry S. Stout, "Upon the Altar of the Nation: A Moral History of the Civil War". New York; Penguin. 2006.

Randall M. Miller, Harry S. Stout, and Charles Reagan Wilson, eds. "Religion and the American Civil War". New York: Oxford University Press. 1998.

Mark A. Noll. "The Civil War as a Theological Crisis". Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press. 2006.

On a tangential note, a new work has been published on religion in the Federal armies. It is:

David Rolfs. "No Peace for the Wicked: Northern Protestant Soldiers and the American Civil War". Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press. 2009.

[Prodical Reb]

From "Letters to Amanda" letters from Marion Hill Fitzpatrick to His wife Amanda. He joined the 45th Georgia Militia, Co K in April '62.

Letter dated Dec 8th '64 near Petersburg.
"They have built a rude log church in our camp and we have preaching regular and prayer meeting nearly every night. We started a bible class last Sunday which is quite interesting and I hope will do much good."

Jan 1st '65, near Petersburg;
Our preacher has gone home on furlough but prayer meeting every night is still kept up and sometimes in the day. The meeting has been going on everyday for three weeksnowand a good many have joined. five joined since our chaplain left. We have gotten uo a bible class that is quite interesting. We had a lesson this evening.

footnote by the compiler: The ANV experiencced a powerful awakening of religious practice during the winter of 64-65. The desperate nature of the CS cause and the settled conditions of the siege lines helped make this possible. see Bell Irvin Wiley's "Life of Johnny Reb, the common soldier of the Confederacy and Gardiner H. Shattuck, Jr., A Sheild and a Hiding Place: The Religious life of the Civil war Armies

[Pvt Schnapps]

Bell Irvin Wiley also tries to put the phenomenon of revivals into an overall context. Thinking of the army as a whole over the entire course of the war, he concludes his discussion of Johnny Reb’s religion with the statement that “…a majority of Confederates made no profession of faith and had no church affiliation.”

[yeoman]

Sir, I found this of interest and hope you may find it to be useful. If I may quote, "The Confederates Get Religion."

"Camp Roper, Va. Feb. 20, 1863.

My dear friend: I hear that a great religious spirit and revival is spreading throughout Lee's army, and some of the other armies of the South, and there are some evidences of it here, and in other camps about Richmond. Old professors that had become lukewarm in their zeal, are arousing to a sense of their duty, and many of the openly sinful are growing more temperate and reverent in their conversation and regard for religious things. There is less of cursing and profligacy, and much less card playing in our Company now than formerly. The voice of prayer is often heard in camp among the men, and many commands now have regular, or at least, occasional, preaching. Many ministers have gone out as evangelists to the armies, and some have gone into the ranks as private soldiers, or have become regular chaplains in some command. Their example and teaching are exerting a wide-spread and salutary influence. Rev. J.W.Ward, of Isle of Wight, has preached to our Company once recently, and other ministers hold meetings near us occasionally.
Almost nightly, before the tatoo is sounded, we hear the voice of song in our camp, religious and revival songs and hymns. There are several men here who will sing well, and these assemble together and pass an hour or two together at night very pleasantly. Sergeant N.B.Ponds tent is headquarters for these exercises, and doubtless, to some extant, this method of praise and prayer is doing good here and toning down some of the rougher vices of the men. May it lead finally to a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all the armies, and all the people of all the South. A soldier may fight and be religious and God-fearing man, too.
But let me tell you of a little incident that has taken place in our camp lately--one of the little comedies, not altogether innocent, but wholly harmless, that are occasionally happening and which serve as safety-valves to let off the superfluous steam engendered by the life of confinement and idleness in camp.
One of the songs that were being sung quite frequently, almost nightly in fact, by our religious choir was that somewhat eccentric refrain:

"Scotland's burning! Scotland's burning!
Cast on water! Cast on water!"

and so some of the prankish set among our boys conceived the idea of turning a little joke on the men in Sergeant Ponds tent. As a few of the tents had been fixed up with rude dirt chimneys for fireplaces, and sergeant Ponds was one of these, it gave the boys a fine chance to play their game. And so one night, one of the smallest among the men, with a bucket of water in hand, was lifted up by a big, strong fellow to the top of the little stick chimney. And just as the choir rang out the alarm,

"Scotland's burning!
Cast on the water!"

the little fellow on the chimney cast his bucket of water down upon the fire inside, which deluged the whole fireplace, put out the fire, and scattered the embers in every direction.
Of course, too, it put a sudden stop to the song, and sent the men quickly out of the tent after the offenders. But not in time to discover who they were. Before they were fairly out of the tent, the boys had gained their own bunks, and were enjoying the fun at a distance.
The choir soon saw the joke, and, as they could do no more, submitted quietly. But it is presumed that nothing more will be heard of, "Scotland's burning" for some time.

With a prayer for your continued safety and welfare at home, I remain,
Your friend, B.Jones."
"Under the stars and bars"

This may be found here http://www.civilwarhome.com/religion.htm

Source:"The Blue and The Gray" by Henry Steele Commanger