Revivals in CS Army

[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