Chaplain question

[RevMrClean]

So, I am the new chaplain for our artillery battery, and we had an interesting discussion to which no one had a certain answer.

Since the chaplain carried the rank of captain, but was a bit different than other captains in the army ... Where would the chaplain form during dress parade, assembly, etc.?

 

[jepridgen]

I'll dig out a manual to see if a chaplain is mentioned, but he should fall in with all "special" regimental staff (quartermaster, orderly, surgeon, etc.). When in line of battle, all those staff members would be behind and to the left of the colonel in the rear of the firing line. I'll let you know if chaplain gets a mention if someone else doesn't find it first.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

Very interesting question and info!
Thanks!

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Since the chaplain carried the rank of captain, but was a bit different than other captains in the army ... Where would the chaplain form during dress parade, assembly, etc.?

My best guess is that it would normally be at the discretion of the individual (with unit commander concurrence) who performed the official role of unit chaplain, regardless of whether that chaplain held rank.

Two snippets of information found, involving Confederate chaplains, might provide some indications for resolving this.

Sam Watkins, 1st TN (CSA), in his memoirs ('Co. Aytch' reprint, at p.106), refers to the appointed chaplain of his regiment, Charles Quintard, choosing to march and carry his knapsack daily through the whole of the war, just like any other soldier. (Presumably, his willingness to share in the ordinary soldier's toil and plight might have reasonably extended to falling in with the ranks during dress parades and at assemblies too, unless he was otherwise occupied conducting ministerial duties).

Similarly, the assigned chaplain to the 49th TN (CSA), James McNeilly, went through the war experiencing the same burdens as ordinary soldiers, which included going into combat. When Hood deployed his troops for the assault at Franklin, McNeilly decided to join the assembled line and move forward with the litter bearers behind the advancing infantry, exposing himself to enemy fire like his comrades. ('Confederate Veteran': Vol. 26, at p.117).

Although both of these unit chaplains mentioned did not appear to hold a military rank, thought they typically chose to join in formations with the rank-and-file of their own volition, in order to gain the necessary respect, trust and approval of fellow soldiers that they dealt with. Don't think a worn rank would have made any difference to this freedom of choice exercised by such individuals performing these special roles (unless, alternatively, their unit commanders insisted on select positions within set formations).

 

[EHParks]

All I knows is Chaplain's Hours start at Nine a.m. which is what my Army Dad would tell us kids whenever we whined about something.

 

[7thWisconsin]

There isn´t any precise location indicated in any drill manual I´ve ever seen but since he was listed in the regimental muster right below the surgeon, I believe he would fall in with the surgeon and assistant surgeon. There´s a photo of a Federal regiment drawn up for parade and with the surgeon is an older gentleman in a plain frock coat with cloth buttons. He has grey mutton chops and a tall hat, if anyone is looking for the photo. I believe that´s the chaplain.

 

[Bradley]

Most of the chaplains I have researched were habitually absent, and so I wonder if they had any idea, either.

 

[7thWisconsin]

Most of the chaplains I have researched were habitually absent, and so I wonder if they had any idea, either.

They probably didn´t! They didn´t think of themselves as officers, but as clergy. There was at least one chaplain who interpreted the order to appear in ful dress as meaning that he should turn out in full clerical robes. They received no orientation or training, and their only official duty was to report to the commander from time to time on the spiritual and moral condition of the command. Without throwing rocks at the chaplain corps (I was a US army chaplain after all), the Civil War chaplaincy was far from the most professional version of the branch. Many chaplains wouldn´t have known that they perhaps should stand in a regimental formation, and many commanders would have been just as happy if they didn´t.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

My best guess is that it would normally be at the discretion of the individual (with unit commander concurrence) who performed the official role of unit chaplain, regardless of whether that chaplain held rank.

Two snippets of information found, involving Confederate chaplains, might provide some indications for resolving this.

Sam Watkins, 1st TN (CSA), in his memoirs ('Co. Aytch' reprint, at p.106), refers to the appointed chaplain of his regiment, Charles Quintard, choosing to march and carry his knapsack daily through the whole of the war, just like any other soldier. (Presumably, his willingness to share in the ordinary soldier's toil and plight might have reasonably extended to falling in with the ranks during dress parades and at assemblies too, unless he was otherwise occupied conducting ministerial duties).

Similarly, the assigned chaplain to the 49th TN (CSA), James McNeilly, went through the war experiencing the same burdens as ordinary soldiers, which included going into combat. When Hood deployed his troops for the assault at Franklin, McNeilly decided to join the assembled line and move forward with the litter bearers behind the advancing infantry, exposing himself to enemy fire like his comrades. ('Confederate Veteran': Vol. 26, at p.117).

Although both of these unit chaplains mentioned did not appear to hold a military rank, thought they typically chose to join in formations with the rank-and-file of their own volition, in order to gain the necessary respect and approval of fellow soldiers that they dealt with. Don't think a worn rank would have made any difference to this freedom of choice exercised by such individuals with special roles (unless, alternatively, their unit commanders insisted on select positions within set formations).

Good informational finds!
Thanks for sharing!

 

[7thWisconsin]

The organization of chaplains was completely different in the Confederate forces than in Federal forces. Confederate chaplains were sent as missionaries by their home congregations associations or organizations, and really had the freedom to attach themselves to a command almost as they desired. Federal chaplains needed a letter of recommendation from the commander of a unit with a vacancy. There were Federal uniform regulations, although they were often ignored; there really weren´t any for Confederates. Chaplains, in general, were kind of doing their own thing with little supervision.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Good informational finds!
Thanks for sharing!

You are most welcome.

 

[drezac]

It's hard to tell exactly where a Chaplain would be. Since they are at a regimental level. However, since most artillery batteries in a regiment were scattered to the 4 winds, I have wondered exactly what the regimental level of a battery would be doing as far as commanding the battery. For Example, the 1st Ohio Light Artillery had batteries scattered in both the east and west, and many times a battery did not serve with another battery of the 1st Ohio Light Artillery. I'm not sure exactly how or to what level the regimental staff commanded a battery since they were so scattered.

 

[jepridgen]

It's hard to tell exactly where a Chaplain would be. Since they are at a regimental level. However, since most artillery batteries in a regiment were scattered to the 4 winds, I have wondered exactly what the regimental level of a battery would be doing as far as commanding the battery. For Example, the 1st Ohio Light Artillery had batteries scattered in both the east and west, and many times a battery did not serve with another battery of the 1st Ohio Light Artillery. I'm not sure exactly how or to what level the regimental staff commanded a battery since they were so scattered.

Seems like there was another thread on that a little while ago. I think the only time a battalion or regiment was raised and kept it's batteries was the Washington Artillery of New Orleans. Even they had one battery raised later on that stayed in the west.

If I remember correctly, someone brought up that many of these "commands" were either in name only or given as political appointments by governors with no intentions of being an operational unit. Artillery regiments really only made sense pre-war regular army as administrative HQs to oversee batteries spread across the country. They really didn't seem to have a real purpose during the war.

 

[Bradley]

Confederate chaplains were sent as missionaries by their home congregations associations or organizations, and really had the freedom to attach themselves to a command almost as they desired. Federal chaplains needed a letter of recommendation from the commander of a unit with a vacancy. There were Federal uniform regulations, although they were often ignored; there really weren´t any for Confederates. Chaplains, in general, were kind of doing their own thing with little supervision.

Confederate Chaplains could only receive their commissions with a vacancy in the regiment, letters of recommendation, and congressional approval.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Think the issue became for anyone performing in the dual roles of cleric and soldier, the duties of which role prevailed. Thought this was a personal choice exercised by the individual involved.

Can recall Leonidas Polk managed to keep both roles separate, performing as both an Episcopalian Bishop and a L-G in the Confederate Army. (Polk saw his duties as a 'bishop who took up arms').