Chaplains and Combat

[RebelHeart]

A recent discussion with a local "Civil War historian" revealed something to me that I had not heard in such blunt terms before: Chaplains in many (or most, as he explained it) units actually engaged in the combat itself. I'll admit that I never really gave the matter a great deal of thought nor do I recall having ever read anything that suggested one way or the other.

Can anyone further enlighten me on the matter or provide some references to support whether the chaplains did or didn't fight?

 

[huskerblitz]

I can't add any info to your topic of real fighting but Chaplain Sumner of the 22nd Kentucky did his fighting with some decent fiery rhetoric in area newspapers.

 

[alan polk]

Great question. I suspect the issue of whether they fought or not rested with them alone. I've read where in one battle an old Sutler (in his 60s) decided one day to take a musket and join in a fight. I suspect true Chaplains had the same option.

 

[General Casey]

Chaplain Arthur Fuller of the 16th Massachusetts was killed on December 11, 1862 while with the 19th Massachusetts during the street fighting at Fredericksburg. He had actually been discharged the day before for health reasons but had stayed knowing a battle was imminent.

 

[JOHN42768]

I would guess as a non combatant he would not be carrying a firearm, same as a doctor. A lot of doctors did carry. So maybe some chaplains did also. As to weather or not they actually were engaged in battle, I somehow doubt that they were involved.

 

[7thWisconsin]

Chaplains were not officially considered noncombatants, and many wore a side arm, often a sword. This was also a symbol of rank. Chaplains often followed their regiments directly into combat, sometimes co-locating with the surgeon, but also sometimes engaging in combat itself. The chaplain of the Berdan's sharpshooters was a renowned shot, and dropped a Confederate at long range, I believe, at Chancellorsville. There was a Rhode Island chaplain named Samson who captured several Confederates. There was no official policy to prohibit chaplains from bearing arms at the time, and their duties were somewhat ill-defined.