O Chaplain, My Chaplain

Joined
Jan 24, 2017
Chaplains played an integral part in the Civil War ministering to soldiers on both sides.

One was a white woman who ministered to Union soldiers.
Another a black man who ministered to Confederate soldiers.

Here are their stories:

Ellen E. Hobart
'The chaplaincy also produced some unexpected firsts during America’s bloodiest war. To the Union belongs the distinction of authorizing the first female military chaplain. After first receiving encouragement from President Lincoln upon expressing a desire to become an Army chaplain, Mrs. Ellen E. Hobart did not receive the same welcome from Secretary of War Edwin Stanton--despite a signed note of approval from Lincoln himself. Though Hobart was an ordained minister and married to a regimental chaplain, Stanton bristled at the notion, stating he did not want to “set a precedent” and then bluntly refused Hobart’s petition.[11] But Hobart, coming from a rather liberal theological background, had been trained to challenge traditional notions of Christian service and dogma.[12] She continued to work with various Christian aid societies on behalf of soldiers and eventually won the support of Wisconsin Governor, James T. Lewis. After obtaining the endorsement of several other ministers, as well as gaining the confidence of a number of Union soldiers, Ella Hobart was elected chaplain of the 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery on November 22, 1864, thus becoming the first female chaplain in the United States military. Governor Lewis later recanted his original support and refused to commission her, “if Stanton won’t muster you” and the war ended with Hobart’s status in limbo. After several years of political wrangling, Congress would eventually pass a joint resolution on March 3, 1869 that authorized Hobart’s right to receive the full pay and recognition of a U.S. Army chaplain.'

http://www.essentialcivilwarcurriculum.com/chaplains-in-the-civil-war.html

Louis Napoleon Nelson
To the Confederacy also belongs a first in the history of military chaplains—the first black man known to minister to white soldiers. The September 10, 1863 issue of The Religious Herald, recounted how a Tennessee regiment was having difficulty securing a chaplain to conduct religious services for its soldiers. A slave in the regiment known by the men as “Uncle Lewis” enjoyed a reputation among the men of being devout. He was asked to fill in temporarily and conduct a worship service.

The soldiers were so pleased with his service that they asked him to continue to serve as their chaplain from the spring of 1862 until the close of the war, during which time the regiment experiences two revivals. The Religious Herald correspondent describing the services wrote, “He is heard with respectful attention, and for earnestness, zeal, and sincerity, can be surpassed by none.” To this Tennessee regiment, as well as the reporter who wrote the story, the service of their black chaplain was “a matter of pride.”[13]

Uncle Lewis’s full name was Louis Napoleon Nelson and he served with Company M, 7th Tennessee Cavalry, which was part of Nathan Bedford Forrest’s command. According to Nelson’s grandson, Nelson Winbush, his grandfather told him that a number of Yankee soldiers once joined the Tennesseans during a worship service and, after its conclusion, “all shook hands and went back to fighting.”[14]

http://www.essentialcivilwarcurriculum.com/chaplains-in-the-civil-war.html
 
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I'm going to bump this thread today after some further reading as part of the contributions to Black History Month.

What I don't want is another argument about 'black confederates', but a consideration of the role this man played as Chaplain to Forrest's troops. He is clearly identified as a 'slave' in the OP and there is no suggestion he fought, though his duties are not specifically stated as cook or servant. The acknowledgement that he was a slave indicates that he was serving in some capacity, and we know he was a body servant to his 'master's fighting with Forrest in that unit. So, the focus here is not on black confederates, but chaplaincy and the extraordinary role this man played as part of the make up of Forrest's 7th Tennessee Cavalry.

I wonder what other people think about his possible role as a Chaplain to Forrest's troops. Once again, not about fighting with them, but rather ministering to them.

Also giving another 'hat tip' to Ellen E. Hobart, first female chaplain in the United States Military. A service to be recognized.
 
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