When goals agree but solutions don't

[BCS1973]

Of late I've been reading the diary of R.C. priest Father James Sheeran, chaplain of the 14th Louisiana regiment. It's an interesting read (and only about 500 pages) as he covers not only his beliefs, actions, and feelings, but his movements with the regiment through his years in the field. To me the passage below conveys sentiments that could be said by people on either side. From his diary on Sept 6, 1862 in Maryland:

"...The surrounding country, the neighbouring hills, the distant Blue Ridge were all to me old acquaintances. My numerous trips...the pleasant scenes of my college days, the once happy state of our country..., all presented themselves to my imagination. I grieve to think that a Union, which was once the political idol of my soul, was now shattered forever and lying the bleeding victim of religious fanatics and political demagogues."

For better or worse, Father Sheeran was an imperfect man of his time and staunch Confederate who spent most of his pre-war American life in New York, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.

 

[JackADriscoll]

How does he change as the war starts going against them?

 

[BCS1973]

How does he change as the war starts going against them?

I'm not far enough along to tell for sure, but I don't think his political views do. It doubt his religious views change either. I also think his primary goal was the salvation of souls and while his political and social views (right or wrong) are very strong but still secondary to him. I say this because he administered to Catholics of both armies when called upon. At one point he also attempted to convince unbaptized protestant confederate deserters slated for execution to at least let him baptize them at the last minute. Later, he laments the fact that Protestant chaplains talked the soldiers out of it. In Sheeran's eyes the protestant chaplains condemned those soldiers to hell. He's a complex man and an interesting subject. Perhaps ironically, after the war, he was assigned to be a pastor at a parish in New Jersey.

 

[JackADriscoll]

I'm not far enough along to tell for sure, but I don't think his political views do. It doubt his religious views change either. I also think his primary goal was the salvation of souls and while his political and social views (right or wrong) are very strong but still secondary to him. I say this because he administered to Catholics of both armies when called upon. At one point he also attempted to convince unbaptized protestant confederate deserters slated for execution to at least let him baptize them at the last minute. Later, he laments the fact that Protestant chaplains talked the soldiers out of it. In Sheeran's eyes the protestant chaplains condemned those soldiers to hell. He's a complex man and an interesting subject. Perhaps ironically, after the war, he was assigned to be a pastor at a parish in New Jersey.

Interesting. I bet he took that in stride. Let us know how he evolves

 

[Nathan Stuart]

At one point he also attempted to convince unbaptized protestant confederate deserters slated for execution to at least let him baptize them at the last minute. Later, he laments the fact that Protestant chaplains talked the soldiers out of it. In Sheeran's eyes the protestant chaplains condemned those soldiers to hell.

Interesting to read about these accounts of various religion exponents practicing their differences in the field.

Wonder to what extent, and in what tangible ways (illustrated by case studies), religious prejudices and discrimination were manifest both inter (between) and intra (within) Federal regiments during the CW.