American History

According to Geoffrey Barraclough et al the American Civil War served as a religious shock to the people of America. They believed that the country was an ideal place. Mormons actually claimed that it would become Christs earthly kingdom. Now people Of many different denominations suddenly found themselves at war, with death and destruction all around.  From their various pulpits preachers were proclaiming that the war was a punishment for sins committed. There were a few who believed that it had come about as a judgment upon them because of the racial injustice the country allowed and promoted. On both sides of the divide men were encouraged to fight for what was right  whatever that was perceived to be.

Pro-slavery
Any discussion about the American Civil War must include the subject of slavery as the various strongly held beliefs about this subject were ultimately the cause. Pro-slavery was the position held by many southerners. Steven Woodworth,quotes from Samuel Hill Jrs 1980 book  in which he argues that Southern churches vigorously supported the pro-slavery, position. This was so much so that as war became inevitable, religious leaders in the South convinced themselves that their side was the more Christian. They could of course refer to the New Testament within whose pages slavery is never condemned, but accepted as part of the status quo of the time. At the same time it states that slaves are equal with other people before God as in Paul s letter to the Colossians Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Religion North and South
According to Bruce Gourley northerners believed that religious belief should have a wider effect upon society, whereas in the south people believed in personal piety, a literal interpretation of the scriptures and thought very little about addressing problems in wider society. He says that while in the north they followed what they thought was the spirit of the Bible, the southerners took a more literal view of the scriptures. A similar point was made by C.C.Goen in 1985 (Broken Churches, Broken Nations) who said that American churches of the time, especially  in the South had an overemphasis on individual religion linked with inadequate ideas about society. These diverse ideas were in conflict. The Bible allowed for slavery but also gave judgment on those  who abused where the slave-master relationship. Deuteronomy 15 reminds the Israelites that they had once been slaves and urges them to treat their bondservants fairly.

Personal Religion
The idea that religion was a personal thing is shown in this prayer found on the body of a Confederate soldier-
I asked God for strength, that I might achieve, I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.   I asked God for health, that I might do greater things,I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy,I was given poverty, that I might be wise.                             
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.                                                                          
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.                     I got nothing that I asked for - but everything I had hoped for.                                                           Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am among men, most richly blessed.
Even in the midst of War time was found for religious activities. A Baptist pastor of the time wrote-
It is now more thoroughly understood, that the love of Christ in the heart will constrain the life, not merely to acts of sobriety, temperance and godliness, but to a self-sacrificing zeal in good works.
 A son writes to his mother  for instance and describes going to church, which was presumably something he chose to do rather than under orders.  The young man ( his name is partly illegible ) likens  the north as much justifiable for Supporting this war as the pious Catholics were for supporting the Inquisition. .He also cites how northerners believed that what they described as southern rebellion as being akin to witchcraft.

Caring for spiritual needs
Records are sketchy, but it is believed that there were some 600-1000 Confederate chaplains with the task of supplying the spiritual needs of the southern soldiers according to John Melnick. Gordon Leidner points out that the Confederate administration were more interested in men who would fight than in providing  enough chaplains. All these chaplains were ordained ministers and received the same salary as a serving captain. Often they wore similar uniforms. Melnick describes how these chaplains included Roman Catholic priests and also Jewish and black chaplains, though it is unclear whether or not he is referring to only northerners. He describes how services were held wherever needed, whether in the open air or in some suitable building. These services were often ecumenical with several chaplains taking part. .Sermons seem often to have been on themes such as patriotism or  against such evil behavior such as gambling and  drunkeness.  The chaplains also officiated at such life changing ceremonies as marriages , baptisms and of course funerals. weddings, baptisms, funerals and burials. They also counselled in a pastorla way, offering guidance an dcomfort, specially to those who were wounded and far from home. Temperance societies were set up and the illiterate taught to read and write. They were also, as educated men, the letter writers, often being the person responsible for informing families of the wounding or death of their son.  were those of postmaster, writer of letters for wounded and dying soldiers, writer of letters telling of a soldiers death. They also acted as bankers and when required, served as defence counselors.

Justification
Edward Ayers  in 1999 cites Stout and Grasso who quote the Southern motto as God will Avenge. They seemed to have been absolutely certain of the rightness of their cause. Ayers says that , speaking of soldiers on both sides, Religion lay at the heart of who Americans were, even as they killed one another in unthinkable numbers The men and their chaplains and ministers on both sides used the  Scriptures  to prove themselves to be in the right. Stout and Grasso believe that southern religion was shaped by the events of the war and turned it into the evangelistic, individual heart centered religion that it became. The soldiers looked to God to help them in what they saw as their righteous cause. It was not just the ordinary soldiers however. Their leaders included men of god too. In July 1862 Thomas( Stonewall) Jackson, whose biographer says of him that his religion could not be separated from his military career,  said -

Without Gods blessing I look for no success, and for every success my prayer is, that all the glory may be given unto Him to whom it is properly due. If people would but give all the glory to God and regard his creatures as but unworthy instruments my heart would rejoice. Alas too frequently the praise is bestowed upon the creature.

Revival
America had already gone through what is described as The Second Great Awakening .which had lasted from the late 18th century until the 1840s so only barely in the memory of most Confederate soldiers. Also it had been mainly the concern of Methodists and Baptists according to the Encyclopedia Virginia.. Revivals aamong the fighting forces  took different forms. Steven Woodworth describes how  in 1862 a Georgia soldier  then serving in Virginia wrote about large, enthusiastic, often highly demonstrative religious services. There was evidently a strong religious movement in progress. In many regiments this  was  characterized by prayer meetings each night  as well as an increase in individual Bible reading. Approximately ten percent of the soldiers in the Army of Northern Virginia accepted Christ according to J. William Jones. Night after night troops participated in prayer meetings, worshipped, and listened to ministers proclaim the good news. As Jones describe it virtually every gathering ended with soldiers coming forward to accept Christ or receive prayer. When a pond or river was nearby, the soldiers would frequently step forward for baptisms--regardless of how cold the weather was.

Everyday Life
Most soldiers were quite young , and were farm boys  less than 21 year old. The youngest was only 9 according to American Civil War A Soldiers Life.Few would have travelled very far before. Now they found themselves far from home  and family.They found the diet poor and shelter inadequate. Drink however seems to have been  freely available . One Confederate soldier has been quoted as saying If the South is overthrown, the epitaph should be died of whiskey.

 When not fighting a soldiers time  was mostly spent in  drill and finding ways to fight boredom. There were the necessary pastimes such as cooking making meals, washing the laundry, cutting wood for fires and cooking and, for the literate, writing letters home. Gambling of various kinds, and portable games such as cards, dominoes, as well as singsongs and stories round the fire occupied some of the time.

In the midst of war people were still concerned about ordinary things  the fruit crops, the price of  new shoes, the need to get in supplies of fuel before winter. L.M. Blackford  even complains that the Northern soldiers had damaged a raspberry bush. His letter describes lots of marching, but also many social occasions. He decribes a visit to church in which the president was prayed for, despite the fact that the congregation contained Confederate soldiers.  Jacob Kent Langhorne writing to his Aunt on September 28, 1862 is concerned about his appearance, which he considers not fit to attend church. He would be punished for such shabbiness. He also mentions the studying that was going on, even French lessons and even suggests that someone joins him just in order to get a good education.

Conclusion
These soldiers were far from home and the familiar. Although this might mean to a certain extent freedom from certain constraints, moral and otherwise, for many religion was something to cling on to in difficult times. 94,000 Confederate men are believed to have died in battle and many more died of disease. It has been hard to find first hand experiences of new faith, rather than the accounts of people such as J. William Jones about changes in the lives of others, but that being said faith obviously mattered as people struggled to make sense of a changing world. Chaplain J.C. Hiden reported that All seem approachable on the subject of religion. It was a comfort, offered perhaps a link to home life, and offered hope for the future at a time when a mans life might be snuffed out at any moment. At the least attending a service was often compulsory ( church parade) or an evening meeting just a way to fill in time, but many really seem to have discovered faith that was new or at least deeper than it had been. War changes thing, and in some cases, at least as far as their faith was concerned,  changed their lives for the better.