By the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability and expectation; for I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, altho' death was levelling my companions on every side. George Washington, letter to John A. Washington, Jul. 18, 1755
Possibly
because of his close encounters with death, General George Washington
understood the meaning of the Bible verse, II Corinthians 12:9, “And he said
unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in
weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the
power of Christ may rest upon me.”
George Washington praying |
After the
battle at Lexington and Concord , many pastors enlisted in the
Continental Army and encouraged the men in their congregations to follow suit.
In its infancy, the chaplaincy service was not organized as some clergy were
commissioned by the army, some by governors, and some were aligned with
militias.
American Chaplaincy Corps
Chaplain Joel Barlow |
In August
1775, General Washington reported that fifteen chaplains were serving
twenty-three regiments and that twenty-nine regiments did not have a chaplain.
In September, there were twenty regiments supplied and twenty vacancies. The
situation worsened, and by January 9, 1776, there were only nine chaplains and
eighteen vacancies. Because Washington
thought that chaplains weren’t paid enough, he suggested assigning a chaplain
for each two regiments as a means of doubling the salary.
Chaplains
usually served six months. Some served during the week and returned home each
weekend. Some were responsible for paying for their temporary replacements back
home. Although officers without rank, they had no specified uniform, but did
bear arms, at least the sword of an officer and a gentleman, and occasionally a
firearm.
Routinely,
chaplains conducted services, offered Holy Communion, acted as representatives
of God, prayed with the men before a march and before roll call at night, and
they comforted the wounded. Some served as surgeons. They also officiated at
funerals and performed marriages.
Chaplain James Caldwell |
Another
chaplain, a young man named Joab Trout, became known for his sermons, in
particular the sermon he preached on September 11, 1777, before the Battle of
Brandywine, near Chadds Ford, the present-day West Chester , PA.
The entire
sermon, which can be found in the New Hampshire State Archives, is too long for
me to copy in this post, so I have chosen excerpts that moved me the most.
Soldiers and Countrymen: We have met this evening perhaps
for the last time. We have shared the toil of march, the peril of flight, and
the dismay of the retreat; alike we have endured the cold and hunger, the
contumely of the internal foe and the courage of foreign oppression. We have
sat, night after night, beside the campfire; we have together heard the roll of
the reveille which called us to duty, or the beat of the tattoo which gave the
signal for the hardy sleep of the soldier with the earth for his bed and
knapsack for his pillow.And now, soldiers and brethren, we have met in the peaceful valley on the eve of battle while the sunlight is dying away behind yonder heights, the sunlight that, tomorrow morn, will glimmer on scenes of blood. We have met amid the whitening tents of our encampment, in time of terror and gloom, have gathered together, God grant it may not be the last time.
It is a solemn moment, Brethren, does not the voice of nature seem to echo the sympathies of the hour? The flag of our country droops heavily from yonder staff; the breeze has died away along the green plains of Chadd's Ford--the heights of the
***
Soldiers, I look around upon your familiar faces with a
strange interest. Tomorrow morning we will go forth to battle, for I need not
tell you that your unworthy minister will march with you, invoking God's aid in
the fight--we will march forth to battle! Need I exhort you to fight the good
fight, to fight for your homesteads, for your wives and children? I might urge
you by galling memories of British wrongs; I might paint all this again in the
vivid colors of the terrible reality, if I thought your courage needed such
wild excitement. But I know you are strong in the might of the Lord. You will
march forth to battle on the morrow with light hearts and determined spirits,
though the duty of avenging the dead may rest heavy on your souls.
And in the hour of battle, when all around is lit by the
lurid cannonade-glare, and the piercing musket-flash, when the wounded strew
the ground, and the dead litter your path, then remember that God is with you;
God the awful and infinite fights for you and will triumph Great Father, we bow
before thee, we invoke thy blessing, we deprecate thy wrath, we thee return
thanks for the past, we ask thy aid for the future; for we are in times of
trouble, O Lord, and sore beset by foes, merciless and unpitying. The sword
gleams over our land, the dust of the sod is dampened with the blood of our
neighbors and friends. O God of mercy, we pray thy blessing upon the American
arms. Make the man of our hearts strong in thy wisdom; bless, we beseech thee,
with renewed life and strength, our hope and thy instrument, even George
Washington. Shower thy counsels on the Honorable the Continental Congress.
Visit the tents of our host, comfort the soldier in his wounds and afflictions;
nerve him for the fight and prepare him for the hour of death. And in the hour
of defeat, O God of hosts, do thou be our stay, and in the hour of triumph be
thou our guide. Teach us to be merciful. Though the memory of galling wrongs be
at our hearts knocking for admittance, that they may fill us with the desire of
revenge, yet let us, O Lord, spare the vanquished, though they never spared us.
In the hour of death do thou guide us to the abode prepared for the blest. So
shall we return thanks to thee through Christ our Redeemer. God prosper the
cause. Amen.
Susan, this was a very good post. It was very interesting learning about the Chaplains' roll in history. I got goosebumps reading Chaplain Joab Trout's final sermon. And I noticed the date, September 11th.......
ReplyDeleteMay God bless all soldiers, two-legged and four-legged and the Chaplains who are putting their lives at risk to minister to them.
Thank you, Debbie. Chaplain Trout's sermon had the same effect on me. His words were eloquent, the sentiments moving, and the message inspired.
DeleteSusan, this is a very interesting and important post. Thank you so much for sharing about the chaplains of the Am. Rev. I have done some studying on them, but there is such a rich history there with the service they did. Chandler was remarkable, and Trout's sermon inspiring. I'd love to read the whole of it. Thanks again. A worthy tribute to those who helped aid the great cause in a very special way.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carla. I agree that their contributions were ramarkable. You can find the entire sermon on the New Hampshire Archive website.
DeleteVery interesting. Love the quotes! I am thankful to all the chaplains who shared (and those who share today) their faith in Jesus with the men and women who serve with them. It's quite a ministry. And, it makes a difference in lives.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Lou Ann, it is quite a ministry.
DeleteSusan, I needed a kleenex to get through this prayer of Joab Trout. Stirring to the soul. Thank you for the wonderful research you did for this post. And yes, that date of Sept. 11 stands out, does it not? Thanks for this inspiring tribute to the spiritual counselors of our warriors.
ReplyDeleteI was amazed at how vivid Joab Trout's descriptions were and how incredibly moving his words were. Stirring...as you said.
Deletewow, Elaine and Susan, that moved me to pray for our country all over again. It is men like this who make me hope that our country's struggles were not won in vain. And to think that our armed services have put restraints on chaplains now, that they must be ecumenical and not pray in the name of Jesus! God help us.
ReplyDeleteFantastic post!
The restraints make me sad too, but I'm comforted in the knowledge that the Holy Spirit won't be so retrained.
DeleteAs a Daughter of the American Revolution, I highly appreciate this post. Thanks so much. I hope to share it at a future DAR meeting.
ReplyDeleteKarla, which chapter do you belong to. I recently spoke to the Theodosia Burr chapter in Myrtle Beach about my Rev. War novel. What at fabulous group of women! I felt more at home with them than with any group I've spoken to.
DeleteThe purpose of this brief guide is to indicate to researchers the main sources of information. Because the records of 'Officers' are generally accessible from sources other than those of the 'Other Ranks', that is to say the Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers, they are dealt with separately. It is recommended that once an individual's regiment or corps has been identified a researcher's initial approach should be to the appropriate regimental or corps museum, details of which may be obtained from the museum pages. Click Here.
ReplyDelete