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Faith of the Fathers provides a captivating collective biography of the Catholic priests who served in America’s most deadly war.
Faith of the Fathers brings to light the forgotten stories of courageous chaplains whose commitments to faith and to men at war during America’s most divisive conflict have long been overlooked. The Reverend Robert J. Miller provides a comprehensive and compelling portrait of the 126 priest-chaplains who served during the Civil War and reflects on the importance of religion and faith in nineteenth-century America. As a culture of death and horror raged around them, Catholic priest-chaplains met the needs of soldiers and officers alike, providing years of faithful and dedicated service in hospitals, prisons, battlefields, and camps.
Whether ministering to Union or Confederate soldiers (or both), in eastern or western theaters, in battle or camp, these priests risked their lives to bring faith and hope to one of the darkest and most devastating periods of American history.
"Faith of the Fathers is a vital contribution to religious history in America’s bloodiest conflict. It will be the go-to book for anyone wanting to understand the experiences of Catholic chaplains in the war and, therefore, Catholics in the ranks." —Emerging Civil War
The Reverend Robert J. Miller is a retired Catholic priest, scholar, and former president of the Chicago Civil War Round Table. He is author of six books, including Both Prayed to the Same God: Religion and Faith in the American Civil War.
James M. McPherson is an American historian specializing in the American Civil War. He is the George Henry Davis '86 Professor Emeritus of United States History at Princeton University. He received the 1989 Pulitzer Prize for Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era.
Acknowledgements
Foreword by James McPherson
Introduction by Robert J. Miller
Introductory Essay by Catholic Chaplains in America Prior to the Civil War
Part 1. Troubled Times, Willing Men, Faithful Work
1. Pre-War Issues affecting Catholic Chaplains
2. Towards a Roster of Catholic Civil War Chaplains
3. The War-Time Ministry of Catholic Chaplains
Part 2. The Giants of Catholic Chaplaincy
4. The Original “Fighting Irish” – Notre Dame Chaplains
5. “God’s Marines” - Jesuit Chaplains
6. Other Religious who Served as Chaplains
7. Prominent Diocesan Chaplains
Part 3. Difficult Situations and Unique Men
8. Catholic Hospital Chaplains
9. Chaplains for the Irish
10. Chaplains in the “West” – Mississippi and New Mexico
11. Unconventional Chaplains in Unique Situations
Part 4. From the Vantage Point of History
12. In Retrospect - Consequences, Challenges, Changes
13. Conclusions and Lessons
Epilogue
Appendix 1. American Civil War Bishops
Appendix 2. Statistics
Bibliography
Index