Question

Why the Union army had better results using army chaplains than the Confederate army.

Answer 1

The work of chaplains during the Civil War has, until recent years, been overlooked by many historians and scholars. While the more general topic of religion’s role during the war has been thoroughly researched and written about, the more specific role of the men involved in the work of ministering to soldiers has not received quite as much attention. The impact religion had on Civil War soldiers would never have been as pervasive were it not for the dedicated work of chaplains. Whether these men were Protestant preachers (the vast majority), Catholic priests, or Jewish rabbis, the influence of those who served in the capacity of chaplain was as definite as it was long lasting. Fortunately, a growing number of scholars are now recognizing and writing about the influence of Civil War chaplains, as a recent study attests: