Confederate Fortifications, Manassas Junction, Winter/Spring 1862
Today’s North Carolina Biblical Recorder publishes a letter from a North Carolina solider that touches upon many central themes of camp life: distance, death, religion, and vice. “A.H.C.” is stationed at Camp Pickens, Manassas, Virginia, with the 4th Regiment North Carolina State Troops.
Bro. Hufham: It has been my privilege to read your paper occasionally, ever since I have been in the army, and I perceive that you have no correspondent in the Regiment since the death of our esteemed brother W. C. Carter, whose illness and early departure, it was my painful lot to witness; we being messmates.
Doubtless many of your readers would be interested to hear from us, and hence I am induced to attempt a very brief description of our condition.
Since the approach of winter, our regiment has enjoyed an eminent degree of that great blessing so desirable to all and especially to the soldiers’ health. But, however, unpleasant to relate, as health improves, immorality increases.
Unfortunately for us, we have no chaplain at this time. In consequence of bad health, our chaplain, Rev. W. Wood, remained with us but a very short time, yet the good effect of his labors was perceivable even to a common observer.
Since his resignation, one has only to look around him to see the great necessity of pious restraint in the camp.
Imagine a thousand men far from home and friends so dear; exposed to imminent danger, both from disease and from the fiendish attacks of our enemy, with no religious influence over them whatever; deprived of the privilege of hearing a gospel sermon or prayer; exposed to all the demoralizing influences of camp life, and you will have a tolerably correct picture of the present condition of our Regiment.
These I consider as matters that should claim the attention of the christians of the State as well as those whose prerogative it is to change our condition as far as relates to a chaplain. We need a chaplain. We need pious restraints, pious works to read.
….Notwithstanding the vice by which we are surrounded, I see a few among us who, I believe, are trying to pursue the path of rectitude with an untiring step.
Lamentations of vice in camp life, as well as the absence of Baptist chaplains and missionaries within the Confederate Army, remains a common theme throughout the war.
Source: Biblical Recorder, January 29, 1861 (link); illustration (link)
