When the 7th Tennessee Cavalry Regiment requested a chaplain, there were not enough clergymen to assign to every military unit in the Confederate States Army. Fortunately, there was a man called of God in their midst. Louis Napoleon Nelson was well versed in Scripture and traveled to war as the bodyguard of two Oldham brothers.
Answering the call, Louis Napoleon Nelson conducted a spiritual service for the soldiers. They so thoroughly enjoyed the sermons until the field officers appointed him as the honorary chaplain of the 7th Tennessee Cavalry Regiment during the Battle of Shiloh in April of 1862.
How could this be? How could Confederate field officers assign an African-American as their regimental chaplain? This was indeed possible because President Jefferson Davis delegated the appointment of chaplains to Confederate States Army field commanders.
Also, Confederate States Army chaplains did not have a formal title. As an example, some chaplains were called Brother, Father or Reverend. During this period in American history either South or North , African-American men were not addressed as “Mr./Mister”. Therefore, the common title for African-American men who were held in high regard was “uncle.” Therefore, the troopers of the 7th Tennessee Cavalry Regiment affectionately called Louis Napoleon Nelson, “Uncle Louis.”
After several revival services, word spread throughout the camp. On September 10, 1863, a correspondent for the Religious Herald wrote, “Uncle Louis is heard with respectful attention, and for earnestness, zeal and sincerity, can be surpassed by none.”
Also in September of 1863, Henry McNeal Turner, pastor of Israel AME Church (Washington D.C) became the first Union African-American chaplain of the 1st United States Colored Troops (USTC).
Thus Confederate Chaplain Louis Napoleon Nelson is noted in history as the first black military chaplain with white parishioners during the American Civil War.
It much appears that he was happy to serve, and that he was much loved and respected by those with whom he served.
ReplyDeleteGoing to 36 reunions wearing this very same uniform really sounds like he was forced to wear it. Some people would not understand truth if God stood in front of them and spoke it.
ReplyDeleteSpearhead
ReplyDelete"Appears that he was happy to serve" What!!! Do you not get it!! He was a slave, you can say "appointed" to the position all day long, but trust and believe had he even thought of refusing, the outcome would've not went well. As black people we've learned early to smile outwardly, when inside we hated every moment. He may have been listened to, but I know he chose his words wisely, and he may not have been whipped, but everyday of his life, he knew he was a slave.
ReplyDeleteWow i think it's very unfair to answer a calling which wasn't meant to be, however if it was ordained by God then no matter who are what you are then you just got to fulfill the book ��
ReplyDeleteI am glad that God had our brother in the RIGHT PLACE.At the right time only God can do that.Blessings
ReplyDeleteWhoever made this first comment is an idiot. Anyone it the military today can be assigned virtually any duty and “has no choice”. Joseph as “appointed” by Phaero as Steward of Egypt and therefore saved God’s people as a slave. God is bigger than the military or slavery. Don’t diminish this man’s service to God and his fellow man because you can’t stand the idea he was a black man in the Confederate army!
ReplyDeleteHe was blessed to lead the people in praise and worship. God is not limited to our way of thinking. He is Beyond what we can imagine
ReplyDeleteBlacks served in the American Revolution, The war of 1812,nothing is said about those heroes however, the Civil War is altogether different. The union army was segregated but the confederate army was not.
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