National Civil War Chaplains Museum

Part of the role of the chaplaincy is to ensure the right of all soldiers to worship as they see fit. Take Father John McElroy for example. He was one of the first Catholic priests to be commissioned as a military chaplain. He joined the military chaplaincy during the Mexican-American War alongside fellow Jesuit Father Anthony Rey.

Many American Catholics experienced feelings of great apprehension when America came to blows with Mexico over a series of border disputes. Because of anti-Catholic sentiment at home, and the fact that Mexico was primarily a Catholic nation, there were feelings that the conflict was a religious one, rather than a political one. Mexican propaganda inflamed these feelings, painting the war as one of Protestant aggression against Mexican Catholicism. So great were these tensions that hundreds of American soldiers, many of them Irish Catholics, deserted to join the Mexican army as “Saint Patrick’s Battalion.”

Recognizing the importance of these issues, President James K. Polk met with the Archbishop of New York, John Hughes, to devise a strategy to counteract the propaganda. As many of Saint Patrick’s Battalion had felt they were unable to worship freely as Catholics, Polk decided that Fathers McElroy and Rey should be sent to minister to the American forces in Mexico as chaplains. Chaplain McElroy remained with the Army from 1846 to 1848, and he spent his time caring for the sick and wounded, hearing confessions, and performing Mass.

Follow the Chaplains Museum for more stories of brave chaplains as we explore the melting pot of American culture.

Help the Chaplains Museum expand our collection and add new exhibits. Look for the "Donate" section at the link in our bio.

#chaplains #militarychaplain #chaplainsmuseum #army #catholic #inservicetoall ...

All gave some, some gave all. As we continue to celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary, the Chaplains Museum will be honoring some of the many chaplains who served during the Revolutionary War.

Chaplain John Rosbrugh was a man of Scotch-Irish descent who grew up in the “Irish Settlement” area of Northampton County, Pennsylvania. He was ordained as a minister in the Presbyterian church on December 11, 1764. At the time of the Revolution, he was pastor for the Allen Township Church in Northampton County. When Washington put out the call for the militia, Rosbrugh preached a rousing sermon from the book of Judges, urging his congregants to come “to the help of the LORD against the mighty.” As was the case with many preachers of the period, the large majority of Rosbrugh’s congregation followed him into service when he joined the militia.

Upon reaching the Continental Army, Rosbrugh was assigned as chaplain for the Third Company of the Northampton County Militia. Rosbrugh’s unit hastened to reinforce Washington’s forces in New Jersey. The Continental Army moved towards Lawrenceville on January 2, 1777, but was forced to retreat to Trenton when the British army responded in force. Rosbrugh was separated from his unit as the Americans retreated towards Assunpink Creek and ran afoul of some of the pursuing Hessian forces. Rosbrugh surrendered himself peacefully, but his captors nonetheless bayonetted him to death beneath a cluster of trees, even as he prayed for their souls. Thus, Reverend John Rosbrugh became the first chaplain to die in service of the Continental Army.

Follow the Chaplains Museum for more stories of chaplains from this pivotal time in American history and come visit us on the campus of Liberty University.

Help the Chaplains Museum expand our collection and add new exhibits. Look for the "Donate" section at the link in our bio.

#chaplains #chaplainsmuseum #militarychaplains #250thanniversary #americanrevolution #revolutionarychaplains ...

"But the finger of God is still more peculiarly evident in the happy, the glorious revolution which calls forth this day`s festivity. He hath struck the oppressors of a people, free and peaceable, with the spirit of delusion, which always renders the wicked the artificers of their own proper misfortunes. Permit me, my dear brethren, citizens of the United States, to address you on this occasion. It is God, the all-powerful God, who hath directed your steps when you knew not where to apply for counsel--who, when you were without arms, fought for you with the sword of eternal justice--who, when you were in adversity, poured into your hearts the spirit of courage, of wisdom, and of fortitude; and who has at length raised up for your support a youthful sovereign, whose virtues bless and adorn a sensible, a faithful, and a generous nation.

[...] It is with this view we shall cause the canticle to be performed, which the custom of the Catholic Church hath consecrated, to be at once a testimonial of public joy, a thanksgiving for benefits received from heaven, and a prayer for the continuance of its success."

- Chaplain Seraphin Bandot, addressing the members of the Continental Congress at St. Mary`s Church, Philadelphia, PA, July 4, 1779.

Help the Chaplains Museum expand our collection and add new exhibits. Look for the "Donate" section at the link in our bio.

#chaplains #chaplainsmuseum #militarychaplains #americanhistory #250yearsoffreedom #fourthofjuly #250thanniversary ...

The Chaplains Museum will be open on Saturday, July 4, during normal operating hours to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation`s independence.

The museum will be closed later this month, from Monday, July 13, through Thursday, July 16. We will return to normal operating hours on Friday, July 17.

#chaplainsmuseum ...