A Stout Heart and a Hearty Soul:
James Woodworth of the 44th NY Volunteers
Religion
Never considering himself an overly religious man before the war, religion soon served as the foundation of Woodworth's life as a soldier. In Varick he attended the Old Methodist Church at the corner down from his house on at least a semi-regular basis. But upon entering the service, he soon found himself exposed to religion on a regular basis. While in camp at Albany, the religious men of the company, numbering nearly 40 according to Woodworth, led nightly prayer meetings, which were organized by Robert Darling, a Normal School graduate. The men sang hymns from a book of prayers and hymns given them by the female students of the Normal School. Several, including Woodworth, procured passes from the officers and attended mass at local churches. Once attached to the 44th regiment and in Virginia, although the regiment lacked a chaplain, the men managed to maintain a spiritual influence. While commanding the regiment, Colonel Rice often led prayer meetings, and Eugene Douglass, who studied for the ministry, led prayer meetings within Company E. Religious services, occasionally held by Private McKendree Shaw of Company D, drew large numbers of men from the regiment. (1)
His wife's old Bible, given to him before leaving Varick, became so valuable to Woodworth that before the march began for Chancellorsville in April 1863, when the regiment dismantled its fixed camp and sent all surplus clothing and personal items into storage in Washington, he included the Bible, worn and ragged after 9 months in the field. The Bible provided a physical connection to home in addition to spiritual guidance. Besides being a gift, it also provided a deeper connection with home, as he imagined himself reading the same book as his wife at the same time. But he did not abandon religion. He acquired a testament book filled with writings and hymns to carry on the march. (2)
Woodworth considered himself a "changed man" in regards to his sordid past. The above Bible became Woodworth's best friend and "constant companion," reading it often during his leisure time when not writing to his wife or friends. He opened his Bible "each day, even on the battlefield" in order to get closer to the God he had neglected prior to the war. Woodworth promised to read as often as possible, and constantly urged his wife to attend church, read the Bible often, and pray regularly, tasks they both regularly ignored before the war. Prayer also ingrained itself as a regular part of his routine. He regretted neglecting prayer in the past, and now thanked God for the blessings of health and the opportunity for redemption while nearly all his fellow soldiers suffered from some sort of disease. Prayer for his family's safety and for an earthly reunion with his loved ones often dominated his thoughts. And with prayer came mercy and thankfulness for God's mercy toward himself and his family and the expectation that "He will crown our cause with victory." (3)
Although it may seem obvious that a soldier facing death would embrace religion, Woodworth carried it through the monotonous times as well, and especially through pay day, when many otherwise noble soldiers fell to vice. While certain others gambled, drank, or "had a fine time with the Dixie girls," Woodworth kept on his ideal path, sending almost all his money home and decrying the vices present in camp. (4)
His religion helped sustain him through the thickest of battle; lying for 30 hours on the battlefield at Fredericksburg, where his knapsack was shot and his folded blanket riddled with 11 bullet holes; and at Chancellorsville, while on detail guarding Colonel Rice's horse and the regiment's extra mules in the rear, the animal pen fell under heavy shelling, and with several of the guards and many of the guarded killed. Protecting the animals at all cost, he retired back to the camps, finding his way to shelter through dark, rain, and a narrow trail in unfamiliar territory. While on guard, he witnessed a tremendous storm and a fire in between the lines of battle, which consumed many of the wounded. But nothing, not even deaths within the company, could challenge in his faith in his Creator. (5)
Woodworth had close connections to the first two deaths in the company, John L Barrick and Albert Smith. Barrick, who lived within a mile of Woodworth and next to the Burroughs, and Smith, Woodworth's first tentmate, both died of disease within the first 2 months after Company E's arrival in the field. But the death and suffering surrounding him failed to deter him. He instead thanked God for his and his family's good health and prayed for its continuance, for an earthly reunion with his family, and for a speedy end to the gruesome war in which his fate invariably rested.
He served as a pallbearer for several funerals, including one for a drummer boy killed by a mule. He also served in the funeral of Albert Smith, the first of the company to die in camp, and his tentmate and friend. Smith, a young Normal School student whose quality's Woodworth admired developed typhoid fever and died shortly before Fredericksburg. What he saw was horrible, but found it impossible to wish it not to happen to anyone. Only success for the army and a fast conclusion to the war, which he often prayed for could ever possibly end the horrors of war. All he could do was realize he had little control over his fate and place his trust in God. (6)
John Barrick died November 26 in Washington, making one final journey to the Methodist Church where he joined his late father in eternal sleep. The many
mourners included Barrick's mother Mary and Phebe Woodworth in physical presence, with James Woodworth, there "in spirit." He felt glad that his wife,
despite a broken ankle, attended with other mothers and wives of the company adding a physical presence to his spiritual one. (7)
1. Woodworth Papers, James Woodworth to Phebe Woodworth, September 21, 1862, September 28, 1862, December 28, 1862, April 22, 1863, June 1, 1863.
2. Woodworth Papers, James Woodworth to Phebe Woodworth, November 16, 1862, April 14, 1863
3. Woodworth Papers, James Woodworth to Phebe Woodworth, November 15, 1862, November 16, 1862, November 22-25, 1862, December 17, 1862, December 28, 1862.
4. Woodworth Papers, James Woodworth to Phebe Woodworth, January 28, 1863.
5. Woodworth Papers, James Woodworth to Phebe Woodworth, December 15, 1862, December 17, 1862, December 28, 1862, May 8, 1863, May 10, 1863.
6. Woodworth Papers, James Woodworth to Phebe Woodworth, December 8, 1862, January 5, 1863, March 15, 1863.
7. Woodworth Papers, James Woodworth to Phebe Woodworth, December 22, 1862, December 28, 1862.