A Presentation on the role of Civil War Chaplains, by the author of Faith and Duty + musical accompanist, Mr. Tom Fontana

When the Civil War erupts in 1861 and drags the nation into a bloody contest, it threatens not only the lives of the men of the Third Northern New York Regiment, but also the faith of their chaplain, Rev. John Wesley Sanders. At the war’s outset, John is a pastor in a bucolic town in the far northern reaches of New York, where he believes he and his neighbors will be sheltered from the horrors that lie ahead. But his cocoon of tranquility is shattered when his good friend James Barnett is asked to serve as the colonel for a new Union regiment. James recruits soldiers from among the local residents and invites John to serve as the regiment’s chaplain, but John hesitates. Even though he strongly supports abolition, he struggles to reconcile warfare with a faith that teaches love for enemies. 

 Rev. Dr. Nancy Jill Hale is a United Methodist Pastor and Civil War reenactor, serving as the chaplain for the 118th NY Volunteer Infantry Adirondack Regiment. She is interested in the role of chaplains during the Civil War and has authored a work of historical fiction about a chaplain's struggle to reconcile his faith with his duty to nation and its cause. She is doing research into the stories of actual chaplains, who are in many ways unsung heroes of the war.

Mr. Fontana is a Gettysburg resident, where he presents musical programs such as "Soldier Sing-Along" and "Victorian Parlor Sing" for various events. He also participates with re-enactor bands in and around the Gettysburg National Military Park.