Christ in the Camp

by John William Jones

In the midst of the titanic struggle of the American War Between the States, a spiritual war for the souls of men was waged with equal vigor. From 1861 to 1865, many thousands of soldiers professed Christ as their Savior and Lord, and many more were renewed in their commitment to serve God in camp and battlefield. Herein are recorded stories of the heroism of chaplains who stood in the line of battle to minister to the fallen and to work at the bedside of fatally ill comrades. Some of the army pastors were themselves counted among the slain. It tells of worship services in camps attended by ten, a hundred, or a thousand men gathered to hear the Word of God expounded. Here, too, we read of the Christian generals who supported the many facets of Gospel Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Jeb Stuart, and others. Hardback. 624 pgs. By J. William Jones.

Genres: History, Civil War, Nonfiction, Christianity

624 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1887

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Reviews

[Terrijo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a Westerner, who moved to the South for school, reading this book completely blew my mind about what really happened in the War Between the States, (aka The 'Civil' War) What has been force fed to untold generations by 'official' media, is NOTHING to what really was occurring, and why. This book is amazing in what it tells you about the people involved in the war and their amazing Testimonies for Christ.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only wars a christian should endorse are wars of self defence. Wars of aggression and dominion to spread democracy or build and empire are wrong. The Southern people fought a war of self defence to protect their families from an invader. though they lost the war spiritual battles were won. Read about these battles won. Our forefathers were avid christians seeking to convert the lost.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent history, well written original sources. People who want to equate the confederacy to Nazi Germany really need to read this, but they won't.

[Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christ in the Camp is a powerful and deeply respectful account of the religious life among Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. John William Jones presents a vivid picture of the Confederate camps, focusing on the revivals, prayer meetings, and personal conversions that shaped the daily lives of the men in service.

One of the strongest aspects of the book is how clearly it shows the importance of faith among the Confederates. Jones describes how many Confederate soldiers turned to religion for strength, guidance, and hope in the midst of war, and how camp meetings often became central moments of unity and reflection. The testimonies and accounts included feel sincere and grounded, giving a strong sense of the spiritual atmosphere within the Confederate ranks.

Jones writes with a tone of clear respect and admiration for the Confederate soldiers he served alongside, and his firsthand experience gives the work a sense of authenticity and detail that makes it especially compelling. The way he captures their struggles, convictions, and moments of revival makes the book both historically rich and spiritually focused.

He also served as the pastor of my church from 1860–1861, which adds a meaningful personal connection when reading his work and helps highlight the continuity between his pastoral ministry and his later writing.

Overall, Christ in the Camp stands as a thoughtful and heartfelt record of Confederate camp life, particularly its religious dimension, and remains a significant account of faith during one of the most difficult periods in American history.

[Glenn Pratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book. Purchased at Vicksburg 30 years ago at the battleground. Highly recommend

[Lynn Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells about the revival of 1864-65 in the Confederate army. It is mostly all letters and journal entries. The author was a pastor who was a personal friend of Lee, Jackson, Gordon, and others. It was fascinating! The dedication to God, and the faith in His sovereignty, even in discouragement, suffering and defeat of some of these brave men was a rebuke to me. I am not finished yet - about halfway through - but it is so sad, I had to take a break for awhile.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book! It more of less details the revivals that went on in the Southern Army during the final year of the Civil War as told by those who witnessed it whether through letters or other means. The language is not what we're used to because it may be a bit too formal for today's readers but it's something that I liked and for me made the book all the more appealing. For Christians I believe that this would be worth reading.

[Abigail Rasmussen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book when I was 16 years old.