“The Great Revival of Religion”
“The Great Revival of Religion”
Joseph W. Rankin
October 6th, 1863
Gordonsville, VA
Co. B 27th North Carolina Inf. Regiment
Nashville Tenn, March 10th 1898
The following was written just
8 days. (8) before our dear brother
Joe fell in the Battle of Bristoe Station, VA
Gordonsville, VA
October 6th, 1863
Dear Uncle,
Your kind letter of the 26th came to hand on the (?). I was glad to hear from you again. The last I wrote to you I was a little out of humor and said something that I have been sorry for, I hope you have forgiven me. I am very sorry to hear of Aunt Mitte’s ill health the more Ss because it may be lasting. I was very much surprised to hear of Norwood’s death. He has been in the family for so long and we will all miss him very much and I fear you will not get another to fill his place, but along with such news you also write good. I am exceedingly glad to hear of Alice’s concession Ohs. I hope that we are all Christians indeed and that we may all be prepared to meet our dear mother in Heaven. I am anxious to see your new look and hope it will soon be out of the (?) and bindery how long will it be? You have heard of the great revival of religion in our brigade. It has been in progress.
Three weeks and (?) Has already done a great deal of good and I hope it will not yet or have God by this Holy Spirit has received the profressive Christians which I believe I can be or testimony to myself and converted a great many others who have never professed to know Jesus. Fifteen of our Company have made profession. I don’t suppose you would know them all if I were to give you their names.
Newton Kishman is one of them James and Lafayette Oreell and Lamprey Sharps or Fairley as we called him back home. We have had plenty of preacher as yet. The Chaplain of the 15th regiment Mr. Howarton, Missionary Baptist Reverend Mr. Dodson Methodist and Mr. Fairley of our regiment. When we were at Taylorsville two preachers came from Richmond and since we have been here, Mr. Smith and the chaplain of the just Rev. Ewing have been preaching every night. When Mr. Smith came to us at Taylorsville all the denominations were holding meetings together but since then we have been holding meeting at two places. Baptists and Methodists at one place and Presbyterians at our church. They did altogether like the way Mr. Smith enacted those anxious about their souls to make it known they of course (?) them to the front seats while Mr. Smith asked them to meet him the next day at (?). Mr. Smith did not insist on changing a thought and when they called the mourners up Mr. Smith asked them to be quiet while he game them some instructions. Instead of all singing and looking at the sun time. One account of this and also because one one church would not would all. For we have churches here in Gordonsville they separated, there was none ever is there any bad feelings between the denominations.
Every man in the Brigade that went to Church was pleased with Smiths preaching. He is the best one I heard. He seemed to enjoy his stay with us very much and I am sure we did as well. Sorry to post and it seemed to all like they were posting with an old friend. Mr. Hughes and Alescander stopped here yesterday on their way to Orange Citt (City) Hughes preached last night and seemed almost like an old alamance to hear him and see so many faces that used (to) appear in our church. At home he preached in this (tent?) “almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” The same I have heard at Alamance, they have gone on to the Army but I would not be surprised if they come back soon for they will move pretty soon I think. Our chaplain is only a moderate, he is a very good clever man, but is very backward and hard to get acquainted. With the man he makes a very good sermon, but has poor delivery and reads closely. He don’t talk with a majority of the men. I like very well myself but he is not the man to applause.
The news to say is that Lee’s is following Meade with his
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Biography:
Joseph W. Rankin was born in 1842 in Guilford County, North Carolina to Samuel and Katherine Rankin. The county seat of Guilford County is Greensboro; founded in 1771, it has a long and prestigious history spanning the birth of the United States to present day. From what we can tell, Joseph’s mother died when he was very young, most likely in childbirth due to the date that she had passed, around May 24th, 1854. Sadly, 6 months later, that son, Alexander, she had given birth to passed away. Needless to say, 1854 was a very tough year for the Rankin family. During this time, I am sure that Joseph had to take on a lot of responsibility to help his father care for his younger siblings. He grew close with some of his uncles, grandparents, etc, and this is visible in a couple of his letters. Joseph’s occupation is listed as a farmer similar to many of the other men in the area.
1861 came around, and when the war broke out, a number of Southerners felt a strong call to fight for a number of reasons; they all had their own. June 20th, 1861, Joseph packs up, and with a number of other young men from the area, he leaves for the unknown: war. The departures were filled with sorrow as many would never see their families again. Sometimes, I wonder what it would have been like; the morale was sky high, and nobody knew exactly what to expect in this great Civil War, but they all went forward overwhelmed with a feeling of excitement.
Joseph joined up with the 27th North Carolina Infantry. The unit would see its first action at New Bern not too far from home and suffering minor casualties. They would then be involved in the Battle of Malvern Hill. The first major engagement that would see major casualties was the horrific Battle of Antietam; Joseph was wounded. The unit suffered substantial losses as well: 31 men killed and 168 men wounded. Joseph returned to action in time for the Battle of Bristol Station; however, it was his last battle.
Eight days after this letter was written, Joseph was shot through the lungs at Bristol Station, VA and succumbed to his wounds on October 24th, 1863 at 22 years old. The regiment brought 416 men to the field: 28 men were killed, 107 wounded, and 65 captured. Joseph was most likely laid to rest in one of the many unmarked graves at hospital number 1 in Virginia.
