CANTON – Rev. Dr. Nancy Hale will present "Union Chaplains in the Civil War" as the topic of a virtual Civil War Roundtable hosted by the St. Lawrence County Historical Association (SLCHA) Sunday, Jan. 31, at 2 p.m.,.

According to Hale, chaplains had been a part of every American military conflict since the Revolutionary War, but it wasn’t until the Civil War that chaplaincy was officially recognized and sanctioned by the U.S. Army and government. Faith played a large role in the Civil War and it was often chaplains who provided the assurance, prayers, and Christian charity that gave soldiers the courage to risk their lives in brutal and bloody battles.

This presentation “will focus on those chaplains who served the Union Army with incredible faith and devotion to duty,” said Hale.

This is a free online presentation using Zoom. RSVP by Friday, January 29, 4:00 p.m., via phone (315-8133), or email (events@slcha.org), to receive the login information.

Hale is pastor of the Canton United Methodist Church. She is also a Civil War reenactor, serving as the chaplain of the 118th NY Volunteer Infantry, also known as the "Adirondack Regiment." She is an avid student of that war, especially the battle of Gettysburg.

Her historical novel "Faith and Duty," about a fictional chaplain and his experiences with a regiment from Northern New York, is for sale at the SLCHA Gift Shop. Hale has sounded Taps on her trumpet at various ceremonies, including the "100 Nights of Taps" program at the National Cemetery at Gettysburg.

SLCHA hours are Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., and Friday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; closed Sundays and Mondays.

For more information about SLCHA and St. Lawrence County history, or to become a member, call 315-386-8133, e-mail info@slcha.org, or visit the website at www.slcha.org.