Joel Barlow 
In all that he was called to, Joel Barlow fulfilled that which he was created for: — His Birth and Early Education. —A Friend of Dwight. —His Poem, “The Prospect of Peace.” —Joins the Army in Vacations. —Becomes Chaplain. — Writes Patriotic Ballads. —”Hymns for Yankee Rebels.” —The Burning of Charlestown.” —Occupation in the Army. —Friend of Washington. — Sermon on Arnold’s Treason. —Becomes Lawyer and Editor at Hartford, Connecticut. —Revises Watt’s Psalms and Hymns. —Agent of Scioto Land Company. —Visits England, France. —Becomes enlisted in the French Revolution. —His Occupations in Europe. —Consul at Algiers. —Makes a Fortune in France. —Returns to America. —Remarkable Prophecies in his Columbiad. —Minister to France. —His Death. —Charge of Religious Apostacy..
Joel Barlow is extremely distinguished in many regards as a soldier, poet, Chaplain, patriotic song writer, a diplomat and a prophet regarding the softening of Biblical teaching. To that end Joel Barlow excelled and was taken wrongly by the New England ‘Federalists’ so to be castigated as an ‘Apostate’. Where as the facts of his writings clearly show otherwise. Furthermore, he was a very close associate to Timothy Dwight.
Furthermore, as a diplomat, he was called upon by President Washington, the French Government and President Monroe to act in the best interests of the government he served at the time. Quoting from Headly: “Barlow’s whole soul was so enlisted in the struggle that he seemed to have lost sight of his individual prospects, in the future of his country.” This means that he was all in, 100% for the fight for Liberty.
Lastly, like myself, Joel Barlow was and Anti-federalist. Headly summarizes with, “In the last place, and chiefly, he was a bitter anti-federalist — a thorough, earnest Jeffersonian.”
The Book
The Chaplains and Clergy of the Revolution is the Historical Fact that Christianity (see the link at the end) is the root of our American Heritage and a key factor in the inspiration of the Revolution. God governance is God’s governance and the Citizenry understood this. Those that were Chaplains and Clergy were not just religious mouth pieces. NO, They were warrior Patriots that spoke first the Word of God and then the musket or sword.
I am reading this book as if to my Grandchildren. My great hope is that parents and Grandparents would do the same. I hope and pray more that Pastors would be in these tumultuous times as the same that these Founding Clergy and Chaplains were.
Let us all learn and act according to the Blessing and examples they set for US in our Foundation.
https://ia902704.us.archive.org/25/items/clergyo00head/clergyo00head.pdf
Table of Contents:
You can find the other chapters of the book by following the highlighted link to the Table of Contents here.