Historian Shelby Foote tells of a soldier who was wounded at the battle of Shiloh during the American Civil War and was ordered to go to the rear. The fighting was fierce and within minutes he returned to his commanding officer. “Captain, give me a gun!” he shouted. “This fight ain’t got no rear!”
Have you ever felt like that soldier? He felt there was no safe place, no place to retreat or hide. Sometimes life throws one attack and disappointment after another at us. That’s the time to press in toward God. Satan’s attacks can discourage us. The world can be as relentless. But God will never let us fall without helping us back up again. Draw close to Jesus, because this fight ain’t got no rear.
Tags: Civil War, retreat, safety, trials, trouble
During the American Civil War, a farmer in New York was drafted for the Union Army. Selective Service was not what it is today. His wife had died and he was the sole support of his young children. But then an unmarried man in the town who had no dependents came to his home and offered to go to war in his place.
For the sake of his children, the farmer accepted the offer. The generous friend marched off to battle, and in the first engagement he was shot and killed.
When the farmer heard what had happened, he went to the scene of the battle and brought back the body. He buried his friend in the village churchyeard, and had these words engraved on the headstone: HE DIED FOR ME.
The Bible relates that to us. Paul said of Christ: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Think about this today.
Tags: Civil War, death, substitute
Every December I make a special appointment. I always take the man I consider my pastor out to lunch and treat him like I want to be treated. He has a great interest in the Civil War, so I try to give him some unique gift with a Civil War connection. This year I gave him two DVDs: The 1980s mini-series The Blue and the Gray, and a 2007 movie called The Last Confederate. I also gave him a rather worn 1864 5¢ currency bill printed by the government to replace coins because of a shortage of metal during the war.
I love to see the lights go on in his head when he opens the gifts. I make sure to tithe my Christmas bonus to him and pick up the tab! We have a delightful time talking about our mutual friends in ministry and, of course, our mutual aches and pains. I know this luncheon will happen each year just before Christmas, so I plan all year long what to get him, which gives me time to be creative.
That is one of the highlights of my Christmas celebration. Do you have a special friend you get a special gift for each year? Tell us about it.
Tags: Christmas, Civil War, gifts
Before he enlisted in the Union Army to fight during the US Civil War, Joshua Chamberlain was a quiet and unassuming college professor. In the crucible of military combat he distinguished himself for his heroism in holding the line on Little Round Top during the Battle of Gettysburg. He was later awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
To recognize Chamberlain’s contribution to the Union victory, General Ulysses S. Grant designated him to receive the first flag of surrender at Appomattox Courthouse. The defeated troops of the South expected to be ridiculed and humiliated. Instead, Chamberlain showed them kindness and respect. For this, the Confederate commanding officer wrote in his memoirs that Chamberlain was “one of the knightliest soldiers of the Federal Army.”
As a committed Christian, Chamberlain reflected the grace of Christ. We too need to stand for what we believe but also to be kind to those with whom we disagree. Paul noted, “as a good soldier of Jesus Christ…be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition” (2 Timothy 2:3, 24-25).
When was the last time you helped an opponent “save face”?
Tags: Civil War, Gettysburg, grace, saving face