J. William Jones, Christ in the camp, or religion in Lee's army

[98] expected death, he said: ‘It has been a precious experience to me that I was brought face to face with death, and found all was well. I then learned an important lesson: that one who has been the subject of converting grace and is the child of God can, in the midst of the severest sufferings, fix his thoughts upon God and heavenly things, and derive great comfort and peace; but that one who had never made his peace with God would be unable to control his mind, under such sufferings, so as to understand properly the way of salvation, and repent and believe on Christ. I felt that if I had neglected the salvation of my soul before, it would have been too late then.’

He dictated a letter to General Lee, in which he congratulated him on ‘the great victory which God has vouchsafed to your arms.’

But before this note was sent, the following came to him from General Lee, in response to a previous note which had been sent by Jackson:

General: I have just received your note informing me that you were wounded. I cannot express my regret at the occurrence. Could I have directed events, I should have chosen, for the good of the country, to have been disabled in your stead. I congratulate you upon the victory which is due to your skill and energy.

Most truly yours,

R. E. Lee, General.

Jackson seemed deeply touched at the generous letter from his chief, but said, after a brief pause: ‘General Lee is very kind: but he should give the glory to God.’

Afterwards, in talking about this great victory, he said: ‘Our movement yesterday was a great success; I think the most successful military movement of my life. But I expect to receive far more credit for it than I deserve. Most men will think I had planned it all from the first; but it was not so—I simply took advantage of circumstances as they were presented to me in the Providence of God. I feel that His hand led me: let us give Him all the glory.’

When he had been removed to the house of Mr. Chandler, near Guinea's Station, and had so far rallied as to feel confident of his recovery, he talked very freely on his favorite religious topics. Dr. Dabney says (in his admirable biography of Jackson,