A correspondent, as quoted in Dr. Bennett's ‘Great Revival,’ says:
I saw something to-day which affected me more than anything I ever saw or read on religion. While the battle was raging and the bullets were flying, Jackson rode by, calm as if he were at home, but his head was raised toward heaven, and his lips were moving, evidently in prayer. Meeting a chaplain near the front in the heat of a battle, the general said to him, “The rear is your place, sir, now, and prayer your business.” He said to a colonel who wanted worship, “All right, colonel, but don't forget to drill.” This incident is related by one of his staff Entering the general's room at midnight, Major——found him at prayer. After half an hour the major stepped to the door and asked of the aid if he did not think the general had fallen asleep on his knees from excessive fatigue. “Oh, no; you know the general is an old Presbyterian, and they all make long prayers.” The major returned, and after waiting an hour the general rose from his knees.Another writer says:
General Jackson never enters a battle without invoking God's blessing and protection. The dependence of this strange man upon the Deity seems never to be absent from his mind, and whatever he says or does, it is always prefaced, “by God's blessing.” “By God's blessing we have defeated the enemy,” is his laconic and pious announcement of a victory. One of his officers said to him, “Well, general, another candidate is waiting your attention.” “So I observe,” was the quiet reply, “and by God's blessing he shall receive it to his full satisfaction.” After a battle has been fought the same rigid remembrance of Divine power is observed. The army is drawn up in line, the general dismounts from his horse, and then, in the presence of his rough, bronzed-faced troops, with head uncovered and bent awe-stricken to the ground, the voice of the good man, which but a few hours before was ringing out in quick, fiery intonations, is now heard subdued and calm, as if overcome by the presence of the Supreme Being, in holy appeal to the “sapphire throne.”
