[174]
come from men who venerate their officers, and would follow them to the death.
Some of our ablest generals are men who have dropped the gown for the apparel of the soldier.
Polk was a Bishop, Pendleton a clergyman, D. H. Hill a religious author, Jackson a dignitary of the Church, while scores of others, occupying subordinate positions, are equally well known for their devotion at the shrine of Christianity.
All of these gentlemen have been eminently successful in whatever they have undertaken, have passed unharmed through the dangers by which they have been frequently environed, and are living illustrations of the truth that a fighting Christian is as terrible to his enemies as he is gentle to his friends.
The testimony to the blessed fact of God's presence among the soldiers is most abundant.
“God is in the army,” wrote a pious man; “many in my regiment have passed from death unto life.”
“One hundred of my regiment,” said a chaplain, “have professed conversion since we have been in the service.”
The power of grace to sustain and comfort the believer amidst the hardships and dangers of war is richly illustrated in the following experience of a pious Elder of the Presbyterian Church:
I have been in the active service of my country just four months. I cheerfully sundered the ties that bound me to my little paradise of a home in Mississippi, and came out to the war because I believe the Lord hath called me. I viewed the contest as one of unparalled wrong and oppression against truth and the right.
I was persuaded that not only civil liberty but evangelical religion had a large stake at issue in the struggle.
My conscience, therefore, was clear, and, in following the convictions of duty, I was made happy.
The Lord has been most gracious in according to me daily the rich consolations of faith in the Lord Jesus in buckling on my armor to fight the battles of my country.
He has constantly reminded me that I am a soldier of the cross,
