The "Stonewall" Calvinist.

Posted by Kenneth

Well, ever since we’ve been in South Carolina we’ve been surrounded by history. Anytime we drive somewhere we drive by 300 year old houses, Revolutionary War battlefields, War Between the States (Civil War) battlefields, cemeteries, old churches …and the list goes on and on. One thing is sure, South Carolina is steeped in early American history.
All this history has been very intriguing to me. As I try to discern Biblical ethics in the wars, politics, culture, and church of our own day and age, I am curious how the earlier Americans dealt with these same issues in their age. I mean, how did born again Christians deal with the issues involved with the War Between the States? Was it a “just war”? Is there even such a thing as a just war? Were all slave owners brutal bigots? Were any slave owners even born again? Did all the slaves hate their masters and living conditions? How did the believing slaves endure through slavery? Was the war even about slavery? Or the Great Awakening before the Revolution, how did that effect the culture of New England? Was religious freedom worth going to war for? What did evangelism look like during these times?… and so on.
Well, the best way to get these kind of questions answered is to read about the people involved. So, that’s what I have begun to do. My first book was a biography on the Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson written by Bronwyn Mills. My aim in this blog is to not tell you everything I learned about something or someone, but just some interesting things that I think are note-worthy.
The reason I chose Stonewall is because of a painting of him in my parents house called “ The Prayer Warrior”. Stonewall Jackson was a brilliant General for the South during the War. General Jackson and Robert E. Lee were a much feared duo in the Virginia/Maryland area during the first two thirds of the War. For the most part they maintained a defensive stance. Squashing every attempt of invasion the North made. Thomas J. Jackson received the nickname “Stonewall” during the battle of Bull Run when another general, General Bernard Bee, was rallying his retreating men. When Bee spotted Jackson and his men bravely holding their position he shouted “ Look! There is Jackson standing like a stone wall! Rally behind the Virginians!”. The South went on to win the battle. Bee died in that battle.
Probably the most interesting thing I learned about Stonewall was that he was a Reformed (Calvinist) Presbyterian who leaned strongly on the sovereignty and providence of God. He was a feared warrior on the battlefield and a hard-charging general in camp, yet he was greatly loved by his men. They knew him to be a man of prayer. He was even regularly seen praying during battles. He would frequently lead groups of his soldiers in prayer. While he and his men camped they would have tent revivals and many would be born again.Concerning Jackson's views on slavery his wife Anna said that he,"found the institution a responsible and troublesome one, and have heard him say that he would prefer to see the Negroes free, but he...accepted slavery, as it existed in the South, not as a thing desirable in itself, but as allowed by Providence for ends which it was not his business to determine."
On May 2nd 1863, while on a scouting mission with his officers, Stonewall Jackson was shot in his left arm by confederate troops who mistook them for union soldiers. His arm had to be amputated. General Robert E. Lee said this famous line while Jackson was out of commission, “He has lost his left arm, but I have lost my right arm”. On May 10th 1863 General Stonewall Jackson died.
Many speculate that had he not died the War Between the States may have ended differently… we’ll never know. Here are some quotes by him and about him…

At the dedication of a statue erected in honor of Stonewall shortly after the war the preacher prayed, " When in Thine inscrutable decree it was ordained that the Confederacy should fail, it became necessary for Thee to remove Thy servant Stonewall Jackson...".

The Sovereign decrees of God comforted and emboldened Jackson.

"Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may overtake me." He added, after a pause, looking me full in the face: "That is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave"

General Jackson on his death bed.

"I see from the number of physicians that you think my condition dangerous, but I thank God, if it is His will, that I am ready to go."

Stonewall's Last words.

"Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees ..."

This mans life was saturated in the sovereignty of God. I am encouraged by his strong testimony to be ready for the day the King has decreed when my life here will end. I pray that I will not waste my life but that the Lord will embolden me to be a radical risk taker, wise strategist, enemy discerner, prayerful encourager, and a biblical minded soldier on this spiritual battlefield we call earth.