The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1863-11-03
FIGHTING AND rRAyINc.


long ago, when lhe majority of peo-
pie 10 cisil lilc took ihier NOTIONS about
military men from the purlenl Epgli.b
comedies OF George llls period !.
wl,en. 20 be an otliecr Of the army m.
plied code Of moral. offensive 10
public taste and domestic happiness.
10 which eodc. if 10 love your neigh
bur wa- uoi !, culcAted, 10 laye your
neiehbof'- ~iie was. According to
ihat code religion WAS at a diseosat,
anI praying solder was "caniing
hound Caric.dure. a. this nndouti-
etlly wis, of English society, Il has
been, ia al time. absolutely false OF
The American army. a bclter sci Of
men lhan our old army could not bo
found ia equal numbers taken at ran
dom from any other profession, aud
/ among them some of the very best Of
] iiceis have been deyoutly religious
4 Bat Il j. not OF such men me mean to
/ speak. Our present purpuse Is 10
/ roint out the prevalence Of the rclg-
ious element amotg ali classes Of fight
ing meni the tact that ,hos wh5 hold
I their lives in lheir hands, leaving "sen-
selys- bigpls" TO fight FOR forms Of
creed, recognize the God Of battles,
ahl pray for themselves and their
country in the midst Of danger The
simplest expression Of the relations Of
"praying aud ii2htng" wa, perhaps,
the blunt orier--"Put your trust in
God, AID keep your powder dry" 1t
IS easy 20 prove what We have said,
by reference 10 modern history. The
Massulmnn humb,y obeys ihe muez-
zin's call before he p'unqts into The
fight to reap glory, or guin Par disc
and the llouis. Indeed he rather
outstrips the Christian in regularity ol
prayer. Cromwell and his praying
Purilans were dangerous men to meet
in battle; the "Sword Of ihe Lord and
of Gideon" was exceeding sharp. tenn
pcred as II was with hourly prayers.
Nor were the Cavaliers wanting IN
prayer, although, despi.ing tie 50 cali
"a cant OF the lountlheads. The kings
mcu repeated their collects for church
and king. Boys, my brave boys"
sad Major Shipper, pray well aud
1gt well, and God will certainly give
Us he victory "Oh Lord !" said an
other If forget Thee, ~ ID The press
Of battle may, d. not Thou forget
me.'
There IS something sublime ia the
spectacle ol Guslayus Adolphus and
his va.t army, on The eve Of The bat
tie of Luthen. in which he fell, pray
ing Oh benIcd knee, and then chuni-
ing
The king fell, but the battle was
gloriou.Iy won. 1t IS related Of the
celebrated soldier La Hire, that when
about 70 90 into battle he sent Tor the
priest to obtain absoldiou. lie vas
told to confess. lie hal no time 10 90
into ie3nil, he, said, bat be confessed
"al the usual fins of soldiers lc."
Upon receiving ab.oluion, b. made
Iii, prayer $ follows "Oh Lord, 10
unio me this day Is would unto Thee
II | " ~ God aud fhou was Lallire."
Il sounds harsh 10 Us NOW, but tie
proud old Itrcnc!uaan thought he was
deyoul. Who can ever forget The
loncinig colloquy between nv Uncle
Toby npd Corporal Trim, concerning
the prayers Of soldiers. Il j. eloquent
patriotic and true. Find Il, Oh read
er. III Tie inesimibe Tristram, ard
rrjoy Il again. II il sperks volumes
fr nv uncle aDi tie corpoll. il says
uuch also for 'ogr army IN Flanders
especially considering That other nc
counis may make them "swear ierrib-
ly."
Al tie world knows ihat Stone
val Jackson truck harder blows be-
clase lie prayed 20 much. H. was
e,Ilrndy o. til ianaiifal stamp. and
i prayers were Father defyish like
DIAN Ineligible Christian pei tions,
asd ~ tbry Gftd tie mcn who fought
leter t,nu auy o.lor rcbcls. Rose
crns. l,vout Roman Catholic. just
be~e IT. de.gnei attack upon Chat
tan9o., l.ai masses .aid IN al tie
churches ot Cincinnati Tor tho success
II lis Ar +. F- same solemn pin.
II, suao, wiri nvul,-! A0d .o i mos;
,lws, Ga. before going mo battle
ih- .o5i. b. wukei, unnelniBg oath
-ilemj Wih lhr arIcing 81 ,be ueryes.
tAue gr. up rlegl prayer fer
.trrn.ii, and yalof ahi deleereace.
The so4n,ed may % Sc Ayei from
Z ai4 fe ayiHg recall tic words u
OH ro,aieus learned 10 ilieir chiii-
h,.d, .ial p iheag bfokeHae ent- com
sH gbcir souls 10 God On tle battle
a,ll or G e. ysburg were found broad
.trewl. .iittllr, 1863 prayer by8ss.
Carried n c0d bO02 or poel.'s.
lh4y esa.e fofsd 10 ll,e bitter momad,
i ,Olacg 10 ihe wo1ulrd anl dyigg,
aal d proof ilta' solders pray a. well
q. Gslt. A.i hou9r and thanks to tas
F0gthy eba3laiHs whD foster ihi. ~
ble lfii. a1l ~ tie liilanihrpe
mai WHO care lor'is oldefh inlsr
.st at horne. 'akitg Ssh item. b
fiuely VISITS oo beide fields. and 10
crowded le-!ilals. comforts for tbs
poor sa'iefla. mortal bolles, an.i hoy
bo.l. mfd wonl of prayer Tor Tie
s. being ~ tie Immortal soals.-
ArHy aaa bofy .oaraaL
sfst l. a.e.t..,t D-ntorr,cy hty.