The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-01-19
Fighting and PRAYING.

ldI uCn rum Iu6 pIIl6uL L0gllSn
comodie, of George Ills period
when, to be an officer of the army, i'm
piled code of morals offensive to pub
lie taste and domestic happiness, in
which code, if to love your neighbor
was nOtinculcated, to love your neigh
boris wife was. According to this
code, religion was at discount, and a
praying soldier was a "canting hound"
Caricature, as this undoubtedly was,
of English society, it has been, at all
time, absolutely false of the American
army. A better set of men than our
old army could not be found in equal
numbers taken at random from any
other profession, and among them
some of the very best officers have
been devoutly religious. But tits not
of such men We mean to. speak. Our
present purpose is to point out the
prevalence of. the religious element
among all classes of fighting men;
the fact that those who hold their lives
in their hands, leaving "senseless big
OTIS " to fight for forms Of creed,
recognize the God of battles, and pray y
for themselves and their country in
the midst of danger. The simplest
expression of the relation of spray
ing and fighting" was, perhaps, the
blunt order-'Put your trust in God,
and keep your powder dry" It is easy
to prove what We have said, by refer
ence to modern history. TheMpssul-
man humbly Obeys the meuzzin's can
before he plunges into the fight to
reap glory or gain Paradise and the
Hours. Indeed he rather outstrips
the Christian inregularity of prayer.
Cromwell and his praying Puritans
were dangerous men to meet in battle;
the e" Sword of the Lord and of Gid
con- was exceeding sharp, tempered
as itWas with hourly prayers. Nor
were the Cavaliers wanting in prayer,
although despising the so-eaIed cant
of the Roundheads. The kings men
repeated their collects for church and
king. -.-.
"Boys, my brave boys" said Major
Shipper, "pray well and fight well,
and God will certainly give US the
victory"
"Oh, Lord" said another, eff I
forget thee, as in the press of battle
I may, do not thou forget me"
There is something sublime in the
spectacle of Gustavus Adolphus and
his vast army, on the eve Of the battle
of Lutzen, in which he fell, praying
on bended knee, and then chanting
" Be Of good eheer-yOur cause belongs,
To Him who avenge your wrongs
Leave it to Him, our Lord"
The king fell, but the battle was
gloriously won.
1t is related of the celebrated sol
der La Hire, that when about to 20
into battle he sent for the priest to
obtain absolution. He was told to
confess. He had no time to 90 into
detail, he said, but he confessed " all
the usual sins of a soldiers life"
Upon receiving absOlution, he made
his prayer, as follows: "Oh Lord, do
unto me this day as I would unto Thee
if I we're God and Thou vast La Hire"
1t sounds harsh to US now, but the
proud old Frenchman thought he was
very devout. Who can ever forget
the touching colloquy between my IN
Gle Toby and Corporal Trim, concern
ing the prayers of soldiers. It is elo-
quent, patriotic and true. Find it, oh
reader, in the inestimable Tristram,
and enjoy it again. If it speaks vol
umes for my uncle and the corporal,
it says much also for sour army in
Flanders" /" especially considering that
other accounts may make them "swear
terribly"
All the world knows that StOnewan
jackson struck harder blows because
he prayed so much. He was evidently
of the fanaticaI stamp, and his pray
ers were rather deryish-ike than in
telligibIe Christian petitions, and yet
they fired the men who fought better
than any other rebel. Rosecrans, q
devout Roman Catholic, Just before
his designed attack upon Chattanooga,
had masses said in all the churches Of
Cincinnati for the success ofhi arms.
The same solemn spirit pregnant with
results! And so it must always be.
Before going into battle the foolish,
wicked, unmeaning oath is silent; with
the bracing of the nerves there goes
up a silent prayer for strength and
valor and deliyerance. The wounded
pray to be saved from death; the dying
recall the words of old petitions
learned in their childhood, and in these
broken accents commit their souls to
God. On the battlefield of Gettys-
burg were found broad-strewn, Bibles
andprayer books. Carried in coat bo-
SONS or pockets, they come forth in tho
bitter moment, a solace to the wounded
and dying, and a proof that the SOL
diers pray as well as fight. All honor
and thanks to the worthy chaplains
who foster this noble spirit, and to the
philanthropic men who care for tho
soldiers interest at home, taking with
them, in timely visits on battle-felds,
and in crowded hospitals, comforts for
the poor suffering mortal bodies, and
holy books and words of prayers for
the well-being of the immortal souls.
. Army and Navy Journal.