This week thousands of Americans are remembering a monumental battle that took place 150 years ago in Pennsylvania - the Battle of Gettysburg. Even though “Stonewall” Jackson had passed away in May of 1863 (before Gettysburg) we think remembering him is a fitting way to mark this anniversary.
Through my studies of history, I have discovered how important it is to hunt up original sources—to study people by looking at their own words. By looking at a person’s own words (in context) I can learn what he himself truly thought, not what some biographer or historian tells me he thought. This is one of the reasons that I love
studying historic figures via their personal letters.
For me, this particular collection of “Stonewall” Jackson’s letters to his wife proved particularly sweet, and I think a few of you might enjoy it as well. Yes, he had flaws—sometimes glaring ones—like the rest of us, but I do think the Lord enabled him to do a few things very well and that we can learn from those things. Besides, let’s admit that a great many of us won’t pass up the opportunity to peak into some God-honoring love letters! And, if you grew up a dedicated Union girl as I did, you might see a new side to the men in grey as well.
As I read Beloved Bride (and watched both Still Standing: The Stonewall Jackson Story and Gods and Generals) I developed a great appreciation for a man of whom I used to know very little—Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson. Now both Jackson and his wife to whom he wrote, Mary Anna Morrison Jackson, stand amongst my historical heroes. I discovered that Jackson was not only a brilliant (blessed) Confederate general but also a loving and tender husband, a loyal friend, a principled and caring leader, a man who loved children, a thoughtful and delightfully doting father, and—foremostly— a steadfast, ever-growing Christian with a great heart for glorifying his Savior and leading other men to the life of forgiveness of sins and to sanctification. Now I understand why someone might want to name his son after this man.
Another part of this book that I like is Mr. William Potter’s sections where he gives account of the historical events surrounding the letters. When I read it, I can hear Mr. Potter saying it in his knowledgeable and kindly way just as it’s written. It’s like being on a Faith & Freedom Tour of Jackson’s life.
Favorite Quotes
“Continue to pray for me that I may live to glorify God more and more, by serving Him and our country.” ~November 9, 1861, pg. 73
“Time forbids a longer letter, but it does not forbid my loving my esposa’.” ~May 26, 1862, pg. 90
“If God be for us, who can be against us? That He will still be with us and give us victory until our independence shall be established and that He will make our nation that people whose God is the Lord is my earnest and oft-repeated prayer. While we attach so much importance to being free from temporal bondage, we must attach far more to being free from the bondage of sin.” ~August 11, 1862, pg. 103-04
“I hope to have the privilege of joining in prayer for peace at the time you name, and trust that all our Christian people will; but peace should not be the chief object of prayer in our country. It should aim more especially to implore God’s forgiveness of our sins and make our people a holy people. If we are but His, all things shall work together for the good of our country, and no good thing will He withhold from it.” ~November 20, 1862, pg. 113
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