Life in the South

Richmond, Virginia was the capital of the South during the short life of the Confederacy. I was there last weekend for an XS-related event and a good friend of a good friend offered to take me on a personal tour.

The history of the Civil War, or War of Northern Aggression (as it is called by many south of the Mason-Dixon line), is something that I love to read about and am far from expert on. Both sides seemed at fault, from Lincoln’s suspension of the Constitution, effectively making himself a king, and usurping states’ rights, to the South’s enduring commitment to human slavery. It created myths and legends that endure. Visiting the historical sites of the Confederate Whitehouse and Capitol made me think about how different this country could have ended up if things had ended differently.

One of the greatest assets of the South was the general who executed Lee’s vision—Gen. Thomas J. Jackson, Stonewall Jackson. Stonewall was an undefeated general who followed the Napoleonic tactics better than most, keeping his opponents off-balance, attacking in concentration and quickly moving to further locations to attack again. He was a man who simplified strategy so that his troops could deliver great results in difficult situations. His troops regularly defeated Union armies with double, triple and quadruple the number of soldiers. He was also deeply religious.

Stonewall Jackson was a Calvinist. He believed in the sovereignty of God, the idea that if he was successful it was because God willed it and the only way to participate in success was by sticking close to God’s will. Jackson never believed his success was because of himself but always attributed it to God. He was also incredibly calm—his nickname came from his willingness to stand firm despite the odds against him, holding a hill at an early Virginia battle when others would have ran, a move (or lack thereof) that allowed the Confederates to win the battle around his hinge-point. Stonewall was killed by his own troops in a confusing volley as he returned from reconnaissance run to the Union lines, his wounds required his arm to be amputated and he later died from complications (pneumonia).

Christians on both sides of the Civil War believed with great ferocity that God supported their side and their cause. It may be that they were both right to a greater or lesser degree. To me, the great lesson of Stonewall Jackson is that whether we end up in causes that win or lose wars, what is important to both man and God is not the end result but the way in which we chose to execute the details along the way—life is a journey, not a destination.



stonewalls in tall grass
still stand despite causes lost
stone remains as stone