Plucking the Eagle's Wings

A Nation Divided—The Split Between the North and South

and powder." Jackson and his army won victory after victory against the Union. When asked how he managed to be so calm in battle, he replied, "Captain, my religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed." He prayed often and gave God glory for his smallest successes. He even tried to avoid marching or fighting on the Sabbath day. According to historians, Jackson prayed that God would baptize his army with The Holy Spirit. His personal letters indicate that he ordered religious services to be conducted. During the winter of 1862 and 1863, while the Confederate army camped near the Rappahannock, a great revival broke out. It is estimated that over 150,000 Confederate When Rehoboam was king, the Egyptians prepared an invasion of Judah and Jerusalem. Scripture indicates that the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves. And when the Lord saw they were humbled, He said, "I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem" (2 Chronicles 12:6-7). History recounts that there was great confusion amongst several Lincoln appointed Union leaders. In various places, Union armies lost battles, including one in Fredericksburg, which is not far from Washington. Lincoln began to question why the South was so successful in battle. Apparently he realized that prayer, fasting, and faith were the key to seeking God's answer. Consequently, on July 2,1864, Congress adopted a resolution similar to an Old Testament prophetic lamentation. It called upon citizens to "confess and repent of their manifold sins, implore the compassion and forgiveness of the Almighty, and beseech him as Supreme Ruler of the world not to destroy us a people." Israel's leaders had spoken a similar prayer when it was divided many years before. Finally, in the summer of 1864, General Sherman, Admiral Farragut, and Grant made inroads into the South and they began winning major victories. These victories helped Lincoln's re-election. It seems the real turning point in the war favoring the North came after a major decree made by president Abraham Lincoln. He was concerned about why the North had lost so many battles. He concluded that it was the troops were converted to Christ during the war! Lincoln's Prayer That Changed the War

109