restoring our biblical and constitutional foundations

The Day “Thomas Jonathan” Became “Stonewall”

 David Alan Black

Exactly 142 years ago today, July 21, the names Bull Run and Manassas meant virtually nothing throughout the nation. By nightfall they had become immortal, as had another name, “Stonewall.” The first major engagement of the “Civil” War was now history.

The Federal commander was only 43 years old and only two months a brigadier general. A physically powerful man, Irvin McDowell was admired as an officer well-informed both in and out of his profession. He had been educated in France and West Point, and had distinguished himself in the Mexican War. He had served on the staff of General-in-Chief Winfield Scott, actually a year older than the Federal Constitution over whose interpretation the two nations were doing battle. McDowell knew that the 30,000 troops under his command were mostly untrained, but the word was “go,” and away they went.

The Southerners were prepared, however. On May 8, only four companies of infantry and cavalry had been stationed at Manassas Junction. But before the month was out, another brigade had arrived, and on June 1 Brigadier General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard, the hero of Sumter, assumed command of the entire Confederate forces in northeastern Virginia.

On July 17, the Federal troops pushed ten miles from Washington City to Fairfax Courthouse, where they paraded through town four abreast, with bands playing and flags waving. Already the Federals were clogging the roads out of the Federal capitol, and by the 18th were gathering along the heights of Centerville. Here the Confederate forces lay along an eight-mile stretch of Bull Run creek. Beauregard sent a message by telegraph to Richmond informing the Confederate president that his outposts had been attacked and requesting reinforcements “at the earliest possible instant and to every possible means.”

General Joseph Johnston immediately made plans to leave the Shenandoah Valley. He began moving his army thorough Ashby’s Gap to Piedmont, a station on the Manassas Gap line. Meanwhile, the bivouacs of the Union soldiers swarmed with visitors both during the 19th and 20th. Many of them had come out from Washington in carriages, and some of the women had even packed their fineries, knowing that there would be dancing at Fairfax Courthouse after the Yankees had driven the Southerners back to Richmond.

Johnston stepped off the train at Manassas, having eluded Union General Patterson without trouble. At 6:30 am on the 21st, Beauregard, directing action with Johnston’s approval, received a message that some 1,200 men were deployed in his front. Although he had prepared an offensive plan, he now knew that the Federals had taken the initiative away from him. Beauregard ordered T. J. Jackson’s brigade to take up such positions along Bull Run that he would able to reinforce either flank of the Confederate army.

As the Federal attackers seemed about to win the day, Jackson’s troops stood fast and helped turn the tide. Confederate general Bernard Bee is said to have exclaimed to his own troops: “Look! There stands Jackson like a stone wall!” The nickname stuck. Jackson’s fame was carried with it across the South and later the nation, and few would know him today by his real name—Thomas Jonathan. Ironically, it wasn’t as a “stone wall” but as a lightning bolt—a tactical genius and hard-striking offensive master—that Jackson achieved his greatness. In his Valley Campaign in 1862 he eluded, then defeated, superior Federal forces, and in August of the same year he marched entirely around the Union army of General John Pope, then stood on the defensive, luring Pope to the attack until the rest of the Confederate army could join in a crushing counterattack and victory at the Second Manassas.

142 years after the Battle of First Manassas it is fascinating to read Jackson’s own report:

About 4 in the morning I received notice from General Longstreet that he needed a re-enforcement of two regiments, which were accordingly ordered.

Subsequently I received an order from General Beauregard to move to the support of General Bonham, afterwards to support General Cocke, and finally to take such position as would enable me to re-enforce either, as circumstances might require.

Whilst in the position last indicated I received a request from General Cocke to guard the stone bridge, and immediately moved forward to effect the object in view.

Subsequently ascertaining that General Bee, who was on the left of our line, was hard pressed, I marched to his assistance, notifying him at the same time that I was advancing to his support; but, before arriving within cannon range of the enemy, I met General Bee’s forces falling back. I continued to advance with the understanding that he would form in my rear. His battery, under its dauntless commander, Captain Imboden, reversed and advanced with my brigade.

The first favorable position for meeting the enemy was at the next summit, where, at 11.30 a.m., I posted Captain Imboden’s battery and two pieces of Captain Stanard’s, so as to play upon the advancing foe. The Fourth Regiment, commanded by Col. James F. Preston, and the Twenty-seventh Regiment, commanded by Lieut. Col. John Echols, were posted in rear of the batteries; the Fifth Regiment, commanded by Col. Kenton Harper, was posted on the right of the batteries; the Second Regiment, commanded by Col. James W. Allen, on the left, and the Thirty-third, commanded by Col. A. C. Cummings, on his left. I also ordered forward the other two pieces of Captain Stanard’s and all those of Colonel Pendleton’s battery. They, as well as the battery under Lieutenant Pelham, came into action on the same line as the others; and nobly did the artillery maintain its position for hours against the enemy’s advancing thousands. Great praise is due to Colonel Pendleton and the other officers and men.

Apprehensive lest my flanks should be turned, I sent an order to Colonels Stuart and Radford, of the cavalry, to secure them. Colonel Stuart and that part of his command with him deserve great praise for the promptness with which they moved to my left and secured the flank by timely charging the enemy and driving him back.

General Bee, with his rallied troops, soon marched to my support and as re-enforcements continued to arrive General Beauregard posted them so as to strengthen the flanks of my brigade. The enemy not being able to force our lines by a direct fire of artillery, inclined part of his batteries to the right, so as to obtain an oblique fire; but in doing so exposed his pieces to a more destructive fire from our artillery, and one of his batteries was thrown so near to Colonel Cummings that it fell into his hands in consequence of his having made a gallant charge on it with his regiment; but owing to a destructive small-arm fire from the enemy he was forced to abandon it. At 3.30 p.m. the advance of the enemy having reached a position which called for the use of the bayonet, I gave the command for the charge of the more than brave Fourth and Twenty-seventh, and, under commanders worthy of such regiments, they, in the order in which they were posted, rushed forward obliquely to the left of our batteries, and through the blessing of God, who gave us the victory, pierced the enemy’s center, and by co-operating with the victorious Fifth and other forces soon placed the field essentially in our possession.

About the time that Colonel Preston passed our artillery the heroic Lieutenant-Colonel Lackland, of the Second Regiment, followed by the highly meritorious right of the Second, took possession of and endeavored to remove from the field the battery which Colonel Cummings had previously been forced to abandon; but after removing one of the pieces some distance was also forced by the enemy’s fire to abandon it.

The brigade, in connection with other troops, took seven field pieces in addition to the battery captured by Colonel Cummings. The enemy, though repulsed in the center, succeeded in turning our flanks. But their batteries having been disabled by our fire, and also abandoned by reason of the infantry charges, the victory was soon completed by the fire of small-arms and occasional shots from a part of our artillery, which I posted on the next crest in rear.

By direction of General Johnston I assumed the command of all the remaining artillery and infantry of the Army near the Lewis house, to act as circumstances might require. Part of this artillery fired on the retreating enemy. The colors of the First Michigan Regiment and an artillery flag were captured—the first by the Twenty-seventh Regiment and the other by the Fourth.

Lieut. Col. F. B. Jones, acting assistant adjutant-general; Lieut. T. G. Lee, aide-de-camp, and Lieut. A. S. Pendleton, brigade ordnance officer, and Capt. Thomas Marshall, volunteer aide, rendered valuable service. Cadets J. W. Thompson and N. W. Lee, also volunteer aides, merit special praise. Dr. Hunter H. McGuire has proved himself to be eminently qualified for his position—that of medical director of the brigade. Capt. Thomas L. Preston, though not of my command, rendered valuable service during the action.

Finally, in a letter to his wife dated July 23, 1861, Jackson, with characteristic humility, wrote:

My Precious Pet, Yesterday we fought a great battle and gained a great victory, for which all the glory is due to God alone. Although under a heavy fire for several continuous hours, I received only one wound, the breaking of the longest finger of my left hand; but the doctor says the finger can be saved. It was broken about midway between the hand and knuckle, the ball passing on the side next the forefinger. Had it struck the centre, I should have lost the finger. My horse was wounded, but not killed. Your coat got an ugly wound near the hip, but my servant, who is very handy, has so far repaired it that it doesn’t show very much. My preservation was entirely due, as was the glorious victory, to our God, to whom be all the honor, praise and glory. The battle was the hardest that I have ever been in, but not near so hot in its fire. I commanded the centre more particularly, though one of my regiments extended to the right for some distance. There were other commanders on my right and left. Whilst great credit is due to other parts of our gallant army, God made my brigade more instrumental than any other in repulsing the main attack. This is for your information only, say nothing about it. Let others speak praise, not myself.

Without doubt, Jackson’s most effective military quality was his decisiveness. Seeing opportunities quickly, he seized them at once and never hesitated to attack even superior forces if he saw the possibility of advantage. He may well have been, and some authorities consider him, the war’s most remarkable soldier.

In honor of this great soldier and Christian, perhaps you’d like to join me in a hearty rendition of “Stonewall Jackson’s Way”!

Come stack arms, men! pile on the rails,
Stir up the campfire bright;
No growling if the canteen fails,
We’ll make a roaring night.
Here Shenandoah brawls along,
Three burly Blue Ridge echoes strong,
To swell the Brigade’s rousing song
Of “Stonewall Jackson’s way.”

We see him now—the queer slouched hat
Cocked o’er his eye askew;
The Shrewed, dry smile; the speech so pat,
So calm, so blunt, so true.
The “Blue-light Elder” knows ‘em well;
Says he, “That’s Banks—he’s fond of shell;
Lord save his soul! We’ll give him—well!
That’s Stonewall Jackson’s way.”

Silence! ground arms! kneel all! caps off!
Old Massa’s goin’ to pray.
Strangle the fool that dares to scoff!
Attention! It’s his way.
Appealing from his native sod
In forma pauperis to God:
“Lay bare Thine arm; stretch forth Thy rod!
Amen!”— That’s Stonewall’s way.

He’s in the saddle now. Fall in!
Steady! the whole brigade!
Hill’s at the ford, cut off; we’ll win
His way out, ball and blade!
What matters if our shoes are worn?
What matters if our feet ore torn?
Quick step! We’re with him before morn’!
That’s “Stonewall Jackson’s way.”

The sun’s bright lances rout the mists
Of morning and, by George!
Here’s Longstreet, struggling in the lists,
Hemmed in an ugly gorge.
Pope and his Dutchmen, whipped before;
”Bay’nets and grape!” hear Stonewall roar;
“George, Stuart! Pay off Ashby’s score!”
In “Stonewall Jackson’s way.”

Ah, Maiden! wait and watch and yearn
For news of Stonewall’s band.
Ah widow! read, with eyes that burn,
That ring upon thy hand.
Ah wife! sew on, pray on, hope on;
Thy life shall not be all forlorn;
The foe had better ne’er been born
That gets in “Stonewall’s way.”

July 21, 2003

David Alan Black is the editor of www.daveblackonline.com.

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That Powerful, Prophetic Pen

 David Alan Black 

Within the kaleidoscope of my memories is the image of an IBM Selectric typewriter at whose keys my wife is carefully tap-tapping, typing my doctoral dissertation for the University of Basel in Switzerland. This dissertation, eventually published as Paul, Apostle of Weakness, was my first book. At the time I thought it would be my most significant literary contribution. Of course, it has turned out to be the least important thing I have written.

The influence of the printed media upon us all is continuous, insistent, and pervasive; and no modern medium is more powerful than the codex (the only possible exception being the Internet). Is all this literary output beneficial, harmful, or neutral – or perhaps all three at different times? Throughout my teaching career I have produced books that have fascinated, delighted, provoked – and sometimes infuriated – my audiences.

The publication of Paul, Apostle of Weakness in 1984 told the world what I had been doing for three years as a doctoral student, while in my next book, Linguistics for Students of New Testament Greek, my students were exposed to what I had really been learning all those years in school – that language is beautifully and wonderfully made. And why shouldn’t I have said so? God is the Creator of language, and everything God produces is done “decently and in order.” Of course, had there not been a Tower of Babel, there would also have been no need for Greek professors like myself. Little did I realize when I published Linguistics in 1988 that it would still be used as a textbook in Bible Schools and Seminaries today, in a second, expanded edition.

Though I never planned it this way, most of my subsequent books also dealt in some way with New Testament Greek, rather than with more “popular” themes. (Don’t wait for the movie version of Linguistics and New Testament Interpretation or Scribes and Scripture.) My intention is not simply to dispense information, however. My desire is that students of Greek might emerge from reading these books aglow in head and heart, fresh from a honeymoon with the Greek language. A book like It’s Still Greek to Me even uses silly puns and cartoons to try and get the point across – and here I drew inspiration from those brilliant models of engaging writing found in the Idiot’s Guide to… series. Motivating people to continue their Greek studies has always been one of my main purposes for writing, especially if grammar is not their cup of tea.

At any rate, of one thing I am sure. My least important literary contribution (and easily the least readable book) was my dissertation. I empathize with the author who once complained to a critic, “I have written ten books, and each grows worse than the one before.” “Not at all,” rejoined the critic, “it is simply that your taste is improving.” My literary taste may have improved through the years, but I always remain painfully aware of the many shortcomings in my books.

I often wonder whether that is the reason some scholars publish their dissertation and then leave it at that. We teachers, tending to be perfectionists, are not very eager to release a book to the public that we know could be better – sometimes a lot better. I, too, have a tendency toward procrastination but have forced myself to say, on countless occasions, “Enough is enough.” Thankfully, once a scholar has been published a few times he will often have the opportunity to revise his previously published works.

Unleashing the Church is the tentative title of my latest literary effort, drawing upon 45 years of involvement in the local church. For myself, I want to appeal to the rising generation of Christians, that they will get into their churches and into society in general and salt them. If we Christians will only become what God intended for us to be and refine and reform and rescue the church from its own ignorance and infidelity, a future generation of believers will rise up and call us blessed.

Today there is an urgent need for Christian leadership that will see things, in Blake’s phrase, “through and not just with the eyes.” We need a generation of prophets to be voices crying out in the wilderness through their writings – men who will denounce iniquity and sound an alarm while the church and the nation are peacefully sleeping, while at the same time having deep compassion for the nation and the culture which they are criticizing. I can sum it up like this: I believe that in the reckoning of God, prophetic faithfulness is more important than comfort or worldly acclaim.

For those of you prophets out there for whom my writings might strike a positive cord on occasion, I hope very much that you don’t mind living in animal skins and munching on locusts. As Christians debate with one another what their attitude to the world and the church should be, I want to appeal to you to keep sounding the alarm bells that modern-day John the Baptists have been ringing so loudly through their writings. Lash yourself to the reality of Christ, like sailors in a stormy sea, and hang on for dear life. That powerful, prophetic pen still has work to do!

January 31, 2005

David Alan Black is the editor of www.daveblackonline.com. If you would like to know more about becoming a follower of King Jesus, please feel free to write Dave.

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“That Fox”

 David Alan Black

I have been fascinated in recent days by the chameleon-like metamorphosis undergone by Alabama Attorney General Bill Pryor. An outspoken supporter of conservative causes, he has now decided he must “uphold the law” (whatever that means) and see that Roy’s Rock is removed from the state judiciary building in Montgomery. 

It reminds me of an episode that is recorded for us in the New Testament Gospels. The Pharisees had warned Jesus that if He remained in Herod’s territory His life would be in danger. They were, of course, trying to “help” Jesus keep out of trouble with the authorities. Naturally their well-intended “warning” failed to terrify Jesus—He wasn’t dumb enough to fall for that one! Instead He bids them tell Herod—“that fox”—that He intends to defy His threats. He will stay the course until His ministry is completed.

Now the word “fox” is an interesting term. Today it connotes cunning cleverness. Not so in Jesus’ day. In its Jewish usage it had a double meaning. First, it referred to low sneakiness rather than straightforward dealing; and second, it was used in contrast to “lion” to describe an unimportant and irrelevant person as opposed to a person of real honor and greatness. In essence, Jesus was saying: “Folks, I am going to do what the Father has told Me to do. I will therefore make My way toward Jerusalem on My timing. I won’t flee there. After all, I’m not dumb enough to fall for your machinations!”

It’s apparent to many Moore supporters in Alabama that Bill Pryor will do anything to help his nomination for a seat on the eleventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. At least that’s the opinion of the 150 protestors who marched on Pryor’s office on Tuesday to demand he resign for supporting the eight associate justices who are seeking to remove the Ten Commandments monument. As protest organizer Patrick Mahoney said, “Bill Pryor should be protecting the citizens of Alabama instead of campaigning to get confirmation on the eleventh Circuit.” Pryor, like King Herod of old, certainly seems to be behaving like a “fox”—a sneaky and weak leader. He has joined Alabama Governor Bob Riley and members of the Supreme Court in deserting Moore in his hour of crisis. Little wonder that Judge Moore has had to come out and publicly oppose him!

Commenting on the term “fox,” G. Campbell Morgan once wrote: “It is an appalling picture. Jesus evaded Herod, sent him a message of contempt, and when face to face with him (at His trial before Herod) had nothing to say to Him. It is a solemnizing story. A man may get into such a condition when he yields to the base, that even Christ has nothing to say to him.” Add to this the statement of Karl Barth and you get a pretty good picture of where the battle lines are drawn in Alabama today: “Jesus would, in actual fact, have been an enemy of the state if He had not dared to call King Herod a ‘fox’ (Luke 13:32). If the State has perverted its God-given authority, it cannot be honored better than by this criticism which is due it in all circumstances.”

Who would have thought the anti-God crowd would be joined by conservative Republicans! What could have motivated them to desert the U.S. Constitution? If the Republican leaders in Alabama think they can get away with this, they better think again. The conservative Christian vote is strong in Bama, and already plans are underway to defeat Pryor and Riley at the polls. Riley may not have to wait for election day to feel their displeasure, however. His $1.2 billion tax plan is up for approval on September 9 in a statewide referendum, and Moore’s supporters will likely cast a protest vote.

Ah, the price of being a fox.

August 27, 2003

David Alan Black is the editor of www.daveblackonline.com.

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Thank You, Chuck

 David Alan Black 

I would like to take a moment and express my gratitude to my friend Chuck Baldwin. If I may say so, he has become one of America’s most articulate apologists for Christ and for the U. S. Constitution. I have often thought, “Oh, for more prophets like him!”

He has courage – of that there can be no doubt. All prophets must. While the culture in America seems to be crumbling all around us, there is an urgent need for Christian leadership – pastoral leadership, if you will – and Chuck Baldwin again and again has been a much-needed voice crying in the wilderness.

Chuck sees the issues of the day with limpid clarity while others remain in the vast gathering gloom. He often sees things I don’t see, sees them in living color whereas I might glance at them in black or white or gray. While the nation peacefully sleeps, Chuck is a town crier, sounding an alarm while at the same time having deep compassion for the nation he loves, and for her misguided people.

One other thing about Chuck I admire: like John the Baptist, he is not afraid of locusts and animal skins. That’s the price one often has to pay for being a prophet, and Chuck has paid that price gladly. He realizes that being a follower of Jesus Christ is costly. It also involves a grave responsibility. As he himself has so often pointed out, it’s no good blaming the politicians in Washington for the mess we are in. When the meat goes bad you don’t blame the meat; it’s the fault of the salt that the meat is putrefying.

So Chuck, thank you very much for so faithfully ringing the alarm bell. If only the rest of us would become the salt and light that we were meant to be, then maybe your words will not be in vain. Even more, I thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whose reality shines, if I may say, so very brightly in you.

Thank you.

April 8, 2005

David Alan Black is the editor of www.daveblackonline.com. If you would like to know more about becoming a follower of King Jesus, please feel free to write Dave.

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Testing Your Limits

 David Alan Black 

The movie Farther Than the Eye Can See tells the story of a blind man named Erick Weihenmayer and his successful summit of Mount Everest. As with most movies, this one had its share of platitudes about overcoming the obstacles that life throws at you. But the clichés were more than offset by the amazing cinematography and the incredible courage of Erik and his team.

What impressed me the most about Erik was his modesty and optimism. As humbly as he knew how, he was going to conquest Mount Everest. I have always been a soul that seeks adventure, driven by some unexplained urge to challenge the parameters of my world and to overcome past tragedies, including my parents’ divorce when I was three. I suppose my attitude toward mountain climbing is the same attitude I had toward surfing big waves when I was younger. You must learn to face danger and to be responsible for yourself. Everything in mountaineering is ultimately your decision. When I come back home from a climb or from a 5K, I feel totally renewed as a human being – stronger and more capable of facing life’s unpredictable terms. By climbing the Alps this summer I hoped to inspire my children and grandchildren to take a closer look at their own lives and to consider whether God might still have some dreams for them to live.

Each person faces a choice in life. When we face grief or loss, we can quit or we can have the courage to persevere, even if in the end we fail to reach our goals. In Erik’s story I found inspiration to continue to test my own limits. If we never test our limits, we will never know what they are. I would like to believe that the roads in life we choose depend less on external circumstances and more on internal longings that compel us as humans to reach the heights of whatever mountains we are facing in life. Successful people take what they have and make something of it. But you can’t be passive. You have to grasp the opportunities as they come along and, through hard work, stir up that tiny ember that burns within you.

I realize that the battle to become a mountaineer is won or lost through my weekly training program – those unglamorous times in the morning when you don’t want to get out of your warm bed to participate in a 5K or work out at the gym. It’s just another one of the universe’s hidden truths: without training, there can be no success. Tentative doesn’t cut it. When I climbed the Klettersteig in the Alps this summer, I went for it 100 percent. Total commitment. All in. Heart and soul. So I’m learning to embrace the hard work of preparation. Without it, there can be no meaningful achievement.

If anything, Erik’s story is a reminder that summits in life don’t come easy. You have to be willing to go through pain to reach your goal. As Erik proves, never underestimate the power of perseverance. Pick your goals carefully, think clearly about it – then act decisively, suppressing your fears. I see these qualities in Erik and, to a much lesser degree, in my own soul. But the more I do with the little I have, the more opportunities will gravitate towards me.

July 30, 2016

David Alan Black is the editor of www.daveblackonline.com.

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