Tags: A House Divided, Abraham
Lincoln, Civil War, Union, Confederacy, Slavery, the Founders, modernist, modernism,
Christian heritage, Civil War, Abe Lincoln, Northerners, Gettysburg, Dr. Jerome Walker,
Colonel Harry L. Benbow, Jeff Davis, River Queen, General Sherman, Carl Sandburg,
Richmond, Dixie, General Weitze, reconstruction, White House, General Grant, Governor
Vance, Ford's Theater, Secretary Wells, Seward, Southern states, Andrew Johnson, Lamon,
New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, Sally Bush Lincoln, Harper's Weekly, General Lee,
Nancy Hanks, Tom Lincoln
It was not long after the war began in
1861 that the Northerners began to debate what was to be done to bring the Confederate
states back into the Union. Some believed they should be treated as territories. Others
concluded that since secession was illegal, none of the states had, in actuality, left the
Union to begin with. Lastly, there were those who contended that the Southern Leaders, not
the states, should be punished for their travesty. With the victory at Gettysburg in the
North's hand, speculation was soon to become reality as they were pressed to come up with
some solutions in anticipation of the inevitable.
We have learned that it was Lincoln's
desire to bring the house divided back together again under the authority of God. He
acknowledged that the only way one could possibly unify the country was to make them one
in the admission that God is sovereign over nations. A house divided would not stand. But
as one nation in unanimity under the banner of Christ, it could not fail.
With that in mind, it was Lincoln's
intent to deal with the vanquished South in a benevolent fashion. Compassion was always on
his mind when it came to dealing with his adversary for four years. Late in the war, Lincoln
visited the sick and the wounded in the hospital tents at City Point. As he approached one
of the tents a young Dr. Jerome Walker pointed at the patients saying, "Mr.
President, you do not want to go in there."
Why not, my boy?" was the
commander's reply.
"They are sick rebel
prisoners."
"That's exactly where I want to
go," Lincoln insisted as he strode in and shook hands from cot-to-cot.
Shot in both hips, Colonel Harry L.
Benbow, who had commanded three regiments at Five Forks related, "He halted beside my
bed and held out his hand. I was lying on my back, my hands folded across my breast.
"Looking him in the face, 'Mr.,
President,' I said, 'do you know to whom you offer your hand?'
"'I do not,' he replied.
"'Well,' said I, 'you offer it to a
Confederate colonel who has fought you as hard as he could for four years.'
"'Well,' said he, 'I hope a
Confederate colonel will not refuse me his hand.'
"'No, sir,' I replied, 'I will
not,' and I clasped his hand in both of mine."
In a historical meeting with the great
commanders of the Civil War on the River Queen, as the war began to draw to a close on 3/8/65,
Lincoln spoke of his terms of peace with the rebels. General Sherman, who was obviously
present recalled, "I inquired of the President if he was all ready for the end of the
war. What was to be done with the rebel armies when defeated? And what should be done with
the political leaders, such as Jeff Davis, etc.? He said he was all ready; all he wanted
of us was to defeat the opposing armies, and to get the men composing the Confederate
armies back to their homes, at work, on their farms, and in their shops. As to Jeff Davis,
he was hardly at liberty to speak his mind fully, but, intimated that he ought to clear
out, 'escape the country,' only it would not do for him to say so openly." Such a
position of allowing the enemy to flee would not have been popular amongst these Northern
people who were leaning towards revenge.
In all of Lincoln's speeches and papers,
according to Carl Sandburg, there was never a phrase of hate or personal evil wished
against Jefferson Davis. It was his hope that the President of the Confederacy would avoid
the judgment that Lincoln was obligated to deliver in order to appease those who would
settle for no less.
When even Mrs. Lincoln declared that
Jeff Davis should not be allowed "to escape the law, he must be hanged," her
husband replied, "Judge not, that ye be not judged."
It was on April 8, 1865, after the
conquest and capture of the capitol city of the Confederacy that Lincoln walked the
streets of this once proud metropolis to survey the devastation that had leveled it to the
ground. After surveying the agony that accompanies conquest, he boarded the River Queen to
depart from the city of Richmond. The military band was there; ready to send the proud
victor back home.
To this company of musicians, Lincoln
turned to request that they might play "Dixie," declaring "That tune is
federal property."
Again, after Lee's surrender, a great
crowd had gathered on the White House lawn. In the midst of the festivities, Lincoln again
turned to the enormous assembly and said, "I propose closing up this interview by the
band closing up. . . performing a particular tune. . .I have always thought 'Dixie' one of
the best tunes I have ever heard."
When General Weitzel implored what to do
with the conquered people Lincoln responded, "If I were in your place, I'd let 'em up
easy, let 'em up easy."
General Sherman, who was eager to hear
any specific recommendations that might have occurred in the mind of the President on
reconstruction of the South wrote, "Mr. Lincoln was full and frank in his
conversation, assuring me that in his mind he was all ready for the civil reorganization
of affairs at the South as soon as the war was over; and he distinctly authorized me to
assure Governor Vance and the people of North Carolina, as soon as the rebel armies laid
down their arms, and resumed their civil pursuits, they would at once be guaranteed all of
their rights as citizens of a common country; and to avoid anarchy the state governments
then in existence, with their civil functionaries, would be recognized by him as the
government de facto till Congress could provide others. . .His earnest desire seemed to be
to end the war speedily, without more bloodshed or devastation, and restore all the men of
both sections to their homes. ."
Indeed, the great generals of the war
committed their hearts to the President's view. Sherman, the punisher who had led the
notorious march through Georgia to leave nothing but destruction in his path, desired
humane reconstruction. In early April of 1865 the three prominent military commanders were
unanimous for ending the war on any terms that would guarantee a restored Union with
slavery gone. General Grant had stated, "The great majority of the Northern people,
and the soldiers unanimously" concurred with the Lincoln view.
Lincoln knew that his powers were vast
by then, and Congress was not due to meet until the upcoming December. His plan was to
first to speak to America of his strategy before the rancorous Congress met. Then, before
Congress gathered together he would put through a series of actions and decisions that
would control policy for years.
The Good Friday before Easter was filled
with the usual business that accompanies any ordinary President who had just won a Civil
war just a week before. The triumphant General Grant was invited to set that morning in
his first session with the President and his cabinet.
Secretary Wells recalled Lincoln
commenting on the re-establishing of law and order and the new state governments in the
South. "I think it providential that this great rebellion is crushed just as Congress
has adjourned and there are none of the disturbing elements of that body to hinder and
embarrass us. If we are wise and discreet we shall re animate the States get their
governments in successful operation, with order prevailing and the Union reestablished
before Congress comes together in December. . . I hope there will be no persecution, no
bloody work after the war is over. No one need expect me to take any part in hanging or
killing those men, even the worst of them. Frighten them out of the country, open the
gates, let down the bars, scare them off" - throwing up his hands as if sacrificing
sheep. "Enough lives have been sacrificed."
Later Seward heard the President say,
"We can't undertake to run State governments in all these Southern States. Their
people must do that - though I reckon that at first some of them may do it badly."
Lincoln's plan (that was originally
announced in December 1863) was simple and benevolent. It offered a pardon for every
Southerner who took an oath to support the Union. Any state in which 10 percent of its
populace took the oath could form a new government and adopt a new constitution. The
primary stipulation would be that the new constitution would have to prohibit slavery.
So the cabinet session of Friday, April
14, 1865, came to a close with the expectation that on the following Tuesday they would
meet again to resume the discussion of how to bind up the nation's wounds.
Congress though was not of such a
benevolent mind. Vengeance was their aim! Lincoln's vice-president, Andrew Johnson, was
currently promoting severe punishment for the rebels asserting, "Treason is a crime
and must be made odious." They considered Lincoln's plan too mild.
Already, in 1864, Congress had proposed
that Reconstruction wait until half the voters in a state had taken an oath of loyalty. A
national debate followed that contested whether Congress or the President should establish
reconstruction policy.
Lincoln knew the American people. Panic,
want, greed, fanaticism, race-hatred, cries for retribution, and lusts for money and
fortunes filled the land. He had to delicately plant good seeds in order to reap a harvest
that would successfully unite the country in peace. Therefore in a speech delivered on 4/11/65,
after Lee's surrender, Abe sought to seize the moment and the opportunity that he had to
set in motion his own reconstruction program.
But during this same period of time Lincoln
reported to his trustworthy friend Lamon, a dream that seemed deadly real. Abe had a
strong belief in the significance of dreams for himself and others. It was on that light
that he opened the Bible to Genesis 28 to read of Jacob's wonderful vision depicting a
ladder proceeding up to heaven. During that particular time of study his eye continually
was drawn back to Biblical passages referring to dreams, visions and supernatural
visitations.
Then "about ten days ago I retired
very late. I had been up waiting for important dispatches from the front. I could not have
been long in bed when I fell into a slumber, for I was very weary. I soon began to dream.
There seemed to be a death-like stillness about me. Then I heard subdued sobs, as if a
number of people were weeping. I thought I left my bed and wandered downstairs. There the
silence was broken by the same pitiful sobbing, but the mourners were invisible. I went
from room to room; no living person was in sight, but the same mournful sounds of distress
met me as I passed along. It was light in all the rooms; every object was familiar to me;
but where were all the people who were grieving as if their hearts would break? I was
puzzled and alarmed. What could be the meaning of all this? Determined to find the cause
of the state of things so mysterious and so shocking, I kept on until I arrived at the
East Room, which I entered. There I met with a sickening surprise. Before me was a
catafaloque, on which rested a corpse wrapped in funeral vestments. Around it were
stationed soldiers who were acting as guards; and a throng of people, some gazing
mournfully at the corpse, whose face was covered, others weeping pitifully. 'Who is dead
in the White House?' I demanded of one of the soldiers. 'The President,' was his answer,
'he was killed by an assassin!' Then came a burst of grief from the crowd, which awoke me
from my dream. I slept no more that night; and although it was only a dream, I have been
strangely annoyed by it ever since."
Lincoln's wife Mary was more than
annoyed by the dream after it was related to her. She was horrified! Abe attempted to
console her by explaining, ". . .it is only a dream, Mary. Let us say no more about
it, and try to forget it."
However, Lamon later recalled that the
dream continued to disturb Lincoln; for when he related it to others he was "grave,
gloomy, and sometimes visibly pale, but perfectly calm."
It was if Lincoln knew his time had
arrived. He had done what he had been called to do; and now with his soul securely with
Christ, it was time to go home.
In order to illuminate Lamon, Lincoln
revealed, "Well, let it go. I think the Lord in His own good time and way will work
this out all right. God knows what is best."
The truth of Lincoln's salvation in
Christ was to finally be announced publicly. For years Abe had avoided declaring his
membership at the church he had attended throughout his Presidency. Hidden for years in
the archives of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church was a document that revealed that Lincoln
had intended to change all of that. An affidavit was discovered that attested that Dr.
Gurley heard Abe express his faith in Jesus and desired to make it known on Easter Sunday,
1865.
It was the Good Friday before Lincoln
was to publicly profess his new-found faith in Christ at church that the Lincoln's
resolved to attend Ford's Theater. Sitting in the box seats while losing track of the
play, Abe leaned to his distraught wife with words of encouragement. Perhaps with the war
over and his second term secured, they could take a respite to the Holy Land. "What I
would most like to do is to take you on a trip to the Near East. We could go to Palestine."
As the words were ushering from his
mouth, an intruder cautiously opened his carefully devised clandestine entry door.
"We could visit Bethlehem. We could go to Jeru...."
Out in the prairie of Illinois an old
woman received the news she had for so long anticipated. "I knowed when he went away
he'd never come back alive." Those words were spoken by Sally Bush Lincoln, the
mother of a President.
Out on the Iowa frontier a farmer rode
swiftly, shouting the announcement, "Lincoln is shot!" or, "Lincoln is dead
- shot in a theater!"
Carl Sandburg wrote, "The last
breath was drawn at 21 minutes and 55 seconds past 7 A.M. and the last heart beat
flickered at 22 minutes and ten seconds past the hour on Saturday, April 15, 1865. Dr.
Barnes' finger was over the carotid artery, Dr. Leales' finger was on the right wrist
pulse, and Dr. Taft's hand was over the cardium when the great heart made its final
contraction."
Even Lincoln's adversaries were
despondent at the gruesome news. Harper's Weekly reported: "Roger A. Pryor stated in
Petersburg that he believed Mr. Lincoln indispensable to the restoration of peace, and
regretted his death more than any military mishap of the South."
General Lee at first refused to hear the
details of the murder. . . He said that when he dispossessed himself of the command of the
rebel forces he kept in mind President Lincoln's benignity, and surrendered as much to the
latter's goodness as to Grant's artillery. The General said that he "regretted Mr.
Lincoln's death as much as any man in the North."
"The Pale Horse had come,"
wrote Sandburg. "To a deep river, to a far country, to a by-and-by whence no man
returns, had gone the child of Nancy Hanks and Tom Lincoln, the wilderness boy who found
far lights and rainbows to live by, whose name even before he died had become a legend
in-woven with men's struggle for freedom the world over."
Don Wigton
is a graduate of the prestigious music department at CSULB where he studied under Frank
Pooler, lyricist of Merry Christmas Darling, and sang in Pooler’s world renown
University Choir alongside Karen and Richard Carpenter. During this time Don was also the
lead composer of the band, Clovis Putney, that won the celebrated Hollywood Battle of the
Bands. After giving his life to God, Don began attending Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa to
study under some of the most prominent early Maranatha! musicians. Subsequently he toured
the Western United States with Jedidiah in association with Myrrh Records.
Eventually
Don served as a pastor at Calvary Chapel Bakersfield to witness thousands of salvations
through that ministry. As the music/concert director, Don worked for seven years with most
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The next
years of Don’s life were spent as the praise leader of FirstBaptistChurch in Bakersfield
during a time of unprecedented church renewal. Don teamed with the leadership to
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During this exciting time, Don’s praise team, Selah, produced the CD Stop and
Think About It.
Today Don is
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The book Holy
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was formed as a service to the body of Christ to encourage scriptural
worship. To accomplish this goal Wigtune Company offers free contemporary Christian praise
and worship music, contemporary Christian rock and hymn mp3 and chart material along with
a free on-line worship study book for personal devotions, Bible study groups, Sunday
schools, pastors, music ministers and ministry training. In order to bridge the gap
between the old and the new the worship study book gives solid theological and
historical support to the use of traditional Christian hymn-singing in conjunction with
praise chorus singing. 
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