We have discussed the wonderful prayer meetings and revivals that swept the Confederate Armies. I want to point your attention to one of the men who was responsible.

   Captain Dabney Carr Harrison, Commander of Company K, 56th Virginia Infantry. In civilian life he was pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Hanover, Virginia. He loved his congregation, and after the war began he was reluctant to leave his people. However, after he lost his own brother, Lieutenant Peyton Harrison, who was killed in action at the Battle of First Manassas. Dabney Harrison said shortly after conducting the funeral service for his brother, "I must take my brother's place and fight for my country."

   When he volunteered for duty, he told his recruiting officer that he wanted to be an Army Chaplain so "that I can serve both God and country." He was told that he could discuss the matter with his commanding officer after he arrived at the 56th Virginia Infantry regiment in Richmond. He was told that because he had graduated from Virginia Military Institute, he was needed as a line officer. Carr agreed on one condition. "I will not take up the sword if I am compelled to lay down the Bible. I will command a Company as you suggest, only if I may also serve my men as a preacher of God's Word, so much as my duties may permit." His request was granted.

   He soon became Commander of Company K and wrote in his dairy, I promise God that I will be frank and fearless, and show my men that I can lead them into battle, but I will also set a Christian example without imposing an irksome restraint, even to those who are irreligious. I will try to point them to the Lord, and when we are in camp and combat is not immediate, I will conduct worship services and prayer meetings for all those who are willing to come voluntarily.

   His own Chaplain William Hodge said of him, "While Captain Harrison's good work as a minister was extended to the surrounding units, his first anxiety was, of course, for his own men of Company K. He is responsible for training them so that they will follow him, if necessary, to the death. They, of all others, would see what he actually was, as a servant of his country, as well as a servant of his God. Therefore he sought to be, every day and in everything, an example to them. He shared their hardships, and all so cheerfully, that the most despondent could hardly fail to catch some quickening ray from his sunny spirit. He trained his men on military tactics and prepared them for battle with the enemy, but he gave to his soldiers new impressions of the owner and sweetness of the religion of Jesus Christ."

   After Harrison and his men had been through their first baptism of fire, his commanding officer said, "Captain Harrison has a courage of the most clear and keen temper, and so far from fear, that he seems not without some real appetite for danger."

   "You ought to be braver than the rest of us," said some of his brother officers to Captain Harrison one day, "Why so? he replied. "Because, they said, "you have everything settled for eternity. You have nothing to fear after death." "Well, gentlemen," Harrison said solemnly. "You are right. Everything is settled, I trust, for eternity. and I have nothing to fear. I am praying that everyone of you knows, the Lord Jesus Christ personally so that you will have no fear either."

   On February 15, during the battle of Fort Donelson, Captain Harrison led his men into the thick of the battle. He led his men in a counter attack against the Yankees. The testimony of his men later was that he never commanded them with the words "Go on!" Instead he said "Come on" while he was ever before them flashing his sword. As the enemy began to waver and break into a retreat, his men saw their Captain fall. It was impossible for his devoted men to pause. And they did their best for him by throwing themselves against the Yankees.

   After the battle, his men found him at a nearby medical aid station. One ball had cut his temple; a second had passed through his right lung; and this was the fatal wound." Before dying, he managed to write his wife, "My darling, I die content and happy; trusting in the merits of Jesus Christ; and I commit you and our children to our God. We will meet at some future time in Heaven."

   After writing the brief letter, he fell asleep for awhile. Suddenly, he work up and exclaimed! "Company K, you have no Captain now, but never give up! Never Surrender until our freedom is won!"

   I found this story in the excellent book, "Christ in the Camp." It is not a unique story. There are many men in the Confederate Army who were courageous soldiers, willing to die for their country, but at the same time determined to live for Jesus Christ and set an example for all who were facing death and the trauma of being wounded. Captain Dabney Carr Harrison, who left the people of his congregation to serve his country is an example for all of us to remember and to emulate.