American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

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Gen. Blake Strickler
Confederate General-in-Chief
El Presidente 2010 - 2012

I can't remember the book I was reading (I think it was The War For The Common Soldier) but the author made a point to write something to the effect of, "...both sides praying to the same God for victory." Just a sentence that always stuck out it me.

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Colonel Jason "Skeedaddle" Campbell
The Mahoning 4th Brigade
3rd Division
2nd Corp
AoT
"Let's fill up our canteens, boys. Some of us will be in hell before nightfall and we'll need the water"

That phrase was in Lincoln's second inaugural address. Worth reading.

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MG Mike Mihalik
Forrest's Cavalry Corps
AoWest/CSA

Ha!
McClellan 'the chosen one' - I think not.

My impression is that other generals seemed to generally fall in the 'servant' rather than 'chosen' camp with frequent comments along the lines of 'It's in God's hands now', 'It's up to Providence', 'Our fate is in His hands' or thanking Him after a successful battle.

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Paul Swanson
Lieutenant-General
First Division
First Corps
Army of Northern Virginia

This instantly made me remember a quote by the football player and one of are national heroes, Johan Cruyff.


He said:

"I don't believe in God ...In Spain all 22 players make the sign of the cross before a game. If it worked, every game would end in a tie.”

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Field Lieutenant Chiel Faber
5th Brigade, of the 1st Division of Forrest's Cavalry Corps (III)

I found this article on the topic https://www.historynet.com/in-god-we-trust-did-george-b-mcclellan-suffer-from-a-messianic-complex/. The author compares Lincoln, Lee and Jackson and GB McClellan to one another to show how each was shaped by religion in their lives as commanders.

McClellan’s religious convictions were no more abnormal than those of his contemporaries who embraced God’s Will. Consider these two statements. “It is probable that we shall have a severe engagement today…I feel as reasonably confidant of success as anyone well can who trusts in a higher power & does not know what the decision will be,” McClellan wrote to his wife on September 14, 1862. On July 2, 1863, Robert E. Lee told a foreign observer, “I do everything in my power to make my plans as perfect as possible…the rest must be done by my generals and their troops, trusting to Providence for the victory.” Stonewall Jackson believed all victories came through God’s blessing. Lincoln believed that humans were simply instruments playing out their parts in some grand scheme of God’s. Yet, because McClellan also believed he was God’s instrument, he is singled out for being the victim of some debilitating religious psychological malady. What is seen as virtue in others becomes vice for Little Mac. Such is the nature of the historical double standard by which George B. McClellan is judged.

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Gen. Mitch Johnson
GENERAL IN CHIEF
ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE COMMANDER

If you think about it in the context mentioned, we and they would have all been instruments of the gods. Their, and our, belief and part in the matter is thus arbitrary.

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Lt. Colonel JJ Jansen
3rd Calvary Brigade, 4th Calvary Division
Army of Tennessee
CSA