Textbook

Today's delanceyplace excerpt is from Rebel Yell: The Violence, Passion, and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson. Apparently Jackson was filled with revulsion by war. He really didn't want the Civil War to happen. Did he think about refusing to fight for the South? He did not (in fact, he believed the South should practice total war so it would be over sooner, if it had to happen); that never seemed to cross his mind. What was his plan?

"And now he was prepared to do what he could to stop the imminent horror. His chosen form of activism was characteristic of the man: prayer. He would pray. He would petition God, and God would stop the madness."

Yeah, so, that didn't work.