Lesson 153: Young Warriors With Brave Hearts

Kentucky Chaplain David Chaltas

I recently had the privilege of being invited to Blue Springs for their wondrous event. The education day was as smooth as any I have been involved with and the hospitality was grand. On Saturday, there was an outstanding battle involving several hundred reenactors and the ball went well. The ladies tea was well attended also. Sunday saw a wondrous church service at the Brown Springs Church, followed by a meal for kings sponsored by the church. Sunday, the crowd was large and the event took off with the usual hooplas. I had the honor of working the crowd into the usual frenzy and noted that several young cub scouts were setting together. All of them had purchased a period wooded Enfield rifle and I talked to them, asking them if they would be my guards as I patrolled the lines and to watch my flank. They were my rear guard. Thinking no more about it, I went to my appointed rounds completely submerged in my duties and the action taking place on the beautiful rolling fields of Blue Springs. Well the battle seesawed back and forth and at one juncture close to the end, five Union cavalrymen came up to me with pistols drawn. The commanding Union officer, Bill White, said, “Sir I perceive that your soldiers have abandoned you and you are caught behind the lines without an escort.” Realizing that I was indeed caught off guard I struggled for a few seconds. It was then that I remembered my boys behind me and just off my left and right flank. I called upon them for assistance and immediately all cadets pointed their wooden weapons at the horsemen, holding their line bravely. The officer looked at the line of young brave hearts, looked back at me and said, “Sir, I do believe that I was mistaken. You do have a grand escort!” And with that, he requested permission to withdraw. It was granted without incident. The crowd roared with laughter and clapped with approval. It was one of those moments that had to be witnessed to believe.

It reminded me of yet another time in a place now known as the Field of Lost Shoes when young men of valor stood against Goliath. It was a time when young cadets from Virginia Military Institute were called upon to guard their beloved land. In 1864 a desperate time weighed heavily upon the Old Dominion. Young cadets were ordered by General Breckinridge to march eighty miles from Lexington, VA, to New Market, VA, in support of the men awaiting the Union advance. Upon arriving the young boys were taunted by the veteran troops. Once they were committed to battle, their bravery while marching into battle on Jacob Bushong’s wheat field (Field of Lost Shoes) brought the deepest admiration by all at their undaunted spirit in the face of enemy fire. Several died but none faltered in that mud soaked field of glory. They were young warriors with brave hearts. God was with them that day, as they demonstrated bravery is not a matter of age but of heart.

At times in our life we find ourselves surrounded by what we perceive as an impregnable force. It seems to engulf us. We do not know where to turn or who to call on for help. But in reality, all we have to do is look behind us, look over our shoulder, look on our right, look on our left, look under our feet and once you have looked in almost every direction possible, simply look up into the heavens from whence cometh your help. God has said in his love letter to his children that, He will never leave you as orphans, he will come to you.” Simply call upon the name of the Lord and you will be saved. I believe that this verse engulfs the complete definition of rescue (to salvage, release, set free, liberate) and there is nothing in your life that is impossible for God to do if you believe in His power to change your life, work towards that goal in faith and accept Him as your guiding light. How great is our God! How glorious is His mercy! We are children of the Light and as long as we walk towards that glow of glory, shadows will always be behind us. It is when we turn from His radiance that we find ourselves in the dark and lost in terms of which direction to go. Matthew 28:20 sums in up in a nutshell. “And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Reflecting upon the young warriors with brave hearts but TRUSTING in the eternal truths of salvation, I remain your obedient servant, The Old General