The Stonewall of the West Gen. Cleburne
John Weaver | SermonAudio
| Lecture Metadata | Details |
|---|---|
| Speaker | John Weaver |
| Source | SermonAudio |
| Media ID | 39211814465646 |
| Subject | Christian Civilization |
| Course | Rebuilding Christian Civilization |
| Genre | Sermon |
| Date | 2003-06-15 |
| Dictation Name | |
| Book | Book 062: Rebuilding Christian Civilization — Chapter 1 |
| Source Timed Segments | 365 |
Synopsis: John Weaver uses the life and death of Confederate General Patrick Cleburne to illustrate the biblical principle that the whole duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments. Cleburne exemplified unwavering commitment to duty, even in the face of certain death, and his story serves as a call for Christians to prioritize duty over personal gain, learn from the sacrifices of ancestors, and stand for truth against cultural opposition.
Formatted Transcript
Introduction: The Whole Duty of Man
Weaver opens with Ecclesiastes 12:13, stating that fearing God and keeping His commandments is the whole duty of man in every sphere of life, and introduces General Patrick Cleburne as a man who believed in duty.
In your Bibles, the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 12 and verse 13, the Word of God says this. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. I'm going to be bringing a message on the Stonewall of the West, the life and death of General Patrick Cleburne.
When God says, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man," I submit to you it's the whole duty of man theologically, it's the whole duty of man ecclesiastically, it's the whole duty of man familially, it's the whole duty of man civilly, and it's certainly the whole duty of man personally. of man civilly, and it's certainly the whole duty of man personally. General Patrick Cleburne was a man who believed in duty, and he would perform that duty even in the face of certain death.
Cleburne's Early Life and Rise to Command
A brief biography of Cleburne from his birth in Ireland, immigration to America, work as a druggist, study of law, and formation of the Yell Rifles, leading to his appointment as a general in the Confederate Army.
Now, Patrick Cleburne, of course, was born March 17, 1828, in County Cork, Ireland. Due to his inability to master Greek, Latin, and French, it kept him from passing the druggist trade for which he had apprenticed, and since he could not get his druggist permit, so to speak, in Ireland there, he then joined the 41st Infantry Regiment. On his 21st birthday, he received a small inheritance, and he purchased his discharge from the army, and he and two brothers and a sister then immigrated to the United States. He came to America in 1849. Once here, he returned to the druggist trade in Cincinnati, Ohio. He worked there for six months as a druggist clerk. Pretty soon, he moved to Helena, Arkansas in 1850, and he continued to apply his trade there as a druggist, and soon became a full partner there in the shop where he worked.
When the epidemic of yellow fever broke out in 1855, Cleburne was one of the only three men who stayed behind to nurse the sick. In 1856, believe it or not, he was admitted to the bar after pursuing the study of law in his spare time. In 1860, he was one of the organizers of the local militia known as the Yell Rifles, which elected him its captain. In 1861, with war looming over the horizon, the Yell Rifles, under Cleburne's command, seized the United States arsenal in Little Rock, Arkansas. Finally, after Arkansas officially seceded to join the Confederacy, Cleburne became the colonel of the 1st, and then later the 15th Arkansas Infantry, and of course, as you know, later on he was appointed a general in the Confederate Army.
Cleburne's Military Career and Character
Cleburne's service in various battles, his reputation as a fighter who defeated superior numbers, and his unwavering loyalty to duty and states' rights, placing duty above personal outcome.
At the head of the Yell Rifles, he served in Arkansas before being named Commander of the State Unit. Transferred with General William J. Hardee to Central Kentucky, he was later promoted to Brigadier General, and he fought at Shiloh and during the Siege of Corinth as well. Taking part in the Kentucky Campaign, he was wounded both at Richmond and at Perryville. He was promoted to Major General. He commanded a division at Murfreesboro and during the Tullahoma Campaign and at Chickamauga. He was a favorite of President Jefferson Davis, and he is credited with covering the retreat from Chattanooga after his splendid defense at Tunnel Hill.
Fighting on the western front, I should say, Cleburne got very little glory, or less glory, than the generals on the eastern front. He fought under Braxton Bragg, Joseph E. Johnson, and John Bell Hood, and as some say, arguably, the most incapable succession of commanding officers. At any rate, whatever you think of those men, Cleburne constantly, consistently, and repeatedly demonstrated his abilities. Cleburne was a fighter. The odds did not matter. He defeated Sherman when Sherman had him outnumbered four to one.
He defeated Hooker when Hooker had him outnumbered three to one. Patrick Cleburne was a man of loyalty and a man of duty. He fought for a cause, and his cause was states' rights. He believed that duty was first and foremost. In that, he and General Robert E. Lee were alike. They placed duty above everything else.
When he wrote to his brother in 1861 at the eve of the war, here is what he says. "Life has always been a small matter with me when duty points the way." Now let that soak in. "Life has always been a small matter with me when duty points the way." Neither success nor failure deterred him once he determined his duty. He was a man of principle, and he was going to fulfill that duty and keep that duty regardless of the cost. Do you understand that duty is something that should be constant and continual in our daily lives?
The Biblical Concept of Duty
Weaver expounds on duty as a constant daily exercise, citing 2 Chronicles 8:14 and Luke 17:10, emphasizing that duty is demanded and merits no special praise.
In 2 Chronicles chapter 8 and verse 14, in Ezra chapter 3 and verse 4, the Bible talks about those Levites and it says that they were to do their duty as every day requires. So many times, each of us think, well, if we've done our duty once, that's sufficient. Or if we do our duty occasionally, that's sufficient. No. Duty is a consistent and constant daily exercise. Just like those Levites who were to do their duty as every day required, so likewise we are required. You know, one of the things that boggles our minds so many times is we have really lost the concept of duty.
And whenever we do perform our duty well, or whenever we do perform our duty faithfully, most of us look for a pat on the back. We look for someone to exalt us and to elevate us and say, "Man, there he is." Listen to what our Lord said in Luke chapter 17 and verse 10. Our Lord said, "So likewise you, when you shall have done all these things which are commanded you, say, 'We are unprofitable servants.' We have done only that which was our duty to do." Can you imagine that? Do you realize if you were to consistently and cautiously fulfill your duty in every area and every sphere of life, it would still merit you nothing?
You're just doing that which you're obligated already to do. Duty is that which is demanded. This is the whole duty of man. Cleburne understood that duty was duty, and it was to be performed simply because it was duty. The outcome of our duties is not the determining factor.
Cleburne's Motivation: Duty, Not Slavery
Cleburne's own words reveal he fought for the South out of duty and friendship, not slavery, and believed it was his duty to resist Northern tyranny and violation of constitutional principles.
He said, "I am with the South in life or in death, in victory or defeat. I have never owned a Negro and care nothing for them, but these people, the Southerners, have been my friends and have stood up to me on all occasions. In addition to this, I believe the North is about to wage a brutal and unholy war on a people who have done them no wrong, in violation of the Constitution and the fundamental principles of government. They no longer acknowledge that all government derives its validity from the consent of the governed."
Now let me just stop and analyze what he said. First of all, I want you to note his concept of duty. He said, "I am with the South in life or in death. In victory or in defeat," the outcome did not hinder him from doing his duty. The outcome was not necessarily the goal. What was the goal was that he perform his duty faithfully and that he perform it well. Secondly, he said that the Southerners had stood with him.
Now, therefore, he's going to stand with them. Basically, what he's saying is this. They have done their duty toward me, and now I'm going to do my duty toward them. Duty is first and foremost. Duty was his passion, not slavery. He was not fighting for slavery. He never even owned a slave.
But he said duty is that which counts. Thirdly, he believed it was his duty to resist tyranny and wickedness. He said, "The North is about to wage a brutal war against the South in disregard of the Constitution. They're denying the very principle that government derives its authority from the consent of the governed." And so he said, "It's my duty, therefore, to resist tyranny and wickedness even in the American government."
Cleburne's Memorial and Its Consequences
Cleburne advocated enlisting slaves into the Confederate Army, writing a paper that likely cost him promotion, yet he remained committed to the cause over personal gain.
He even wrote a paper in regards to this and had it submitted to General Joseph E. Johnston. Of course, his staff tried to dissuade him from doing this, but he went ahead and did so, and he wrote this paper dealing basically with subjugation, and therefore he was saying we need to enlist the slaves. But let me give you this paragraph. Listen carefully to what he wrote. He said, "The consequences of this condition, that is the condition of the army at that time, are showing themselves more plainly every day. Restlessness and morals spreading everywhere, manifesting itself in the army in a growing disregard for private rights, desertion spreading to a class of soldiers it never dared to tamper with before, military commissions sinking in the estimation of the soldiers, our supplies failing, our firesides in ruin.
Now listen carefully. If this state continues much longer, we must be subjugated. If this state continues much longer, we must be subjugated. Every man should endeavor to understand the meaning of subjugation before it is too late. We can give but a faint idea when we say it means the loss of all that we now hold most sacred. Slaves and all other personal property, lands and homesteads, liberty, justice, safety, pride, manhood. It means that the history of this heroic struggle will be written by the enemy, that our youth will be trained by Northern school teachers, will learn from Northern school books their version of the war, will be impressed by all the influences of history and education to regard our gallant dead as traitors, our maimed veterans as fit objects of derision.
maimed veterans as fit objects of derision. It means the crushing of Southern manhood, the hatred of our former slaves who will, on a spy system, be our secret police." Did you hear what he said? He said, "If we lose, it means that the history of our heroic struggle will be written by our enemies. that our children will be taught from northern school books by northern teachers. And our society will come to regard our valiant dead as traitors." What has happened?
Exactly what General Patrick Cleburne said. It's an interesting thing. All you have to do is listen to the Northern Press or the Southern Poverty Law Center or the ACLU, and we are the wickedest bunch of people that ever lived. Let me tell you something, people. Right is right, no matter who's against it. And usually, the greater the opposition, the more truth there is in that which you're standing for.
When Cleburne announced his intent to deliver this presentation known as Cleburne's Memorial, his fellow staff officers tried to dissuade him because he had just won two great battles. in recent months, and they believed that he was due for a promotion to lieutenant general and also corps commander. And they said, "Please do not present this paper." And his response was simply this. "Look, I'm for the Southern cause. I'm not for personal gain." He said the absolute worst scenario would be this.
that I would be cashiered out of the army. That is, they would kick me out. If they kick me out of my position, then I'll go back and join the 15th Arkansas as a private and continue to fight for the South. I want you to understand, here's a man who put his cause above personal gain. Believing that Cleburne's proposal dealt with political issues that were beyond the scope of the military, General Johnston refused to forward it on to President Davis in Richmond. However, Davis finally got a copy of it and he returned it to Cleburne with a request that it should be suppressed because of possible public outrage. Well, there were a number of men who believed that it was this paper that cost Patrick Cleburne the leadership of the Army of Tennessee, for when Joseph E.
Johnson was removed, instead of Cleburne getting the position, it was General John Bell Hood instead of Cleburne. But Cleburne still believed it was his duty to fight for the South, no matter the personal cost, no matter any embarrassment, he would simply submit and continue to fight.
The Battle of Franklin and Cleburne's Death
Against the advice of his officers, General Hood ordered a suicidal frontal assault at Franklin; Cleburne, knowing the odds, led his men and was killed instantly by a bullet to the chest.
Now, at this particular time, John Bell Hood believed that he had Union General Schofield trapped at Spring Hill, and because of confusion and conflicting orders, primarily from Hood himself, by the way, General Schofield escaped. He simply marched his men right by the Confederate lines at night. While the Confederates were everywhere, the road was unguarded and uncontrolled. And so, Schofield just simply marched right down the road. Hood was absolutely enraged that Schofield had escaped and called a meeting and harangued all of the officers and blamed every one of them for Schofield's escape.
Now, John Bell Hood was a courageous man, although he did have many faults. He had suffered wounds that had left one arm useless, and one of his legs had been amputated below the hip. And yet he continued to serve, and when he got on his horse, basically, he had to be tied on his horse. He was indeed a courageous man, but he was also a man who was very angry and sometimes certainly did not think clearly. You see, earlier in the war, during Lee's many battles, there were many victories won when Lee and his men charged straight at the enemy.
But since that time, not only had weapons, but also tactics improved as well. Well, Hood was in such a rage and he wanted Schofield so badly, he pursued him and he caught up with him basically at Franklin, Tennessee. There, Schofield and his men were behind three lines of breastworks. And the Confederates could be seen approaching for two miles. And also, the Union sharpshooters could shoot approximately a half a mile, because most of the trees had been cleared to make the breastworks. Strong fortifications. Well, General Cleburne, of course, was pursuing after Schofield, as well as the other men, and as he passed through Maury County on Saturday afternoon, the 26th of November, 1864, he was riding his favorite horse, Red Pepper, and he watched his men pass.
Some of the men were awestruck by the surroundings in which they were passing. In fact, they filed past the home of the deceased General Leonidas Polk and saw there the first and the grandest of the Polk mansions. And one of the men in Granbury's brigade, Sam Foster, wrote this. He said, "Today we pass the Polk place in Maury County, the prettiest place I've ever seen in my life." Well, General Cleburne was similarly affected by the quaint beauty of the Polk Church, St. John's. It was a small Gothic church building built of red brick sitting amidst a grove of tall magnolias.
It was Captain Hill, Captain Charles Hill, Cleburne's ordnance officer, noted his general's sober mood as he watched the men pass by. And then he noticed that Cleburne got off his horse and just kind of walked around the church building and among the tombstones. Hill then simply waited for his commander. And finally, when Cleburne got through walking around the church building and through the graveyard, he came back and he said to Captain Hill, "It would not be hard to die if one could be buried in such a beautiful spot." And Cleburne's prophecy would soon come true. A friend named Calhoun Benham noted in a diary the last time that he saw General Cleburne, and it was the day before the Battle of Franklin. Here is what he wrote: "I shall never forget him with his old gray cap and gray coat hanging loosely.
He seemed to have grown older and I shall not forget his last words when we parted. As he extended his hand carelessly, he said, 'Farewell, we may not meet again, but we shall do our duty.' I took it then as one of the general ways of admonishing subordinate soldiers, but the words sank deeply into my heart." Well, after they got to Franklin, General Hood ordered a frontal assault. Cleburne and the other officers had already reconnoitered the positions. They knew that there were three rows of breastworks there, fully completed and fully manned. They understood that it would be useless to engage in a frontal assault.
And so all of his commanders gathered around him and urged him to attack from the side. But Hood was adamant. He would not even wait for his Third Infantry Corps to arrive. He would not even wait for the bulk of his artillery to arrive. He ordered a frontal attack immediately. While his divisions formed to the right of the Franklin Pike, Cleburne knew that it was going to be a suicidal attack. And he understood that this would be most of his boys' final charge.
The men of the Army of Tennessee knew they were headed to destruction. It was General Govan who said to General Cleburne, "Few of us, sir, will ever return to Arkansas." To which General Cleburne responded, "Govan, if we're to die, let us die like men." As the battle commenced, Cleburne was hurt when his horse fell amid the fighting, and Cleburne was ordered by his doctor, Dr. Daniel Liddicum, his chief surgeon, to dismount and to receive emergency treatment, head to the rear. Cleburne refused. Instead, he got another horse.
and was continuing to lead his men in the fight. He was riding a brown mare that had belonged to Lieutenant Tip Stanton, a member of his escort, and his horse was killed about eighty yards from the Union stronghold. James Brandon, then a courier from Mississippi, dismounted and gave the general his horse. Before General Cleburne could ever get on the horse, the horse was killed. Cleburne then, with sword in hand, waving his hat amid the smoke, charged straight into the enemy lines. It was General Mark P. Lowrey who gave the remarks concerning Cleburne's final charge.
He said, "Seconds later, a large caliber bullet struck Cleburne in the chest just below the heart, killed him instantly. He was dead at thirty-seven years of age. And Cleburne was one of the ablest and bravest commanders. And now he was cut down, and so were hundreds and thousands of other men, simply because Hood could not be reasoned with by his commanders.
Aftermath and Burial
The staggering losses at Franklin, including six Confederate generals, and Cleburne's burial first at Rose Hill, then at St. John's Church as he had wished, and finally in Helena, Arkansas.
During the Battle of Franklin, 6,000 Confederate soldiers lost their lives, not counting the 2,500 Union soldiers who were killed. Even amidst such staggering losses, Hood's battered forces crawled on, bloody and battle-worn, to the next conflict at Nashville. It was not just the sheer numbers of Confederate dead that made this battle so appalling, but also the loss of six Confederate generals. Beside General Patrick Cleburne, the following generals also were killed at the Battle of Franklin. John Adams, Hiram Granbury, Otho Strahl, John C. Carter, and States Rights Gist. General Cleburne was first buried in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Columbia, Tennessee, but shortly thereafter, in fact, the next day, he was moved to the graveyard behind St. John's Episcopal Church, which he admired earlier, and said to Captain Hill, "It would not be hard to die if one could be buried in such a beautiful spot."
a beautiful spot. After the war, Cleburne's remains were transferred to the Confederate cemetery in his hometown of Helena, Arkansas. There was a poem written concerning General Cleburne, that the author is unknown, but let me give you this poem. It's so beautifully written.
Poem and Applications: Learning from Ancestors
A poem honoring Cleburne is read, followed by applications: we must learn from ancestors to put duty first, appreciate their sacrifices, recognize the rewriting of history, and stand for truth.
There was a poem written concerning General Cleburne, that the author is unknown, but let me give you this poem. It's so beautifully written. "Another ray of light has fled, another southern ray hath fallen in his country's cause and bound the laurel grain. Hath fallen, but his deathless name shall live when stars shall set, for noble Cleburne, thou art one this world will ne'er forget. 'Tis true, thy warm heart beats no more, that on that noble head Azrael placed his icy hand, and thou art with the dead. The glancing of thine eyes are dim, no more will they be bright, until they open paradise with clearer heavenly light. No battle news disturbs thy rest upon the sun-bright shore, no clarion voice awakens thee on earth to wrestle more.
No trapping seed, no weary foe, bids thee awake, arise, for thou art in the angel world, beyond the starry skies. Brave Cleburne, dream in thy low bed, with pulseless dead in heart, calm, calm, sweet old warrior rest, thou well hast borne thy part. And now a glory wreath for thee, the angel singing twine, a glory wreath, not of earth, but made of hands divine." Let me give you what I'm going to call some very important applications. The first one is this. We need to learn from our ancestors. To put duty first.
We need to learn the importance of duty. You know what we've done today? We have reversed our priorities. The average adult, as well as the average child, desires and wishes and does to play and recreate before they ever do their duty. In other words, we will do that which we like to do, that which we want to do first and foremost. And then if there's any time left at all, then we'll consider our duty. No.
Duty should always come first. I had four daughters. They were in a Christian school. And the Christian school gave them homework. I was one of their teachers. I was their principal. And when our girls came home, we allowed them to get something to drink.
We allowed them to get a cookie or whatever they wanted. Then they did their homework. Then they did their chores. And then if there was any time left, they played. He said, "Brother Weaver, that's hard." Well, I'm going to tell you something, folks. We've got to learn that life is short and our duty is first and foremost.
I remember when I was a boy, I had a neighbor. He was the captain of the football team. He was the captain of the baseball team. He was the captain of the track team. And I was raised on a farm and he was raised on a farm. And I talked to his dad one day and I said, "I want to ask you a question. How does your son get to play all these sports?
My dad requires me to come home and I have to work every afternoon after school. How is it your son gets to play all the time?" He said, "Well," he said, "when I was a boy, I had to work all the time. So I made up my mind that my son would never have to do that. He could play all he wanted to play." Well, I went home and I told my father. I never will forget what he said.
He said, "Son. You can live all your life without football or baseball. But you cannot live without work. And he said, 'You've got to learn to work before you can ever learn to play.'" You know, I didn't appreciate what my dad told me then. Until later on. You know, my friend, my next door neighbor died a few years ago of cancer.
That young boy. But before he died. He had been divorced and remarried four or five times. He could not keep a job. And the last job that he had, he stole $10,000 and left the town. You know why? His daddy always taught him to play.
Never taught him to do his duty. He taught him to play. Let me tell you something, folks. There's nothing wrong with playing as long as everything is done. Can you imagine what it would be like in our churches if not just the pastor, but if the people realized we have duty. We have a duty to worship God. We have a duty to minister to each other.
We have a duty to be faithful. We have a duty to be on time. We have a duty to give unto God. Duty comes first. Patrick Cleburne believed duty. Secondly, what an insult it is, it must be to our forefathers, to forget or to never know what they suffered and went through in order to protect us and give us our freedom. The principles they believed in, the convictions they held, the courage they demonstrated, the character they expressed are extremely important.
You know, the Apostle Paul said it like this in 1 Corinthians 4 and verse 16. He said, "Wherefore, I beseech you, be ye followers of me." In 1 Corinthians 11, verse 1, he says, "Be ye followers of me, even as I am followers of Christ." Now, it is true. You follow no man further than he follows Christ.
But if someone is following Christ, if he's following biblical principle, he's a good example to follow. We've got to know what they went through. We have no concept of suffering in this life. I wish you would read Mary Gay's diary, if you haven't read it. Oh! Oh! To hear what our genteel, southern, Christian, gracious ladies went through, not counting the men. In one episode, she goes out and she's picking corn out of the crevices of the horse trough.
And then she goes where the Union cavalry have their horses. And pick up the ground, the corn off the ground, have the corn get on the ground. It passed through the horses. And she took the corn and washed it and ground it just so they could eat. You see, folks, it is an insult to our ancestors to be unappreciative and unaware of what they suffered and what they went through that we might have what we have today. The third application is this. Cleburne was right when he said concerning the defeat of the South, "It means that the history of this heroic struggle will be written by the enemy, that our youth will be trained by northern schoolteachers.
will learn from Northern school books their version of the war, will be impressed by all the influence of history and education to regard our gallant dead as traitors and maimed veterans as fit objects of derision. It means the crushing of Southern manhood." I hope you understand, folks, why the politically correct crowd wants to put us down. I hope you understand while the Southern Poverty Law Center is always criticizing and condemning us, while the ACLU is always condemning us. Let me tell you something, folks. If Southerners, if Christian Southerners ever learned the truth, and if we ever responded and stood the way our forefathers stood, it would be an end to the New World Order and the politically correct crowd. There's something about our ancestors that will put steel in your backbone.
Those men and women knew how to stand, and they knew how to fight. And here's my last application in light of this fact. It is our duty to teach and to expose and to emphasize the truth over and over to all who will listen. What did our Lord say in John 8:32? "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." You said, "But Brother Weaver, what about those who don't know the truth? What about those who will not listen to the truth?"
Let me tell you something. If people, if you tell a lie long enough and often enough, people will believe it. If you tell the truth long enough and often enough, whether they like it or not, they're going to absorb some of it. We have to stay on target. Truth is truth and right is right. And as General Nathan Bedford Forrest said, "What we must do is put the skeer on them and then keep them skeered." And I've got news for you.
Our enemies are afraid of truth. And once we stand for truth, we can say, "Cleburne did not die in vain. None of our fathers died in vain. We're standing in the same truth. I like to think, here I am standing in the same stream that my forefathers stood in.
Closing Prayer
Weaver prays that God would make the hearers men and women of duty and principle, serving God acceptably.
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee. We thank Thee for the Stonewall of the West, for the example of General Patrick Cleburne, who put duty first. O God, make us men and women of duty, men and women of principle. And may we serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In Thy name we pray, Amen.
Study Guide
Major Themes
The Primacy of Duty
Summary: Duty is the foremost obligation of man, to be performed consistently regardless of outcome or recognition.
Evidence: Weaver states, 'Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man' (Ecclesiastes 12:13) and emphasizes that duty is a constant daily exercise.
Duty Over Personal Gain
Summary: Cleburne exemplified placing duty and cause above personal advancement, even when it cost him promotion.
Evidence: Cleburne said, 'I'm for the Southern cause. I'm not for personal gain,' and was willing to return as a private if cashiered.
Resistance to Tyranny
Summary: Cleburne believed it was his duty to resist what he saw as Northern tyranny and violation of constitutional government.
Evidence: Cleburne wrote that the North was waging 'a brutal and unholy war... in violation of the Constitution and the fundamental principles of government.'
The Cost of Defeat and Historical Revisionism
Summary: Cleburne predicted that if the South lost, its history would be written by the enemy, its heroes regarded as traitors, and its manhood crushed.
Evidence: Weaver quotes Cleburne's memorial: 'It means that the history of this heroic struggle will be written by the enemy... to regard our gallant dead as traitors.'
Learning from Ancestors
Summary: Modern Christians must learn from the sacrifices and principles of their forefathers to regain a sense of duty and courage.
Evidence: Weaver says, 'What an insult it is... to forget or to never know what they suffered and went through in order to protect us and give us our freedom.'
Standing for Truth
Summary: It is the duty of believers to teach and emphasize truth continually, as truth ultimately sets people free.
Evidence: Weaver cites John 8:32 and says, 'If you tell the truth long enough and often enough, whether they like it or not, they're going to absorb some of it.'
Key Arguments
Duty is the whole obligation of man before God
Summary: Ecclesiastes 12:13 defines the entirety of human duty as fearing God and keeping His commandments, applicable to all areas of life.
Evidence: Weaver says, 'I submit to you it's the whole duty of man theologically, it's the whole duty of man ecclesiastically, it's the whole duty of man familially, it's the whole duty of man civilly, and it's certainly the whole duty of man personally.'
Duty must be performed daily and consistently
Summary: Scripture shows that duty is not occasional but a daily requirement, as seen in the Levites' service.
Evidence: Weaver references 2 Chronicles 8:14 and Ezra 3:4, saying the Levites 'were to do their duty as every day requires.'
Fulfilling duty merits no special praise
Summary: Jesus taught that even when we do all commanded, we are unprofitable servants who have only done our duty.
Evidence: Weaver quotes Luke 17:10: 'So likewise you, when you shall have done all these things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants. We have done only that which was our duty to do.'
Cleburne fought for duty and principle, not slavery
Summary: Cleburne explicitly stated he never owned a slave and cared nothing for them, but fought out of loyalty to his friends and resistance to unconstitutional aggression.
Evidence: Cleburne said, 'I have never owned a Negro and care nothing for them, but these people, the Southerners, have been my friends and have stood up to me on all occasions.'
Cleburne's proposal to arm slaves was suppressed due to political fears
Summary: Cleburne's memorial advocating emancipation and enlistment of slaves was suppressed by Jefferson Davis, likely costing him promotion.
Evidence: Weaver states, 'Davis finally got a copy of it and he returned it to Cleburne with a request that it should be suppressed because of possible public outrage.'
The Battle of Franklin was a needless slaughter caused by Hood's rashness
Summary: Hood ordered a frontal assault against fortified positions against the advice of his officers, resulting in massive Confederate casualties including Cleburne.
Evidence: Weaver says, 'Hood was adamant... He ordered a frontal attack immediately... Cleburne knew that it was going to be a suicidal attack.'
Modern society has reversed priorities, placing play before duty
Summary: Weaver argues that contemporary culture, even among Christians, prioritizes recreation over responsibility, contrary to biblical and historical examples.
Evidence: Weaver says, 'The average adult, as well as the average child, desires and wishes and does to play and recreate before they ever do their duty.'
Knowing the truth about our ancestors' sacrifices is essential to resist modern cultural attacks
Summary: Understanding what forefathers endured provides backbone to stand against political correctness and revisionist history.
Evidence: Weaver says, 'There's something about our ancestors that will put steel in your backbone. Those men and women knew how to stand, and they knew how to fight.'
Scripture References
Ecclesiastes 12:13
Context: Weaver opens the sermon with this verse, stating it as the foundational text for the whole duty of man.
2 Chronicles 8:14
Context: Cited to show that the Levites were to do their duty as every day requires, illustrating the daily nature of duty.
Ezra 3:4
Context: Mentioned alongside 2 Chronicles 8:14 as another example of daily duty.
Luke 17:10
Context: Quoted to emphasize that even when we do all commanded, we are unprofitable servants who have only done our duty.
1 Corinthians 4:16
Context: Paul's exhortation to be followers of him, used to support the idea of following godly examples.
1 Corinthians 11:1
Context: Paul says to follow him as he follows Christ, reinforcing the principle of following godly examples.
John 8:32
Context: Quoted to support the application that knowing the truth sets people free, and thus truth must be taught.
Historical References
General Patrick Cleburne
Context: The central figure of the sermon, a Confederate general known as the 'Stonewall of the West,' whose life exemplifies duty.
General William Hardee
Context: Quoted describing Cleburne's effectiveness in battle: 'When his division defended, no odds broke his lines.'
Craig Symonds, 'Stonewall of the West'
Context: Biographer who wrote about Cleburne, quoted describing how various leaders viewed him.
Yell Rifles
Context: Local militia organized by Cleburne in 1860, which he captained and later led to seize the U.S. arsenal in Little Rock.
Battle of Shiloh
Context: One of the early battles in which Cleburne fought after being promoted to brigadier general.
Battle of Perryville
Context: Cleburne was wounded at this battle during the Kentucky Campaign.
Battle of Chickamauga
Context: Cleburne commanded a division at this battle.
Tunnel Hill
Context: Cleburne's splendid defense here covered the retreat from Chattanooga.
Cleburne's Memorial
Context: A paper written by Cleburne advocating the enlistment of slaves into the Confederate Army, which was suppressed and likely cost him promotion.
Battle of Franklin
Context: The battle where Cleburne was killed in a frontal assault ordered by General Hood against fortified Union positions.
Important Quotes
Life has always been a small matter with me when duty points the way.
Significance: Cleburne's personal motto, encapsulating his willingness to sacrifice everything for duty.
It means that the history of this heroic struggle will be written by the enemy, that our youth will be trained by Northern school teachers, will learn from Northern school books their version of the war, will be impressed by all the influences of history and education to regard our gallant dead as traitors, our maimed veterans as fit objects of derision.
Significance: Cleburne's prophetic warning about the consequences of defeat, used by Weaver to explain modern cultural attacks on Southern heritage.
It would not be hard to die if one could be buried in such a beautiful spot.
Significance: Cleburne's remark at St. John's Church, foreshadowing his death and burial there.
Govan, if we're to die, let us die like men.
Significance: Cleburne's response to the grim outlook before the charge at Franklin, demonstrating courage in the face of death.
If you tell the truth long enough and often enough, whether they like it or not, they're going to absorb some of it.
Significance: Weaver's argument for persistent truth-telling as a duty, even when opposed.
Discussion Questions
How does Ecclesiastes 12:13 define the whole duty of man, and in what ways does this apply to our daily lives?
Context: Weaver opens with this verse and applies it to all spheres of life.
In what ways did General Cleburne exemplify the principle of duty over personal gain or safety?
Context: Cleburne's life and statements show his commitment to duty regardless of cost.
What does Luke 17:10 teach us about our attitude after fulfilling our duties?
Context: Weaver uses this verse to show that duty merits no special praise.
How did Cleburne's view of the Civil War differ from the common narrative that it was solely about slavery?
Context: Cleburne stated he never owned a slave and fought for duty and states' rights.
What were the consequences of Cleburne's Memorial, and what does this teach us about standing for principle even when it costs us?
Context: Cleburne's proposal likely cost him promotion, yet he remained committed.
How does the Battle of Franklin illustrate the dangers of leadership that refuses wise counsel?
Context: Hood ignored his officers' advice and ordered a suicidal frontal assault.
In what ways have modern priorities reversed the biblical order of duty before recreation?
Context: Weaver contrasts his upbringing with contemporary attitudes toward work and play.
What is our responsibility to learn and teach the truth about our ancestors' sacrifices and principles?
Context: Weaver emphasizes the duty to expose truth and stand against revisionist history.
Applications
Put duty first in all areas of life
Summary: We must learn from Cleburne and Scripture to prioritize duty over recreation and personal desires.
Evidence: Weaver says, 'We need to learn from our ancestors. To put duty first. We need to learn the importance of duty.'
Appreciate and learn from the sacrifices of forefathers
Summary: It is an insult to forget what our ancestors suffered to secure our freedom; we should study their examples.
Evidence: Weaver says, 'What an insult it is... to forget or to never know what they suffered and went through in order to protect us and give us our freedom.'
Recognize the ongoing cultural war against Southern and Christian heritage
Summary: Cleburne's prediction about history being written by the enemy is fulfilled in modern attacks by groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Evidence: Weaver says, 'I hope you understand, folks, why the politically correct crowd wants to put us down.'
Stand for truth persistently
Summary: It is our duty to teach and emphasize truth continually, trusting that it will have an impact.
Evidence: Weaver says, 'It is our duty to teach and to expose and to emphasize the truth over and over to all who will listen.'
Follow godly examples
Summary: As Paul urged believers to follow him as he followed Christ, we should follow those who follow biblical principles.
Evidence: Weaver cites 1 Corinthians 11:1 and says, 'If someone is following Christ, if he's following biblical principle, he's a good example to follow.'
Teach children the priority of work and duty over play
Summary: Weaver's personal story illustrates the importance of instilling a work ethic before recreation.
Evidence: Weaver recounts his father saying, 'You've got to learn to work before you can ever learn to play.'
deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-04T13:53:58Z
deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-05T18:06:29Z