The Travels of Increase Joseph: A Historical Novel about a Pioneer Preacher

20. A Nation at War with Itself

a Chapter 20 ANation At War With Itseff Spring 1861 The headline splashed across the top of the first page of the Link Lake Gazette read: "Our Nation Is at War With Itself." The story continued , "On April 13 Southern guns opened fire on poorly defended Fort Sumter at the entrance to Charleston, South Carolina's harbor. The bombardment continued for most of a day before the little garrison surrendered. President Abraham Lincoln immediately issued a call for the states to provide the federal government with 75,000 men. They are to serve three months." Increase Joseph Link, now 38, was himself a candidate for service. So were many of the men in the Standalone Fellowship. He called a meeting of the Fellowship for late afternoon. When everyone gathered, Increase Joseph, in his usual black garb, strode to his place in the fieldstone pit. As was his custom he carried the Red Book that he held high over his head. "Most of you have heard that we are a country at war. Our nation will pit brothers against broth- 150 Apps ers, fathers against sons. Blood will run red on our hillsides and in our valleys. Wives and mothers will weep over their losses and a great wound will be opened in this country that will take generations to heal. No country can fight with itself without suffering losses that will extend beyond the imagination." He stopped to allow the enormity of the situation to settle over the group. Everyone was watching him, waiting for his next words. He continued speaking more softly than his usual preaching voice. "As a Fellowship of believers, we must decide our course of action, because mark my words, the day will come that we will be asked to serve. We will be asked to put down our plows, take up our rifles and march south with orders to kill." A great pall of black silence settled over the small group of farmers and tradesmen that gathered in the round church, like dense smoke from a forest fire engulfs everything in its path. Increase Joseph, his voice scarcely audible in the back rows, went on. "The Red Book says we are all brothers under the skin, white and black, red and yellow, Southerners and Northerners. Everyone is entitled to believe in his own way, to act out his beliefs as long as they do not interfere with others." Not a murmur from those gathered. A few heads were shaking in agreement. "We have come here from New York State as a Fellowship so we could each believe as we wished to believe, so we could act each act on our beliefs as we saw fit. Our motto of standing alone as we stand together has served us well. To be true to our beliefs each of us has a right to stand up and The Travels of Increase Joseph 151 say whether we will take up our rifles and fight in this war or refuse and suffer what will surely be serious consequences." The silence continued. The only sound was that of a lone robin outside the open window, singing a song of happiness and expectation of warmer weather to come. "Those who do not wish to take up arms and fight in this civil war, will stand up and be counted. Women, too, stand if you are against your men taking up arms." In an instant, everyone in the room was standing , men and women, boys and girls. Everyone. "Once more we are standing alone together," Increase Joseph said. "May God bless us for our brave action. Please be seated." A few people were headed for the door, on their way home to do the evening chores. "One more thing," Increase Joseph said. The people near the door sat down. "Once our neighbors hear of our action some will spit at us, some will try to harm us; most will curse us and call us unpatriotic. Stand your ground. Look them in the eye and explain why you have done what you've done, why you believe as you do. Say to them that people work out their differences by talking and negotiating, not by killing and maiming. But do not criticize what they believe and what they do, for they have that right, as you have the right to your beliefs. These could be the most difficult times we have faced...