THOMASVILLE- The speaker for the February meeting for John B. Gordon 383 UDC was Dr. Sidney L. Leak III.

He received his commission in the ROTC program at Spring Hill College as a Second Lieutenant, Quartermaster Corps. He holds a Master of Divinity from Columbia Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from McCormick Theological Seminary. His pastorates include Presbyterian churches in Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi. He was an Army National Guard Chaplain. Some of his military assignments include the 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), and the 142nd Signal Brigade. He is a graduate of Airborne Course, Special Forces Jumpmaster/Drop Zone Support Team Leader Course, and the U.S.Army War College. His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal of Alabama, the Legion of Merit, and the Senior Parachutist Badge. He is married to Rebecca Jane Farlow of Atlanta, Ga.

Leak’s topic was “General Jackson- a Good Soldier.” Thomas Jonathan Jackson, better known as “Stonewall” was born in Clarksburg in what is now West Virginia on January 21, 1824.

He was orphaned and raised by an uncle.

Jackson was known for always trying to do the right things, even as a young man. Leak told several stories about Jackson showing honesty to others. He was appointed to West Point in 1842, and earned distinction during the Mexican War. Later, Jackson taught physics and artillery tactics at VMI in Virginia. As Chaplain Leak discussed the military side of General Jackson, he also gave the listeners a good description of what a good Christian man he was, as well as a devoted family man. Jackson was married twice. His first wife died giving birth. Later, he married Mary Anna Morrison. Her father was president of Davidson College.

When South Carolina fired on Fort Sumter in 1861, Jackson did not want war. He went to see his pastor Dr. William White. They decided to try and get all Christians in America to pray and maybe peace would persevere.

“This was the first effort known for a National Day of Prayer to “overturn the political idiocies of the past century,” said Leak. “Unfortunately, we do not know how far the effort went.”

Leak reported that a pastor was upset about a war happening, but Jackson was calm.

Jackson’s religion continued on the battlefield where he was known for saying, “Why should the peace of a true Christian be disturbed by anything man can do to him? Has not God promised to work all things together for good to those that love him?”

He later got his nickname during the First Battle of Manassas. Leak told those in attendance that “Flying shrapnel broke the middle finger of his (Jackson’s) left hand, and his (Jackson’s) horse took a piece of iron in the thigh.” Additionally, a bullet went through Jackson’s uniform coat. It was said Jackson looked like a “Stonewall” standing there on his horse.

Even after his accident, Jackson was a praying man. Leak said, “Stonewall Jackson prayed wherever he was: taking his meals, drawing water to drink, dropping a letter at the post office, cadets, in his tent, in the woods at three in the morning, and on horseback in a battle.”

Jackson was eventually wounded by friendly fire at the Battle of Chancellorsville. He developed pneumonia and died on May 10, 1863. His last words were, “Let us cross over the river, and rest in the shade of the trees.”

A book will be given to a public library in honor of Dr. Sidney Leak for speaking at the UDC meeting. The name of the book is John C. Calhoun’s Theory of Republicanism written by John G. Grove.