“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His faithful servants.”  Psalm 116:15

 Remembrance Day, or Memorial Day is a time to remember the brave men and women who serve in the military.  We also remember those who didn’t come home, but gave the ultimate price for the freedoms we enjoy.  During the Civil War, some of those “soldiers” were young boys, drummer boys as young as 11–12 years old.  The following true story is about Charlie Coulson who at 17 yrs. enlisted as a drummer boy because he was too young to be a soldier.

Charlie was severely wounded at the battle of Gettysburg and not expected to live.  He needed an arm and leg amputated, but when the medical assistants offered chloroform to lessen the pain, Charlie refused and asked to see the doctor.  The doctor told him, he found him on the battlefield and thought he was too far gone to save, but when he thought Charlie might have a mother who at that moment was thinking of her boy, he brought him to the hospital tent.  The doctor asked him if he would like a little brandy, but Charlie refused, saying he had never drank anything stronger than tea and coffee and didn’t want to meet his Savior with brandy on his stomach!  Charlie went on to tell the doctor, “One Sunday in Sunday school, when I was nine years old, I gave my heart to Christ.  I learned to trust Him then; I have been trusting Him ever since, and I can trust Him now.  He is my strength and my stimulant.  He will support me while you amputate my arm and leg.”

Charlie then asked to see the Chaplain.  The Chaplain was sorry to see him in that condition and said, “You may not die, but if the Lord should call you away, is there anything I can do for you?”  Charlie put his hand under his pillow and took out his Bible.  “Tell my mother since the day I left home, I have read a portion of God’s word and prayed daily that God would bless her, no matter whether I was on the march , the battlefield or in the hospital.”

 “Is there anything else?”  The Chaplain asked.  “Yes,” Charlie said, “Please write my old Sunday school teacher and tell him I have never forgotten the kind words, prayers and good advice he gave me.  They have carried through the dangers of battle, and now in my dying hour.  I ask the dear Savior to bless him.”

Charlie did survive the surgery.  Two members of the YMCA came through the hospital, prayed on their knees for him and sang a hymn:  “Jesus Lover of my Soul” and Charlie joined in.   The doctor was amazed, how could someone who endured such excruciating pain, amputation without chloroform, still sing?  Five days later, Charlie called the doctor to his bedside and told him, “My time has come and thank God, I am ready to go.  During the operation, I prayed to the Lord Jesus Christ to convert your soul.”  Minutes later Charlie was with his Savior.

Hundreds of soldiers died in that field hospital, but Charlies’ was the only funeral the doctor attended.  He had him dressed in a new uniform, laid in an officer’s coffin draped with an American flag.  The boys dying words brought deep conviction, but the doctor fought against Christ with all the aversion of an orthodox Jew.  However, 10 years later, Charlie’s prayers were answered and God saved his soul!

A few months later, the doctor attended a prayer meeting. A lady rose to speak and told how she had only days to live and was looking forward to seeing her Savior and her dear boy in heaven.  She told how she had received her son’s Bible and of his prayers for the Jewish doctor who had operated on him.  Her son was a soldier for his country and also a soldier for Jesus Christ.  The doctor could sit still no longer, he crossed the room and taking the ladies’ hand said, “God bless you dear sister, your boy’s prayers were answered, and his Savior is now my Savior!”

Taken from “Wholesome Words” and Touching Incidents and Remarkable Answers to Prayer, published 1894.

Your friend, Jean