Answers to Prayers that Inspired a Nation

 

For the month of January, our church is having 21 days of fasting and prayer. I became curious about some of the historical calls to prayer and fasting. In my research, I found many since the first settlers came to this continent. But we are not always told what the answers were in history books. Let me share a few significant answers to those calls to prayer and fasting.

Powerful answer to prayer in 1746

During the French and Indian War, prayer stopped the advance of the enemy. France desperately wanted Novia Scotia and other parts of Canada back from Britain. They also wanted to damage the colonies on the east coast of America.

French Admiral Jean-Pierre Louis Frederic de La Rochefoucauld de Roye, Duc d'Anville took  command of a fleet of 70 ships and 13,000 troops to fulfilled that desire. He arrogantly proclaimed he would take back Louisburg, Nova Scotia, and wreak havoc along America's east coast all the way to Georgia. Burning Boston was on his agenda.

A Day of Prayer and Fasting was called by Massachusetts Governor William Shirley on October 16, 1746, after hearing the plan for the French invasion. 

Here's a snippet about the prayer meeting.

 Reverend Thomas Prince, standing in the Old South Meeting House, prayed: "Send Thy tempest, Lord, upon the water… scatter the ships of our tormentors!"

According to Historian Catherine Drinker Bowen, as he finished his prayer the sky darkened, wind shrieked and church bells rang "a wild uneven sound… though no man was in the steeple."

Wrought with calamity

Admiral D'Anville's mission was slow to start. For reasons not explained, the fitting of the ship was slow and difficult. It didn't sail until June 22, 1746. Their journey took three months rather than the average six to eight weeks.

At the beginning of the journey, adverse winds slowed the fleet

Typhus and scurvy broke out onboard.

In the Azores, the fleet was trapped in a long dead calm. When the wind finally picked up, it became a vicious storm. Lightning struck several vessels. One ship's magazine, struck by lightning, ignited into a fire, caught the ammunition on fire and exploded, killing or wounding thirty men.

By August 24^th they had been at sea for two months but were still 1,400 km (870 miles) away from Nova Scotia.

September 10^th. The flag ship and a few others had arrived at Sable Island, off the coast of Nova Scotia. A violent gale scattered the fleet three days later. The damaged ships were forced to return to France.

By the time the expedition arrived in Nova Scotia in late September, hundreds of soldiers and sailors had died from typhus, scurvy and typhoid, and hundreds more were gravely ill.

Six days later, September 27^th, Admiral d'Anville died from a stroke.

His replacement Admiral Constantin-Louis d'Estourmel became overwhelmed and attempted suicide before resigning.

And the commander who took over, the Marquis de la Jonquiere, had planned to go ahead with the attack even with sick soldiers. Even after reinforcements arrived, Jonquiere changed his mind. He ordered his fleet back to France and told the Indian and French reinforcements to go home.

A poem immortalized the event.

The prayer was so powerful and the event so startling that Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote his Ballad of the French Fleet retelling the tale.  Click here to read.

In 1774

On May 24, 1774, in response to the British Blockade of the Boston Harbor, Thomas Jeffereson drafted a resolution in the Virgina House of Burgesses declaring a day of Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer "to implore the Divine interposition, for averting the heavy calamity which threatened destruction of our civil rights."

Virginia's Royal Governor, Lord Dunmore, considered the prayer resolution as a protest against King George. He dissolved the House of Burgesses. The legislatures moved their meeting to the loyal tavern and began planning the Continental Congress.

How exciting to know the response to a prayer pushed the founding fathers to press on.

Another powerful answer to prayer

1814

James Madison declared a Day of Prayer during the War of 1812. (1812-1815)

America was struggling to win the war. Britain was in a vengeful mood over the burning and looting of York in northern Canada. Madison requested the Day of prayer and fasting knowing the British were headed their way. Madison and the legislature had already fled Washington City (present day D.C.) They'd remove important documents.

On August 25, 1814, British soldier set fire to the White House, the Capital and a few other government buildings. We learned in school that the British only occupied D.C. for 26 hours. But it is rarely mentioned in history textbooks the why behind it. Dark clouds rolled in and a tornado touched down, sending debris flying. The British were bombarded with sections of roofs and chimneys. Horses and their riders pelted to the ground. Two cannons flew up in the air and landed yards away. It is said more British soldiers were killed by nature than from all the weapons of the Americans. Rain followed the tornado, extinguishing the fires. Americans saw it as Providence intervening. 

 

National Days of Prayer

Over the centuries, presidents have called for national days of prayer. I wonder what miracles were performed by God because of those prayers. In this new year, perhaps our prayers will turn the tide of unrest in a way that can only be attributed to God.

Cindy Ervin Huff, is a multi-published award-winning author in Historical and Contemporary Romance.  She’s a 2018 Selah Finalist. Cindy has a passion to encourage other writers on their journey. When she isn’t writing, she feeds her addiction to reading and enjoys her retirement with her husband of 50 plus years, Charles. Visit her at www.cindyervinhuff.com.

 

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Presidential Favorite Foods

Nancy J. Farrier

I learned recently that there is a list of Presidential favorite foods that includes all the Presidents. I thought it would be fun to look at some of them and maybe some of the recipes they enjoyed. I realize we don’t have time or space to include all 45 Presidents, but I will pick out some that are interesting to share with you.

Photo Public Domain
Wikimedia Commons

Photo by Diako1971
Wikimedia Commons

President George Washington: Who hasn’t heard the story of George Washington chopping down the cherry tree? It turns out cherries are one of his favorite foods. He loved fresh fruit, especially cherries. He had an orchard, which included several cherry trees. This leads me to wonder if he would truly cut down one of those treasured trees. President Washington also had a special fondness for fish.

Photo Public Domain
Wikimedia Commons

President John Adams: John Adams tended to be frugal and tended to have plain fare. He made a note in his diary after eating a meal at a Chief Justice’s house that the food was “a most sinful feast.” One of Adams favorite desserts was Apple Pan Dowdy. Here is the recipe:

Apple Pan Dowdy -Photo by Garin Fons

"Apple Pan Dowdy
Apples, like molasses, were a standby in New England Desserts. John Adams showed his preference for Apple Pan Dowdy by having it on Independence Day...
Flour
Salt
Shortening
Ice water
Melted butter
Sugar
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Apples
Molasses
To make the pastry: Sift 1 1/2 cups flour with a dash of salt. Blend in 1/2 cup shortening until the mixture is mealy. Sprinkle a little ice water over the mixture, just enough to hold the dough together. Roll the pastry out, brush with 1/4 cup melted butter, and cut pastry in half. Place the halves on top of each other and cut again. Repeat until you have 16 separate but equal pieces of pastry piled on top of each other, then chill them a full hour. Roll the pastry once again, cut in half, and line the bottom of the baking dish with one half. Save the other half for the top. Keep both on ice while making the filling.

To make the filling: Mix 1/2 cup sugar with 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg. Peel and core 10 large apples. Cut then into thin slices. Mix the apples with sugar-spice mixture and place in pastry-lined dish. Combine 1/2 cup molasses (or maple syrup) with 3 tablespoons melted butter and 1/4 cup water. Pour this over the apples. Cover with the top pastry layer and seal. Place in a preheated hot (400 degree F.) oven for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to low (325 degrees F.). After reducing the heat, "dowdy" the dish by cutting the crust into the apples with a sharp knife. Return dish to oven and bake a full hour. Serve hot with vanilla ice cream or with heavy cream or whipped cream. Serves 6."
---Presidents' Cookbook (p. 51-52)

Photo Public Domain
Wikimedia Commons

Public Domain Image
Wikimedia Commons

President Thomas Jefferson: Although he enjoyed French cuisine, Jefferson loved native foods, especially home-grown garden vegetables. He had a garden at the White House and at his home in Paris. He kept a chart in the White House kitchen showing the various vegetables. The one he loved the most was his sweet corn. He even took seed from Virginia to Paris to grow the sweet corn he loved while he visited France.

Photo Public Domain
Wikimedia Commons

President James Madison: Little is known about James Madison and his food preferences. The one listed as his favorite is Virginia ham. He also enjoyed biscuits and apple pie and cider. His wife, Dolly, was well known for her elaborate dinners where she served a mix of French cuisine and local fare. 

Photo Public Domain
Wikimedia Commons

President James Monroe: Although Monroe enjoyed the foods he ate on his travels and at State dinners, he always enjoyed coming back to the home fare he loved. He had a special fondness for his wife’s chicken fried with rice. She served this dish often. He also enjoyed hot bread and biscuits.

Photo Public Domain
Wikimedia Commons

President John Quincy Adams: Adams didn’t care much about food. He was as content with crackers as he was with a fancy dinner. The one food he liked the most was fresh fruit. He thoroughly enjoyed the fruit trees in the White House garden. They had a variety of apricot, apple, plum, and pear trees, which he loved. 

Apple Tree, Photo by W.carter
Wikimedia Commons

Photo Public Domain
Wikimedia Commons

President Andrew Jackson: Jackson, often referred to as ‘Old Hickory’ because he was considered tough by the soldiers who served under him. He enjoyed braised duck and fried apple pies, but his absolute favorite was ‘leather britches.’ This isn’t a reference to how tough he was, but a dish that consisted of green beans cooked with water and bacon. (This dish also happened to be my mother’s favorite, but I never heard it called leather britches.)

Lest this post get too long, I’ll stop there. Maybe in the future we’ll look at some more favorite foods and some recipes. There is a Presidential cookbook that has recipes from the different Presidents or at least their time period. 

Have you ever seen the cookbook? Have you ever eaten leather britches? Or apple pan dowdy? What is your favorite food?

Nancy J Farrier is an award-winning author who lives in Southern Arizona in the Sonoran Desert. She loves the Southwest with its interesting historical past. When Nancy isn’t writing, she loves to read, do needlecraft, play with her cats, and spend time with her family. You can read more about Nancy and her books on her website: nancyjfarrier.com.

How Tall Were Our Historical Heroes?

This past week, I watched an interesting show on National Geographic Channel about one married couple’s attempts to authenticate an old tintype photograph they’d bought which they believed to depict Billy The Kid and a few of the Regulators playing, of all things, croquet. Perhaps you’ve heard stories about this “new discovery” (a few years old now)—or even watched the show. I won’t take the time to rehash the details in the 2-hour episode. Nor is my intent to debate whether the photograph truly doesdepict these famous figures out of Old West lore. There is debate about the validity of the claim. So if you’d like to read a detailed account of whether this photograph truly is “the real McCoy” in Billy The Kid memorabilia, please look at the thorough article done by True West Magazine. 

Old Tintype photograph that is rumored to depict Billy The Kid
and several of the Regulators

I found many of the details presented in the show to be a fascinating view into how one goes about authenticating antiques and other memorabilia. One such detail was how the facial recognition specialist hired to compare the new image to the only known one of William Bonney, then used the croquet mallet held by the supposed “Billy” to figure the man’s height. (Just a note, in the above-referenced article, they poke holes in the specialist’s assertion that there was a standard length for croquet mallets in that time period, so his math could be wrong). But, regardless, I found it interesting to see them estimate the supposed “Billy” figure’s height to be 5’8” tall, which, lo and behold, is the height recorded for the real Billy The Kid in history.

Close-up of the "Billy" figure, holding a
croquet mallet.

Hmmm. Billy The Kid was just 5’8”? He wasn’t much taller than me. Certainly not a very imposing figure for such a notorious outlaw. This got me to wondering about other historic figures and how tall they were. As is often the case, when I get curious, you get to benefit from my questions.

So how tall were the people from our past?

The general who led us through the Revolutionary War and who later become the first President of the United States, George Washington, stood at 6’2” tall. His wife, Martha, was a mere 5’ tall.

Martha and George Washington

Our 16^thPresident, Abraham Lincoln, was the tallest of our nation’s leaders, topping the height scale at 6’4” tall. His wife Mary Todd Lincoln, was another slight-of-stature woman at 5’2”.

Mary Todd Lincoln and President Abraham Lincoln

Interestingly, our shortest president was the fourth, James Madison, who stood only 5’4” tall, but was “dwarfed” by his above-average wife, Dolley, who stood 5’7” tall.

President James Madison and his tall wife Dolley.

General Robert E. Lee, who led the Confederate Army during the Civil War, stood 5’8” tall.

General Robert E. Lee

General Ulysses S. Grant, who led the Union forces in the same war—then went on to become our 18^thpresident—also topped out at 5’8”. 

General Ulysses S. Grant

Famed Old West lawman Wyatt Earp stood 6’ tall.

Lawman Wyatt Earp

Wild Bill Hickok, who worked many jobs in the Old West, including soldier, spy, wagon master, lawman, gunfighter, and actor, among other things, had a height of 6’ even.

Wild Bill Hickok

Martha Jane Canary, better known as Calamity Jane, doesn’t have a recorded height that I could find, but she was tall for a woman, strong like a man, and quite a character in every sense of the word.

Martha Jane Canary, also known as
Calamity Jane

Western sharpshooter, Annie Oakley, was all of 5’ tall.

Annie Oakley, famed sharshooter

What about more recent historical figures?

Longest-serving president Franklin D. Roosevelt, who presided over the country when Pearl Harbor was attacked, stood 6’2” tall, though few got to see his impressive height. He was stricken with polio, rendering him paralyzed from the waist down. He served as president from a wheelchair, the only disabled president of our country.

President Franklin D Roosevelt

Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill during the second World War was a mere 5’6”.

Winston Churchill

I found conflicting reports on Adolf Hitler, the leader of the Nazis during World War II, which said he was 5’8 or 5’9”.

Adolf Hitler

Five-star general Douglas MacArthur, who played a major role in the Pacific theater of World War II, was 6’ tall. Emperor Hirohito, who was leader of Japan during the Occupation of Japan, stood 5’5”.

General Douglas MacArthur standing next to
Japanese Emperor Hirohito

And since our current president, Donald Trump, and his wife Melania, just visited England and met with the Queen, I thought I’d look up their respective heights. Donald Trump is 6’3”. Melania is 5’11”. And Queen Elizabeth of England is 5’4” tall. I found the photos taken during that visit to be cute. (Due to copyright laws, I can’t repost, but you can see them here).

It’s Your Turn:

Do you enjoy knowing the heights of historical figures? Why or why not?

Jennifer Uhlarikdiscovered the western genre as a pre-teen when she swiped the only “horse” book she found on her older brother’s bookshelf. A new love was born. Across the next ten years, she devoured Louis L’Amour westerns and fell in love with the genre. In college at the University of Tampa, she began penning her own story of the Old West. Armed with a B.A. in writing, she has finaled and won in numerous writing competitions, and been on the ECPA best-seller list numerous times. In addition to writing, she has held jobs as a private business owner, a schoolteacher, a marketing director, and her favorite—a full-time homemaker. Jennifer is active in American Christian Fiction Writers and lifetime member of the Florida Writers Association. She lives near Tampa, Florida, with her husband, college-aged son, and four fur children.

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