Harry Emerson Fosdick told the story of General Pickett's baby. It was during the last slaughterous days of the Civil War when the Confederates locked horns with the Union soldiers outside of Richmond. It was the cruelest time of the whole war. Then one night the Confederate lines were lighted with bonfires, and the Union guards discovered that the Southern troops were celebrating General Pickett's newborn baby, word of whose arrival had just reached the army. General Grant was so moved by the event that he ordered the Union lines to help the Confederates celebrate the birth of Pickett's baby by lighting up the scene with additional bonfires. The next day Grant's officers sent a graceful letter through the lines under a flag of truce, communicating to General Pickett the congratulations of his enemies!

Isn't that incredible?

For a moment, at least, the insanity and slaughter of war stopped, and good will and peace prevailed - and it was all because of a baby! We cannot hear that story and not think of the baby who was born in Bethlehem. "His name will be called Jesus," announced the angel, "for he will save his people from their sins." We cannot draw closer to the Christ-child without also drawing closer to God, his Father, and as we draw closer to God, our sinfulness decreases and the spirit of peace and goodwill toward others and God increases.

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Note: There is no account that this story actually happening based on Civil War records. According to Pickett's biographer, Edward G. Longacre, the bonfire story was a fabricated story emanating from Pickett's wife, La Salle Corbell Pickett. According to Longacre, Pickett was at Bermuda Hundred during the July 17th birth of his son and would not of been able to see any bonfires along the front of the Union army; and besides, correspondence exists that indicates Pickett had not been in contact with "his old friends" for years and they did not find out about the birth of his son "until several months after the event."