As this war was shown to me, it looked like the most singular and uncertain that has ever occurred. A great share of the volunteers enlisted fully believing that the result of the war would be to abolish slavery. Others enlisted intending to be very careful to keep slavery just as it is, but to put down the rebellion and preserve the Union. And then to make the matter still more perplexing and uncertain, some of the officers in command are strong proslavery men whose sympathies are all with the South, yet who are opposed to a separate government. It seems impossible to have the war conducted successfully, for many in our own ranks are continually working to favor the South, and our armies have been repulsed and unmercifully slaughtered on account of the management of these proslavery men. Some of our leading men in Congress also are constantly working to favor the South. In this state of things, proclamations are issued for national fasts, for prayer that God will bring this war to a speedy and favorable termination. I was then directed to Isaiah 58:5-7: “Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” {1T 256.1}

Idet denne krig blev vist for mig, så det ud som det mest besynderlige og upålidelige som nogensinde har sket. En stor del af de frivillige lod sig melde i fuld overbevisning om at krigens resultat ville føre til slaveriets afskaffelse. Andre meldte sig i den hensigt at slaveriet helst ikke må holdes hvor det er; men holde oprøret nede og bevare unionen. Og for at gøre sagen mere kompliceret og usikker, er nogle af befalingsmændene stærke tilhængere af slaveri - mænd hvis sympati er med sydstaterne, som alligevel er imod en adskilt regering. Det synes umuligt at kunne føre krigen med held, for mange i vore egne rækker arbejder hele tiden for sydstaternes fordel og vore hære er blevet drevet tilbage og ubarmhjertigt nedslagtet på bekostning af disse proslaveriske mænd. Nogle af vore ledende mænd i Staternes Parlament arbejder også hele tiden for sydstaternes fordel. I disse forhold er bekendtgørelser udstedt for nationale faster, for bøn om at Gud vil bringe denne krig til en hurtig og gunstig ende. Der blev henvist til Esajas 58, 5-7: »Er der faste efter mit sind, en dag, da et menneske spæger sig? At hænge med sit hoved som siv, at ligge i sæk og aske, kalder du det for faste, en dag, der behager Herren? Nej, faste efter mit sind er at løse gudløshedens lænker, at løse ågets bånd, at slippe de kuede fri og sønderbryde hvert åg, at bryde dit brød til de sultne, bringe hjemløse stakler i hus, at du klæder den nøgne, (257) du ser, ej nægter at hjælpe dine landsmænd."