Faith, Honor, Personal Conflicts Provide Backdrop for Civil War Novel
by Randall Murphree
July 18, 2005
(AgapePress) - Honor grapples with evil at the outset of the American Civil War in For the Sake of Honor (Xulon Press, 2004). The engaging Major Christopher Jenkins quickly grabs reader sympathies in this debut novel by Stephen Stallard. The fictional Maj. Jenkins is commander at Fort Winchester, a critical Union post in Texas, when he is ordered to relinquish control to the State of Texas because Texas is leaving the Union.Jenkins refuses, based on a firm belief that his sworn oath to protect the Union binds him to hold Fort Winchester as a Union post. His decision sparks conflict on several levels, propelling the action into interwoven story lines focused on murder, deceit, slavery, faith, honor and duty.
First, a number of officers under the major's command, all loyal men of the South, disagree with his decision. To the major's credit, he is careful to clarify to his troops that they are free to leave the fort. He does not try to influence them to stay and join in defying commands he has received.
Captains Greene and Parker, two of the dissenting officers, announce almost immediately that they intend to leave the fort. Unfortunately, they do all they can to create unrest among the troops before they depart.
Second, Maj. Jenkins' decision is not a difficult one, based on his understanding of honor and commitment. Yet, that doesn't make it easy to explain his stand to his men or to justify defying orders. Finally, that decision results in a course leading to confrontation that places his men and himself in what appears the path of certain death.
Intertwined with Maj. Jenkins' concept of honor is his strong Christian faith, a faith which he openly practices and shares with the men under his command. He never pushes, but he demonstrates the integrity and peace that come with solid faith, and his example moves many men to consider Christianity.
Ironically, it is the major's faith that prompts him to offer protection to a rag-tag band of Rebel soldiers, among them his former captains, Greene and Parker. In addition, the Rebels are escorting a contingent of several hundred civilian families who are fleeing from Indians. Jenkins sees it as no less than his Christian duty to give sanctuary to the enemy, despite debate from some of his most trusted Fort Winchester confidants.
Stallard's writing style is plain and to the point, and therefore an adequate vehicle for a story about men who are plain and to the point. The author does a masterful job of creating suspense up to the very end. Will the hero live or die? If he dies, who will tell the truth about the principled soldiers of Fort Winchester? It's a solid story incorporating the diverse elements of deep-rooted faith, in-depth character study, military conflict and murder mystery.
For the Sake of Honor is certainly a complete story with a strong but startling conclusion. Still, knowing that Stallard plans two sequential titles leaves the reader eager to know how the story will continue.
Randall Murphree, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is editor of AFA Journal, a monthly publication of the American Family Association.
