“I was told a mighty good story,” said the President one day at a
Cabinet meeting, “by Colonel Granville Moody, ‘the fighting Methodist
parson,’ as they used to call him in Tennessee. I happened to meet Moody
in Philadelphia, where he was attending a conference.
“The story was about ‘Andy’ Johnson and General Buell. Colonel Moody
happened to be in Nashville the day it was reported that Buell had
decided to evacuate the city. The rebels, strongly re-inforced, were
said to be within two days’ march of the capital. Of course, the city
was greatly excited. Moody said he went in search of Johnson at the edge
of the evening and found him at his office closeted with two gentlemen,
who were walking the floor with him, one on each side. As he entered
they retired, leaving him alone with Johnson, who came up to him,
manifesting intense feeling, and said:
“‘Moody, we are sold out. Buell is a traitor. He is going to evacuate
the city, and in forty-eight hours we will all be in the hands of the
rebels!’
“Then he commenced pacing the floor again, twisting his hands and
chafing like a caged tiger, utterly insensible to his friend’s
entreaties to become calm. Suddenly he turned and said:
“‘Moody, can you pray?’
“‘That is my business, sir, as a minister of the gospel,’ returned the
colonel.
“‘Well, Moody, I wish you would pray,’ said Johnson, and instantly both
went down upon their knees at opposite sides of the room.
“As the prayer waxed fervent, Johnson began to respond in true Methodist
style. Presently he crawled over on his hands and knees to Moody’s side
and put his arms over him, manifesting the deepest emotion.
“Closing the prayer with a hearty ‘amen’ from each, they arose.
“Johnson took a long breath, and said, with emphasis:
“‘Moody, I feel better.’
“Shortly afterward he asked:
“‘Will you stand by me?’
“‘Certainly I will,’ was the answer.
“‘Well, Moody, I can depend upon you; you are one in a hundred
thousand.’
“He then commenced pacing the floor again. Suddenly he wheeled, the
current of his thought having changed, and said:
“‘Oh, Moody, I don’t want you to think I have become a religious man
because I asked you to pray. I am sorry to say it, I am not, and never
pretended to be religious. No one knows this better than you, but,
Moody, there is one thing about it, I do believe in Almighty God, and
I believe also in the Bible, and I say, d--n me if Nashville shall be
surrendered!’
“And Nashville was not surrendered!”