Two Presidents and a Bucket of Coffee

“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much.” [Luke 16:10]

In September 1862, Confederate General Robert E. Lee made his greatest effort to carry the Civil War into the North. This climaxed with the Battle of Antietam, which became the bloodiest and perhaps the most decisive battle in the War Between the States.

On the morning of September 17, a Union commander named Colonel Hayes ordered his men to the firing line before sunrise and without breakfast. It was crucial that they prevent the advance of the Confederate army from crossing into the North. By afternoon the soldiers were exhausted and famished. A 19-year-old mess sergeant, known as Billy, took pity on the hungry men and loaded up a wagon with buckets of coffee and food rations. He then drove the wagon under fire to reach the men. The famished soldiers, surprised and grateful for the food, sent up a loud cheer for Billy. They wolfed down the food and then turned back to the fight with renewed strength. When Colonel Hayes learned what Billy had done for his men, he recommended Billy be promoted to the rank of second lieutenant. The colonel who promoted Billy was Rutherford B. Hayes, who became the nineteenth president of the United States… and Billy, the mess sergeant, was William McKinley, who became our twentyfifth president.

Later, Hayes remarked that “McKinley was a man of rare capacity, especially for a boy of his age… the night was never too dark; the weather was never too cold; there was no sleet, or storm, or hail, or snow, or rain that was in the way of his prompt and efficient performance in every duty.”

Though the duties in front of us today may not seem great, if we perform them faithfully it will soon become apparent to those around us that we can be trusted with greater things. And even if we’re never given earthly recognition for our efforts, Paul reminds us that whatever we do, we should “do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Colossians 3:23). If we do that, we can be confident that we’ll hear our Commander say, “‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord’” (Matthew 25:21).