For Christ & Country: A Biography of ÿbrigadier General Gustavus Loomis

Brigadier General Gustavus Loomis (1789-1872) served for almost six decades in the uniform of the United States Army. A veteran of five wars, Loomis was a professional soldier respected by his peers and feared by his enemies. But Gustavus Loomis, a country boy from Thetford, Vermont was more than a career military officer. Loomis was a sincere and dedicated Christian. His faith in Jesus Christ was visible and undeniable. In his long life, Loomis always placed God first, followed by devotion to his family and then to service to his country. He was a man of the military who saw frequent combat and who spoke about Jesus to all who would listen. His home in garrison and his tent in the field were places of psalm singing and scripture reading. His bravery in the face of the enemy gave him high commendations, but his real passion was for the Lord and for his family. While some ridiculed him for his support of revivals, none ever questioned his professionalism as a soldier and an officer.

Kenneth E. Lawson is a career Army chaplain currently serving at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin with the rank of Colonel. He is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College and the Air Force Air War College. He earned a M.A. degree in Church History and a Ph.D. in American History and serves as the Historian for the Associated Gospel Churches, Greenville, SC.