On the day of the famous battle of Bull-Run, General Smith, who commanded the army of the South, arrived along with his division of soldiers too late to know what password was given for the Southern Army. The rest of the army would know the password by now, and General Smith needed some way for himself and his men to find out.

He knew that if he went forward without the password, he would be fired upon by the Southern soldiers who were not part of his current division. For the password was meant to determine whether a soldier was a friend or enemy to the Southern Army.

So in order to bring his division of men forward in safety, the general would have to know the password. And he could not just remain where he was. If he did, he would most likely be attacked by the enemy.

Seeing the danger he was in, both from friend and enemy, he came in front of his division. He asked if there was any man among them who would volunteer to sacrifice his life for the safety of the rest.

A young man immediately came forward and said he would do it.

"Do you know what will happen to you?" said the general.

"Yes, general," he replied.

"You will be shot."

"I know it," he answered.

Then the general wrote these words on a piece of paper: "Send me the password - signed General Smith," and gave the paper to the heroic soldier.

This young man was to bring the paper with him to the Southern camp. Since he did not know the password, he would surely be shot. But as soon as he was dead, they would search him. They would then find General Smith’s message, and deliver it to General Beauregard. In a short time, General Smith would be given the password. Then he and the rest of his men would be able to progress safely.

Such was the plan.

So the young soldier took the paper from General Smith, and left at once for the camp. His comrades cheered him on; they admired his bravery.

He was a good Catholic, and on the way he prepared himself to die by acts of contrition and by recommending his soul to God.

When he reached the outposts of the army, he heard the cry, "Who goes there?"

"A friend," he replied.

"Give the password," they cried.

He went forward towards them without saying a word. In an instant all the guns were raised to fire upon him.
Bracing himself for death, he stopped and made the Sign of the Cross.

Immediately, to his astonishment, every gun was lowered, and the soldier was told to pass.

It happened that the Sign of the Cross was the password that General Beauregard had appointed on that morning. This general was a good Catholic himself.

And so, by using the Sign of the Cross, the pious soldier escaped death.