watch-fires

What the song does is link the current soldiers to Christ (“I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps”), saying that they are doing the same sort of work Christ did: “As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free.”

The Volokh Conspiracy » Virginia “Confederate History Month” Proclamation 2010

What the song does is link the current soldiers to Christ “I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps”, saying that they are doing the same sort of work Christ did: “As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free.”

The Volokh Conspiracy » Virginia “Confederate History Month” Proclamation 2010

Nicias and Demosthenes, perceiving their condition, resolved during the night to light as many watch-fires as possible and to lead off their forces.

The History of the Peloponnesian War Thucydides 2007

Thereupon Aristonymus the Methydrian came forward with some heavy infantry, and Nicomachus the Oetean with another body of light troops, and they made an agreement to kindle several watch-fires as soon as they held the heights.

Anabasis 2007

The Athenians, who lay with eighteen ships at Sestos,107 knew from the beacons which their scouts kindled, and from the sudden blaze of many watch-fires which appeared in the enemy's country, that the Peloponnesians were on the point of sailing into the strait.

The History of the Peloponnesian War Thucydides 2007

Carduchians kept many watch-fires blazing in a circle on the mountains, and kept each other in sight all round.

Anabasis 2007

On the way they took a turning which led them wrong, and they did not reach the Persians until they had chanced upon some of the Assyrians in retreat and forced them to be their guides, and so at last arrived, sighting the watch-fires about midnight.

Cyropaedia 2007

Now as soon as the enemy perceived that the mountain was taken, they banished all thought of sleep, and kept many watch-fires blazing throughout the night.

Anabasis 2007

In the evening they took their meal, and posted their pickets and lit watch-fires in front of their outposts, and so turned to sleep.

Cyropaedia 2007

On their side also they kindled as many watch-fires as possible; but as soon as they had dined the order was passed to quench all the fires.

Anabasis 2007