The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume], June 24, 1864, Image 6

About The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865

Image provided by: Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN

                
looking: cliffs they appeared to me a few months
ago, when I passed up through here. T&us
far our trip has been a pleasant on®, nothing
has interfered, to mar our enjoyment or de
crease our bapp ! nes.s. Every thing and every
body has seemed to have conti ibuted to mane
this eventful trip of the Sixth a pleasant one.
Not the slightest accident has occurred to any
one and but two or time eases of sickness,
not of a serious character. Iho regiment has
been highly complimented lor their good con
duct and gentlemanly behavior by tlic ofheers
of the boat, passengers and others. In fact
one would not know they were among soldiers
if it were not for the blue coats, so quiet and
civil is < verylhing about the boat..
But liere we are at Dunlieth Friday morning
the 17th, and liere I must cut this letter short,
fearing that I have already prolonged it too
nui' li for vonr readers to read with interest.
But more anon. VENIA.
Letter from the First Minnesota Bat
talion.
Headquarters Ist Bat. Minx. In’kty.]_
White House, V., June 8,1861. >
Tj thtr Editor of the Pioneer
Yon see by the date of this that we are not
yet sent to the front.
Our battalion together with a battalion ol‘the
38th Wisconsin, went to the front last Sunday
as a wagon guard, but returned next day. Wc
are on duty here as a part of Gen. Abercrom
bie’s Provisional Brigades, guarding the base
of « npplies.
We are not fit for the field. Onr recruits
know scarcely anything of the manual of arms,
and but little of anything else of military.
While we remain here our every day life will
be monotonous and our letters dull.
We have thirteen men on the sick list.
“ Brevity is the soul of wit.”
Yonr correspondent certainly possesses one
of the attributes of wit. B.
Paducah, Ky., June 12,1861.
To ihe Editor of the Pioneer :
The Seventh still remains at this post, doing
outpost and picket duty and protecting the
town. Several times lave we been called out
by false alarms, and after everything had been
packed up and the regiment stood in line for
an hour or two, orders came to “break ranks,”
much to the dissatisfaction of the boys, who
are anxious to meet the rebel Forrest and his
rebel crew, and to revenge the surrender of
the old Third at Murfreesboro. Small squads
are couslantly roaming around the country
and are even new within one mile of our pick
ets. This may seem strange to you, but there
is no cavalry here and all know how unwise
it is for infantry to try and capture those guer
illas. We are obliged to wait for an attack
npon ns and cannot move. Last Saturday
nigh a party of twelve or fifteen attacked
one of our outposts at what Is known as Jersey
Bridge, but after exchanging a shot or two
they left in haste Some forty or fifiy shots
were fired without any loss on cither side as
far as we can ascertain. It is hnmi’iating to
be obliged to remain here tied down tinder
sneh circumstances, while if a force of mounted
men, or horses for us even could be sent here,
we could dart out and capture a number of
these cut-throats and murderers.
I
...
The health ol the regiment is excellent; but
few are sick and none dangerously. Our
camp is Dleasantlv situated near the Fort and
in a healthy location Every one is better sat
isfied with the change from St. Louis, and we
are improving in drill and discipline daily.
Lieut. Deusmore of Company G, has received
an appointment as Lieutenant Cc lonel in the
68th U. S Infantry (colored) raised at St.
Louis, and bus gone South with the regiment.
A colored regiment of ar'illery is being raised
here, and a number of enlisted men are expect
ing promotion.
The manner of recruiting negroes in this
cetintry is to say the least, rather singular. A
force of colored troops start out through the
country, with one or two days’ rations; and
whenever a plantation is readied all the build
ing* and outhouses are searched, and ye negro
if found, is put it.to ttie t-quad and marclud to
town and iinmedi uely sworn into the s-rvice,
no matter whether he or his owners protest or
net. Some things might be shown up which
are not altogether ereditible to t tis manner of
rni*ing negro troops; but as it would do no
good, I will not weary vonr -ratience by going
iu-n details.
We learn from the Pres* that Gen. Dana
pays that the 7th and 10th are to be relieved
by “ hundreders" and sent to L ttle Rock to
rcinf tree Siecle; as far as relief is concerned
nothing would plea*e ns better, but we would
prefer to go to Sherman or Grant on the Poto
mac tiling heartily sick of being iu the rear
do.ng guard duty instead of being in a tive
service; and 1 can’t see what more Mi ele can
do at pri sent Ilian to lay back and to hold on
to the Territory he now possesses. It seems
B'mngu that hundred day*’ men are sent lo the
from while such regiments a* these are held
b c't 10 noid the slaves for which the hundred
da; ’s troops were called out. CAPT.
-4
We print elsewhere the speech of Vai.lan
pptiiam, delivered at Hamilton. Ohio, and en
dorse the following remarks of the St. Louis
R publican relative to his return :
Wo have thus Liken one view of the return
of Mr Vallandighmi to Ohio. Entertaining
no extravagant opinion of the merits which
pome have bee.i in him as a statesman—sharing
little in what are believed to lie lii* sentiments
—we are painfully touched with the conviction
that this sud.ten re appearance was le-s in re
ality at a*>eriioii of personal right than a nian
ilcstation of political fcneiuirg and a desire to
do mischief. Doubtless he could have gone to
Hamilton and Uay ton witu as little inierriip.
lion month* ago as now. To have arrived at
the lime of a Democratic Convention does not
strike u* as a panicul .rly hippy coincidence,
while his coining at this juncture has a look ot
attempting to ioice himself upon the party
soon to meet at Chicago perhaps ns a can“i
date. We think Mr. Vullamligau is cu|)alile of
producing discord, if so di-po-ed, but we tiii- k
also that his power aud influence in 1 hat way
have been gn atlvoover-rad, and that Utter
in u will control events ut Chicago.
The return of the Ohio demag gue to reap
the honors of his martyrdom. impo>es a seri
ous question upon the Administration nt Wash
ington It is pretty generally conceded now
by his Ptrongefct opponents that his lianish
mentwasa mistake, hut the authorities have
not judged it expedient to rectify it. A re
arrest would und'iubcedly raise a storm of the
most determined opposition. Mid perhaps kin
dle the flames oi a bloody war iu tne free
States, buch a result would be univer
sally deprecated und lamented, except
at ihe South. To allow Mr. Vul
iandigham to return in this way would be
construed into an admission that the whole
proceedings in ifig ease were illegal, and leave
the impression tint the authorities were afraid
to carry out their own military orders thus dis
regarded. The affiir, itieu, iiiu-t produce uo
little embarrassment. Our opinion is that Mr.
Lincoln will display judgment and prudeuce
by lelltug the matter drop Just where it is.
ritOll GRANT’S ARM.
FROM KENTUCKY.
Letter from tl»e beventh Regiment.
V.Lllaitdigliam.
THE BATTLE MONUMENT.
Dedication of a Portion of the
Grounds at West Point for
the Site of a Memo
rial to the Dead of
the Present War.
GO. Mc< LELLAX’S DEDICATORY
ORATION.
NO SEVERANCE—NO SECESSION.
The cereir.ouy of dedicating the site for the
Battle Monument, in commemoration of the
oflieers and privates of the regular army who
have died in the present war, took place Thurs
day afternoon at West Point, with appiopriate
ceremonies, the principal of which was an ad
address by Major General Geobok B. McClki.-
LAN.
General Anderson Introduced General Mc-
Clellan as the orator of the day, asserting
that he was better known to the peoplo than
he (General Anderson) could ever hope to be.
As General McClellan arose from his seat
—in spite of what Professor French had said,
and entirely disregarding the General’s signs
of disapproval and attempts to make them
desist—the crowd saluted him with three loud
and prolonged cheers. As soon as quiet had
been restored General McClellan, in a clear,
calm, yet perfectly audible voice, delivered the
following oration:
gkn. m’clkllan's oration,
All nations have days sacred to the remem
brance of joy and of grief. They have thanks
givings for success; fastings and prayers in the
hour of humiliation and defeat: triumphs and
neans to greet the living laurel-crowned victor.
They have obsequies and eulogies for the war
rior slain on the field of battle. Such is the
duty we are to perform to-day. The poetry,
the histories, the orations of antiquity, all re
sound with the clang of arms; they dwell
rather upon rough deeds of war than the gen
tle arts of peace. They have preserved to us
the name of heroes and the memory of their
deeds even to this distant day. Our own Old
Testament teems with the narrations of the
brave actions and heroic deaths of Jewish pat
riots ; while the New Testament of our meek
anil suffering Savior often selects the soldier
and his weapons to typify and illustrate relig
ious heroism and duty. These stories of the
actions of the dead have frequently survived,
iu the lapse of ages, the names of those whose
fall was thus commemorated centuries ago.
But, although we know not now the names of
all the brave men who fought and fell upon
the plain of Marathon, in the pass of Thermop
ylae, and on the hills of Palestine, we have not
lost the memory of their example. As long as
the warm blood courses in the veins of man;
as long as the human heart beats high and
quick at the recital of brave deeds and patriot
ic sacrifices, so long will the lesson still invite
generous men to emulate the heroism of the
past. Among the Greeks it was the custom
that the fathers of the most valiant of the 6lain
should pronounce the eulogies of the dead.
Sometimes it devolved upon their great s ates
men and orators to perform this mournful duty.
Would that a new Demosthenes, or a second
Pericles could rise and take my place to-day,
for he would tind a theme worthy of his most
brilliant powers, of his most touching elo
quence.
I stand here now, not es an orator, but as
the whilom commander, and in the place of
the fathers of the most valiant dead; as their
comrade, too, on many a hard fought field
against domestic and foreign foes—in early
youth and mature manhood—moved by all the
love that David felt when he poured forth his
lamentation for the mighty father and son who
fell on Mount Giibos. God knows that Da
vid’s love for Jonathan was no mo e deep than
mine for the tried friends of many long and
eventful years, whose names are to be record
ed upon the structure that is to rise upon this
spot. Would that his more than mortal elo
quence could grace my lips and do justice to
the theme!
We have met to day, my comrades, to do
honor to our own dead—brothers united to us
by the closest and most dearest ties—who have
freely given their lives for their country in
this war—so just and righteous so long as its
purpose is to crush, rebellion and to save our
naiion from the infinite evils of dismember
ment. Such an occasion as this should call
forth the deepest and’ noblest emotions of our
nature—pride, sorryw, and prayer. Pride,
that our country hai possessed such sons; sor
row, that she has lost them; prayer, that 6he
may have otheis like them; that we und our
successors may adorn her annals as they have
done; and that when our parting hour arrives,
whenever aud however it may be, our souls
may be prepared for the great change.
THE VOLUNTEERS.
We have assembled to commemorate a ceno
taph which shall remind our children’s chil
dren iu the distant future of their fathers’
struggles in the days of the great rebellion.
This monument is to perpetuate the memory
of a portiou only, of those who have fallen for
the nation iu this unhappy war: it is dedicated to
the officers and soldiers of the regular army.
Yet this is done in no class or exclusive spirit,
and in Ihe act we remember with reverence and
love our comrades of the volunteers who have
so gloriously fought and fallen by our sides.
Each state will, no doubt, commemorate in
some fitliug way the services of its sons who
abandoned the avocations of peace and shed
their blood in the ranks—will receive some
memento of a nation’s love, a nation’s grati
tude. With what heroism they have confront
ed death, have wrested victory a stubborn
foe, and have illustrated defeat, it well becomes
me to sav, for it has been my lot to command
them on'inaDy a sanguinary field. I know that
1 but echo the feelings of the regulars when I
award the high credit they deserve to our brave
brothers of the voluuteers.
But weol the regular army have no states to
look to for the houora due our dead. We be
long to the whole country. We can neither
expect nor desire the general government to
make, perhaps, an invidious distinction in our
favor. We are few iu number, a small band ot
comrades, united by peculiar aud very biudiug
ties. For, with many ot us our friendships
were commenced in boyhood, when we rested
beueath the shadow of the granite bills which
look down upon us where we stant.; with oth
ers the ties of brotherhood were formed in
more ma ure years—while fighting amid the
1 ugged mountains at d tertile Valievs of Mexi-
bearing of the eternal waves of the
Pacific—or in the h njiy grandeur of the great
plains of the Far West. With all our loveaud
confidence has been cemented by common dan
gers aud sufferings— on the toilsome march, in
Uie dreary bivouac, aud amid the clash of
arms aud the presence of death ou scores of
battle-fields. West Point, with her large heart
adopts us all—officers and privates. In her
ejes we are all her children, jealous of her
lame, eager to sustain her world wide reputa
tion. Generals and private soldiers, uieu who
have cheertuily offered our all for dear coun
try. we staud here before this sbrine.ever here
slier sacred to our dead, equals aud brothers in
Uiewpreseuce of the common death which
awaits us all—perhaps iu the same field aud at
the same hour. Such are the ties which unite
u»— themuat endearing that exist among men;
THE WEEKLY PIONEER aNI> DEMOCRAT
such the relations which bind us together—the
closest of the sacred brotherhood of arms. It
has therefore seemed, and it is lilting, that we
should erect upon this spot, sacred to us all,
an enduring fbonument to our dear brothers
who have preceded us on the path of peril and
ofhonor whicii it is the destiny of many of us
Borne day to tread.
What is this regular army to which we lie
long ?
Who were the men whose death meriionsuch
honors from the living?
What is the cause lor which they have laid
down their lives?
Our regular or permanent army is the nucle
us which iu time of peace preserves the mili
tary traditions of the nation, as well as the or
ganization, science and instruction indispensa
ble to modern armies. It may be regarded as
coevil with the naii<m. It derives its origin
from the old continental and state lines of the
Revolution, whence, with some interruptions
and many changes, it; lias attained its preseDt
condition. In tact, we may with propriety go
even beyond the Revolution to seek the roots
of our geueological tree in the old French
wars; for the cisatlantic campaigns of the sev
en years war were not confined to the “ red
men scalping each other by the great lakes of
North America;” and it was in them that our
ancestors first participated as Americans in the
large operations of civilized armies. American
regiments then fought on the banks of the St.
Lawrence and the Ohio, on the shores of Onta
rio and Lake George, in the islands of the Ca
ribbean, and in South America, Louisburg.
Quebec, Duquesne, the Moro and Porto Bello
attest the valor of Ue provincial troops, and in
that school were educated such soldiers as
Washington, Putnam, Lee, Montgomery and
Gates. These, and men like Greene, Wayne,
Knox and Steuben were the fathers of our'per
manent army, and under them our troops ac
quired that discipline and steadiness which en
abled them to meet upon equal terms and of
ten to defeat the tried veterans of England.
The study of a history of the Revolution and
perusal of the dispatches of Washington, will
convince the most skeptical of the value of the
permanent army in achieving our indepen
dence, and establishing the civil edifice which
we are now fighting to preserve. The war of
1812 found the army on a looting far from ade
quate to the emergency, but it was rapidly in
creased, and of the new generation of soldiers,
many were found equal to the requirements of
the occasion. Lundy’s Lane, Chippewa.
Queenstown, Plattsburg, New Orleans, all bear
witness to the gallantry ot the regulars. Then
came aa interval of more than thirty years of
external peace, marked by many changes in
the organization and strength of the regular
army, and broken at times by tedious and
blo<>dy Indian wars. Of these the most re
markable were the Black Hawk war, in which
our troops met unflinchingly a foe as relentless
aud lar more destructive than the Indians—
that terrible scourge, the cholera—and the te
dious Florida war, where, for so many years,
the Seminoles eluded in their pestilential
swamps our utmost eflbrts, and in which were
displayed such traits of heroism as that com
memorated by yonder monument to Dade and
his command, when “ all fell save two, without
an attempt to retreat.” At last came the Mex
ican war to replace Indian contests and the
monotony of frontier service, and for the first
time in many years the mass of the regular ar
my was concentrated, and took the principal
part in the battles of that remarkable and ro
mantic war. Palo Alto, Resaca and Fort Brown
were the achievements of the regulars unaid
ed ; and as to the battles of Monterey, Bueua
Vista. Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo and the final
triumphs in the valley, nonecau truly say they
could have been won without the regulars.
When peace crowned our victories in the capi
tal of the Monlezumas, the army was at once
dispersed over the long frontier, and engaged
in harassing and dangerous wars with the lu
dians of the plains. Thus thirteen long years
were spent, until the present war broke out,
and the mass of the army was drawn in to be
employed against a dumestic foe.
I cannot proceed to the events of the recent
past arid the present without adverting to the
gallant men who were so long of our number,
but who have now gone to their last home; for
no small portion of the glory of which we
boast was expected from such men as Taylor,
Worth, Brady, Brooks, Totten and Duncan.
There is a sad story of Veniflan history that
has moved maDy a heart, and often employed
the poet’s pen and printer’s pencil. It is of an
old man whose long life was gloomily spent in
the service of the State as a warrior and a
statesman, and who, when his hair was white
and his teeble Jimbs could scarce carry his bent
form toward the grave, attained the highest
honor that a Venitian citizen could attain.
He was Doge of Venice. Convicted of trea
son against the State, he not only lost his life
but suffered besides a penalty which will en
dure as long as the name of Venice is remem
bered. The spot where his portrait should
have hung in the great hall of the Doge’s pal
ace was veiled with black, and mere still the
frame remains with its black mass of canvass;
and this vacant frame is the most conspicuous
i i the long line of effigies of illustrious Doges!
Oh, that such a pall as that which replaces the
portrait of Maunno Farieno could conceal from
history the names of tr.ose, once our comrades,
who are now in arms against the flag uDder
which we fought side by side in years gone by.
But no veil, however thick, can covtr tne an
guish that fills our hearts when we look back
upon the sad memory of the past, and rfecall
the affection and respect we entertained to
ward men against whom it is now our duty to
act in mortal combat. Would that the courage,
ability, and steadfastness they display had been
t mployed in the defease of the stars and stripes
against a foreign foe, rather than iD this laiui
tious aud unjustifiable rebellion, which could
not have been so long maintained but lor the
skill and energy of these our former comrades
GENERAL SCOTT,
But we have reason to rejoice that upon this
day, so sacred and eventful for us, one grand
old mortal uiOLumeni of the past still lifts high
his head among us, aud should have graced oy
his presence the consecration of this tomb by
his children. We may welt be proud that we
are here commanded by the hero who purchas
ed victory with his blood near the great waters
of Niagara; who repeated and eclipsed the
achievements of Cories ; who, although a con
summate and confident commander, ever pre
ferred, when duty and honor would permit,
the olive branch of peace to the blood stained
laurels of war; and who stands at the close of
a loug, glorious and eventful file a living col
umn of granite, against which have beaten in
vaiu alike the blandishments and slonns of
treason. His name will ever be ouj of our
proudest boasts aud most moviug inspirations.
In long distant ages, when this incipient
monument has become venerable, moss clad,
and perhaps ruinous; when the names inscrib
ed upon it shall seem to those who pause to
read them indistinct mementoes of the almost
mythical past the name of Wiudeld Scott will
still be clear cut upon the meuioiy of all, like
the still fresh carving upon the monuments of
loug.lorgotlen RharaoU’s.
THE REGULAR ARMY IN THE PRESENT WAR.
But it is time to approach the present. In the
war which now shakes the laud to its founda
tion the regular army has borne a must honor
able part. Too few in numbers to act by them
selves, regular regiments have participated in
every great battle in the east aud most of these
west ot the Allegbanies. Their terrible losses
aud diminished numbers prove that they have
been in the thickest oi the light, aud the lesti
mouy ot their comrades and coAimanders show
with whau undaunted heroism they have up
held their aucieut renown. Their vigorous
charges have often won the day, aud in defeat
they have more thau ouce saved the army from
destruction or terrible losses by the obstinacy
with which they resisted overpoweriug num
bers. They cau refer with pride to the part
they played iu Mexico, aud exult at the tacol-
lection hf what they did at Manassas, Gaines’
Mills, Malvern, Antietam, Hhiloh, Stone river,
Gettysburg, and the great battles jnst fought
from lha Rapidan to tne Cbickahominy. They
can point also to the officers who have risen
from among them and achieved great deeds for
their country in this war, to the living warriors
whoso names are upon the nation’s tongue and
heart, too numerous to be repeated here, yet
not one of whom I would willingly omit. But
perhaps tho proudest episode in me history of
the regular army is that touching insiance of
fidelity on the part of the non-commi-slon d
officers and privates, who, traitorously made
prisoners iu Texas, resisted every temptation
to violate tbair oath and desert their Hag.
Offered commissions iu the rebel se. vice,
money and land freely tendered them, tin y all
scorned the inducements held out to them,
submitted to their hardships and, when at last
exchanged, avenged themselves on the field of
battle for the unavailing insult offered their
integrity. History affords no brighter exam
pie of honor thau that of these brave men.
tempted, as I blush to say they were, by some
of their former officers, who. having them
selves proved false to their fhg. endeavo ed
to seduce the men who had ofieu followed
them in combat, aud who had regarded them
with lespect aud love.
Such is the regular army; such its history
and antecedents; such its officers aud its men
It needs no herald to trumpet forth its praises.
It cun proudly appeal to the numerous fio.ds
from the tropics to the frozen banks of the
St. Lawrence; from the Atlautie to the Pacific,
fertilized by the blood, and whitened by the
bodies, of its members. But I will not pause
to eulogize it; let its deeds speak for it; they
are more eloquent than tongue of mine.
THE HEAD OK THE REGULAR ARMS'
Why are we here to day ? This is not the
funeral ot one brave warrior, no.’ even of the
harvest of death on a single battle field; but
these are the obsequies of the best and bravest
children ot the land, who have fallen in actions
almost numberless, many of them the most
sanguinary of which history bears record. The
men whose names and deeds we now seek,to
perpetuate, to render them the highest honor
in our power, have fallen wherever armed re
bellion showed its front, in the far distant Mex
ico, in the broad valley of the Mississippi, or
on the bloody hunting grounds of Kentucky,
in the mountains of Tutnessee, amid the
swamps of Carolina, and on the blood-stained
thickets of Virginia. They were of all grades,
from the general to the private; of all ages,
from the gray-headed veie an of fifty yta>s’
service to the beardless youth; and of ail de
grees of cultivation, from the man of science
to the uneducated boy. It is not necessary,
nor is it possible, to repeat the mournful yet
illustrious roll of the dead heroes we have met
to honor, nor must I name all th who most
merit praise; simply a few who will exempli
fy the classes to which they belong.
Among the last of the siain, aud among the
first in honor and reputation, was that hero of
twenty battles, John Sedgwick. Gentle and
kind as a woman; brave as a brave man can
be; honest, sincere and able: a model that all
may strive to imitate, but whom few can equal.
In the terrible battle which just preceded his
death he bad occasion to display the highest
qualities of the soldier and commander. Alter
escaping the stroke of death when men fell
around him by thousands, he at last met his
fate at a moment of comparative quiet by the
ball of a single rifleman He died a* a soldier
would choose to die with truth in his heart,
and a sweet tranquil smile upon bis lip*. Ala*!
our great nation possesses few sons like true
John Sedgwick.
Like him fell, too, at the very head of their
corps, the wine-haired Mansfield, after a career
of usefulness, illustrated by his skill and cool
courage at Fort Brown, Monterey, and Buena
Vista; John F. Reynolds and Reno, both in
the full vigor of manhood aud intellect, men
who had proved their ability and chivalry in
many a field in Mexico an l iu this civil war,
gallant gentlemen of whom their country hud
much to hope, had it pleased God to spare
their lives. Lyon fell in the prime of life,
leading his little army against superior num
bers, his brief career afford ng a brilliant ex
ample of patriotism and ability. The impet
uous Kearney, and such brave generals as
Richardson, Williams, Terrill Stevens, Weed,
Saunders and Hayes lost their lives while in
the midst of a career of usefulness. Young
Bayard so like the most renowned of his name,
that “ knight above fear and above reproach ”
was cut off 100 etrly for his country. No reg
iments can spare such gallant, devoted aud
able commanders as Rossell, Davis. Gove, Sim
mons, Bailey, Putnam, and Kingsbury—all of
whom fell in the thickest of the contest, some
of them veterans, others young in service -all
good/men and well-beloved. Our batteries
have partially paid their terrible debt to fa ein
the loss of such commanders as Greble (the
first to fall in the war); Benson, Haggard.
Sweat], Dr. Hart, Hazleit, and those gallant
b iys, Kirby, Woodruff. Dimick and Cusitiug;
while the engineers lameut the promising aud
gallant Wagner and Cro-s. Beneath remote
battle-fields rent the corpses of the heroic Mc-
Rae, Bascom, Stone, Sweet, and many other
company officers. Besides these there are
hosts of veteran sergeants, corporals and pri
vates who had fought under Scott iu Mexico,
or contested with the savages of the far West
and Florida; aud mingled with them young
soldiers who, courageous, steady and true,
met death unflinchingly without the hope of
personal glory. These men, in their more
humble spheres, served their country with as
much faith aud honor as the most illustrious
generals,and all of them witn p rfect singleness
of heart. Although their names may not
live in the page of history, their ac.ious
loyalty and courage will. 1 heir memories will
long be preserved in their regiments, for there
were many of them who mer.ted as proud a
distinction as th it accorded 10 ‘the first gren
adier of Ftauce,” or to that other Russian sol
dier, who gave his life for hio comrades.
But there is another class of men who have
gone from us since this war couitn*-uced, whose
fate it was not to die iu battle, hut wno are
none the less entitled lo bo mentioned here
There was Sumner, a brave, honest, chival
rous veteran, of ut ire thau half a century’s ser
vice who had confronted death unflinchingly
ou scores of battle-fields, hud shown his gray
head, sereue aud cheertul, where deutn must
reveled, wtio more Uiuu once lold me that he
believed and hoped that his lung career would
end aufid the din of battle. Ue died at home
from effects of the hardships of the leadership
of his campaigns. That most excellent sol
dier, tue elegaut C. F. titniih, whom many of
us remember to have seeu so often ou this very
plain, with his superb beariug, escaped the
bullet to tall a victim to the disease which t.us
deprived the army of so incuy of its be.->t sol
diers. Joltu Buford, cool und intrepid, Mitch
ell, eminent in science; Palmer, and many
other officers have lost ilieir lives by sickness
contracted iu the field. But I cannot close this
Jong list of glorious murty.a without paying a
sacred debt of official duty and pei&ouut ineud
ehip. There is one dead soldier who possessed
peculiar claims upon my love aud gruiuude; lie
vrusan ardent patriot, uu unselfish man, a true
soldier, the beau ideal of a stuff office r—he was
my uid-de e-amp. Colouei Colburn. There is a
lesson to be urawu from tne death und ser
vices of these gtortous meu # whtcU we should
read for the present and lulure benefit of the
nation.
War in these modern days is a science, and
it should now appear to the most prejudiced
that the -organiza ion and arming of armies,
aud the nigh comoiuation of s.iategy, perfect
familiarity wnu tne theoretic il science ot war
is requisite. To couut upon success wbeu tne
plans or execution oi campaigns are miru*ied to
men who nave uo knowledge of war, is as idle
as to expect the legal wisuoin of aIS lory or a
Kent lrom a skillful physician.
THE CAUSE FOR WHICH WE FIGHT.
Bat what is the honorable and holy nnnre for
which these men have hid down their lives,
and for which the nation still demands the sac
rifice of the precious blood of so many of her
children ?
Soon alter the close of the Revolutionary
War, it was found that the confedericy which
had grown up during that tnemOrrble contest,
was falling to pieces from its own weight. The
central power was too weak. It could recom
mend to the different States such measures as
seemed best and it professed no real power to
legislate, because it lacked executive force to
compel obedience to its laws. Tne national
credit and sell-respect had disappeared, and it
was feared by the friend, of human liberty
throughout the world ihut ours wts hut an*
other added to the long list of fruitless attempts
at self-government. The natlou was evidently
on the brink of ruin and dissolution >vljcn some
eighty years ago many ot the wiv* and most
patriotic of the land met to seek a remedy fu
tile great evils which threatened todestrov the
great work of the revolution. Their sos'.ous
were long and often stormy; fora time the
most sanguine doubted the possibility of umic
cessful termination of their labors. But front
amidst the confl.ct of sectional interests, o.
party prejudices and of persuoul sellidinesss
the spirit of wisdom aud of conciliation at
length evoked the Constitution under which
we have lived so long. It was not formed in
a day; but was the result of practical labor, of
lolly wisdom, and of the purest patriotism. It
was at last adopted by the people of all the
States—although by some reluctantly—not as
being exactly what all desired, but, the best
po-sible under thb circumstances
It was accepted as giving us a form of gov
ernment under which the nation might live
happily and prosper, so long as the people
should continue to he influenced by the same
sentiments which-actuated those who formed
it; and which would not be liable to destruc
lion from internal causes, so long as the people
preserved a recollection of the miseries and ca
lamities which led 10 its adoption. Under this
beneficial constitution the progress of the na
tion was unsurpassed in history. The rights
and liberties of its citizens were secured at
home and abroad; vast territories were res
cued from the control ot the savage and the
wild beasts, and added to the domain of the
Union and civiliz ition. The arts, the sciences
and commerce grew apace; our flag flouted on
ekeiy sea, and we took our plaee among the
gre t nations of the earth. But under
ibis smooth surface of prosperity npon
which we glided swiftly, with all the sails
set before the common breeze, dangerous
reefs were hidden, which now and then
caused ripples upon the sm face, and made anx
ious the more careful pilots. Elated ay sue
cess the ship swept ou—the crew not heeding
the warnings they received, forgetful of the
dangers escaped at the beginning of the voy
age and blind to the hideous maelstrom which
gaped to receive them. The same elements of
dbcord, sectional prejudices interests and in
stitutions which had/endered tho formation of
the Constitution so'difficult, threatened more
than once to destroy it. Hut for a long time
the nation was so fortunate as to possess n
series of political leaders, who to the highest
übil ties, united the same spirit of coucdiation
which animated the founders of this republic,
and thus for mrny years the threatened evils
were averted Time and the long continuance
of good fortune, obliterated the recollection of
the ca'amities of years preceding the adoption
of ihe Constitution. Tiny forgot that concil
iation, common interests, and mutual charity
had been the foundation, aud must be the sup
port. of our government, and all the relations
of life. At length, men appeared with abn.-e,
sectional and jiersonal prejudices and interests,
outweighing all considerations of the general
gooJ. Extremists of one section furnished
the occasion, eagerly seized as a preiext bv
equally extreme men in tLe other, for abaud >h
iug the pacific remedies afforded by the Con
stitution. Stripped of all sophistry and side
issues. the direct cause of the war as it pre
sented itself to the honest and pa.riot.c citi-i
zens of the North was simply this:
Certain Stales, or rather a p inion 9! the in
habitants of certain states, feared. or pnnesqgdj
to fear, that injury would result to ttieir-nghtg
and property from the elevation of a particular
party to power. Althougn the cooslilutiori
aud the actual condition of the government
provided them with a peaceable and sure pßj-t
lection against the apprehended evil, they pre
ptred to seek security in the destruction of thi
government which could protect them, aud In
the use of force agaiu&t national tioops hold
ing a national fortress. To efface ihe insult
offered 10 our flag, to save ourseives Irom the
late of the divided republics of I aly and South
America; to preserve our government
from destruction; to enforce its just power
and laws; to maintain our very existence as a
nation. These were the causes which im
pelled U 9 to draw the sword. Rebellion
against a government like ours, which con
tains within it elf the means of self-adjust
ment and a pacific remedy for evils, should
never be coulouuded with a revolution agaiust
despotic jKiwcr, which refuses redress of
wruug*. Such a rebellion eunnot be justified
upon ethical grounds, and ihe only alterna
tives for our choice are its suppression or the
destruction of our nationalily.
c INCLUSION.
At such a time as this and iu such a struggle,
political partisanship sliuu d bo merged in a
true aud brave patriotism, which thinks only
of the good of the country. It was in this
cause and v\ itii these motives that so m my of
our comrades have given their lives; aud to
tins we are personally pledged iu all honor and
fidelity. Shill such devotion as linn of our
dead comrades be ot no avail ? Shall it be said
in alter ages that ws lacked the vigor to com
piele tlie work thus begun ? That al
ter all these valuable and noble lives lreely
given, we hesitated and failed to ke -p straight
on until our land was saved ? Foruid it heaveu,
aud give us firmer, truer hearts than that.
Oh spirits of the valiant dead, souls of onr
slain heroes, lend us your own indomitable
will, and if it be permitted you to commune
with those still vuuined by' the trammels of
mortally, hover arouud us iu the midst of
danger and tribula.ion—cheer the •firm,
strengthen the weak, that none may doubt the
sa-vation of the Republic aud the triumph oi
our grand old flag.
m i e mi ist of the storms which toss onr ship of
state theie Is one great b.a on igtit to wbic . we.an
e*er turn w.iH con Ueuca *-i,d impe. t cannot ue
that t’ds great nu ion has p aye-1 its iu history ?
it ci not be th t our suu, whi-:u aro-e with >u h
bright p o’nircs for tne futur--, has already set to -
ever t innsi be the oueution of the overruling
Deity that tht* 'aud, so I .ug the aa um of t.e oiT
piesseu th icfii.e of civil aniiie I iou- iibeUy shill
agaiu stand lorth in I) igut reli-f imbed pitri.ied
auu du-tened by our rial a. a- amxain.le and en
c urage i eut ior those who ae-iiv theurogr. seof tne
hu .u.u ra.e. Jt t- not given loot weak intellect.*
to nn I r-tai d tue a *p* of r rovia-uce s tnev ccur •
\ye com -reheuii th m only as we look back upon
them in the far dv-tu i past; so it is now w e can
not unravel th j s emin.ey taugl.d >k*m of ihe prr
p se- o the Creator— t. ey ae. 00 high and f ir-re-cu
mg tor cur limned mi da. lut all hi-uory and liis
own rev a.ed wordt>a h ns tbit fits wavs aithou h
in-crutab e a e e er righie us. Let n-, then, hon
estly an I mm.ally play our par s neck to iinoesc ud
»U" p< n°i in our whole ctu y, ant tin t unwaveringly
m he b ni ft: nt t-ol who t- u onr ancestor acr> es
the tea a.d siistahed tnem nfunvaru a-uid danger*
more a| piping even h n those eu-om tered by t-is
ow u ■ ho eu peop e l'l their g>>t exodus.
lie did mu b.iiig ns t eie iu vain, njr cat He sup
potted u ■ tuns far tor 11 aught.
If we do our duty and 1 n-t in Him. he wi 1 mt
desert ns in our need Frm iu toe tailh that Cod
will save our country, we now ledicate this ■ re to
the memory of brave men, to loya y, paLUiieinani
houo . [ ond ap 1 use j
At 1 e • lose o* the oration »ev- ral of hi* adtrlrers
were tempted once mors to rheer nlm; bm the t-o
--lem i.y«.t the occasion embed them to suppress
the r enthus a-'ic detnmiatrat o a One man how
ever. WHO had been au listener, could no. con
tain hitnse f aud shouted—“ And lha:’* tue nun you
ca 1 a Ira tor • Fsh .w! ”
'me hand then p.-rform<:n the ‘ Star Spmgled
Pa ner” aud •• Yan ee D odle, ’ «f er which bei.e
dlo h n was pio-oun.ed by tne Rev. Dr. cprole aa
follows 1 1
nnamioTTON,
Mat *he G->d of oor fa:hara ani our God succeed
with his divine * enedietton the solemn a d in e e t
log se vices of b's ccason: m»y He conduct y his
g-acio s pr,widen' e tht w.'rk commcnred to-da • to
a s tccesslul completion 1 rraythemon men* hereto
be rais :d in houo. - of tn * i lustri ns dead inapl'.e with
ah th • ardor of a sound Cbr stmn patrioti-m the sol
di >rs of onr common c >n*it y, he-e trained lor it* de
fe-ce; may it p-ove to them a con-itair remcmbian
cor <>l t'u ir raorta’ity. and keep alive np >n th 1 altar
of the r h aits ihe fl .m - o*'de otiou to tiod toc-un
try, to the i'nion theC rnsti ution and th ilmmuta
b'.e pinci'ie* of t nth aud jns’fce; and in y the
hi ssintr of ill - Irtunc od the Father, bon, and he
llolv .-ipiiit, be wira you all. Amen
I he audience then commenced to disperse, the
bind p'ayiuga • irge.
t. l>l:MON8T7? VTIOa.
-s General MiC! 1 .an desc-n ’ed from the plat
form the crowd rushed about him and gave tnree
rou imrcho rs. 1* wa* im-xis-ible'hit Hie ofii ers
wh i s irrotmded him a'tcmp*. d to kee »them away,
nsiining hem t at no dit.'-ns*ration whaev r
would *>: allowed ; the-- fo lowed h'in the wtio'e dis
t -nee to •-O' is Hotel, chet-rine and grasping for hit
hand which wi* shaken at every step by persons
caching it witn an aim st frantic enthusiasm.
OFFICIAL WAR BULLETINS.
. Washington, June 15.
‘Olf'ijor General Dlx. Noio York :
rite movements of the Army of the Potomac
?n , , e B ° u }h Ride of Richmond, across the
Ghlcknhomtny and James rivers, has progressed
far enough to admit the publication of some
general lac Is without danger of premature
disclosure.
After several dajm preliminary preparation
movements commenced Sunday night.
The 18th corps. Gen. Smith’s marehed to
White House, and embarked on transports tor
Bennnda Landing.
Wright’s corps and Bnmside’s moved to
James bridge, crossed the Cbickahominy and
marched to Charles City, on James river.
H-mcock’s and Warren’s corps crossed the
Chiekahominy at Long bridge, and marched
to Wilcox, on James liver.
. James river was to be crossed by the army
at Powhattan Point.
A dL«natch from Grant dated Monday even
ing at b)4 o’clock, Headquarters at Wilcox’s
L-tnJing, states onr advance bad reached that
place and would commence crossing James
River Monday, and that Smith’s corps would
commence arriving at City Point that night.
No fighting reported during 'he movement
except a little cavalry skirmishing
Tuesday afternoon, at 1 o’clock Gen. Grant
was at Bermuda Landing.
A di patch from him, dated 3 p. m.. says onr
troops will commence crossing James River
to-day. The enemy shows no signs of yet
having brought troops to the south side* of
Richmond.
Our movement from Cold Harbor to James
River has been made with great celerity and so
far withont loss or accident.
An unofficial dispatch, dated at Gen. Butler’s
headquarters 2:20 I*. m., says Smith’s corps was
coming on, having already launched
Dispatches from General Sherman's bead
ouarters. dated three o’clock yesterday, near
Kenesaw. states that the General is in front ad
vancing his lines on K-mesaw.
Further reports say that the rebel General
Polk has been killed to-day and his body sent
to Marietta.
General Washbnrne reports from Memphis
that Sturgis’ expedition met a large rebel force
under Forrest, at Gnntown and after a severe
fight and heavy loss was worsted and was at
Goliiersville retreating towards Memphis
Late arrivals of troops render Memphis safe.
General Sherman ha* made arrangements to
repair Sherman’s disaster. He has placed A.
J Smith in command, who will resume offen
sive operations No other intelligence since
my last telegraph.
E. M. STANTON.
: ■ . .’ll War Department, 1
Washington, Juue 17, 1864.)
To aiaj. Gen. Dir, Keu> York :
The following dispatches have been received
by this Department: £‘.j v
> .;■ City June 15th. via )
U) -l. Jamkston 151and.. 5:30 p. m. Jane 16.)
~ j-Cen. Smith with 13,(k0 uhen attacked Pc
teratjorg this morning.,-. 'Gen. Butler reports
hja observatory. nearßermuda Hundreds,
-that, there has been sharp fighting, and that
the-troops and trains of the <nemy were, as
iie writes, marching from the city across the
nppomatox ns if retreating. Hanccok is not
nu-r enough to render Gen. Smith any aid.
(Signed) E. M. STANTON.
Secretary of War.
War Department, )
Washington, June 19—9:40 p. m.)
To Major General Dir:
This evening a d spateh from City Point,
dated at nine o’clock this morning, reached
the Department.
It reports that our forces advanced yester
day to wiihin a mile in front of Petersburg,
when they found the enemy occnpying a new
line of entrenchments, which alter successive
n*s'in!ts, we failed to cirry, but hold and have
entrenched 1 ur advance po»ition.
From the fo ee of the enemy within the ene
my’s new lines, it i* evident Beauregard has
been reinforced from Lee’s army.
No report has been received by this Depart
meutof the ctsuallies of the army in its ope
ra ions since errs-ing the Junes, except the
e'en'h of Major Morton, mentioned yesterday
Gen Sherman leports to-day that the ene
my gave way last night in the midst of dark
ness and sto’-m and at da* light he entered his
line from left to right, His whole army is in
pursuit a* fir as the Chattihatehie
Gen Sherman adds, “I start at once for
Marietta. No military intelligence from any
other quarter has been received to day.
(Sigued) E. M. STANTON,
Sect clary of War.
War Department. >
Washington, June 18-11 p. m. j
To Major General Dir :
Dispatches from Gen. Sheridan have just
been received. He represents a victory over
the enemy at Tre.-elain’s siatiou. on Hie Vir
ginia Central Railioad. a few miles south of
Gordonsviile, where Gen. Lee a few days since
reported a rebel victory. The official report
is as follows:
I have the honor to report to yon the arrival
of my command at this p lint, and also to re
port its operations since having New Castle
ferry.
I crossed the Pamnnky River on the 7th
Jnst.. marching via Atehy’s and encamped on
Heridou’s Crt-ek. On the morning of the 8 h
I resuimd the march via Polecat Station and
encamped three miles w st of the Station, and
and «»ti the IHh I marched through Child.-burg
and New Market, eneampiug on Erie Creek,
near Young’s Bridge.
On the lOilt I marched via \ndrew’* Cavern
andLevinausstructure, cros-ing both branches
of the North Anna and encamped at Buck
cliilds about tlmee miles northeast of Treve
lain’s Siat on My intention was to break the
railroad at this station.
I marcin d through Mecb.micsville, eut the
Gordonsvi’le and Charlottesville railroad near
Lindsay’s then marched on t bar
lottesvi.le. but on our arrival at Buekehilds I
found the enemy’s cavalry iu our Immediate
of nth Gem Tarbeli,
with his division, ani Col. Gregg, of Geuetal
Gregg s division, attacked the euerny.
After an obstln He contest they drove him
from successive lines ol breastworks, through
Station 081 impassable fofew > back ou Trevaliue
. iu the meantime Gen. Qpstar was ordered to
proceed by a country road so as to reach the
station in rear of the enemy’s cavalry. On bU
arrival at this point the euerny broke into com
plete route, leaviug bis dead and nearly all bis
wounded iu our bauds, also twenty officers aud
300 horses.
B M. BTANTON,
Sccre.arj of War.
5