The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1847-06-26

engaged IN your ancient oCCupduoHs' Dut .
you will not be without the meet eward Of
service. Your neighbors will regard
you with respect and affection. Your chill
dren will feel proud whenever they hear mem
made of Monterey and Buena Vista, and
a grateful nation has already inscribed your
upon lis annals. Indeed, it is noble
sight, worthy of the genius Of this great Re-
to behold at the call Of the country
whole armies leap forth in battle array; and
then, when their services are no longer needed,
fall quietly back and commingle again with
the communities from whence they came.-
Thus the dark thunder-cloud, at natures sum-
mons, marshals its black battalions and lowers
in the horizon; but at length, its lightnlngs
spent, its dread artillery %silenced, its mission
finished, disbanding its f%rowning ranks, it
melts away into the blue ether, and the next
morning you will find it g%litteriug in the dew
drops among the flowers, OF assisting with its
kindly moisture the growth Of the young and
tender plants.
Great and happy country where every citl-
zen can be at once turned into an effective
soldier; every slider converted forthwith into
a peaceful citizen.
Our regular troops are unsurpassed tor skill
and courage. Led by their gallant and ac-
compllshed officers, they are invincibIe' All
that science and valor can do, they have a.
chieved. Al Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo they
have pluckel new %laurels worthy to be en-
twined among those gathered on the fields OF
Palo Alto and Rrsaca de la Palma.
But it is their business to be brave it is then
profession to fight. We honor the army; buI
we look upon our citizen soldiers with a differ
emit and peculiar pride They are part ant
percel of ourselves. They have taught us tn
secret of our vast strength. We now know
the mighty nerve and muscle Of the Republic
We evoke armies as if by magic, rapidly a
Il they came forth from the sowing OF the ORA
gon's teeth; at a nod they disappear as thoug
!. the earth had swallowed them up. Bu
they are not gone. You will find them in tn
forest, in the field, in the workshop, III tn
chambers of the sick, at the bar, in the coun
ellis of the country. They have returned
their old professions and pursuits. Let bu
. the trumpet sound again they spring ups
crop of armed men Proudly do we tell tn
world that we have, whenever occasion call
two millions of warriors like those who storm
ed at Monterey and conquered at Buena Visit
WeIcome then citizen soldiers! Welcome 80
der citizens!
But alas! the joy of our greeting is mingle
with sorrow. We gaze upon your thlnne
ranks and seek in vain for many beloved at
" familiar faces. Why come they not from tt
a battlefield? Why meet they not the embTa'
s. Of their loving friends? A year ago sd
20 them march forth beneath their country's ba
ID ner, full Of lusty life, of buoyant hearts al
III noble emulation. Where are they nov
tn Where is brave Mckee, impetuous Yell
trepid Hardin, chivalrous Clay, and gala
Ie- Watson, with hundreds Of their noble Co
es, rides whom we meet not heree Anil see
ng all-you- laurel wreaths are thickly entwin
he with cypress-the dead cannot come to
n.y., bonouet! Alas! alas, for the noble dead
IN we cannot welcome, we still weep for the
IT Our tears fall fast and free; but they flow
in Their for the living than the dead, for the natl
ION that has lost such noble sons: for the desol
Pc 6resldes, boreaved Of their cherished and 10y
- ones. for the bowed father, the heart-broH
ln- mother, the sobbing sister, the frantic wlte
use the wondering children. For them we we
inc but not for the noble dead. We envy II
ter fate. Gloriously did they die, who rende
dis IN their souls in battle. They fulfilled
highest duty mankind owes to this world; Il
died for their country. They fell upon stri
lay, en- fields which their own valor had alrei
in.n half won. The earthquake voice OF wet
We was in their ears, and their dying gaze
me, turned proudly upon the triumphant stars
stripes. ~Honor-eternal honor to the Or
our who baptised their patriotism in their oloo'
mo. But there are others who equally CLAN
his place in our sad remembrance. mean u
rll- who died from disease whose fiery hearts v
H., extinouisied in the dull camp or on the glot
march. 1t is easy to die in battle. The 81
and is stirred to a courageous madness by the n
srve ing squadron, the roaring cannon and
has clashing steel. All the fierce instincts OF
,rv nature are aroused and the soldier seeks
der death as the bridegroom seeks his BRIDE
sure sides,
la.t @Fame is there to tell who bleeds
And honor's eye on daring deeds"
aga But to waste away with sickness; to be CT
ions ed BY the blows of an unseen enemy
nan whom you cannot graPPle; to know q
ca is approaching slowly but surely; to feel
, his YOUR name will occupy no place on the d
lion. scroll of fame; thus, without any Of the !
cred and rapture of the strife, to meet bra
rhev the inevitable tyrant, is the highest test o.
,ipht soldiers courage, the noblest proof Of ~
Va Of triot,s devotion. Honor t~hen-immortal n
onor 10 the brave who fell, not on the battle-l