Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1861-05-09
HligcellantQus.
The Unnatural Strife.

An incident occurred, few days ago,
among the troops quartered in our city,
fairly illustrates the unnatural fratricidal
war that our national feud has forced u
pom us. We requested, and obtained
permission to tell the tale and we would
commend it to the consideration of the
par tics wlo are urging on the strife, es
peCiilly these by whose efforts it may be
arrested, and the fearful results of a
deadly conflict prevented.
At one of the armories, q band of four
or FIVE young men. members of one of
the military companies, were engaged
in conversation, when one Of them ex-
pressed the desire that some event mi ght
occur which would release the troops
from the unnatural position in which
they were placed in the antagonism Of
one portion against another of the came
country. As he appeared to be much
affected by his ,ituation at the close of
the conversation, when the party scpara-
ted, one Of them followed him into the
hall connected with the armory. and as
ked him if he did not fear that his COM
rades would accuse him of cowardicc, if
le continued so to express his views and
feelings in their presence. The reply
was that it did not matter much of what
he was accused, provided he was posses.
sed of the consciousness that such was
not the case,
At the close of the remark he invited
his companion into private room con-
nectcd with the armory, and closing the
door, he threw himself upon chair, and
burying his face in his hands and placing
them between his knees. for fl, c minutes
he wcpt like a child, and his tears fell
like rain drops upon the floor. Relieved
by the act he sprang upon his feet, and
turning to his deeply affected friend, he
said. j have invited you to examine my
body and to test the terrible reality Of my
positon;' as he spoke he divested himself
of his clothing. continuing, i am a
Pennsylvania by birth; but have been
number of years resident of Maryland,
and | am now in arms, perhaps against
my fellow ci izens of my own native
State. Now look here and tell me If
you have ever seen a human body SCARED
as mine is. am marked from head to
foot which shows you that | have been
almost cut to pieces by the sabres of
foreign enemy; and have received gun
shot wounds in my limbs was cus in
this manner in the war with Mexico, and
| assure you that l never fiinched nor
experienced moments fear. | was
fighting foreign foe under the flag of
my country, and fell literally mangled
upon the field, from which was borne
in an insensibe condition to the hospital
and was the only survivor of a number
of my companions who were treated in
like manner. My flesh was raw with
wounds until they we're healed. From
contact with the enemies of my country
have never desired to be withdrawn,
but when | think of raising my arms a.
gainst my own countreymen, | confess
to you that | am coward. | have not
the courage to do 1t, and had rather die
than meet the trial
Our informant states that he was ut
terly unnamed by the incident so WV
idly portrayed by the circumstance, and
though he had felt strong desire to have
his courage tested in actual conflict with
an enemy, his ardor vas considerably
dampened by the event, and like bis
companion in such trial, he had to own
himself coward
There is no cowardice in hearts that
are moved by such sympathies. 1t may
well be said that the bravest men are
those that have the deepest feeling, and
none can be more truly brave than those
who retire first from the unnatural strife
in which a brothers. blood is to be shed
by brothers hand. Well would 1t be
for our country if we were nation of
such towards. If we were so, we would
never be found engaged in fraternal con-
hict, while in the presence of foreign
enemy, we would be united and invinci-
BILE, True patriotism does not admit Of
civil war. And he is least patriot who
is first to enter upon its issues and last
to fear its consequences There is nc
laurel Of renown for the victor in a civil
war. The heroes of such war are
towards, while its towards are generally
the most valispt of heroes. .-Batimor'
] Patriot. .'.