Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-12-20
New Eng,and Never Run..

Through the tears with which friends and lov>
ers read the story of Edwards Ferry they can
still smile upon the steadfast bravery of the
Massachusetts boys. In the front ol a fearful
fire, with no means of retreat, with every chance
against them, those young men stood serene,
each man a hero-each man showing the quality
of which nvnc;ble armies are made Colonel
Lee refuses to retreat aud Is made prisoner. Ma
jor Revere and Lieut. Perry share his fate, Lieut..
Putnam falls morally wounded, Capt. Drebar
falls by side, Captain Putnam loses his right
arm Captain Schmidt is dangerously wounded,
Lieutenant Lowell is disabled "Iieutenant
Holmes" said the first brief dispatch, "wounded
in the breast :" not in the back no, not in the
back. In the breast is Massachusetts wounded
if she is struck. Forward she falls, if she fall
dead OF twenty-five officers of the Massachu p
setts Twentieth who went into the battle nine
only returned
And all New England boys are the bright
peers Of the Massachusetts,. Rhode Island at
Bulls Run stood fast and steady through the
whole; retired, when the word came, to rest
upon their arms, as they supposed, aud then re-
new the battle. "But when the order came 10
retreat" said one Of them, 1--WE were confounded,
cursed Mcdowell, aud wanted him hung"
At Edwards Ferry the Rhode island Battery
| ia said to have been deserted by its men. They
were not there it was reported, and Baker came
to serve piece. No. they we're not by the gun;
they were under it. They were at their posts
stl--but the brave hearts should beat and the
| strong hand serve no more forever
Not less ready, not less steady are the other
| sons of New England From the pines OF
| Maine, the granite hills OF New Hampshire, the
green hills of Vermont and the soft valleys OF
| the Connecticut, they have marched to the bat
! tle-feld. and every rife in their hands is loaded
and rammed down with idea. They are not
| mschine-soldiers they are men soldiers. And
| on the field their hosts swel!ed with broth
ers from California, from New York, from Mchi-
| gan, from Indiana. They all stand there embat,
tied, and Of stuff so tried and true that the sea
might as hopeessly dash against Gbr4lter as re-
belllon against their ranks.
From the day at Edwards Ferry which to so
many loving hearts will be forever a day of sa-
cred sorrow, there ia an inspiration and cheer
which breaks joyfully upon every patriotic heart.
Disaster, casualty, death, are inevitable. Brave
hearts that weep, you know it well But che
herOism of your darlings plucks the sting from
! sorrow, and conquers disaster, They iall-bul
their fall pFophesies. They debut though
| dead. they speak, they smile. 1t Is they who are
'' last in the Trenches" 1t is they who teach Us
that the same old heart that has won all the vic
tories Of history still beats. This time il ia New
England that points the truth All are brave,
thank God Now York and the West do not
falter California stood were Baker stood the
men of Pennsylvania bring arms Of iron and
nerves Of steel And the men OF New England
never ruO.--HaPers Weekly Ia