Smyrna times., 1862-04-17
A Year of the War

0ae year ago Saturday, the 6rs, qua was
6rrl on Sumter, and one year ago Sunday,
i,s little bsnd Of defenders surrendered 10
armed traitors. We have had enough days Of
anniversaries Of trumphs and defeats since
then, but none Of all Of them will cone to Us
a, this & ct one comes. the anniversary of the
attack upsn Fort Sumtet. of the first felon
blow struck 10 the bad cause Of secession and
rebel ioa: 1,tf Ete
Hsw vividly. says the New York Times, we
recall the troubled days which preceded it /;
the slowly gathering clouds which betokened
the approaching storm, but whose warnings we
refused to accept. still hoping against hope,
still confident that madness could not have go
far carried away our Southern brethreR, and
that they would yet refrain from firing The
train which they had laid How we recall
the anxiety with which we watched for daily
,idings from Maj. Anderson and his little band
ofherces, who seemed going down into In ever
seepniug gloon OF privation and danger, deser-
ted BY all but Heaven, and then the spring of
hope as we saw the Government at last bestir-
rug itself to shake of the paralysis into which
imbscilIty and wickedness had brought it, and
lakisg means which showed some prospect OF
rsliet to that brave company. And then, one
rear ago there went over the land those mag
ustie puIsations which proclaimed that the die
was cast, that rebellion had crossed the Rubcon,
that the hands of traitors had aimed hostile
shots at The glorious banner which their and
our fathers had fought for, aud which had
been to the and TO Us The symbol of al
that was truest and bes, and most hopeful for
humanity.
Who can forget the thrill with which he
heard that dreadful announcement, and how
the land started under it.
All Ihs comes over us fresh as il il were
yesterday. And yet, when we think of all we
have lived through since that day. it seems like
4 llie OF centuries. How could such year fail
TO sccupy more space in our lives than our
whole lives besides! How much has been
crowded into i'll We cheered our pa,rio,
hosts as they rushed from all assElers OF the
land TO the defence of their Government, so
csaselessly asssiIed. "All hail to the Stars Ind
Stripes;'' we lsbored and waited alike we
went aswa through the valley Of shadow ot
Death. after the fatal field of Bull Run, aud
nerved ourselves only with frmer determination
TO carry on the con6cs to the bitter end W.
have followed, with ever increasing JOY. ih,
nsysmeuts of our armies. as they slowly gath
cred around the strsDgholds ofrebellien. sweep
lag them down one after another, aud engul6ne
them surely as the rslling tides of the Ba!
Of Fuudy engulf the beach. And now w
siaad to look back over the past year and than
Gsd fer IL, ss the richest, most bounteous yea
10 our history A year Of privations, but Q
Psisstioas nobly borRs. A year Of griefs seal
tered broadcast through our peaceful homes
bas of griefs which were counted as nothing fc
the sake Of the cause. year Of heroislu
springing up among the people, common q
wayside flowers. year OF growth in 6rm
Rsss and endurance. in courage aud strength
is all those manly qualities which make ma
tion truly great. year of progress such Al
in sur shorisghiedness, we had thought ihs
emily long years would bring. A year nigh.
in events, bat mightier yet in promises.
year not free from stain, not wholly pure, nc
wholly worthy Of the great cause which is hs
bosns forward, but yet year whose burden
aad whose hOnors we can never be too prou
that we were permitted to share.
rhisyesr closes brightly around Us. Victor
10 ours; defeat is the portion of cur enemie
We are confident in ourselves we are col
eesring the approval Of those who bear Us nor
tee much good will. What shall the ne.
Jssr bring to Us Shall iI be as this and y,
more abundsat. or shall we be called upon
our turn TO drink the bitter sup of disaster az
defeat He who sees the cad from the begi
alag alone kaows. Bat if we are osly true
surselvss and 10 the teachings which this yel
hss given as, ne overthrow, no disaster ca
take from us the most valuable results of ih
prstyesrs add The World will be the richer, az
mankind will be the better. for the burden
ihs tolls and the cares which have filed full |
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