The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-11-28

OUR HEROIC ARMY.-Whatever falter-
lngor encouragement in the national cause
there may be in the minds of those whom
the sacrifices Of the war have hardly
touched, there is none on the part of the
soldiers who have sustained its burdens,
endured its sacrifices, and given to it life,
fortune and honor. In their case the test
of ''the times that try mems SOULS" to
which one of the most effective of the wri-
ters of the American Revolution appealed
in the dark hour of that struggle, has been
triumphantly passed. Their souls have
been tried by the dangers of the battle and
the hardships of the campaign for two
years, and have come out heroes. If sun
shine patriots grow irresolute at the pro-
traction of the contest for free government
and national preservation, or if the treach-
erOus watch for failure and discourage
ment, that they may improve it to break
down the popular determination, and re-
duce the nation to dishonorable surrender
and dissolution, there is no lowering of the
determination Of the soldiers that the war
shall be prosecuted until the rebellion SUBJ
mits, the national integrity is vindicated,
it's power among the nations of the earth
restored, the traitors punished, and the su-
premacy of the popular voice established.
This high sense of national honor, by
those whose blood defends it, and this un-
bending resolution that the national cause
whose sacrifices the triumph is to be won,
is greater exhibition of heroic patriotism
than history anywhere presents, and it will
stand in our records a glorious monument
of the qualities of the American people, to
which future generations may point with
pride in such a heritage. In this war the
people at home do not find it necessary to
encourage and inspirit those who endure
the hardships and face the dangers Of the
war; but on the contrary, the soldiers in
the field, who have endured the sutferngs
of the war, and who have seen their ranks
thinned one half by the wars destruction,
send greeting to the people at home, ex-
horting them to stand by the national cause
and by the honor of the national army, ,and
to think of no cessation of the war, but in
the national triumph.
Can any one suppose this is because the
volunteers desire the continuation OF the
war for the sake of the occupation or pay OF
a soldier? Can any one imagine anything
in these to induce men to remain from
their homes, and to give up their share IN
the apparent prosperity OF the people at
home? Yet we have seen 1t argued by
Democratic journals that the soldiers sho' q
be deprived of their vote on national ques-
tions involving the prosecution OF the war,
because they are interested in continuing
it. The soldiers long for the affections and
comforts of home, and for the wars termi-
nation that shall restore them to 1t. Ihey
have seen the war, which they expected Ito to
close in year, extended overtwo, with the
prospect Of another seasons campaigning;
yet they have no thought of lowering the
National standard an inch, nor OF peace on
any terms save the complete victory OF the
armies of the Union, and the complete SUB
iugation of the rebellion. All they ask Is,
that the people at home will stand by
them in this effort, and will recruit their
wasted ronks, to enable them to push the
war to this triumph.
In military discussions of the qualities OF
volunteer troops in carrying on great ma
tional war, let this manifestation OF patrl-
otism and fortitude by. our popular army
be remembered and let the noble quantities
of our troops in the field stimulate our eff
forts at home to fill up their ranks, ana 10
rious triumph the cause of the nation which
they have honored by their herolsm.-Csn.
Gazette.