The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-08-27


aroused did we see neighbor or friend
mutilated and doomed to drag out life
while untitled for its burdens Then who
can tell or what heart can imagine the
immense sufferings endured by many
thousands of brave men helplessly carried
from the field, leaving parts of themselves
behind and bearing the scars of war on
their mangled and dismembered bodies
These are the necessary accompaniments
of victory, and the sad thought that the
battle is won at such a price leads US to
mourn while VIC rejoice.
In the cost of victory is to be included
the immense loss of valuable lives. The
poorest, the most obscure soldier in the
ranks fills an important place in some
social circle. Family alta chments and
extensive usefulness do not depend upon
military rank and Office, and when we
think of the material Of which our armies
are composed the young and promising,
the middle aged, and gray headed, men
sustaining the various relations of sons
and brothers, husbands and fathers, in the
highest as well as in the lowest walks Of
social life-we cannot be insensiblc to the
mournful fact that when the common
soldier falls at his post of duty, just as
truly as when the superior officer is strick-
en- down, many affectionate hearts are.
made sad. And the multitudes Of widows
and orphans rendered desolate by single
battle, furnish a melancholy commentary
on these inspired words, "the victory was
turned into mourning.
Another oppressive thought suggests
itself in this connection. One OF the
considerations which serve to reconcile US
to the separations produced by death, is
the preparedness of the soul to appear
from the deplorable state of morals known
to exist in an army, that many there neg
lect the one thing needful. 1t is awful TO
rush into the presence of God, unprepared
to give an account Of the deeds done in
the body. We are infinitely far from
suppcsing that the war IN which our
Government is now engaged, is useless or
unlawful or indefensible. The guilt Of
blood so copiously shed must rest on those
who causelessly took up arms and plunged
the Nation into these horrors of civil war.
And we are as far from intimatine that
the salvation Of man who dies in battle
is either impossible or improbable. a
good soldier of Jesus Christ may be a
valiant soldier Of the Republic, and falling
before the fire Of the eueny, his soul will
rise TO glory. But We cannot forget the
profanity and Indifference aud irreligion
that SO lamentably prevail in military life,
and when victory is bought at the eannon's
mouth, feelings of sorrow and regret in
stinctively commingle with those of graft
tude and gladness.
But let us inquire whether there is not
yet another ground for grief connected
with some of our late important National
victories. Let none suppose that We
lightly esteem the valuable victories with
which Providence has recently crowned
our arms. We consider them most sea
sonable and encouraging, and going far to
constrain the enemy to cease the contest.
We feel incompetent to estimate the i'm
portance Of that grand success achieved by
the Army of the Potomac on the border
counties of our own Commonwealth An
implacable foe, inflated with the visionary
hope of conquest, rushed with his trained
bands upon our border, scattering dismay
among the people, and committing every
excess upon the peace and property of
unarmed citizens. That was one of the
darkest hours in the darkest day of the
Republic. The national army had suffered
defeat, and many brave hearts were qua
king then for fear. Poor and hasty were
the preparations made to repel the insolent
invader, and to add to the general disqui-
etude and apprehension, the command was
assigned to another at the most critical
moment of the entire campaign. When
we review the history Of that memorable
march, and eventful battle, and important
victory when we think of the thousands
fleeing in wild dismay from cherished
homes, powerless to defend Themselves
from the ruthless foe, our main army dis
piri.ed, weary aud worn, we cannot regard
our great success as other than a most
marked and merciful interposition of
kind and favoring Providence. s.If it had
not been the Lord who was on our side,
when man rose up against us, then the
waters had overwhelmed us, the stream
had gone over our soul. Blessed be the
Lord, who hath not given us prey TO
their teeth" 1t is God who putteth down
one and raiseth up another. He went
forth with our hosts, attended our army to
the fight, and gave us most marvellous
and signal victory. Never was-a victory
more wonderful. never was victory more
valuable. We even yet tremble at the
thought OF disaster on that momentous