Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1864-06-29
VOL. lI---NO. 26.


who most merit praise-simply few who
will eXemplify the classes to which they
belong among the lost slain. Among the
first in honor and reputation was that
hero Of twenty battles, John Sedgwick,
gentle and kind as a woman, brave as a
brave man, ever honest, sincere and able.
He was a model that all may strive to
initiate, but whom few can equal In the
terrible battles which just preceded his
death he had occasion to display the high
est qualities Of a commander and a SOL
dier, yet after escaping the stroke of death
where men fell around him by thousands
he at last met his fate at a moment of
comparative quiet by the ball of single
ritieman. He died as a soldier would
choose to die, with truth in his heart and
quiet, tranquil smile upon his face.
Alas, our great nation possesses few sons
ike true John Sedgwicl, Like him fell.
too. at the very head of their corps, the
white haired Mansfield, after career of
usefulness, illustrated by his skill and cool
courage at Fort Brown, Monterey and
Buena Vista. John F. Reynolds and
Reno, both in the full vigor of manhood
and intellect; men who had proved their
ability and chivalry on many field in
! Mexico, and in this civil war-gallant
( gentlemen Of whom their country had
much to hope. had it pleased God to spare
their lives. Lyon fell in the prime of life,
! leading his little army against superior
numbers, his brief career affording a bril-
liant example of patriotism and ability.
( The impetuous kearEey, and such Gene
/ rails as Richardson, Williams, Terrill,
/ Stevens, Weed, Lander and Hayes, lost
/ their lives while in the midst of career
of usefulness. Young Bayard, so Ike
tie most mourned of his name, that
/ d" knight, above fear and above reproach."
was cut off too early for his country. No
: regiments can spare such gallant, devoted
and able commanders rs Russe, Davis.
/ Gore, Simmons, Bailey, Putnam and
Kincsbury, all Of whom fell in the thick
est of the contest, some of them veterans,
others young in service, all good men and
well beloved. Our batteries have par
TALLY paid their terrible debt Of fate in the
loss of such commanders as Gibbs, the
first TO fall III the war Benson, Haggard,
Smead. Lee, Hart, Hazlett, and those
gallant boys Kirby, Woodruff. Dimick
and Gushing, whiie the engineers lament
the gallant Hagncr and Cross. Beneath
remote battle fields rests the corpses of
the heroic Bescom, Stone, Sweet, and
many other company officers.
The General having referred to some
other illustrious Generals, and descanted
at length upon their worth, said there was
Summer, brave, chivalrous, honest vcte-
ran. Of more than half a century's service
who had confronted death unfinchingly
on scores of battle fields. That most ex-
cellent soldier, the eloquent c. +. Smith,
who many OF US remember to have seen
so often in this very place, escaped the
bullet to fall a victim to the disease winch
has deprived the army of so many of its
best soldiers. There is a lesson to be
drawn from the deaths OF those glorious
men which we should read for the present
and future benefit of the nation. War
in these modern days is a science, and it
should now be clear to the most preiudiced
that the organization and command of
armies, and the high combination of stra
tcgv. perfect familiarity with the theoreti-
cal science of war Is requisite To count
upon success where the plans and eXecu-
ton of campaigns are intrusted to men
who have no knowledge of war, is as idle
as to expect the legal wisdom of Story
or Kent from a skiIltul physician. But
what is the honorable and holy cause for
which these men have laid down their
/, lives. and for which the nation still de-
mands the sacrifice of the precious blood
of so many Of her children?
Soon after the close Of the Revolution
ary War. it was found that the Contede-
racv which had grown up during this re
, markable period was falling TO pieces from
: its own weight. The central power wa
5 too weak Il could only recommend {,
t the different States such measures a
= seemed best and it possessed no rea
, power legislatc, because it lacked the ex
: ecutive power to compel obedience 10 it
II laws. The nations credit and self-respeC
{ had disappeared. and ii was feared by tn
n friends of human liberty throughout tn
&C world that ours was another added to th
Is lorg list Of fruitless attempts at self-gC
d vernment The nation was evidently O
Il the brink of ruin and dissolution, whe'
2, some eighty years ago, many OF II
N wisest and most patriotic of the land see
= Z remedy for the great evils which threa
n cned to destroy the great work of Il
J. Revolution.
TO Their sessions were long and Oft
ot stormy; for a time the most sangni
II. doubted the possibiityof successiul te
sc CONCLUDED on roUB1u FAGElS