Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-07-07

men, in their more humble sphere served
their country with as much faith and honor
as the most illustrious generals, and all of
them with perfect singlcncss of heart Al
thong their namcs may not live in history,
their actions, loyalty and courage will =
Their memories will long be preserved in
their regiments, for there were many of
them who merited as proud distinction as
that accorded to the . first grenadicr of
France" or that other Russian soldier who
gave his life for his comrades
There is another class Of men who have
gone from us since this war commenced,
whose fate it was not to die in battle, but
who are entitled to be mentioned here -
There was Sumner, brave, honest chival-
rous veteran, who had confronted death
unilinchingly on scores of battle-ficlds, had
shown his gray head serene and cheerful,
where death most revcled, who more than
once told me that he believed and hoped
his long career would end amid the din of
battle-he dies at home from the effects of
the hardships of his campaign. The most
excellent soldier, the elegant G. +. Smith,
whom many of us remember to have seen
so often on this very plain, with his superb
bearing, escaped the bullet to fall victim
to the disease which has deprived the army
of 50 many of its best officers. John But
ford, cool and intrcpid; Mitchell eminent
in science; Palmer and many of the officers
and men lost their lives by sickness con
tracted in the field. But | cannot close
this long list Of glorious martys without
paying soldiers debt Of official duty and
personal friendship. There was one dead
soldier who possessed peculiar claims upon
my love and sympathy. He was an ardent
patriot an unselti,h man and true soldier
the beau ideal of staff ofliccr-he was my
! aid -dc-camp--Col. Colburn.
There is lesson to be drawn from the
death and services of these glorious mcr
which we should read for the present and
future benefit of the nation. War in these
modern days is a siencc, and it should now
be clear to the most prGiudiccd that in the
| organization and command Of armies, ano
the high combination Of strategy, perfect
familiarity with the theoretical science o.
war is requisite. TO count upon success,
where the plans and execution Of campaign,
are entrusted to men who have no knowl
edge Of war, is as idle as to expect the le
cal wisdom Of II Story or Il Kent from {
sklltul physician.
| But what is the honorable and holy cause
for which these men laid down their lives
and for which the nation still demands the
sacrifice Of the precious blood of SO many
Of her children? Soon after the close o
| the revolutionary war, it was found tha
| the Confcdcracy (which had grown up during
| that remarkable contest was falling to pic
ccs from its own weight. The central pow
CIR was too weak; it could onlyrccommcnd t,
the different States such measures as seem
ed best, and it possessed no real power tC
| legislatc, because it lacked the cXccutiv,
force to compel obedience to its laws. Th,
nations credit and scli-rcspcct had disap
peared, and it was feared by the friends o
| human liberty throughout the world thai
ours was but another added to the long list,
| of fruitless attempts of self-govcrnment
The nation was evidently upon the brink
Of ruin and dissolution, when some eighty
years ago many of the wiScst and most pa
triotic Of the land met to seek remedy fol
the great cvlls which threatened to destroy
the work of the revolution. Their sessions
were long and often stormy; for time the
most sangune doubted the possibility Of q
successful termination to their labors. But
! from amidst the conflict of sectional inter
csts, of party prCiudccs and Of persona
scltishness, their wisdom and conciliation IA
length evoked the Constitution under whicl
| we have lived so long. 1t was not formed
in day, but was the result of patient la
Dor, of lofty wisdom and Of the pures
patriotism. 1t was at last adopted by tn
people Of all the States, although by som
reluctantly, but as being the best possibl
under the circumstances. 1t was accepte,
t as giving Us Il form of government undc
which we might live happily and prosper
> so long aS the people should continue to b
Influenced by the same sentiments whic
actuatcd those who formed it; which woul
not be liable to destruction from internf
, cause, so long as the people preserved tn
recollection Of the miscrics and calamitie
which led to its adoption.
Under this bcnciiccnt Constitution, tia
, progress of the nation was mcXamplcd i
f history. The rights and liberties of it
citizens were secure ut home and abroad
, vast territories were rescued from the con
, troll of the savage aud the wild beast, am
e added to the domain of civilization and tn
: Union. The arts and sciences and CON
t mcrcc grew apace; our flag tloatcd upo
, every sea, and we took our place anon
I the great nations Of the earth.
But upon this smooth surface of prosper
D ity upon which we glidcd swiftly, danger
; caused ripples upon the surface, and mad
p anxious the more cautious pilots. Elate
, by success, the ship went on, the crew M
t full of the dangers they escaped at the b'
= ginning Of the voyage, and blind to the hi(
+. Gus maclstrom which gaped to receive an
- destroy them. The same elements Of dir
+ cordant and external preiudiccs, mteres
t and institutions, which had rendered II
r formation of the Constitution so diflicul
1 threatened more than once to destroy i
But for a long time the nation was so 10
! tunate as 10 possess u series Ol polite;
leaders who to the highest abilities unite
- the same spirit of cancellation which an
/ mated the founders of the republic. an
10 thus for many years the threatened cvi
a were averted Time and long continue
: good fortune obliterated the recollection
| the calamities and wrctchcdness of til
c years preceding the adoption of the Con
, stitution. Men that forgot cancellation
+ common interest and mutual charity, ha
+ been the foundation and must be the SUI
p port of our governments as Is, indeed, Il
G case with all governments, and all the rcli
, tions of life.
+ At length men appeared with whom Sc
= tional and personal prejudlceS and lntcreS
i outwcighGd all consideration for the gener
c good. Extremists of one section iurniSht
o the occasion, eagerly seized as Il pretoXt !
II equally extreme men in the other, for aba
l. doning the pacific remedies aud protectiC
), afforded by the Constitution, and scekil
ii redress for possible future evils in war al
/, the destruction Of the Union. Stripped
Z all sophstry and side issues, the dire
2 cause of the war, as it presented itself
If the honest and patriotic citizens OF q