The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1864-07-13

some OF them veterans, others young IN
service-all good men and well beloved
Our batteries have partially paid their Ter
ribe debt TO fate in the losses OF such com
manders rs Greble (the frs, TO fall in the
war). Benson, Haggard, Seward, Dr. Hes:
Hazlett, and those gallant bols, Kirby,
Woodruff, Dimick, and Gushing; while the
engineers lament the promising and gallant
Wagner and Cross Beneath remote battle
fields rest the corpses of the heroic McRae.
Bacon, Stone, Sweet, and many other
company officers. Besides these there are
hosts Of veteran sergeanls, corporals aud
privaIes who had fought under Scott in
\ Mexico, or contested with the savages OF
the TAR West and Florida and mingled
with them young soldiers who courageous,
| steady and lfue, met death unfiluchingly
without the hope OF personal glory. These
men in their more humble spheres. served
their country with as much faith aud honor
4 as the most llDsiriols generals and all OF
them with perfect slngleness of heart
4 Although their names may not live IL the
page oil history, their actions, loyalIy, aud
courage will Their memories will long be
preserved in their regiments, for there were
! many Of them who meri,ed as proud dis
tincion as that accorded 10 tthe FIRST grena-
dier OF France" or 10 that other Russian
soldier who gave his life for his comrades
gone from Us since this war commenced,
whose fate il was noi 10 die in battle; but
| who are none the less entitled 10 be men
toned here Thre was Sumner a brave,
honest chivarous veteran, Of more Than
halt centurys service, VINO had confront
ed death unainchingly on scores of battle
fields, had shown his gray head sorene and
cheerful, where death most revealed, who
more than once told me that he believed
ard hoped that his long career would cad
amid the din of battle He died al home
from effects Of hardships of the leadership
of his campaigns. That most excellent
soldier, the elegant c. F. Smith, whom
many of us remember 10 have been go often
on This very plain, with his superb bearing,
escaped the bullet TO fall a victim 10 the
disease which has deprived the army OF so
many OF lis best soldiers. John Buford,
cool and intrepid Mitchell, eminent in
science Palmer and 'mauy other officers
have lost their lives by sickness contacted
( in the field. But / cannot close this long
/ list Of glorious martyrs without paying a
sacred debt of official duty and personal
| friendship. There Is one dead soldier who
possessed peculiar claims upon my love
aud gratitude he was an ardent patriot, an
Unselfsh man, a true soldier, the beau-ideal
! Of staff officer-he was my aid-Ge camp
Colonel ColburE. There is a lesson 10 be
drawn from the death and services OF these
glorioua men, which we should read for
The present and future benefit of the
nation.
War in these modern days is a science,
and 1t should now appear 10 the most pre-
JUDGED that the organization and arming OF
| armies. and he high combination OF slrat
eay, perfect fimiliarity with the theoretical
SCIENCE OF war, is requisite. To count upon
snccess when the plans or execution OF
campaigns are intrusted TO men who have
no knowledge OF war, is as idle as TO ex-
! peci the legal wisdom of Story or Kent
from skillful physician.
THE CAUSE FOR WHICH WE FIGHT.
But what is the honorable and holy cause
tor which these men have lard 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 o. the Revolutionary
war, il was found that the Coufederacy
which had grown up duriu5 that memora-
bic contest, was falling 10 pieces from It's
own weight. The central power was too
weak II could recommend 10 the differ
eni States such measures as seemed best,
and il possessed no real power to legis-
late, because il il lacked executive power
10 compel obedience TO It's laws. The ma
tlonal credit and seIf-respect had dsap
! peared, and il was feared by the friends of
! liberty throughout the world that ours was
but another added to the long list OF fruit
less attempts al sell government The ma
ton was evidently on The brink of ruin and
dissolution when some eight years ago
many Of the wisest and most patriotic Of
the land met 10 seek remedy tor the great
evils which threatened 20 destroy the great
work OF the revolution. Their sessions
were long and often stormy; for time the
most sangune. doubted the possibility OF a
successful termination OF their labors. Bat
from amidst the conflict of sectionaI inter-
esis. OF party prejudice and OF personal sel-
| fishness, the spirit of wisdom and of concili
alton al length evoked the Constitution
under which we have lived so long II
was not formed in day bul was the re-
suit OF practical labor, of lofty wisdom and
OF the purest patriotism. 1t was a; last
adopted by the people of The Sla,es-al.
though by some relucianlly-not as being
exactly What all desired. but the best posi-.
BILE under the circumstances.
1t was accepted as giving as a form ot
government under which the nation might
live happily and prosper, so long so long as
The people should continue 10 be Influenced
by the same sentiments which aciua,ed
those who formed il aud which would no.
es so long as the people preserved the rec
objection Of the miseries and calamitles
which led TO lis adoption. Under this ben
eficiaI constitution the progress OF the nation
was unsurpassed in history The rights aud
liberties OF its citizens were secured al
home and abroad vast territories were
rescued from the control ofthe savage and
tie wild beasts, and added 10 the domain OF
the Union and civilization. The arts, the
sciences and commerce grew apace our
flag hoaied upon every sea, and we took
our place among the great nations OF the
earth. But under this smooth surface oi
prosperity upon which we glided swiftly,
with all the sails set before the common
breeze, dangerous reels were hidden which
now and then caused ripples upon The
surface, and made anxious the more care
iu pilots. Elated by success The ship
swept on-the crew, not needing the war.