Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-02-24


have stood behind with the purse, and they
have done it nobly. Going further back, the
women at home have done their work. They /
said, "We, too, will find 3 way to stand in
the ranks and do our share Of the work. =
So there has sprung up among us this won
derfuI Aid Society, which has increased |
among as to its present magnificent scope and |
proportions.
No one knows the good done by all this |
better than the soldiers. From my own ex-
psrience I can testify to the blessed inhu-
ences of these precious gifts. After the
battle of Pittsburgh Landing, when lying
for night after night on that bloody field, one
of the first things brought me was counter
pane from Cuyahoga county, worked perhaps
by some aged mother, with mingled smiles
and tears,-whieh had kept her children
warm,-and now was comforting q weary
soldier. And I assure you 1t was luxury to
me. It gave me cheer and spirit.
Everywhere, where our soldiers are, just
such presents follow them. Do you know how
much courage you impart to men by such
things? 1t makes men brave to know that
some one is looking at and caring for them.
There is no man, however brave, who in the
first of the battle docs not wish to get away
to seek safer place. But then he thinks of
these back of him, who are looking at him,
talking OF him, trusting in him, and he dares
not be a coward. A nation stands behind
him, their eyes upon him. BE will stand to
the fight and die before he will disappoint
the expectations of the people. If the soldier
did not know that they were looking at him,
waiting, watching, hoping for him, it would
take away much Of the motive for duty. We
all reioiee,to know that such organizations as
these exist and If We knew the good they were
doing, we would put forth greater efforts.
Let Us turn aside from this scene to contem-
plate the condition of the country. For the
last few months it has been said repeatedly
that We were looking at the beginning Of the
end. But the people must not be deceived.
A brave people are not afraid to know the
| truth. five look upon this war as we'll nigh
ended we are making q fatal mistake. Let
us not slacken our efforts for moment under
the apprehension that the monster is dying.
It is within our power to end it by tremen-
dous effort if We will put it forth. have
never for moment doubted but we should
put down the rebellion, and do not now.
| But it is necessary for US to know that We
/ have arrived at point where success from
/ bles in the balance. The crisis is at hand.
/ We have cut the bridges, burned the ship
/ ping in the rear and abandoned ourselves to
the conflict to perish or succeed. There is
no course but onward. The struggle is now
for life or death, and it will not cease until
one or the other of the conbstants lies dead
1 in the arena.
Our past successes have been great, and
have chesred our armies. The enemy is
pushed back from the great river and from
the Cumberland Mountains to the great plain
| beyond, whore he will make his last and
desdliest struggle. We have passed the
Rubicon, have gone over the river and the
| mountains to the great plains between
the Cumberland and the Calf. Here
the enemy stand for the last and
| tsrribls conflict. On that bat
tie depends the result. We have not man
| too many. Let us not relax single effort
until the enemy is completely crushed, and
We cry H abet, Habet" as the wild cry was
wont to ring through the Roman amphithe-
atre whed the vanuuished gladiator fell.
In this crisis it is wicked and cruel to sit
down to our ewn schemes. The stake is toe
large to risk for man or thousand men.
It ss wicked now to forget our country and
give ourselves up to little side issues.
But it is cheering to know that the mass oi
the people are not going to sleep over this
question. The armies are filing up. Since
the first Of January 10Y 900 new men and
70 600 veterans had enlisted. (Applsuse.
I would multiply the last sum by three to gel
the sum total Of its value. They are worth
not less than 200, 900. They have been tried
in the fire and not found wanting. (Great
Applause This is the basis Of hope. He
believed that the fighting that was soon tt
come would be more fsrce than any We have
had. It was sad to know that so many mus
90 down to death in the conflict but who
could ask a grsnder death? Who would
rather wait few years to die in his bed, thar
to 90 down amid the wild roar Of the saliva
tian Of battle, with the light of his country
victories in his eye, and its glory in hii
heart? (Great Applauss.)
Let mo now, in this connection, address a
few words to the organization we are met tt
insuRurate. You cannot do one thing toe
much. You cannot make one sacrifice more
than will be needed. You cannot heap YOU
donations single inch too high. We mus
not slacken our efforts. am proud to NEE
so many here, taking part in the work.
am proud Of our own State. OHIo,-God
bless her-has taken a noble part in the vsr
She has sent moro than 200, 900 mon to bat
tie, not including the more than 200, 900, who
are at work by the frsside for the national
life. And yet, Ohio has but one star in the
glorious galaxy in our banner. From Wag-
ner and Gregg, along the angry eluFe Of thC
Atlantic, up the RappshannookJ through THE
mountains of Western Virginia, sweeping
down to Chattanooga, and then along the
line to Memphis and Vicksburg, down this
mighty river to the Gulf, and along the bor-
ders Of Texas to the dark waters of the RiC
Grande, the lins,of Ohio 8 gallant troops standi
proudly fronting tn foe, and the bones of hel
sons, strswn upon every battlefield are the
monuments Of their valOr aud her glory. Al
think of the steadfast bravery Of our troops
there comes up before me scene Of thai
memorable day in September, when, weary
| ! hokk fua fhnuannd
of our braves stood in grim ano
solid semi-cirole, facing threo times their
number among the foe. Shoulder to shoul
der they stood, facing destruction, But i
was a proud thing to see then, and to remem
Der now, that along that whole line not ont
man hesitated or fsltered. Never before did
see men that seemed to be inspired. Eact
man stoed as erect and firm as if he bore up
on his shoulders the destinies of the Repub
lio.
One wing of the army had already beer
vanQuished, and waVering or rout here
might endanger the safety Of the army anC
the Nation, And now there came another darh
mass of rebels, creeping in behind, ready Z
sweep down on the rear of that little band
aud crush 1t out of existence. At that mo-
ment, between Us and the advancing cloud IL
our rear, cam another little body, swiftly
gliding toward us. Wss this another body
OF the enemy coming to complete our destruc'
ton? A messenger who Was. sent to meet tneH
and Immediately returned with the welcome
news that they were our own, the reserve
and q reserve in double sense, for they
wore mostly from our own Reserve here
There we're but two brigades of them, mer
who had never smslt the breath of battle, but
single word was sufficient to tell them
where their work was, and they were about
itimmedistely.
The opposing columns swept swiftly to-
wards each other, and sank down as if the
earth had opened to swallow them from sight
There were but 340O of that reserve force
and in less than forty minutes Of fearful con
| to,t ona tbousand oF than had become i'm.