Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-06-23


peril aud of honor which is the destiny CT many OF u
to tread.
What is this regular army to which we belong Wht
the whose death merits such honors from the
living What the cause for which they have laid dowi
their lives
Our regular or permanent army is the nucleus which
times OF peace preserves the military trad ons OF the ma
on well the organization, science and instruction
indispensable to modern armies 1t may be regarded az
coeyal with the nation 1t derives its origin from the ola
Continental and State lines of the Revolution, whence
with interruptions and many changes it has attained
its present condition la fact may with propriev 20
beyond the Revolution to seek the roots OF our gono
logical tree in the old French wars for the cauanuc
campaigns of the years war were not connned 70
the red men scapng each other by the great Lakes Vi
North America" and in them that our ancestors
first participated Americans in the large operations Oh
civilized armies American regiments then fought the
banks Of the st and the Ohio on the shores OF
Ontario and Lake George in the islands OF the Caribbean
and in South America, Lousburg Quebec Iuquesne the
Moro and Porto Beo attest the velue OF the provincial
troops and in that school educated such soldiers as
Washington, Putnam Lee, Montgomery and Gates These
and menlke Greene Knox Wayne, and Steuben wee the
fathers permanent army and under them our troops
acquired that discipline seadDess which ensbl them
to meet equal and often to defeat the tried vee
OF England The study of the history OF the Keveu
ton and perusal OF the dispatches OF washington WI"
the skepca of the value OF the permanent
army in achieving Independence aud establishing the
civil edifce which We are fighting to preserve
The of 1872 found the army on footing Tar from
adequate to the emergency, but it was rapidly
and OF the generation OF soldiers many proved edua
TO the requirements of The occasion. Lundss Lane emp
pewa Queenstown, Platsburg, New Orleans all Dear
witness 10 the gal antry of the regulars
hen interval OF more than thirty years Oh "a
peace marked by many changes IN the ORGANIZATION
aod strength OF the regular army aud broken a. LURES "
tedious AID bloody Indian OF these the NEST re
maTkabe the Black Hawk war IN which our troops
met hnchngly relentless and lar more dfsuuc
tive han the Indansthat terrible scourge me
4Dd the tedl Forlda where Tor 50 many years. THO
mnoes eudrd in the pestientia swamps eur utmost
ors and in which displayed such traits OF herolsm
that counemorasd by yonder monument 70 Dade ana
~ mand, when all tell two, without an attempt
to retreat"
iuo came the Mexican replace Indian combas
and The muBouny IT frontier service, and or the nrt TIN
many year- the OF the regular army was conc
rated and took The principal part 10 tne battles OF tna
euarkabls aud romantic war Palo Alto, hesaca, a.
Fr Brown the achievements of the regulars u-aid
d. and 70 the battles of Monterey Buenn VISA vera
Cruz erro Grdo md the oa trlumphs in the valley,
ruy cay that they could have been won win Ut
regulars When peace crowned our victories Ia D-
c-pta IT Mont zumas the army was at once
the long frontier, ard engaged ia harassDg and dan
with the Indians OF the plains mus thirteen
pug years spent, until the present war prone OUT
md the Of The army was drawn IN 70 Do employed
against domestic foe :,
cannot proceed the events of the recent past and
h. present with advertng 10 the gallant men WI" were
long of number but who have now gone 70 tner as
nome small portion OF the glory oil Whch We ooas
r. fectei from such men as Taylor, Worth, Brady
Brooks Totten, and Duncan
There is FAD story of Venetian history that has moved
osnters peuc 1t is of old man whose long life Was
goousy spent in the service of the State warrior
and stat sman, and who when his hair was white and
Ms erbe limbs could carry bis bent form Toward
the grave attained the highest honor that Venetian Cit
zen could reach. He Doge of Venice. Convicted OF
rganst the State be not only lost bic life but sui
tered besides penalty which will endure as long as tue
If Venice remembered The spot where his por
trait houd have hung in the great hall OF the Doges pal
c. Uss yelled with black and there still the frame re-
mains with black Of canvass and this vacant frame
-. alnpo lima ~ hOlp n
trous Doqes Oh that such pail as that Dh replaces
portrait Of MSrno Fsero could conceal from history
he names Of those our contradict who are now IN
snt the flag under which we iou2ht sGe oy sde
| wears gone BY But no vail however thick can cover
me anguish that Ellis hearts when we lock back upon
The sat memory Of the past snd recall the affection and re
spect we entertained toward against whom 1t IL now
ur duty to act ia mortal combat Would that tue cour-
-c- ability aud steadastness they d. play had been EN-
poyed the defence Of TIE stars and stripes against for
ign e. rather ID this iauitous and unjustlhable re-
hehop which could not have been long maintained but
for the skl and energy Of these our former comrades
But have reason 70 rejoice that upon this day, so
sacred and eventual for one grand old mortal monu
ment Of tie past still lifts high his head among Us, ard
grsca by his presence the conservation OF this tomb BY
tie children We may well be proud that we have been
commanded By the hero who purchased victory with his
blood near the great waters 81 Niagara who repeated and
scpe9 the achievements Of CUrtez; who, although con-
.ummae ana confident commander ever preferred, when
duty and honor would permit the olive branch OF peace TO
the blocd aimed 8ures of wari and gEo stands al the
cose az long glorious and eveRtiu life living column
f otanite against which have beaten in vain alike the
Establishments and storms OF treason It's name VIII ever
be one OF our pruude boasts aud mCst moving inspirations
In long distant ages when this incipeut monument has
become venerable, clad and perhaps rulnous; when
The names inscribed upon il hall 10 those who pause
to read them ndsnct E1smentoes o. an almost mythical
past the name Of Whitfield Scott VII still be clear cut upon
h. memory Of all like the st iresh carving upon the
monuments " long forgotten PnEraohs.
But il is time approach the present. In the war
which now shakes the land To s foundation the regular
army has borne honorable part Too few 10 num-
bers "a act by Themselves regular regiments have parc-
psed in every great battle 10 the east and st Of those
west OF rhe Alegnsaes Their terrible losses and dimn
-bed numbers prove that they aaye been in the thckst
Of thu fights and the testimony OF their comrades 900 com
maudrrs with what unoaunted heTOlsm they have
urhed their ancient Their vigorous charges have
often won the day, aud defeat they have than
aved the army destruction terrible losses by thr
rstuacy with which they resisted oveTpOweriug numbers
Tue refer with prize 10 the part they played Upol
the glorious fields Of Mexico spd eIult At the recollection
what tey did at Manassas Gaines's Mile Malvern An
tam, Shiloh, stone River, Gettysburg, and tn grea
battles just fought from the Rapid Ann to the Chckshom
y They point also 10 the oHicers who have riser
among them and achieved great deeds for their cUun
try this war, 10 tBe living warriors whose srt
upon the malone tongue and heart to bt
~ aied here, yet not one Of whom would Willingly
Z omit
perhaps the prudest episode 10 the history OF tn
regular aslDy Is that touching instance OF fidelity tn
uart of the non-cOmnssjol ed officers aud pnvaes who
tre8cherous made prso1ers 10 irK resisted every temp
alton 10 violate their uath ID desert their Gag On-re
omtns 10 the rebel service, money land ree
rendered them they all scurned the Inducements held
{, them submitted TO every hardship, and, when at las
xchabged avenged theuseFes on TIE n-ld II battle TO
The upsvaifg nsull of ed their integrity. History Al
lords NJ brighter example Of honor chan that OF these brsv