Smyrna times., 1866-02-28
The Heroic Dead of the War.

hours refused to abandon faith in the stability
and ultimate triumph of our nation, Thomas
Hughes was among the most prominent. He
has written an article which has appeared in
Macmiltan's Magazine, under the title of
Peace on Earth. 1t refers throughout to
war; and forms most remarkable document.
We have, we think, seen nothing come from
England that will compare with it in its full
comprehension of the real issue of our strug-
gle, and just appreciation of the fact that the
whole American people engaged personally in
the battles of the land, and particularly that a
principal element OF our army was made up Of
the highest and wealtiest classes in the cOun-
try Mr. Hughes states that the object of his
article is to bring out into somewhat clearer
light side of the drama which has as yet not
been fairly presented to us in England | mean,
first, the strain on the resources of the North
ern States while the war lasted and, secondly,
the heroism of the men of gentle birth and
nurture, who, so far from shrinking from the
work, and fighting by substitute (as was assert
ed by some of our leading Journals took at
least their fair share of all the dangers and
miseries and tolls of those dark year,"
We notice particularly his second pOint-the
example sent by the men of birth, wealth, and
high position. Here, too, he says, d" feel
sure that few simple facts, taken at hazard
from the mass which have under my hand,
will be more than enough to satisfy every just
and generous man among my countrymen;
and | am proud to believe that, whatever our
prejudices may BE- there are few indeed among
us to whom such an appeal will be made in
vain.
Mr.. Hughes selects here as an example
family with whom he is well acquainted, name
y that of j. Russell Lowell, eloquently de
scribing the patriotism Ofits members, especial
ly of Charles Russell Lowell, who died at the
battle of Cedar Creek This family lost eight
young men under thirty years of age, in little
more than three years of fighting, none of whom
were soldiers in 1860. Next Major Motley is
mentioned, then Gen. Wadsworth, name bet
ter known in England than most American
names. . could go on at any length, he
says, tor my acquaintance with Americans is
large, and | scarcely know man who has not
lost some relative in the war But, apart from
ones own acquaintance, there is scarcely one
of the famous colonial and revolutionary names
which has not been represented. The Jays,
Adamses, Schuylers, Liyingstons Van Rens-
selaers, have not failed their country in her
second great need ; and have fought well, and
worked hard, though the present holders of
these honored names, mostly quite young men,
have not had time to reach their ancestors
places. The bearers Of great names, l take it,
do not get such a start in the States as with us
at home A descendant (grandson, | believe)
OF Alexander Hamilton, however became a
general, while several of his cousins remained
in lower ranks. Colonel Fletcher, Webster,
only surviving son of Daniel Webster, was kill
ed in Virginia Perhaps the man who excited
most the hopes and martial enthusiasm OF
Americans in the first months of the war was
Major Theodore Winthrop, grandson of the
famous Governor John Winthrop, scholar,
traveller, poet, athlete, who was killed at the
disastrous battle of Big Bethel, June 10th,
| 1861. A son of General Porter, who was dis
| tinguished in the last war with US, fell as a
colonel in the spring of 1864. Even the fami-
| lies famous, as yet, for wealth only, have not
shrunk from the fighting; one AstOr, at least,
and Cuttings, Schermerhorns, Lydigs, and
others, having held their own in the volunteer
ranks.
"Or let us come to names more familiar than
any other transatlantic ones to us-the Boston
group. Longfellow' young son (Charlie, as |
hear all men call HIM has managed to fight a
campaign, and get badly hit in Louisiana, at
an age when our boys are thinking OF their
freshman's term at Oxford. Oliver Wendell
Holmes (juniOr,) poet, artist Greek scholar,
virtuoso, has been twice. was going to say
killed-well, shot through the body and neck,
and again in the heel; and, having fought
through all to the end of the war, is again busy
with brush and pen. Olmstead has fought,
with mlghtler weapons than rihed cannon at
the head of the Sanitary Commission. OF four
brothers Dwight, two were killed, and third
fought his way to general. Whittiers, Apple-
tons, LOrings, Crowningshields, Dehons-but |
will tax my readers patience no longer with
rolls Of names which, perhaps, to most of them,
will be names, and nothing morel Let this
last summing up of the work of men of birth
and position in one State suffice. Il choose
Massachusetts again, because, thanks to Gov
ernor Andrew, we have more accurate returns
as to her, over here, than as to any Other
State. Since the declaration OF the war, four
hundred and thirty -four officers from Massa-
chusetts have been killed-nine generals, six
teen colonels, seventeen observation-disclosures,
twenty majors, fifteen surgeons, two chaplains,
one hundred and ten captains, and two hun
dred and forty-fve lieutenants Of the thirty
five generals officers from that State, ten only
have escaped wounds.
"Of all the living graduates at Harvard
1.-THE university Of highest repute in America,
one fifth, or, to be as accurate as possible nine
teen and some fraction per cent, have served
with the army. AT Yale College, the percent
age has been even higher. Conceive strug
gle which should bring one in every five Of
men who have taken degrees at Oxford and
Cambridge under fire, and which should cal
on US, besides our regular army, to Keep on
foot and recruit for three years volunteer ar
. my i've times as large as our present one
Such plain facts and returns as these will
| am sure, convince the last sceptic--f there
, , be one left among US at this Yule tide, 1865
! that New England has not spared of her bes
, blood in the great day of the Lord, under tn,
burden and heat of which the whole Norti
! has reeled and staggered indeed, but withou
a ever bathing heart or hope aud always gaining
q fresh power, through three years Of war whicl
a have seemed--hay, which baye been-a life
s time, In such sEjyGs time is not measured ;!
e 1araIyzed and doubtful, when John Brow
prop6esied all these things on his way to tn
;. acafold. kissing a negro Child as he passe,
oIonS' and while Stonewall Jackson and hi
/ n,uIs n%pss GU guarded the gibbet--the America Q
sOve,egaty and Pred ssStt lay in Win; 5
= .sg.,ts metlI' and abolitionisn was loathed as
y Vulgar ToiI,o and mischevous fanatcism--s as ia
bsbind us to-day for all practical purposes q
the England Ofths StuaFtS' or the France s' z Z