Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-01-17
Lessons of the Rebellion mo. /.

DOOu OF OuTrpeOp4e hdo HO1 uOS'liOl az
ed neither in comparison with other
nations, nor with our Fathers Of form
er generations. This is not a small
matter. Work, physical, intellectual
and morals the business, and the
glory of man on Earth. He is Of little
use when he is unable, or when he
ceases to work, except as he yet directs
or stimulates others in their work.
The amount and eXcellency OF ones
work will depend on his manhood.
So the amount and cXcellency of what
a nation does for itself and for the
world will depend on the manhood Of
the people it rears. There is nothing |
that so calls out and tests this man |
hood as great and prOtracted wars.
Perhaps we may add, there is nothing
that 50 effcctually promotes manhood.
Now it was coming pretty widely
to be believed that Americans were de-
generating. We were it was often
said, falling below our Fathers, and al
so below the people of other countries,
II the three elements of manhood,
muscular force, intellectual power, and
personal courage. As people we
were thin, quick, nervous, in body;
quick and brilliant i'll mind; irritable
in temper; but in no one Of these en-
dowments were we capable Of endr-
ance, or sustaininga strong activity.
The degeneration Of some families,
changing from the labOriOus Occupa-
tons of their Fathers to the idle ell
ioyment Of inherited property, an d
from rural country residences to those
OF the city or large town, has given
some occasion for this belief. 1t may
. be said of certain men, or families that
they have degenerated, but it may just
as truly be said of others that they
have not dcgcnerated. The first eff
forts ofthe war, at Big Bethel, Bull
Run, Balls Bluff and some movements
in Western Virginia, Kentucky, Ten
nessee, the Shenandoah Valley, and the
Peninsula Campaign seemed to con
firm this belief in some minds. The
London Times correspondent wrote
that in our conflicts there was nothing
worthy to be called war-Our com
manders showed no ability to plan anC
lead. our soldiers showed no courage
or endurance. And many there were
ofus, who, to say the least, querieC
anxiously within ourselves, whether i
might not be so, and looked with grea
solicitudc, and some doubt, for thu
coming men, and the coming time
which should repel the contemptuou
sneers Of the old world, and re-instat
our confidence in ourselves.
But all this is now passed, not t.
return in this or the next generation
What we have done in the last tire
years shows conclusively that the be
lief in American degeneracy is withou
foundation. The men, the times hav
come, Of VIII ic h we feel no shame
Probably the raiding of Straight, Da
gren, Wilson and Fitzpatrick wa
never surpassed by any cavalry. TIL
march from the Rappahanock to Get
tvsburgh under the hottest sun of Sun
mer, and the three days fighting tina
followed without rest to officer or MAJ
wheeling out of their weary march owe
rock and sand, road and field, vale
and bill, battalion after battalion
only to take positions in line of BATH
sweaty, dusty, weary, footsore an
hungry, yet resolute for the blood
strife, has few ifany equals in the al
mails Of war; unless the rebels o.
posite them on the other side of tn
mountain, and on their return, di
equal marching. They doubtless dit
The determined persiStency shown A.;
Pea Ridge, Stone River, in the inves
ment Of VickSburgh, in Spottsylvani
and around Petersburgh, were neve
exceeded, probably never equaled.-
The dashing prOwess and success
Sheridan and his men in the last She
endoah campaign, and the last wi
ming race to Appomattox, is equal 1
the proudest exploits of Napoleo
The amazing work of Sherman fro
Chattanooga to Atlanta, and his gre,
maj I'll w btIN rave
vile and Raleigh, in the numbers Ell
ployed, the distance passed over, I'll
injury done to the enemy, and the Ii
tie loss himself sustained, stand alor
in all the histories of war that we,
ever written, or that are likely to I
written for ages to come.
The trouble at first was that v
were in business to which we had n,
been trained. But once trained.
officers and men, we have shown ma
hood equal to any in the worlds hist
ny. This could not have been sa
that the manhood was here TO be tyai
ed. Recorded facts show that
large proportion of our men of milit
ry age are sounder than in the cou
tries of the old world-also that o.
soldiers measure morein height ,arour