Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-11-18

liza set II - ~ Av<y BOT capture
thou1s hf - sxoss6 ~ thsir owl
as@b;r: h = a two ,rssipenial color
| But tbs day Was won, and the country
hFsathed freer. Next day, July 4th
Psmbsston, appcshsnsive 4 that Gran
might b ineks1 - eslebrats . little OF
IN aopo1nA sssuD1gsd Vicksburgh
Port HuDdsn III = ~ 6uit-L Lee, los
no time in seeking - sen1h lnak of tn
Potomac ard, 1s16m1y, - whole situa
tou was changed. 16oagh much heavy
fighting, really the heaviest of the wal
remained TO be done, yet the rebellion
had received its death blow, and wa
everywhere on the wane. The Mississippi
was opened and its entire length patrolet
by our gun boats. Our navy along the
coast took new courage, and added new
vigilance to the blockade. The army o
the Potomac, forgot its early lessons o
how to retreat in good order, and evel
after fought only to advance. Our armi
were everywhere uccessful.-Early was
rudely helped out of the Shenandoah by
Sheridan, who left the harvests of thai
fertile valley, the granary of Virginia
smoldering ash heaps. Lee, at Richmond
was at last in Grants firm grasp
from which no enemy ever escaped
Sherman had swept down from the noun
tains to the sea, everywhere burning what
cotton he could not transport, and witt
torch and dwelling ak, had, in the language
of his famous foraglng order, " enforced a
devastation more or less relentless, accord
ing 10 the measure of hostility shown by
the inhabitants. y Savannah ha q fallen, and
Charleston in turn, as he swept through
the Carolinas, leaving Columbia i'll flame:
as he passed. Then it was, that th'
rebellion, hungry and worn out, began t.
understand that in provoking war 1t had
verify,
Exempted the fury of his three attendants
Lean famine, quartcring steel and climb
ing fire."
But the rebel armies still held out, an6
the southern people still chung to cause
that had really been doomed since July
4th, 1868. The Lieut. General, how
ever, was at last really, and without going
into particulars, which would reflect full
share of glory upon Vermont troops, let i
suffice that Grant closed the war, a.
Napoleon did the campaign at Austerlitz
$ with a clap of thunder" Lee surren'
dered April 9th; Johnston, the l4th
Dick Taylor, the 10Th which was imme
'diately followed by the rebel navy under
Commodor Farrand and Kirby Smith
army, in Texas. Thus, like dissolyins
view, the rebellion suddenly vanished int
the air and those who were left of thu
2,G8S ,52S men, who, at the call OF thel
country, had come forth from peaceful
vocaLons and devoted themselves, Will
such singular energy, to the havoc ant
waste of war, nearly as suddenly, glldec
back again to pursuit oil the arts
peace one of the most sublime spectaciei
in the history of the world. These mel
had fought not for glory or gam, neithe
for ambition of their own, or that OF prime
or ruler, but for the integrity and perpe
tuity Of the Union and. the freedom o
men. They had left 400, 900 Of their com
rades, 1000 and more Of whom were from
| Vermont. on the field, who had bravel!
met death in some one of the many revolt
| ing forms incident to war. Left a sacrific'
for the sins OF the nation the price o
Of liberty to race
/" Four hundred thousand men,
I The brave, the good the true,
In tangled wood, in mountain glen.
On battle plain, in prison pen.
Lie dead for me and you:
Four hundred thousand of the brave
Have made our ransomed soil their grave
For me and you, kind friends.
For me and you."
And who can compass the grief or fathon
the sorrow which, for them, has sine
tovety "tcr" s--..aiad over the land ant
which, at their mention, still leaves III
Ieye moist and the voice checked. Ihel
ashes are sacred, and any eulogum whlcI
even the most finished eloquence can otier
IN their praise, is utterly futile-words G
miEe are certainly too feeble and ca
only say in the language of another -
Take them o, God, our brave,
/ The glad fulfllers Of thy dread decree:
Who grasped the sword, for peace,
+ And mote to save,
And, dying for freedom, Lord, died 70
thee"
Let Us. then, turn from the dead TO tn
! living; to those who were fondly Leaning
upon the arm Of these strong men strlckel
down IN defense of their country {
dependent woman, to decreplt age an
helpless infancy. These, the wards Of tn
nation, Gnst be,-already are amply pro
yldel for. aud must never be neglected
/ Those ioo, IN our midst, sad reminder
I Of h. shock If battle, with an arm or
! Lex ,hot awav, or still suffering iron
disea.e un-lp ckcd or wounds unhealed
are equally 1t joct5 Of tenderest care an
soicltude Tn csc last are still with US
aud long may they survive, to stir WIT
iheit mute appea S, the heart Of our bus
thoughtles, mil ions, with constan
response to tho pleading lines of tn
Scottish bard
/" The brave poor 30 ldier nc'er despise,
/ Nor count him rs a stranger,
! Remember lac was his country's stay,
/ In day aud hour of c,anger."
( Let all /" remei nber " this, now that tn
danger is passed. and anxiety and fear N
longer act as 50, lrs upon the flank
drowsy gratitude now, that,
Grim visaged wa hath smoothed al
wrinkled front,
And, instead Of mo, nting barbed steed
To fright the souls o. fearful adyersarie
The soldiers arms are hung up as monr
ments /;
His stern alarums char eed to merry NEE
ings,
His dreadful marches o. delightful me;
sures"
| But here, ! am adm ,oL ished that m
hour is passed, and that / IN, st defain 20
only moment longer. cannot, how
ever, help advertlng to some OF the frs
fruits of the peace, and to he glorlor
future of he Union, which we L ow enjoy
The one achieved, and the OF her pre-
served, through your vaior. v 'ho ca
contemplate without thankful he. rt, th
rich heritage of civil and religious 'ibert