Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1869-07-13

II is discipline which is the soul oil
armies, as indeed it is the soul of power
in all intelligence. Other things-7mora
considerations, impulses ofsentiment, and
even natural excitement-may lead men
to great deeds; but taken in the long rum
and in all vicissitudcs, an army is efiec-
tive in proportion to its discipline. Now
it was precisely in this that our army cx-
celed. Friend and foe alike testify to
that. Once grant the superiority OF our
discipline and there remains no further
question of rank and merit as an army.
Then, too, observe that the rebellion
saw fit to oppose to us the flower OF its
armies, and its best generals, and when
that army surrendered before US the
whole structure ofthe confederacy went ]
down with their standards. Not without
aid, indeed, did we achieve this, for we
were so depleted by the terrible casualties
of the great campaign, that in the last
wrestle around Petersburg and Richmond
other armies stood shoulder to shoulder
with us, with whom We gladly and CRATE
fully share the glory.
There was also in our army high de-
gree of intelligence and Independence OF
ia lynont. They knew what they were
fighting for-those men-and were stern
and impartial judges as to what was re-
CURED of them; obedient and true to their
commanders, whether through affection,
respect, or discipline; ready to greet to-
night, with all the old loyalty, Mcclellan,
the magic name Burnside, the magnani-
nous; Hooker, the chivalrous; Meade,
the victorious.
God be praised that in the justice of
his ways, this Same much-sufferng old
army-scofed at for not moving, but new
or that l have heard for not dying enough
should be the chosen one to push the
rebellion to its last field, and to see its
proudcst ensigns at its feet. Wonderful
old army! whose casualties were such
that defamation were five times too tame
a word to tell its losses, and whose deeds
were such that its victories should have
counted even with its fields.
Self-denying old army! schooled in the
passive virtues no less than in the active
disciplined in patience, fortitude, self.
contro!-the highest lesson Of this life
cheerful readiness to try again, when ii
had little reason TO hope that any proper
results would flow from its best cndeavor
Dear old Army! Its tents are struck--its
, fires 9rc dead--folded the banners that
lighted its swelling way-silent the bugles
that beckoned to fame across Deaths ably.
sses-vanished the ehbattled hosts that
shone in the morning sun-scattered the
+ friendly bands, that shoulder to shoulder
stormed the gates of glory.
yearn for the stirring duties and high com.
partnership of the field, yet when think
Of all the noble spirits 'passcd in battle
aud IN Storm" and how the lonely rivers
are still flowing on tonight, as they did
while those restless eyes gazed across their
sullen waters into the infinite Of manly,
glorious achievement, needing not now
how many hearts are still which then beat
stronger than their tide, | thank God that
no bugle at to-morrow's dawn shall awake
US to revcillc of blood.
So they seep-by thousands and tens
Of thousands-and the message that was
wont to fall from flippant or haunting lips,
comes hushed to deepest music now, ".AH
guiet on the Potomac"
There is beautiful belief that within
the mortal body there exists another,
spiritual; which, enwrapping the subtle
essence of being preserves our real ident-
ity-dimmed and Welded to mortal view,
but clear and palpable in the realm of
soul. So, as gaze with swelling spirit,
this living and firm array mets into the
vision Of that other army which u0S the
Army of the Potomac; rising like the
mists that once EMBODIED us there, on the
banks OF the Potomac, Rappahannock +,
Chickahominy and James, its right upon
heights of Gettysburg, and its left upon
the slopes that amphithcatrc the sources
Of the Appomattox, marshaled as for the
rol-call Of the last great morning.
And | heara voice, as OF mighty, re-
deemed nations, sounding down the COM
ing years, This is the Army of Liberty.
forevermore :" So it rises and stands be-
fore me--thc glorious pagcnt--thc ranks
all full you the living, they the immor-
tal, swelling together the roll of honor !;
that great company of heroic souls who
were and are the Army Of the Potomac |!
Let me borrow the Prophets tongue,
rapt with CELESTIAL vision: "These are the
living creatures that | saw under the God
of Israel by the river of Chebar. And
the likeness of their faces was the same