Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-06-17
ODSTOCK, VA, THURSDAY. JUNE II, 1875.
splendid Military genius combined
with the Immense rnSOurnaS of the

! splendid Military genius combined
with the immense resources of the
North for carrying on war would have
brought the contest to a speedy ter
mination. Successful in TIE field the
presidency of the United States would
have been at his disposal. His beauti
full estate too would be left in the fed
eral lines when he went South. But
notwithstanding every temptation,
having calmly weighed the subject in
his well poised brain, and ascertained
where rested the right, he cast behind
him every consideration of expediency
and unsheathed his sword in the de-
fence of his native Virginia I would
rather be right than be president, was
once said by the chivalrous Clay. The
same sentiment is beautifully express
ed in a poetical work recently publish~
ed-the emanation of the genius of a
son ofShenandoah rich in poetic i'm
agery and lofty sentiment
Beyond the frail expedient of an hour,
Beyond ut ity exists power
Beyond the diadems precarious light
The power TO see and venerate the right
The righteous man admring millions call
To mold the manners and the fate of all
Disdains to deem utility power;
DisdalnS the mean eXpedients of the hour
Reveres the True, the Good, the Just, the Right,
Eternal verities from worlds of light.
In whatever sphere Of action, then
your destiny may be cast, be guided
always by considerations of right and
duty. And the consciousness of recti-
tude of purpose and of adherence to
principle will be sweeter solace to you
in all the tolls, and trials, and griefs
and vicissitudes of life, than the pos
session of riches, or place, or power,
obtained by the sacrifice of principle
to expediency- of right to "utility."
In the interview between Cromwell,
and the great cardinal after the latters
fall, in Henry VIII, Shakespeare, the
most skillful of uninspired explorers of
the hidden recesses of the human
heart, portrays, true to nature, the vain
regrets of one, for the sake of world
ly preferment, made expediency the
rule and guide OF his faith and conduct.
Wolsey ''that once trod the ways of
glory, and sounded all the depths and
shoals of honor points out to Crom
swell the ways tout of his wreck to
rise in the Epitome OF which is
Be just and fear not
In the month of June, 1868, when
Picketts Division was on its march to
the fatal field of Gettysburg-abou
mid day was riding in rear Of the
28th Virginia Infantry Of which l had
the honor to be adjutant. The troops
were sweltering along the sandy roads
Of Spottsylvania county, beneath
broiling summers sun, | noticed a boy
some seventeen years of age belonging
to my regiment staggering beneath
the weight of his gun and accoutre>
ments. He was pale and emaciated
On inquiry I discovered that he had
been sick for several days, and [ asked
him why he did not report to the rear
and get into an ambulance Il hate
to give up was his reply. The march
of that day was continued until after
nightfall, and the soldier boy strug-
gled on, keeping well up with his
command. Next morning when the
drum beat at daylight to arouse the
men to resume their weary march he
did not report. He was found lying
dead where he halted the night before,
and there his comrades wrapped him
in his blanket and laid him to rest to
await the awakening at the grand re-
veille. The winds signing and sough-
ing among those weird old pines Of
Spottsylvania. beneath the shade of
which SO many heroes sleep, chant the
requiem of no nobler spirit than that
soldier boy who would not give up,
but struggled forward while the dews
Of death were gathering on his brow.
In conclusion, my young friends, let
the sentiment which inspires him to he
faithful even unto death, be your motto.
81 hate to give up" Advance then
Press onward to the goal.
In the worlds broad field of battle
In tie bivouac of life
Be not like dumb driven cattle,
Be hero in tn strife.''