Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-10-21
IContinued from first page. I

silence and darkness of their native woods.
hope to rescue the memory of one of
these men-John Jordan, from the head
Baine-from utter oblivion by writing tn s
article. He is now beyond the hearing Of
my words; but would record one act in
his short career, that this pure patriotism
may lead some of us to know better and
love more the much-abused and misun-
derstOod class to which he belonged
Early in the war the command of an
important military expedition was intrust-
ed to the president of a Western college.
Although young man, this scholar had
already achieved character and a his
tory. Beginning life Widows son. his
first sixteen years were passed between
farm, canal, and black-saltern. Being
an intelligent, energetic lad, his friends
formed the usual hopes Of him but when
he apprenticed himself to canal boat.
their faith failed, and, after the fashion Of
Jobs friends they comforted his mother
with the assurance that her son had taken
the swift train to the Devil. But like
Job, she knew in whom she believed, and
the boy soon justified her confidence. An
event shortly occurred which changed the
current of his life, gave him purpose,
and made him man.
which he was employed was leaving one
Of those long reaches Of slackwater which
abound in The Ohio and Pennsylvania
Canal, he was called up to take his turn
at the bow. Tumbling out of bed, his
eyes heavy with sleep, he took his stand
on the narrow platform below the bow
deck. and began uncoiling a ropo to
steady the boat through lock it was ap-
preaching. Slowly and speedily he I'M
wound il, till it knotted, and caught in
narrow cleft in the edge Of the deck, he
gave it sudden pull but it held fast;
then another and stronger pull. and il
gave way, bat sent him over the bow into
the water. Down he went into the dark
night and still darker river; and the boat
glided on to bury him among tn" fishes.
No human help was near. God only
could save him and He only by nlirUfe.
So the boy thought, n he went down say
ing the prayer his mother had taught him.
Instinctively cutching the rope he sank
below the surface: but then it frightened
in his grasp. and held firmly. Selling it
hand over hand, he drew himself up on
deck. aud was again live boy among the
living. Another kink had caught it in
another crevice, and saved him. Was it
that prayer. or the love of his praying
mother, which wrought this miracle? He
did not know. but, long alter the boat had
passed the lock, he stood there, in his
dripping clothes. bordering the question.
Coilng the rope. he tried to throw it
again into the crevice but it hac lost the
knack of linking Many times he tried
six hundred. saws my Informant and
then sat down and reflected. Il have
thrown this rope, he thought. six hun
bred times; | might throw it ten times as
, many without its catching. Ten times
six hundred are SIX thousand-so. there
were six thousand chances against my
life. Against such odds, Providence only
could have saved it. Providence. there
fore. thinks it worth saving; and if that's
so. won't throw it away on a eanal-boat.
I'll go home, get an education and be a
man..
He acted on this resolution. and not long
afterward stood before a little log cottage
in the depths of the Ohio wilderness. 1t
was late ut night; the stars were out, and
the moon was down but by the freight
that came through the window, he saw
his mother kneeling before an open book
which lay on a chair in the corner. She
was reading; but her eyes were off the
page. looking up to the Invisible. oh
turn unto me. she said. and have mercy
upon me- give Thy strength unto Thy SER
want. and save the son of Thine handmaid,'
More she read, which sounded like a
prayer. but this is all that the boy remem-
bers. He opened the door. put his arm
about her neck. and his head upon her
bosom. What words he said I do not
know but there by her side. he gave back
to God the life which He had given. So
ttxA thar -
sprang up the seed which in toll and tears
she had planted
The boy worked. the world rolled round
and twelve years later Governor Dennison
offered him command of regiment. He
went home, opened his mothers Bible.
and pondered upon the subject He had
wife, n child. and few thousand dollars
II he gave his life to the country. would
God and the few thousand dollars provide
for his wife and child? lie consulted the
Book about it. 1t seemed to answer in
the affirmative; and before morning he
wrote to friend: Il regard my life as
given to the country. am only anxious
to make as much Of it as nossiblc before
the mortgage on il is foreclosed.
To this man. who thus went into the
war with y life not his own, was given.
OH Tue Ibtn ti itttHltPF. lFNi. tutilfiltt'u
of the little army which held Kentucky to
her moorinws in The Union
He knew nothing of war beyond its
fundamental principles-whieh are. be-
lieve. that n big boy can whip little bow.
and that one big boy can whip two little
boys. il he take them singlv. one after the
other. lie knew no more about il vet he
was called upon TO solve military pro-
blem which has puzzled the heads of the
greatest generals namely, how two small
bodies of men. stationed widely apart. can
unite in the presence of an enemy. and
beat him. when he is of twice their united
strength. and strongly posted behind in
trenchmcnts With the help Of many
good men and true. he solved this pro-
blem: and in telling how he solved it.
shall come naturally to speak of John
Jordan from the head of Baine.
Humphrey Marshall. with five thousand
men had invaded Kentucky. Entering it
at Pound Gap. he had fortified strong
natural position near Paintville. and. with
small bands. was overrunning the whole
Piedmont region. This region. contain
ing an area larger than the whole OF