The National tribune., 1883-04-05
GENERAL LOGAN on WAR.
The Experience of the Common Soldier and the
Truth of History.


Among the speakers at the Campfire of
burnside Post, of this city, On the evening of
the 28th ult., were General Green B. Raum.
who gave an interesting history of the Atlanta
campaign, and General John A Logan, who
discussed the value and results of wars In gem
eral. Said General Logan:
There is one thing that will say in reference to
all the wars Men who are engaged in battle know
more about 1t than those who are not Applause.
Therefore, the soldier of this or any other war
when say " soldier" mean the soldier the COM
mon Soldler-can give better account of the bat
tie than any men that run. fADpIause And those
who know the most about the war are those who
were engaged The men who know the least of
war are those who read the history of war fAp-
plause. From the time Herodotus wrote down to
the present day do not think any reader OF his
tory ever learned anything about When say
anything about war, | mean the truth In refer
ence to the great battles. Histories are always
written IN the interest of individuals and not always
In the interest of truth do not mean 70 say by
that that histories in reference to our war have
been written for the purpose of Misrepresentation
L mean they are written by men who generally
write OF themselves or some one else very near to
them, and on y say that for the purpose OF fol-
lowing 1t up with this statement that when this
country knows the truth both sides of the great
war that was fought between Americans it viii be
taken from the detailed accounts that are given
truthfuily by the private soldiers. The men who
have no interest to exaggeTate are those men who
sat by their camp fires at night, and talked over
what had been done during the day, where this
division fought and that regiment advanced, and
where this command and that command was
those men who came together and compared ac-
counts OF the days fights and the morrow's proba-
bllItles. The organizations of which YOU are one
are important In this particular, for the truth viii
be finally obtained through them. 1t viii not be
known until after dead and gone perhaps
but the historian who gathers up the books that
are written by private soldiers; the histories Of
regiments the histories of companies the histories
of campaigns, and the little incidents that occur
will give as faithful account as can be made OF
the war This IS the only way 1t viii ever be done.
10ere q DeOue-4 Christian
who depTeesste war. We all do; but there are
times IN every country when war is absolute
necessity.
The march of civilization in a rapid pace has al
ways followed great war, and / believe that the
results OF the two great battles OF Marathon and
,tiaInls were the turning points in the Christian
civilization OF mankind. Applause.l My honest
conviction IS that they turned the tide and gave the
world christianity and civilization that if the tide
had turned the other way, would have been differ
ent to-day. Now, IN the war that was waSed be-
tween the Union people of the country and those in
rebellion against them, however much may
depFeoate it-and we all do-waS q fight between
Americans-between kindred who should have had
different feeling from the one that produced
boodshed. Yet that, IN NV Judgment no matter
how many tears have been shed and how much this
country has been draped in mourning for the men
who gave up their lives for it. will be beneficial to
the country in the future, and it has taught the
world two things: first that slavery cannot exist
among intelligent people and second, that reDub-
c1an form ef government Is the strongest that can
be made by man. Great applause. The stability
of the government is based upon the affections of
the people and though political fate may decree
that Its officers may be changed from class of
thinkers TO those OF an opposite class it moves and
viii ever move smoothly along. The people feel
that a republican form of government guarantees
to themselves and their posterty the privileges and
benefits of everlasting freedom. Great applause
The government has grown steadily IN the affec-
tlons OF the people since the rebellion was Subdued
and it VIII grow and grow until power on earth
can overthrow 1t except the people themselves.
Great applause. Noone deprecated the war more
than myself yet know it viii serve as lesson to
mankind. 1t has given the other peoples of the
world food for thought and reflection IN reference
TO that which is best for themselves so far as the
great idea of liberty Is concerned. The time will
come when the people of the countries that to-day
give power, not aS flows upward from the people
but the power given from the head down to the
people, VIII shake of the shacSies. The chains are
being loOsened day by day, and probably before
You and pass away SHAH see some of these
people strike for liberty the people of this eouI-
try struck for liberty and Independence. fTrenerl-
dous applause.
After the applause at the close of General
Logan's speech had subsidized addresses We're
made by Colonel Case and other gentlemen, and
the campfire was put out and the Post held
business meeting. General Sherman VIII de-
liver an address at the next campfire IN April