National Republican., 1883-05-17

md SGT our king over arainsi ,ae Hlus on
the black and rcd chcssboard of Aer
THR rorouAc.
80 here we stand on the banks of ttfc river
from which We have our name ia thstapltal
we saved. few hours from eve fital we
conquered. From Gcttysbnff where che con-
federacy was wounded 10 Aupomattox, where
IL fell, around us stretches the arc OF = circle.
Tho line of confict-in ten campaigns and
twenty battles-foucht with terrific vigor,
and attended with appalling loss, against our
great antagonist the army of northern Vir-
ginia, whose dashing cavalry, skillful artillery,
and matchloss infantry made the best fight for
the poorest cause that is known to the annals
Of man; along this line, ovorywhere spotted
with blood in great patches ensanguned by
stubborn battles; through the roar and smoke,
summers heat aud winters cold, surgod the
struggling armies, now drawn hither by the
cry of Rally on Washington ~ and now
pushed yonder by the shout. "on to Rich
mond ~
From here to Richmond is a hundred miles
or moro The roads all cross plateau which
falls to the coast. Ten rivers run down across
this benchland, and mako as many lines of
defense. The country is woodsd rough, and
difficult. Under the shadows of its thickets
defensive armies can lie concealed and ho
who would plunge into their recesBes had
reason to expect masked batteries and tho
chimera which our early imagination con-
jured up. Active, vigilant hostile, the coun-
try people gave every intelligence TO the con-
foderates and their friends in Washington
flashed over the wires 10 Richmond tho de-
oisions of our government before they were
formulated, and the orders of our generals be-
fore they were transcribed. Tho invader with
one arm tied behind him for tho defense of
this city must strike out with his offensive
arm and stagger on like blindfolded giant
attacking his open-eyed adversary. Mountain
ranges parallel the lines of advance, afiording
cover for an enemy to turn the flank, or by
threatening this city to divert the advance,
THE ARMY.
In July, 1861, an unorganized mob Of com
Danies, regiments, and batteries started out
to make this march over another mob in q
strong position. There was some good fight
ing at Bull Run, and we nearly stumbled into
victory. Johnston's arrival made 1t defeat.
IL took us three days to get there and ono
time, but did not waste it ON the road. This
is all prehistoric Imention IL as tho first
and last out that occurred in Virginia. for
in victory or defeat, success or repulse, never
except in proper maneuvers, and In compli-
ance with the orders Of its generals, did the
army that was thereupoD organized or any OF
its great divisions ever turn its back upon an
enemy.
ITS CRADLE.
Last year the government bought the prop.
erty Of the Freedman's bank, north Of the
treasury. On the corner next to Lafayette
square Btood small brick house. This was
the cradle of the army of the Potomac II
has been torn down, and the grass grows as
green upon its site as on the battle fields oil
that army which there had its first head.
quarters.
As the dead may rise to the trumpet of the
angel so the volunteers of tho north rose nj
the call Of Father Abraham. From towns un-
known, states new carved, territories new
| christened, they came to Washington. This
little house was the workshop, where sat the
| chief artifcer and his able helpers, and out
| of this rough product of the inoxhanstible
mines of patriotism they forged blade fit fol
the mighty hand Of freedom.
Here was organized brigaues, divisions and
cavalry camps; the higher and moro scientific
| branches of an army, the artillery, the en-
gineers, the bridge trains, and the equipag,
necessary for movement under conditions
new to war and. peculiar to our country. The
| administration, the general-in-chief, and his
assistants displayed such skill and energy
| that in ninety days n line of defense wa'
thrown around Washington, and over 100000
men, drilled, organized disciplined {
glory to the administration and nation,
said its chief, "and worthy to take the nam,
Of the army Of the Potomac"
HOW IT FOUGHT.
That it would fight anywhere, and untle
anybody, let the shot-torn line and devoted
divisions that dashed over the plains of Fred
ericksburg and carried their riddled color
and bleeding bodies to the very foot of Marye'
| heights bear testimony. The desperate anC
hopeless vigor of that assault awakens th
sympathy of tho secure and chivalric enemy
and the indignant tears Of Columbia will for
ever drop upon that sorrowful page of our his
tory. b",
That nismanagement could not demoralize
nor any enemy disrupt 1t, was again shown a
Charlottesville. After another fragmentar.
battle il was withdrawn. 1t knew not why
"Foiled, but not fought" repulsed, but no
defeated; retiring, but not pursued-a stead
fast army under defeated general.
1t was to endure another strain upon 1t
metal, under circumstances more severe thai
the losses in these partial disasters-all il
nine-months men and thirty regiments of it
two years troops, veterans of all its campaigns
were mustered out. Lee gathered all the re
Inducements available and with O grand arm,
moved again to the invasion of the north. w
were recalled to defend its great commercial
Cities and to make what turned out to be on
last rally in defense Of Washington upon tn
hills OF Gettysburg.
arose the sun on tho third Of July. But be
fore his rays had touched the red field, shar
canonading and the rapid roll of musketry o
the right gave token that the combatants ha
resumed the bloody work which darkness ha
suspended. During the morning the right G
the army succeeded in driving the confedei
ates from the lines which had been abandone
to them the night before. Thus auspiciousl
began the day.
Then came n long lull. Tho stillness of tn
morning was but occasionally broken by
} picket fight. Even these died away on th
warm air, and silence fell upon tho batti
field.
Suddenly the stiffness was broken by tw
signal guns from tho confederate lines, whe
with an almost simultaneous roar all thei
batteries opened, aud hundred aud 6ftee
pieces Of cannon poured a cataract Of iron o
the left center Of the union line. Tho arti
lcry on our side was crowded into our shorte
formation, which soon bristled with eight
guns of every caliber and description, and til
earth trembled with the shock Of TWO hur
dred cannon, not firing with the deliberatio
of siege ordnance, but with the fierce rapidit
of field pieces at short range.
\ The roar was deafening. The scene WI
'awfully sublime. Solid shot, shell, short bal
of railway iron, spikes from improvised cal
mister; all things that could bo rammed int
and shot out Of q cannon were tearing an
plowing up the ground, and flying like legior
Of shrioking devils through the air; dil
mounting cannon, shattering limbers, b0unC
ing through the ranks, and piling around IL
batteries heaps Of mangled horses and men.
Every now and then.a well-directed she
would strike an ammunition caisson an
, cause terrific explosion, scattering destru
tion for yards around, carrying fragments
, wheels, timber, and bodies Of men high