The National tribune., 1883-10-25
sdn Looking for a just Reward.


startling aggregate of $50 killed, 1877
wounded and 321 missing, and upon turning
to the generals report of the battle we find
that il closes as follows:
The above list stands for itself record Of al
most unparalleled loss in single battle. They
ltile men of Howard's diyisionI have poured out
their blood like water. and we must look TO God
and our country for just reward.
This eloquent avowal of the obliga-
ton resting upon the country TO care
for tie men who poured out their
blood like water" not at Antietam only,
but upon many a hard-fought battlefield
from the Potomac 10 the James and the
Mississippi to the Gulf, was penned more
than twenty years ago, but the obligation,
though oft confessed, has never been re-
deemed, and TO the country which they
risked so much to save our veterans are still
locking " Tor just reward"
Let us consider for moment the signif-
cance of this simple statement of casualties
contained in General Howard's report. There
were 355 killed. How many of these brave
fellows left helpless widows without other
means to support themselves than the
labor Of their own hands? How many
children, strangers up to that time to sorrow
and misfortune, were orphaned? How many
doting mothers and how many fond fathers
were robbed in an instant Of the staff Of
their old age? From the lives of how
many sisters and sweethearis did the light
Of hope 90 out2 Upon them fell heavily the
blow To them the roll of casualties at
Antietam was something more than mere
historical record, and the interest which these
figures possess for the casual reader is triiing
indeed compared with what they must feel
whose best-beloYed perished on that bloody
field. We should Ike TO know OF the 355
families who were thus bereaved how many
have enjoyed the @oountry's just reward
bow saye they fared since they were de-
prived Of their natural protectorse How
have the mothers managed to keep the wolf
from the door, and how have they contrived
10 clothe and educate their children and
make them worthy of their heroic sires?
All, it is tale that is writ in anguish Of heart,
in seli-deniaI, and that self-sacriGce which
is the crowning glory Of American woman
hood
And the LETT wounded-what fate has
been theirs? Some Of them, doubtless, died
in field hospitals, far away from the ones
they loved, suffering agonies untold, yet dy-
ing with a prayer for their country's pres
eryation on their lips, and message of aflec-
ton and comfort for the dear ones at home.
Others, doubtless, blessed with the minis
tTations of those gentle, gracious women
who have made the name Of army nurse q
synonym for patriotism, devotion and
selfsacriGce wherever the English language
is spoken, erawled slowly back to life,
through days Of WEAKNESS and pain-some
to return once more to their regiments and
face again the perils of the field; but many,
alas TO e the service forever, stripped
Of the mean4 earning a livelihood, de-
pendent, on the hand, upon the cold
charity Of the world; and, on the other, On
the tardy justice Of the Government All!
who shall say what flaming ambitions found
their sepulchre in the field hospitals of the
war! What aspirations TO honor and dis
tinciion paled and vanished there! What
robust manhood, daring and capable of great
things, shriyelled and became there but q
recollection The country is still rich in
men. bat in this army on crutehes, these
wan and sharp-visaged pensioners, behold
The flower of the country's youth withered
before its time!
And what Of the missing 321? What
fate was theirs? Were they taken prison
ers and hurried by exhausting marches tc
Libby, or Belle Isle, or Dansille, or Flor.
ence, or Salisbury, or Andersonville, or Mil
len, or Blackshire, or Charleston. or .saEan.
nah, to siarye and suffer and perish there
that from the Confederate armies might bs
withheld, until the issue had been finally
fought ont, that succor which the return O.
their own well-fed soldiers, captives in
Northern prisons would have afforded themi
Alas who can tell The graves are close
together at Andersonyille, and although ths
green turf now covers them over, and their
names are forgoteS4 by the world. Their