The National tribune., 1884-02-21
CHAPTER v.

CHAPTER V.
BATTERIES OF WAR, or GALyANIsN, AND OF
LOVE.
DIR. Chartervale received his guests with his
usual cordial welcome, aud seated them in the
library, looking out upon shrubs and flowers
that appeared to almost laugh in the June sun
shine after their dripping morning. Captain
Adams had introduced his friend as Major
Dabny, formerly of the Confederate army.
Your name has shrunken much in becoming
Anglicizcd, Major" said the doctor. Before
your Virginia ancestors pronounced it Dabny
your English ones called it Daubeny and your
Swiss ones DAubigne."
"Indeed!" replied the major, with a laugh.
4" My ancestors were Virginians; but was rot
aware that they and bieir name descended from
the land of the hero TELL And the Swiss gov
eminent is confederate; like that
And how does it happen that l owe the
pleasure OF your presence and acquaintance TO
so ardent Union soldier as Captain Adams?"
"0h, that's easily explained. lie assured me
you did not know the difference between a
Federal and q Confederate soldier, and esteemed
both of them"
Certainly" replied the doctor; they are
both equally my fellow-countryInen, and both
believed they were right. Why should there
be any difference in my esteem for therns"
Cigars were passed, and captain and major
each took light; but the doctor, who would
rather talk than smoke, continued:
$ You see, this matter Of war, terrible as it is
is, after all, only the last argument when men
differ on great vital questions beyond the pos
sibility of peaceful settlement. When two so
| differ it is a fight; when many differ with the
great mass it is insurrection; and when the
contest is between multitude and the organ
I lied government it is rebellion-if it fails, or
reyoiution-when it succeeds"
"Then you think, Doctor, that we Confed-
crates were rebels?" asked the major, with an
asserting smile.
Certainly; you failed, and 50 did not rise
| above rebellion
But you admit we believed in the right
eoasness of our eause?7
Certainly, again. But it was question Of
4 power, not of right"
I And here Captain Adams put in:
! But you were surgeon in the Union army,
| Doctor; of course you believed it was lighting
/ for the right"
/ st so believed, of course. But I know that
/ the great body of the Confederates believed the
same thing as to their side of the argument.
| / had no ennlity. / was connected with great
national issue which could be decided in No
way but by war. Now it is decided forever
and | say, with General Grant, Let Us have
peaee!'"
Major Dabny laughed outright. This way Of
looking at the most terrible war Of all history
was new to him. After half dozen short
| quick puffs at his cigar. he asked:
But, Doctor, If that bloody struggle decided
nothing, howar we ever TO know which side
was right, after all -
If you refer to absolute right" replied tbs
doctor, We never can know, though each may
be satisfied for himself. But the struggle die
decide something; it decided which side wa
| the strongest IN such a manner Is to end al
strife on those issues, and make war abou
them hereafter forever impossible"
:" 1t was fearful price, Doctor for such set
tlement as that; you know how fearful as yoI
I were a Union surgeon"
j beg your pardon, Major. 1t was only fearful
because the agony and death which should have
covered generation were crushed into foul
bloody years More than half who died Il
battle only FASTENED their departure a few brie
years at most. There IS equal agony-if les
bloodshed- around the beds OF the millions
who die amid the waiting OF surroundin:
friends; and most of them die to no purpose
War aggregates death, but it works out grea
purposes in social evolution which can CONS
from no other agency"
9 am not quite ready to agree with you
view, Doctor" interposed Captaihf Adams
There is q right and wrong side TO all ques
lions. Do you suppose it could have been pos
sible for you or me 10 have gone to war for tn
slave system?"
YES: man of your temper would go to wa
for conscience sake on either side of any grea
question Wkick side would depend on you
associations, your training, your education, am
all those environments which give color to tn
opinions of all rr7' sd you been bern i
Charleston, yot, 2 been a Carolinian
had you been CaroE.sian, you would hav
been subject to all the influences upon thought
character and mental training which drov
.ITs o.
million can rise above his environments"
"Well, Doctor, on the question Of slavery,
think l should have been that man of mi
lion"
VERY possibly. But in South Carolina 70
would have been q States Rights Democra
ready to fight for your principles to the bite
end. Have another cigar; no? Then, let I
adjourn to the parlOr, where there are som
young ladies, good COnfederates and ready I
justify the rebellion
, Captain Adams was received by Genevi ey
with kindly recognition, and with eomposu1
which gave not the slightest indication of he
; real feelings. To Major Dabny she said:
} "Your military title, Major, gives the lie
} at least one charge which / hear so often mad
i'm half Jest that there was no officer belo'
the grade of colonel in the Confederate army.
, Yes" responded the major; I" there was Oh
major, and l am he"
Miss Waterbury had intended TO watch yer
closely the expression on Genevieve's face o
coming into the presence of Captain Adam
She forgot it, and her own face betrayed almo:
confusion. so that the major looked curionsl
from her to the captain, and then again at Mi:
Jane wondering what caused it.
You reside in Mississippi, believe, Mi
Waterbury," he said.
, "Yes, SIR she replied, in half-stammerin
way; but was never compelled to fly frol
/ Yankee fire and sword, like Miss Cauldwen
The major wondered why she pressed tt
war experiences of Genevieye upon him: bu