The Portland daily press., 1889-10-04
Names Record of vaior in the Great
Battles of the war.
The Story Of tho Three Days Fight
Told by a Participant.

nither though memorable and glorious, THU
historic held is destined to remain-as long q
men prize liberty-a conspicuous landmark in
the grand route of human progress, cam
handing monument in the nations pathway
Here was the elimination and turning point
OF the gigantic conflict which, by common con-
sent, was TO determine the fate of free popular
government. For three days the life of ma
ton, the triumph of progress or reaction, the
destiny of a continent hung balanced upon this
| spot of earth as ON pivot. When the battle
clouds that palled these wales and slopes, had
rolled away. and the silence and peace of nature
had returned to these violated fields and their
| guardian hills, the balance had firmly settled
| to the side Of truth, justice, country, human
| ity. The arena of so august an arbitrameni
| will be memorable forever. The fame of Q
victory SO rich in blessings to all men for all
time will remain bright with fadeless glory,
| When the struggles of the giants ended
and the victory won, the lifeless forms of three
thousand of your comrades lay upon the field
and, of the fourteen thousand wounded, many
were so sorely stricken that their remnant of
life wss but painful lingering for few hours
or days. Their felt, yet unseen, presence, COM
rades, is the strongest and uppermost con-
seriousness within US o-day. 1t seems as if
they had been left on guard all these years and
were lying in solemn hushed bivouac along
these slopes faithful u their trust as in the
days gone by. Treasured and ineffaceable
memories of comradeship, pride in the heroism
here displayed, regret at the precious sacrifice
here demanded, lend TO this spot of earth where
our comrades fell and we now walk in peace,
peculiar conservation which will last so long
as a comrade remains to press this sacred turf.
Gallant, eager spirits. flushed with the purple
light of youth and inspired by its hopes and
hnxu fr,,1y l..
tribute paid to youthful heroes two thousand
years ago! "They persisted from the city as the
spring from the year.
| The soil soaked with their blood is holy
ground, and over it like mighty presence,
glory and gratitude BROOD proudly and low
ingly. For them there are
.Laurels of light and tears Of love forever more.
Laurels of light moist with the precious dew
OF the Utmost heart of the nations loving heart,
| And laurels Of light and tears of truth
And the mantle of Immortality;
And the flowers Of love and immortal youth,
| And the everlasting victory
| And the breath and bliss ofiliberty;
| And the loving kiss Of liberty;
| And the welcoming light of heavenly eyes,
And the over-calm OF Gods canopy"
| On the Both of June Gen. Meade, who had
! been in command of the army of the Potomac
but two days, promulgated his order notifying
| msarmy of the expected battle and in few
wofos adyerting to the Importance of the is
sues II invoNssd. None knew better than he
tnat MS words wsse not needed to convey in
formation 10 the men "a his army or to impress
upon them the responsibilities of the hour. He
Knew that the spirit OF his order rervaded the
whole army from colonies to drummex bov..
for it was the army of the Potomac he I'd,
dressed,-the protector of the capital. the
breastplate that covered the nations heart.
Many and deep were the wounds it had al
ready received at that proud post of honor
IN the two years of its existence; by what ar
duous and terrible processes had it been forged
into the thunderbolt of war that here display
ed its power! by what experiences had the
boys of 81 been moulded and hardened
into veterans, obedient, patient, selfreliant,
brave with the high courage that does not
shrink from known danger! aud the army of
the Potomac had been wrought into a perfect
organism as sensitive to the will of its head as
the trained charger to his masters hand. 81
am Roman citizen" was once a sufficient
claim TO distinction. An illustrious Greek
took pride in the thought that il was mo mean
city" to which he owed allegiance. If associa-
tons can give honor-if the glory of the whole
is reflected upon parts, how great honor and
glory are his who can say 81 belonged TO the
army of the Potomac" OF more worth than
any measure of consideration that may be
melted out to him is that precious possession of
the soldier of the army of the Potomac,
love and pride that swells his breast at the
thought of the grand old army-a thought
which will be to him a joy, a triumph and a
consolation to his dying day.
The battle to which Meades order sounded
the call is the best known of all the battles of
the war. Many causes have combined to make
IN eueh he fof
and its greatest battle. 1t was the battle that
came nearest home to the country. The enemy
was putting some of the richest portions of our
territory under contribution and his presence
and boldness were carrying alarm to great
cities that had never entertained the thought
OF being included in the theatre of war and
arousing apprehension throughout the whole
country. From military point of view the
battle has been an exceptionally interesting
and instructive study to the soldiers and the
student of the art of war, and many valuable
treatises upon it have resulted from their
labors. 1t was designedly and deliberately
fought by both armies. The scene of the duel
was the open country and the events of the
tragic drama were SO separated and correlated
as to be readily followed and understood.
If all else were wanting to set an imperial
and imperishable seal of fame upon Gettysburg,
the consumate act was performed by that wise
ruler, that great and rue-hearted man, the
noblest product of our time. Abraham Lincoln.
There was dramatic fitness in his presence
here in honor of those who filled the
measure of the service to which he had called
them by a soldiers death upon the field.
Though it was not his privilege to range his
armies in order of battle, to launch them
against his peoples enemies and, under the
stress of duty, to WOO amid the wild turmoil
of the conflict glorious release from the never
ending labors the infinite apxieties and sore
heartaches of the great task that was set for
him. he WIS none the less the commander in
chief, giving to the functions of that high office
as close and unremitting care as if he had been
an officer of guard in the near presence of the
enemy. Sometimes during the war there were
murmurs of dissatisfaction at the restraints
exercised at Washington upon the movements
of the armies, and subsequent criticism has
been severe upon the administration for its in
reference in military affairs. But whatever
opinions may be held as to the wisdom or uu-
wisdom of the specific exercises of that au-
thority. none can gainsay the loyalty to duty
of Abraham Lincoln. Amid a multitude of
conflicting counsels from advisors skilled in
the art of war he did not profess he was ever
mindful of the responsibility he could not dele
gate, and decided upon the course that his
sagacious mind deemed the most prudent.
The words he uttered here with studied
reticence doubly impressive in so great d
master of speech, are as a monumental inscrip-
ton to be read to remote generations. They
breath the lofty genius of the battle in which
the existence of free government was at stake.
As the vision of the embattled hosts, the in
termingled contestants in deadly strife, of
crags and plains gloomed with the internal in
cense of battle and lurid with the flashing of
wai'sdreadful enginery, of trampled fields
strewn with the dead and dying, rise before u.s.
the loud and confused sounds the strife seem
the accompaniment of mighty voice declaring
like the chorus of the ancient stage, the mean
ing of the tragedy, and proclaiming "the gov
eminent of the people, by the people and for
the people, shall not perish from the EARTH"
The story of Gettysburg has been so well
told that it would be idle to attempt to here
rehearse it. Let US but glance at its various
features and phases in order to indicate the
mart that Maine soldiers bore in the action.
indicate" is the word, because within the
limits imposed by this occasion no adequate
account of the services of Maine regiments and
batteries could be given. Their deeds, rected
with the Homeric minuteness and fidelity which
Kinglake has bestowed upon the exploits OF his
English heroes in the Crimean war, would NIL
ana