The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-27
TAH Rights Reserred.l
ON HEOTHER SIDE
4 True StaF Of The Girl Var in America.


the salvation of his country, and done all
in his power TO elevate the flag TO which he
has sworn allegiance. Every one will IN
derstand that We allude TO George Wash
ington. the greatest patriot that ever lived.
whose memory is venerated in this country
and held IN the highest respect by every
other civilized nation. With such a type
OF man before us as one of the founders of
the Republic, there should be no want of
disposition in the American boy to walk in
the footsteps of so illustrious an example.
and any one born on the soA upon which
90 much blood and treasure nave been
poured ont to uphold our institutions.
should look upon the stars and stripes with
the greatest possible reverence.
The question presents itself, is the Amer
lean boy as patriotic as he should BET
Does he love his flag. and is he willing to
risk his Life and all he possesses that none
of it's stars are dimmed. and that its stripes
remain untarnishedi All this depends upo
the manner in which the American youth
Isl, - brought up oy ms parents. who should
the hearts of their children the duty they
owe to their country and the veneratiOn
that is due 70 their flag. which should be
next TO the love they bear to their parents.
LONOU VI COtlllN duu VI tlG jag bDouiu bD
one of the earliest lessons inculcated in
youth. Patriotism is as much a partof edu-
cation as anything learned at school Ii a
boy Is not taught the history OF his country,
and IS not given to understand the great
sacrifices that have been made for its adj
vancement to its present place OF honor,
then be may wander Oh into doubtful paths;
where the sophistrIes of Anarchists VIII
teach him that the flag OF ones country Is
but an Imaginary object. and that we can
absolye ourselves from our allegiance 10 1t
when II suits us so to do. And II a boy Is
imperfectly instructed in the duties he
man he is liable TO follow In the train of
Socialists and Anarchists, who scorn the
mottQ Order is heavens first law"
During the civil war Twas witness to
some beautiful instances of patriotism,
both in officers and men, and one young
officer so impressed me that 1 wrote a
sketch of his life. which, although short,
was a glorious one. The early teaching of
his mother had such an influence that when
the South seeded. he refused to desert the
flag. and gave up home and friends TO stand
by the banner he was taught TO venerate.
This was Lieutenant Edward Lea. execu-
tive officer of the United States steamer
Harriet Lane, on board of which vessel
first saw him. The following brief nara
tive tells the story of his life in the navy:
In the early part of the civil wal the gov
ernment was much embarrassed for want
OF vessels, and, among other officers, l had
to wait till one could be prepared. Not to
Jose time. / proposed to take passage for
Key West, where / was TO assume command
of the mortar fotilla. The Harriet Lane.
under the command of Lieutenant j.
NJ. Wainwright, was lying at tho " ashing-
ton navy-yard, ready for sea. Taking a
travelIng-bag and a small trunk In the
carriage, / made my way to the navy-yard
with my orders.
The Harriet Lane was a steam revenue
cutter, converted by the Navy Department
into a vessel of war. Her cabin contained
but one small state-room, which the captain
naturally wanted for himself. 1t never oc-
Cured to him to offer it to me, though L
was his commanding officer. but had he
made the offer l certainly should have de-
cllned 1t. Lieutenant WainwrIght received
me at the gangway with q smiling face, and
my trunk was passed on board. Although
he was to have a passenger. Wainwright
seemed surprised at the trunk. He, per-
haps. thought q handbag would be all /
should require. Looking doubtfully at the
baggage, be said: II dom see how we
shall be able to stow that in the cabin, but
j must contrive some way"
'Put il in the fore-top and get under way
at once,n i said.
not ready Tor sea-" he replied; 1.-The coal is
not all on board.o
"As to that | answered, never saw a
naval vessel that was ready for sea; never
theiess, we will get under way and procure
coal at Norfolk or Port Royal.p
"But l AVE not laid in the cabin stores"
Gall right" i said. 1.-The ships stores are
good enough for me-
Two of the officers n the cabin stew
ard are away
We'll leave them. then" I said.
But" continued Wainwright, "our chro-
nometer has not come on board"
"Of course" said: thermometers are
always slow. We will go without one.
trustdng to the three Ps-lead, log and look
put"
Wainwright was in despair, and evident
Iy thought the navy was going to the bad.
sure enough. but he gave the order to the
first lieutenant to light the fires.
The fires are already lighted. SIR" said
Lieutenant Lea, and steam will be ND in
twenty minutes" | took an immediate
fancy to the young man. for-I liked his
BY daylight next morning we arrived at
Cockpit Point. and found there five small
steam .vessels-of-war," each mounting sew
sral riaed guns. and forming part of the
under Lieut.. K. II. -Wyman. 1t had for
merly been under Commander James III.
Ward. who never permitted q confederate
battery To be erected on the Potomac. But
now the confederates had blocked our
game" and we were informed that we
must wait eight days so as to have a dark
night for passing what was supposed to be
apowerful battery on the Point.
and one could hardly see a ships length.
I'VE will pass the batteries now,"I said.
This is better than a dark night" Direct
ing the commanding officer of the flotilla
TO follow MS and enfilade the batteries in
ease they opened upon us. we proceeded.
1t was about : A. NJ. when we got abreast
of Cockpit Point, the snow-storm ceased
and the weather became clear. / stood Oh
the wheel-house with Captain Vain
wright aud Lieutenant Lea. A puff of
smoke came from the bushes.
why they have dared to fire on the
flag" exclaimed the young Sontherner.
just then a rifle she'll struck the rim of
the port wheel, cutting it in two, and the
fragments were knocking the wheel-house
That was a slap in the face,n said the
Lieutenant, cant we return the fire. sir.n
NC. my young friend,"I replied. never
fire at a battery when You are running il,
for you only throw away your shot. You
will have firing enough before the war is
over"
Presently q shell passed through the
smoke-staek and exploded just beyond.
They have hit us again" exclaimed Lea,
The dastardly villainsl-to fire on the
fagi'
Three shells followed in quick succession,
cutting away q stack stay. chipping of a
piece of rail and knocking out a hammock.
There, Mr.. Lea" | said, they will
trouble us no more, as we rave passed their
line of fire. 1t is useless TO fire at guns
scattered among bushes and behind sand
hills. not knowing their distance. From
what / can learn. ont of the many vessels
that have run past Cockpit Point. that bat