The Appeal., 1889-10-19


seemed to disturb his equanimity, while
duties both disagreeable and dangerous
were performed with unfailing fdel-
ity.
lnlspite OF my preconceived ideas OF
what constituted a model soldier l
could see that they were being gradu-
ally undermined by this man. Day by
day he took new hold Of the profession
OF arms. He was advancing by paral-
lels and each week found him little
further to the front. Then came the
great battles, the supreme test, when.
in a measure, rank is leveled, style is
nothing. courage is every thing; when
"a mans man for a. that" and from
the smoke of conflict he emerged un-
harmed and stood forth in bold relief,
q grand soldier of the Republic, the
peer OF any man in the splendid regi-
ment that never turned it's back upon
the foe. No uncertainty about him
now; l knew what he was good for, and
to the end he had my unwavering con-
tidence and respect. Time wore on,
and the term of our service came to be
counted by days. His comrades no.
tlced that, Cincinnatus like, his mind
had turned toward the farm again, and
he talked cheerfully of wife, children
and friends, laying plans for the future
and already treating the war as a thing
| OF the past. Conscious of a soldiery
record above reproach; happy in the
prospect of enjoying a well-earned
peace, he went about his daily duties
contentedly humming the quaint old
tunes familiar to him in the days of his
boyhood.
He had served up to this time with
out harm, and if he had ever been ab-
! sent from the regiment do not know
it. His longings for home were appre-
clated by the men and officers of his
company, and his Captain, having his
safety in view. obtained for him a de-
tail in the ambulance corps.
we were now investing the works at
Blakely, busily burrowing in the
trenches, exchanging desultory shots
with the enemy defending them, and
with SO little effect that we all became
careless of results. It was the 9Th of
April, only one day before the fall of
Mobile; only one day before the sur
render OF Lee; only one day before the
close of the war. had just returned
to my tent from trip along our lines
when some one burst in and sid Ser
geant Harte was badly wounded. No
one seemed to know just how it hap
pened, and lost no time in useless
questioning. but, under the shade of a
tree, with his pale face turned toward
the east, and a far-away look i'm his eye,
l found the man of whom we had been
so solicitous, almost breathing his last.
1t seemed to me us if his life, from the
guard mount to the grave, flashed
through my mind with sthe rapidity ol
lightning. Kneeling by his side, tax
ing his cold hand in mime, I spoke, as
Lest l could. words of comfort and
cheer: Slowly turning his face toward
me, the light OF recognition came into
his eyes, and. with smile of rare
sweetness spreading over his face, he
softly said: Its all right, Colonel .
and gently pressing my hand, once
more turned his face away.
/ With one foot on the threshold O.
his home, just about to embrace his
wife4and children. he received sterr
command to about face and take ser
vice forever in another army. Still the
same simple-hearted. obedient, patri
totic, uncomplaining soldier, he obeye6
the call without a protest. There was
nothing could do for man like that
and with a heavy heart l left hin
where he lay, patiently waiting his
turn to be ferried over the river to hi.
new command.
L always think of this sergeant, sc
rough upon the surface so gentle at tho
core, as "a typical American voluntee,
soldier "A law-abiding citizen, striv.
ing to do right. as God gave him light
a lover of peace, understanding anG
approaching the institutions OF the
country, and Il sturdy defender of then
when attacked.
There are hundreds and thousands O,
them in this country just like him, an6
they Will rise up when occasion re-
quires. 1T is this fact that renders
standing armies unnecessary, ant
makes this great Republic the most
peaceful and the most powerful of al
the nations of the earth.