The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1891-06-13

did not go to war to fight for slavery
or to destroy the union, for a majority
of them owned no slaves, and most of
them loved the union. But Virginia
was their country. Here was their
home, some humble cottage, the blue
smoke of whose chimney they watch
ed as they followed the chase in the
forest or guided the pillow in the field /:
or some ancestral mansion standing
proudly amid broad acres in which
their fathers had lived for generations
AS a colony and as a state the old do
minion had stood in the front rank.
side by side with Massachusetts, and
had done her full share in establishing
the union and in,'promoting its prospect
t. and honor. Aye, she had filled the
pages Of the cnuntry'shiStnry with the
fame of her sons-Henry and Washing
ton, Jefferson and Marshall and others
worthy OF these noble names. The
laws and officers ofthe general govern-
ment We're little known to her people,
Now local self-government seems
threatened, their state is in danger Of
invasion. she calls her sons To ..er de
Tense. Waiting not to decide disput-
ed questions of constitutional law,
those sons answer the mothers call
and offer their lives for that state 50
dear to them by all the associations of
the past and the present.
Generosity to foes was a trait of the
soldiers of our two armies. Personal
conflict excite deep hate, and pablo
wars sometime arouse like passions.
AT first this was true of our great
struggle, But, sobered anddisciplined
by then experience of war, the me II
Il armies came to regard each other
with respect and kindness. There were
cruelties now and then on both sides
to wounded men and prisoners, bnt
even they were often exaggerated. and
they were condemned by the true men
OF two armies. [ recall, amid scenes
OF wild carnage, suddenly stumbling
with my comrades upon a sight | shall
never forget. Surrounded b., IA faith
ful few, a union general (Wadswortl,
of New York lay dying in agony.
Instantly every confederate cap was
instinctively dotted and the fight was
hushed until the general breatt,ed his
last. L AVE cen them lift il shatter-
ed union soldier from an ambulance
and let him down upon the ground
with the gentleness of IA oman and
heard him eXclaim, ''YOu rebels are
mighty kind. while the big tears ran
down his powder-stained checks.
Hancook's thoughtful and unscltish
conduct, when severely wounded, in
sending his W surgeon 70 relieve his
ciassmate, Armistead, at Gettysburg,
has been told in every southern home.
Grant conquered u army at Apo
mattox, but the whole south surrender
to him their hearts when they heard
his generosity to Lee and his men.
The southern soldiers never more
thought of him as an enemy, but
eagerly listened for the news from the
chamber where he struggled with
and in sorrow and love sent
their best men to follow him to the
grave. And what these leaders were
so were the men who followed them in
Over this picture that | have so
s%ketched, | would fling the
light OF self-sacriiice. 1t was that
spirit that consecrate9 the lives OF the
rue soldiers who fought in this great
a a you conceive of any charac-
.er complcter, truer, nobler than that
up OF the qualities that distin-
,ulshed the American soldiel ? Drvo.