The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-08-04

that know what military service is; and that
! was promoted from private to First Lieu
tenant shows that my record was, to say the
least, fair.
/ agree with Gen. Capchart in his estimation
of Stonewal Jackson. He never fought fair.
1t was either OH the flank or in the rear that he
attacked. and met boldly, he invariably re.
treated. The whole secret of his success was
his rapid marching. but that he was good
tactician or hard fighter deny. STILL he was
worthy of the men he led. 1t somehow has
gotten to be the fashion to call the rebel SOL
diery gallant, dashins. and brave" and for
one raise my voice against It, In all the battles
and skirmishes l have been engaged in saw
no desperate vaior on their part. 1t is true the
rebels of Lees army fought well when behind
intrenchments, for they were good shots; but
appeal to any OF my Old comrades If they ever
saw the graybacks stand up in an open fight
against u.s. man to man. Furthermore, did any
of nv comrades ever sec the Johnnies make
charge or repel a charge when the relative
numbers were equalP
All this talk abont the game-cock qualities
of the Southern troops is pure, unadulterated
rot. In my talks with my comrades in the
various Reunions and Campfres since the war
we frequently discussed this question, and l
can truly say have not yet met Northern
| soldier who ever acknowledged that the rebels
| were our equals either mentally, socially or
physically. In truth, all this talk about their
| bravery and endurance is the gush of Secesh
| sympathizers or Copperheads | know if the
! situation had been reversed and the Union sol
| diers held the immense territory of the So
called Confcderacy, with humble peasantry
| to work their fields and cultivate their crops,
they could have stood off their domestic foes
and all Europe combined
| Why, Frederick the Great, with a territory
as large as the State of Texas, and with only
| o-thirds of the population of the States in
rebellion, fought Russia, Austria, and France
for seven years, and conquered a peace ut last.
| Then, what folly to say that the Southerners
made game fight, with their immense terri
tory, genial climate, hard working negro slaves.
and inaccessible mountains and swamps. In
| truth, they are the most feeble the
| American continent. Contrast their resistance
with Geranimo or Sitting Bull, and then tell
me whore their endurance and bravery comes
in. Hsim
Another thing: / have often heard with
feelings that made me tired, the account of
Pickett's charge at Gettysburg, and their splen-
did courage. | went over the ground on the
morning of July s. 1863 and l know whereof
| speak when say that three-fourths of those
men were shot while running to the rear
Had their charge been half as determined as
represented, they could easily have pierced our
single line.
/ 1t is time this mawkish sentmcntality
should cease, and the pusillanimous foe our
troops subjugated should be painted as they
were and not limned in glowing colors simply
because there are people in our own section
that sympathized with them.-JAE. G. Nc
CouGHrRY, No. 242 Delaware avenue south
west, Washington, ID. 4.