The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1895-10-03
The American Volunteer.

GEN. HowARD's SPEECH AT cHATrA.
NOOGA SEPT. 10TH. A NOTABLE. GRAPH
&c SKETCH or ONE MANS FIGHTING.
1T appears to me that the occasion is
q fitting one upon which to review that
American Volunteer.
- know one, God fearing. conscien
tious, devoted son of New England: one
born on farm, and trained to all the
handiwork of farm-life; later an academic
student, teacher Of youth, college
graduate, and then lastly theological
student. Here at a seminary the war
found him, with a handsome. healthfnl
| figure, a smiling face, noble specimen
| physically, mentally, morally and spirit
ually of our best American life as It can
be.found in New England.
HE scaled Rocky Face Ridge, pene-
trated Buzzard's Roost Gap. He bore
his part in the two days of Resaca. the
double and twisted skirmishing Of Adairs-
vile; the half f1edged battles Of Kingston
and Cassville; be went blindly through
the mud and ugly dry forests Of northe I'm
Georgia, to be with Hooker's assault
against the shaggy abattee of Joe John
son at New Hope church.
HE had sight at Pine Top, where the
military bishop, like some old master Of
Santiago, was surveying his forces, but
yet was forever cut of, while doing SO,
by shrieking Yankee shell.
HE saw the charge at Muddy Creek.
where breastworks, well manned, were
wrested from brave foes; thing almost
never done.
"He was in the midst Of the fearful
c or, II
He knew Gen. j. M. Corse, whose indom-
liable spirit kept him at lis work al Al
toona Pass, after losing part of his ear
and right cheek bone, and who. hero
like, with the courage of Joshua, made
the few defeat and put to rout the many.
''He witnessed that remarkable Fourth
OF July, celebrated with double shotted
guns, where Stanley's double skirmish
line swept the field, and both sides fred
more than A cannOns, veritable Union
salute.
''He barely escaped capture at PAGES
Ferry over the Chattahoochee, but was
all himself, as he pressed forward into
action, where Thomas and Newton and
Hardee fought with fury and persistency
for flank. The flank was saved to us:
for here, at Peach Tree Greek, the daunt-
less Hood, mighty in attack, had abutted
against the rock Of Chickamauga. rock
made to stand.
''The further battlings he shared on
front flank and rear over the Atlanta bone.
already in Sherman's teeth, till Thomas
went back to Nashville, and like load
stone drew on Hood via Franklin to him
self and to destruction, and till Sherman
was reorganized into Howard, Slocum
and fitzpatrick with G5, 900 comrades for
a seward march.
"Ogeechee and the Savannah, where for
q time her force halted till everybody was
made to feed on rice alone, for here
Hardy accomplished noisy and bother
some resistance.
The Savannah being at last crossed.
Slocum hurried the Confederates out into
Carolina, and our young friend rode
cheerily into the city the day before
Christmas, 1864.
''Let us take a look at him as he now
appears. He does not seem so.tall, only
about five feet, nine inches; rather thin Of
flesh; little STOPPING in the shoulders;
his hair and beard much sprinkled with
gray; and he halts in his gait.
''How are you, comrade? Very well,
thank you, but | suffer a good deal from
these wretched old wounds received in
Virginia and Georgia; have worked hard
since saw you; yes, have good home
and fine family; the girls help their moth
er, and the boys, bless their hearts help
me; yes, yes, but I am rather poor, have
been forced at last to ask for pension
against the old days.
''How about this pension business. COM
rade? Well, did without il as lone As /
could, but thought that when the weak
ness and suffering came, initiated by the
wounds and s"amps of the war, that
deserved just little help; guess it won't
break UP the dear old government to help
such a disabled and old fellow needyr'
Surely our unseltish volunteer is mod
est, seeing that the rich old government
itself owes its existence to his suffering
and sacrifice.
''But brave men and true, who have
laid their lives on the altar of their coun-
Try, are the most modest Of men, espec-
iailv when aSkino for thair d,Ias 4,