Omaha daily bee., 1895-09-22


per cent and steedman lost 10 per cent IN
four hours Of heroic fighting. Bates brigade.
Of theirs, lost nearly % per cent. and VAN
doveers' brigade. OF ours, a fraction less than
90 per cent. Reglmental losses were at times
terribly severe. | may 10 pardoned tho
statement that ny own regiment at stone
River lost over 40 per cent.
These figures are most startling whom
compared with destruction Of men In battles
declared by historians 10 have been most
sanguinary. At Wagram Napoleon lost but
5 per cent and at Marcngo and Austerlltz
less than 10 per cent. iAt Malpllquet Marl-
borough lost but 10 and at Families but G
per cent. At Worth and Sedan the average
loss Of both armies was ~ per cent, The
charge Of the Light Brigade at Balaklava
hes be,n immortalized by Tennyson;
Cannon to right Of them,
Cannon to left OF them,
Nolleyed and thunderedl,
Stormed at with shot aud shell,
Boldly they rode and wen
Into the jaws of death,
Into the mouth OF hell,
Rode the six hundred.
yet Of those who rode n. 673 in numbsr,
there rode back 426, who were ulycra ched.
for there were killed 1l3, wounded 1874, bcing
a total of 247, or 367 per cent, The humber
of regiments. Of armies engaged In our war.
that exceed that percentage In a single en-
gagement can be counted by the sco-e. It Is
claimed that Helms brigade Of Breckentidges
division lost Is per cent of its nghting forcs
and its gallant leader was numb red with the
slain. .
1T PROVES AMERICAN VALoR.
"You will pardon this depression. for the
showing that it makes OF the BRAY, r., ten
acity, nerve and verve Of the American. I
pray to God that through all future time Its
e~xertion may be directed against 70 eign and
not domestic foes. We fight too hard to COM
bat with each other.
"The battle of Nashville practically clo-ed
tho war in the west and In n few months the
Army of the Cumberland dissolved and the
men who had carried the nag of the nation IN
the forefront Of battle, and the scores OF
whose high emprise | have flintly portrayed,
were swallowed up in the great body Of the
American people. Their work &C omplished,
this, like the other great armies of the re-
public, melted away at tho command OF TIE
government, whose call to arms had given
them life, as the morning vapor be'o. the
rising sun. Quietly and without disorder,
they stacked their arms, dropped the garh
of war and took upon themselves the dut es
of civil life. They crowd the lusy avenues
of commerce AMI are to be found IN all the
marts of industry ard places Of endeavor.
1.-THE hand that dropped tn musket seized
the pillow, the good right arm that welded
the saber with destructive force, impe led the
saw and plane, and the sword o. the aders
of charging hosts were dropped for t c lens
that have proved to be m,ght'er weapons on
change in the busy mart, the office, or in ths
councils of the nation. Likewise has disap-
peared that splendid bo OF men who fought
so courageously and sacrificed so INCH for
the lost cause They have accepted the re-
suit maufully, hopefully, periodically. This
two contending forces are bl nded. They are
united in devotion to one flag, one nston, one
destiny. There is no line of division now be-
tween those who wore the blue end those who
wore the gray. Their blending has brought
the neutral tint, gratifying every sense, In.
dicative of rest and peace.
DID NOT FIGHT IN VAIN.
"My comrades and countrymen, have no
fear for the republic. II is based upon mans
love of liberty, its structure embedded IN
equal rights to all and is cament6d by the
blood of our slain. Let the pessimist feel dis
turhed, false prophets SCENT d niger in the
signs of the times and give forebodinZs OF
evil to come. Be not dismayed!
This government of the people, by the
people and for the people, shall not perish
from the earth 1t has,
Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our
Our faith triumphant DER our fears
And that faith springs eternal in the per-
petuity of this greatest of republics, chiefest
of nations!
God uncovered the land
That he hid of old time in the west
As the sculptor uncovers the statue
When he has brought his best =,
o thou, my country, may the future SEQ
Thy shape majestic stand supreme as now,
Rnu every stain WflCn mars my starry TODe
In the white sun of truth be bleached away!
Hold thy grand posture with answering
mien,
Firm as a statue proud Of Its bright form,
Whose purity would daunt the vandal hand
In fury raised to %shatter! From thine eye
Let the clear light of freedom be dispread
The broad, unclouded, stationary noon!
Still with thy right hand on the fasces lean.
And with the other point the living source
Whence all thy glory comes; and where
unseen,
But still all-seeing, the great patriot souls
Whose swords and wisdom left us thus
enrich'd,
Look down and note how we fulfill our
trust!
Still hold beneath thy nx'd and sandal'd
foot
The broken sceptre and the tyrant's gives;
And let thy stature shine above the world,
A form Of terror and of loveliness!''