Evening star., 1896-07-04

Its lesson. The guns were not in position,
but parked" awaiting orders.
Right through the batteries dashed the
panic stricken fugitives, closely Pressed by
Jackson's Corps Of 10000 men.
Horse and foot, am5ulances and mules
negroes and stragglers came tearing past
maddened by terror. helpless through fear
Somebody gave the command, Battery
left wheel, fire to the rear. Caissons pass
pieces. Trot, march,"
In the mad confusion of the moment
frightened bugler heard only the command
Trot," and sounded that alone. 1t was
taken for a general stampede signal, and
the scene became confusion worse con-
founded.
On came the fugltives nearer and nearer
came the rebel yell and Jacksons victorious
legions. Nothing to oppose them but five
batteries Of artillery and 300 cavalrymen.
The guns stood pointing in every direc-
ton, no commands were given, and in a
few moments Jackson would have broken
through the lines, captured Hookers head
quarters and doubled up the entire army.
Then out rode Gen. Pleasanton. Align
those pieces" he shouted, but to put the
guns into position was work of time. anl
Jackson was almost upon them, but there
was Maj. Keenan, and his 800 horsemen.
Gen. Pleasanton said to him, Major, you
must charge those woods and hold the
enemy in check until We get those guns
into position. II must be done at any cost -
Major Keenan, replied. That is to say, you
must ride ocertain death. We will do il -
Oh what a sight was that Where is our
American Tennyson that he has not lifted
into immortality the humble names of those
valiant heroes? Why has no hesven-in-
spired poet crystalized in deathless song
the charge of our Light Brigade?
Three hundred troopers, with deep-set
spurs and flashing sabers, sprang at the
throats OF 10000 men. No one had blum
dered. Some must die for comrades and
country, that was all.
he rilya
wall Jackson's teeth. that even that great
army staggered and paused in its onward
rush. to recover from the shock and reform
Its lines. Surely there were more coming
No single regiment would charge an army"
But, alas, there were no more bold riders
and support could not then be furnished
win an angry growl, the confederate
troops sprang forward. and brave keenan,
fell at the head of his men.
Three hundred Pennsylvania horsemen
died with their feet in the stirrups but the
srmy was saved. Three hundred men made
Thern.orylae a household word for CEN
turtles; six hundred rode to dea thless fame
at Balaklava, but no poet or historian has
rescued from oblivion the names Of the
800 heroes who died beneath the pines of
Charlottesville.
And it is to such souls that we owe the
preservation of our government Freedom
is our country's founda ton stone its en-
biem Is the eagles flight; its history the
proud march OF a conqueror. In aff1uence
freedom cost but go long as we enjoy the
fruits of the labors and sacrifices of our
fathers. let us never forget TO honor their
enorts, their struggles, their names and
their memories.
An Appeal for Pntriotfsm,
And when the question comes to us. nv
younger friends. as 1t may do any dey.
VIII you for temporary gain or present ad-
vantage surrender any portion of that lib
erty and unity of government which has
taken three devastating wars to establish?''
let us answer NO"
by the blood OF Lexington and Concord
OF Bunker Hill and Yorktown, by the mem
ory OF Washington, Andrew jackson and
Grant; by the shades of the heroes that fell
az Charlottesville at Nicksburg at Chick
anauea and at Gettysburg; by our minds,
Cur memories, our bodies and our brains
as i'll the past SO in the future, whether the
question come from the willy tongue Of in
tr1gEe or the brazen throat of war let
No be the answer, with tongue and heart.
with pen and sword, with ballots and with
bullets.
And as each succeeding year we gather
to celebrate the anniversary of our coun-
try's birth, and to do honor to the memory
or those heroes who have been laid to rest
IL: the low green tent, whose curtain never
outward swings" let US ever endeavor TO
take home with us the lesson that their
lives and their deaths should teach.
lrns and mag nificent statues are created to
their memory. let us ever remember that a
greater and better monument is the repub-
lie itself; still incomplete. but rapidly in
creasing In magnitude and shapeliness;
still an infant among nations, but a giant
in strength
Push on. workman. lay stone upon stone
add buttress and pillar and arch, until in
its perfected symmetry 1t shall overtop
still higher and higher all other products of
the handiwork of man: but meanwhile
guard well the growing structure, uphold
Its Constitution, maintain its independence
preserve its unity, defend the liberties of
Its citizen workman, which are the glory
of the fabric itself.
Let us then SO live that this our country
may stand before mankind in all its orig
1nal strength, beauty and grandeur. Sc
curing peace, order. equality and freedom to
all within its boundaries; a beacon light of
hope and joy upon the pathway of liberty
throughout the world so long as time shall
last.
Gen. Doe was frequently interrupted by
applause. When he spoke Of the great
cavalry charge at Charlottesville tears
came to the eyes Of hundreds. Veterans
OF the late war found their vision of the
stars and stripes that loated from the
'front.' of the stand dimmed by moisture
Their hearts beat faster when they re-
called scenes like that which the sneaksr
was describing, and when he Concluded
there was a great outburst of handclap-
ping.
Mr.. Henry E. Davis Grafton.
The band then played Columbia, the
Gem of the Ocean," and Prof Goode intro
duced Mr.. Henry E. Davis of the District
bar as the next speaker. Mr.. Davis spoke
impromptu, without the aid of notes He
said he could lot go without echoing the
thought go well uttered by Gen. Doe that
sentiment was not a thing to be despise
or to be d!scredited. especially on such a
day. 1T is a fashion among certain peo-
pie, he continued. Ito belittle the Spread
eagleism' of The day, but 1 pray that L
shall never live to see the time when their
icea will predominant among the citizens
OF this great land. I cannot stand in the
shadow OF this shaft. erected to the men,
ory of him who is justly called the father
of his country, without being tempted to
let my heart overflow into that self-same
'spread-eagleism.
II am an American. 1 recognize this as
my birthday, even as 1t is the birthday Of
the nation. ] speak for sentiment on a day
AKs