Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-26
IF wounds and 1928 wounded and recov-

Of wounds and 1898 wounded and recov-
cred.
The loss in the war Of 1912 was 1877
killed and died of wounds and 3,737 wound
ed and recovered
The losses in the seven years of the revo-
luton were about 200 killed and 600
wounded
Now, if we deduct from the casualties of
the battle of the Wilderness the number re-
ported as missing, many of whom no doubt
were killed or wounded. we still have a loss
of 1900 killed and wounded Therefore in
the battle Of the Wilderness the killed and
wounded were five and half times the
Killed and wounded in all the battles of the
war with Mexico. almost five times the
Killed and wounded in the of 1912 to
1914 and more than three times the killed
and wounded in the war Of the revolution.
The enormous number of casualties sus-
tanned by the Army n the Potomac shows
that when the Americans were opposed to
each other In battle he killed and wounded
great in number as the average killed and
wounded in other armies In the battles of
modern times. ~
Both Sides Determined
The fearful casualty list Of both contend
ing armies in the civil war was caused by
the determined courage Of the army which
attacked and the stubborn resistance Of
those who net and resisted the assaulting
columns. 1t was this heroic conduct which
brought to their fullest measure the spIen-
did qualities OF American soldiers II can
not be contended that these great casua tiles
We're due to the use Of superior weapons
because of the Prussian and Austrian war
of 1875 the Franco-Prussian war in 1870
the Turco-Russian war in 1879 and other
minor wars since that time. the weapons
used, both artillery and small arms were
Tar superior and more deadly than any in
existence at the time of our civil war, and
yet the losses in the battles of thos. wars
lnSignlflclnt hon rod .,;tt,
those or the federal and confederate armies
Death Is at all times surrounded by sad
ness and sorrow, and this is especially true
when the victims are the youthful. buoyant
spirits who are ALWAYS first to obev their
country call to arms: but the bravery of
such men on the field where their lives are
s sac nee, Is the most precious memory in
the history of our country. Their martial
eA1hi'ie ~ our pride, glory, safety and
strength.
Gen. Sickles' Grafton.
Gen Sickles. who delivered the ora ton of
the day. began with a reference to ''the re-
v1val of our national fraternity" and said
II was coincident with war of liberation
"a war to terminate the hateful domina-
tion of Spain in this hemisphere OF Cuba
he said:
Cuba would have been ours today, as it
should be ours, If We had not chosen to re-
nounce that island by self-denying or
dinance. in which wisdom sacrificed to
sentiment. But Cuba will come to us all
the same, by the laws of political and eco
nomical gravitation.
THE treaty of Paris was logical and
necessary development Of the growth of
the United States as an Atlantic and Pa
cifiG power" said Gen: sickles He then
spoke enthusiastically of commerce in
the east. THE treaty." he continued,
should have gone further and given us
one of the Balearic islands in the Mediter-
ranean and one Of the Canary islands on
A I'll o., toll n,,S- a,,I
trade deDots.'
Gen Sfckles. who had praised the atti-
tude OF England during the Spanish war,
and said 1t had caused "the happy disap-
pearance OF the strained relations between
Great Britain and the United States which
had existed with more or less tension ever
since our war of independence said of
the Beers:
their independence respected by a generous
Zoe. And when the unequal struggle ends.
as 1t must end before long, in the occupa-
tlon OF the Iransvaal capital, L trust that
pupnc opinion IN America and Europe, ana,
above all, in England will be so pronounced
In favor of magnanimous terms Of peace
that the British government will recognize
the wisdom of granting such honorable
durable reconciliation
Premature interference by any power
or combination of powers would embitter
Great Britain beyond hope of moderation
might involve a war of uneXampled pro-
portions In such a conflict this country
could take no part against England, for
England is our friend. while an attitude
of strict neutrality may enable us to use
our friendly offices In direction that might
contribute to happy accommodation of
the quarrel" .''
Gen. Sickles closed with prediction Of
great regeneration Of the industries of the
south.
The opera house was filled to its utmost
capacity when. at $40. Gen. Horatio c.
King called the Society Of the Army of the
Potomac to order for the session to which
the public had been invited. admission be-
Ing by card. In the audience were many
ladies' The session was taken up principal
men.
The principal speakers were Gen. Joseph
r. Hawley. United states senator from
Connecticut: Gen. lilies. Gen. Brooke. Gen.
Tremain. Gen. Fl. Kyd Douglas. Gen. Geo.
d. Ruggles, Judge John T. Goodrich, Judge
Theodore Garnett, grand commander of
confederate camps of Virginia. and Corpor
al Tanner The session lasted until a late
hour,