St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-05-29

that had been pretty definitely solved !;
years OF tremendous strain and dreadful
trial to be sure, but none the less years
during which clear-headed men felt that
the crisis was passed. But 1868 tried
the faith, constancy, courage, patience
and devotion even of the bravest and
most constant as perhaps no other year
in all our history.
Its coming made some things very
clear. 1t brought for one the final proc
lamation OF emancipation. The war up
to this time had been war for union.
1t became now a war for liberty and
union. The civilized world hence
forth saw the great issues clearly de-
fined and knew that they were worth
fighting for.
But the proclamation issued while the
country was IN mourning for her thous-
ands dead at fredericksburg. That
dreadful blunder had taught the nation
the meaning of calamity, and it would
have been well-nigh unmitigated calam-
ity had it not revealed a steadfastness
among the citizen soldiery that could
build bridges for three days under fire,
and then cross them with a daring that
will make the field under Maryes
Heights synonym forever of hopeless
but persistent valour.
But the nation had deeper experience
of calamity than this to undergo. For
with the opening year as the army drew
breath again after the appalling loss of
Fredericksburg, it was only to make pre-
paration for Charlottesville. have no
need to relate the story of those bloody
days in which Hooker played his unequal
game with Lee and Stonewall Jackson
days which cost this country nearly
seventeen thousand of her loyal sons. 1t
was calamity again-again almost I'M
mitigated calamity. And l doubt not
that there were many hearts whose hope
and faith touched their lowest point
when that bad news came. Here and
there even brave men faltered. The
South believed that this was its chance.
1t had some reason to believe that there
were men of influence in the North who
now admitted the hopelessness of pre-
serving the Union by force of arms; and
in the light of its belief it began to plan
the invasion OF Pennsylvania.
But no great country ever bore the
Christening of adversely better, or turned
it's bitter lessons to more practical ac-
count. have no record as to the way
in which the news was received here.
Bnt know how one New England vii
lage received the news of Spottsylvania
almost exactly a year later. 1t was
heavy news, for her best and bravest had
been in the thick of that days fight. But
"the people gathered in town-meeting,"
so the record runs. They sent their
letter of thanksgiving to the soldiers.
They sent their representatives to help
the wounded. They welcomed them as
they came creeping back, and cared for
them. They wrote upon their record for
that battle eight killed and forty wound
ed, and were proud Of their champions
and heroes" address at Dedication
70 Memorial Hall, Andover, Mass).
So the nation rose up to meet adver-
sity. April of 81 had asked for $4,000
volunteers, and May of the same year
had made request for forty regiments
more: to all of which the land had
responded almost ubilantly. July of
go wanted 100000 and August had
seen draft of 100000 militia ordered.
Now in the months OF sorrow when the
wounds of Fredericksburg were scarcely
healed and charlottesville doomed in the
near future, came a greater and more
serious inquiry. "Are you so much in
earnest" asked this grim year, 1868,
that you will bear with the last resort
of imperied government, and one OF the
most grievous burdens Of free men? Will
YOU sanction the enrolment and subjec-
ton to possible draft of all your able
bodied citizens? And the nation, not
iubilant or over confident any longer, but
very sober now, responded with sad de-
termination, 1--WE Will"
So she girded herself for the day Of
crisis. Rebellion was coming home to
her. With genius that knew when to
be cautious and when to take risk, Lee
was withdrawing his troops from
Hooker's front along the Rappahan-
mock. Yesterday they were there. To-
day their long files are streaming tire
lessly northeast along the Valley of the
Shenandoah. The parallel pillows of the
Blue Ridge are the curtain behind which,
in secret, they set the stage for the next
act of this great drama. There was
break here and there, and the breathIess
spectators caught glimpses that filled
many hearts with CONSERVATION. Be-
fore he knew what was afoot Milroy
was trapped in Winchester, escaping
himself as bird out of the very hand of
the fowler And ever, by the position
that he had thought to hold, there
poured that ceaseless stream OF grey,
northeast, northeast, none knew exact
ly whittier.
Weknow now, though neither comman-
der knew then. They thought of Wash
ington and Baltimore, and Harrisburg,
and Philadelphia. We know that it was
Gettysburg-a name forever great in his
tory, not merely because thousands
fought and fell there, but because the
nation by the voice of the Army of the
Potomac answered Gods question, as
to the conduct of her sons in the day of
Armageddon-th day OF crisis when the
forces of hope and fear, union and di-
vision, freedom and slavery should Crap
pie, not for days grim play and ex'
ercise of arms but for critical struggle.
You remember the old legend of the
chasm that once opened in the Roman
forum. The people gathered round it,
mystifed, but sure that it was a portent.
At last it was revealed to them that
their most precious possession must be
thrown in if the chasm were to close.
And while they debated what to sacrl-
fee, one brave youth armed himself,
mounted his horse and leapedin. 1t was
enough. The sacrifice awaited, and Rome
was saved.