The National tribune., 1902-02-13

10 the tnOugnttul observer many con
parisons between the then and now ca
be drawn, comparisons that are objec
lessons, and which, without detractin
ever so little from the magnificent pluc
of the soldiers who fought through tn
Santiago campaign, can yet serve to re
call the great courage, endurance and hero
ism of the men in blue of 81 to 60, a
witnessed by one who wore the gray.
At Santiago the United States arm.
met a foreign foe, the bOasted Regular
of a nation of Europe, and there met then
upon their own soil, while at Port Hud
son Americans met Americans, Northern
erS against Southerners, bone of their owl
bone, blood of their own blOOd-"Grecl
against Greek"
So fast and furious were the battles OF
the civil war, so numerous the heroic
deeds on either side, that the soldier-herc
became the rule. not the exception, and
hence it may have been that the boys II
blue did not receive the Governmental
recognition for duty nObly done which the!
deserved, while the men of the Lost
Cause" have only as reward a remem-
brance of life-offered devotion to their col
oTs.
That Republics are ungrateful.' many
an unmarked grave of hero, many a
living witness of the Grand Army of the
Republic, can testify today, and no better
where it is "h0uOrs easy with the United
States soldiers in the fight with Spain,
there are "'men Of the forlOrn hope at
Port Hudson still unrewarded with the
medal il was intended they should have
been given away back in 'G3.
1t is true that the newspapers of that
day, though cnterprising enough, were not
the great institutions they now are. send
ing dozen or more correspondents into
the field with each regiment of volunteers
for the Regulars did not appear to have
the brilliant and daring ScIibes with them
and therefore many a hero of the civil
war was "born to blush unseen" And
yet how worthily spurs were won then.
from 81 to 81. and how recklessly life
was offered for flag and country. an over
hauling of the muSty old Honor Rolls
of the four years of the civil strife will
show.
At Port Hudson a gallant band. 1000
strong. volunteered for forlOrn hope. to
try to carry by storm at night what STRAIT
cCy, overwhelming numbers and weeks of
siege could not subdue.
Unable, with army and feet, TO capture
Port Hudson. Gen Banks. finding his as
saulting columns hurled back. called for
those brave 1000 to do and die, to form
human wedge to break through the Con
federate lines. and, thus sacrificed, to al
low the massive reserve columns to pass
over them into the works.
Some may have hoped TO escape. hut
It was a fOrlorn hone. indeed, for Gen.
Banks said in his General Order No 40,
June u. 'G3:
For the last duty that victory i'm
poses. the Commanding General summons
the hold men of the corps to the organ
izatinn Of Il stormiug column of 900 men
to vindicatc the flag and the memory Of
its defenders who have fallen.
Officers who lead the column of victory in
this last assault may be assured Of the
recognition of their services by promotion.
and every officer and soldier who shares
its pcrils and its glory shall receire a.
medal fit 70 commemorate the first grand sur
cess Of the cGp1DGiqa His name
shall he rlaced on the Roll of Honor"
The italics are mine. simply to emrha
size that they have not yet--thr surviving
remnant today-receiycd the medals, and
the ulsts Of - years even now cloud the
memory Of the lawgivers in Congress md
the injustice is still blot upon the coun-
try.
The names Of the 1000 heroes are upon !
the Honor Roll it is true. and among
them are men who later won rank and /
fame but how few Of the gallant band I
who volunteered 10 go
Unto the jaws Of death.
Into the mouth of hell"
are now living,
Most of them long since went to their /
last bivouac. many fell at Port Hudson.
others upon hattlefpdS scattered through
out the Southland. while wounds. disease /
and old age have mustered ont many more:
few. indeed. could answer 70 their names
were the Honor Roll called today.
But to the few justice should be done.
for those Of that band Of heroes of the
CO..
the medals pledged bv Con. BanEs who
has himself crossed the Great Divide.
Several times the United States Senate
has rassed n hill providing for these
Medals Of Honor" hut the House Com
mittep on Military Affairs failed to con-
cur. and hence justice remains undone.
The press Of today viii see to II that
II does not take Congress rs long to be-
stow the medals for the Santiago cam
paign, and for Dewey's victory at Manila.
for this country has become too imperial
10 forget and be ungrateful TO its heroes
Of today.
That Congress then, s. years ago. fully
the victory Of Port Hudson
is proven by Public Resolution No. Z,
which says:
SO The thanks Of Congress are
hereby rendered TO Mai.-Gen. n. p Ban;ss
and the officers ard soldiers under his
for the sill. courage and en-
1urance which comrclIcd the surrender Of
Port Hudson, and thus removed the last
obs .acie IN the free navigation Of the Mis-
5issippi River"
Gen. Hallcck affirmed that "the coun-
try, and eSueciallv the Great West viii /
ever remember with gratitude their serv-
ices"
Now. to recall the siege Of Port Hudson
os it was, and what it meant TO the North I
ard TO the South.
The siege Of Santiago was in June and
July, and under a Cuban sun.
The siege IF Port Hudson was from
Nav q IN July s. and under an equally
burning sun.
The United States navy was most |
able ally Of the army ut Santiago. ard It !!
was really the right arm CT Banks at Port /.
Hrdson.
Tho Spaniaris at Santiago had a splen-
did feet, massive forts. and deadly eli
mat" 10 aid them: the defenders of Port |,
Hudson had no feet. no stone forts. only
brcAstworEs rs n defense. with Southern
meH behind the guns.
Samnson and Schley kept tho Spaniards
guessing about "manana" and on the
ragged edge. while AT Port Hudson the
Immortal FarTag1It, with his sDIcudid
feet, made fife wretched for the Confcd- 4
crates by day and by night. and II NAV /
be said juSt here that three Admirals in 1
ambryo-Dcwcy, Scilev ard Watson
were there learning. under the great mas
Ter mind. lessons that served them so well
in the war with Spain. the FIRST named be- I
ing Lieutenant on the u. s. slooD Of
war Mississippi, burned before Port Hud-
son.