Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-28

CohqucIeu HoSts, WAS killed Dy DOH
of lightning, at the foot of the Alpha
They Turn to Peace.
When the Apostle. st. Patrick,
Christianized Ireland, he turned her
people from the ways of war to those
of peace. He tanned their passions and
made them lovers of peace. of home,
and of God. Their swords were turn
ed into plowshares. Their bards sang
no more of war heroes. and of CORY
victories, but of redemption and soul
rest, through the blood of Jesus
Christ. Irish hearts were chastened.
purified. and TRANSPORTED, by Christi
anity, but the whole world bears wit
ness that change in the national re-.
ligion did not kill. bur rather perfect.
ed, Irish valor. OF this fact, our
friends, the English people, have had
abundant proof, from the days of
Stronghow to the close of the late b.
er war. From instances almost with
out number. l select one, it is the
battle of Fontenoy. During the pro-
gress Of that world-famous fight a
column of veteran English soldiers.
5000 strong, with cannsn on their
TANKS and before them, marched over
tho battle ground. and through the
French camp, crushing every opposing
force. The French king, iii despair,
turned to flee from the field, when IT,
ish Lord Clare requested him to await
the effect of an attacl; by the Irish
soldiers i'll his service In soul NOV
ing words the Protestant poet Davis,
tells the sequel. | quote a portion of
his battle poem
Lord Clare he says, you have your
wish; there are your Saxon foes.
The Marshal almost smiles to see,
so furiously he goes!
. How fierce the look those exiles
wear, who're wont to be so gay.
" The treasured wrongs of fifty years
are in their hearts today
(" The treaty broken, ere the ink
wherewith twas writ could dry,
/" Their plundered homes, their ruined
shrlnes,their women's parting cry.
/" Their priesthood hunted down like
wolyes,t their country oyerthrown-
T" Each looks as if revenge for all
were staked on MIN alone.
" On Fontenoy, on Fontenoy. nor ever
yet elsewhere,
+" Rushed on to fight nobler band
than those exiles were.
+" 'O'Brien's voice is hoarse with Joy,
as, hating, he commands
{" Fix baynets charge! like mountain
storm rush on these fiery bands!
(" Thin is the English column now, and
faint their volleys grow,
" Yet, must'ring all the strength they
have, they make gallant show.
/" They dress their ranks upon the hill
to face that battle wind
" Their bayonets the breakers foam;
like rocks the man behind!
:" One volley crashes from their line,
when, through the surging smoke
" With empty huns clutched in their
heads, the headlong Irish broke.
" On Fontenoy, on Fontenoy! bark to
that fierce huzza!
" Revenge! remember Limerick. dash
down on the Sacanach!
f" Like lions leaping at fold, when
mad with hunger's pang,
Right up against the English line
the Irish exlles sprang;
Bright was their steel, it's bloody
now, their guns are filled with
gore:
Through shattered ranks and sew
cred files, and trampled flags they
: tore;
+" The English strove with desperate
strength. paused, rallied, stag
gered, fled
+" The green hillside is matted close
with dying and with dead.
(" Across the plain, and far away
passed on that hideous wrack,
A" While cavalier and fantasin dash in
upon their track.
On Fontenoy, on Fontenoy! like
eagles in the sun,
!" With bloody plumes the Irish stand
the field is fought and won't
What wonder that after the battle
the English king, George II, with tears
in his eyes. cried out, 'Curs'd be the
laws that deprive me of such sub.
jects.
In Spain, Austria and Germany.
Il have spoken of the deeds of the
Irish brigade in the service of France.
l might also tell of the military re-
nown of the Irish soldiers in the ser.
vice of Spain, Austria and Germany.
Irish in America.
Turning to our own young republic,
iii5hb uNSii WIN VII lUS
unequaled valor and persistent pa
triotism of the Irish brigades in the
service of America during the Mexi.
can war, and the war of the late re.
bellion. l might tell you of 'Saucy
Jack Barry, Father of the American
NAVY, of McDonough. Shields, Cor.
coran, Meagher, Mulligan and host
of others. but will speak of only one
and his name will be written OF the
records of time in letters of un
quenchable lightHe Is the pride of
America and the honor of the Irish
race. He was the favorite general OF
the great commander, Grant, who de-
clared him to be the greatest military
chief living or dead. | refer to Little
Phil Sheridan Gen. Adam Beadeau
in his memoirs, said that Sheridan
was the Hannibal of the American
war. full of the magnificent passion OF
battle--riding around with sword in
hand, grasping battle flag, turning
disaster into victory, or pursuing the
enemy with the terror and speed of a
Nemesis y willy as an Indian
original and astounding in strategy al
ways deceiving as we'll as overwhelm
ing an enemy When the battle OF
Win oh oofor non, p,aDood Cl,o,;do,, w, -