The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1907-03-20
FIFTY YEARS BACK
OUR COUNTRY AS IT WAS HALF A
CENTURY AGO.
Never In the History Of the World
Have Such Vast Changes Been
Noted-Names on the Roll
Of Fame.

At that time our country was very
much different one from that in which
we are now living; and so great have
been the changes that, could the lead
ing merchants of our cities OF %
years ago, or the farmers who settled
amid the primeval timber Of the west,
return, the former would not recog-
nize one street from another, and the
latter would look in vain for the fields
and woods that met their eyes from
the doorstep, writes Morris Schaff, In
the Atlantic Monthly. The population
of the country, now rising SO,0O0,O0O.
was less than 100000. not counting
the territories and of these 100000
were in the north or free states, and
~, 00O, 900, In the south or slave states.
The frontier was along the western
boundary of Arkansas, and thence
north to the Canadian line. The great
tide Of emigration that set in with
the building of the national road was
still flowing west, while the railroads
and telegraph were just beginning to
push their way after 1t. Steamboats,,
called floating palaces" could be
seen at almost every bend OF the
beautiful Ohio and on every long
reach OF the solemnly impressive Mis-
sissippi.
The war with Mexico was still fresh
in the memories Of tie people, and
the majority Of the officers who had
gained distinction In It we're still liv-
ing. as well as veterans here and
there Of the war Of 1872 and to emf
phasize the march of time, may say
that frequent visitor at my fathers
house was French veteran by the
name Of Genet, who had actually
fought under Napoleon at Waterloo.
Save with Mexico, our country had
been at peace with all the world for
nearly 80 years; It's future, save as
Swallowed now and then by slavery,
glowed warmly and pride and love
for II burned In every heart.
The army consisted of 16,435 Off.
GERS and men; its organization was
made up Of engineers, Typographical
engineers, ordnance supply depart
ments. artillery, infantry, cavalry,
dragons and mounted rifles. The
heaviest guns In the forts were ten
inch columbiads, and the small arms
were all muzzle-loading smooth.bores
and rifles.
Grant, in utter obscurity and almost
utter poverty and fronting an outlook
Of utter helplessness, was clerk In
a store at Galena. Farragut was sail
ing the seas and not dreaming OF the
days to come when, lashed to the rig.
gihg, he would lead his squadron into
the battle of Mobile bay. Lee was
commanding post in Texas, and
probably had never heard of the little
town of Gettysburg; Sedgwick and
Thomas and Jeb Stuart were all on
the Texas frontier, and the future
seemed to offer only slow chance for
promotion; and yet, In less than five
Years they had risen TO enduring
fame. Stonewall Jackson was an ir,.
structor at the Virginia military insti,
tute-the West Point of the south;
Uut lie was HWY vi tht olha
of this earth, than on its honors, eth.
err military of civil, and was regard
ed by his intimates as queer and
uninteresting type of belated Round
head. Within Ave years he was to
rise to the pinnacle of fame, his star
to the country's zenith Sherman was
teaching in Louisiana, little dreaming
that he would one day lead a victo-
rious army from Atlanta to the sea.
Longstreet, the Johnstons, the Hills,
Hooker, Bragg and Forrest-the lat.
ter a slave dealer, but the ablest cav
airy leader of the confederacy--and
the many who in blue and gray rose on
the waves OF the mighty conflict were
all unknown outside of their local and
professional associations.
OF these, Reynolds, who fell at Get.
tysburg; Webb. Warren, McCook
Howard, Griffin, Schofeld Hartsuff,
Saxton. Weitzel and Hazen, of the
mion Hardee, Beauregard Fitz Lee
Alexander and Field, of the confed
crate army, were on duty as officers at
West Point, In the corps of cadets
were Wilson, Upton, Hardin. Horace
Porter, Merritt, Caster and Macken,
zie of the north, while bound in ties
of friendship with them were Ram,
seur Wheeler, Rosser, Pelham, Young
ScmIes and Deering, OF the south
Whenever and wherever | have
thought of them as officers or cadets
and 1t has been many and many
a time-imaglnation has painted them
marching unconsciously toward the
field of the high test of the soldier and
the gentleman.