Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-26

Sams.Sl Peto an Ensllshman. records that
soon after the close OF tho war ne was In
Chicago. and there visited a printing es-
Enlistment. The proprietor pointed out
forty-seven compos!tors who had been sol
diers. This man was a major he told
Sir Samuel. The next TO him a captain.
the third a lieutenant, another a sergeant.
They were only too happy to return
to situations which I had given them an
understanding. when they left me, that 1
would retain open for them"
Officers in particular were In great de-
mand as business partners and as pro-
motors OF new enterprises, their names
being considered equal to O good lump OF
capital One OF our military leaders" said
New York paper. I'm the fall OF 1865. rs
now in charge OF machine for a patent
pumping: another is building railway
through the oil country: one OF the first
soldiers OF the Army of the Potomac is In
the pistol business: another keeps a retail
grocery store, while one OF Shermans most
trusted lieutenants Is a claim agent. Ono
major general prints weekly paper In
Baltimore. These starred and battered
gentlemen go down from the command OF
colonies to become agents and partners and
dealers. perhaps with the orderly who stood
their stirrups."
These men were the outlets into which
the returning legions flower. That they
| disappeared SO promptly and quietly was
due primarily to the manliness Of the mems
themselves. their sturdy independence. their
| Inconsistencies Of their own deserts their
healthy desire for work. But there was
another factor I'm their assimilation which
should not be forgotten. 1t never could
have taken place without the cooperation
OF the people at home. II was they who
had by gigantic sacrifice furnished the
money for the war. 1t was their energy
which had, at the same time, developed
the west. increased imports. opened new
| industries. 1t was they who foresaw the
danger in the floods Of men which the
| dsbanding of the volunteers would cause.
and prepared for them. opening to them
their old positions, calling them to new en-
terprises. 1t was they who said to every
civilian. You must step aside until the
soldier is served: to the soldier. You must
work. and here Is a place. The citizens Of
the north deserve, indeed. as much credit
for the rapid assimilation of the volunteer
army in 1868 as the War Department for
its orderly disarmament.
Manliness. yigor, foresight efficiency ex-
plain the success of the gigantic undertake
ing, but behind these great qualties-thelr
motive power-was the hallowing flood OF
solemn and tender emotions which swept
over the country at the sight of the re-
turning soldiers. Men remembered them
as they had gone forth-gay, fresh and
youthful They saw them now stern,
hronzed. mature Every one of these re-
| turning men recalled, too. others that had
| gone out with him. but would never return
recalled terrible days after great battles.
defeats. slaughter. long waiting for vic
| tory. With the bitter memories came the
deep thankfulness that now finally 1t was
all over. There would be no more battles
| no more prisons, no more lists OF dead and
wounded The war over: the cause
won. There was too great and too reverb
ent Thanksgiving in the north In 1865 for
men to neglect the interests of the boys
| IN blue.
| Copyright. 8. s. Mcclure Company