The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-05-28


hesitate to give his life to insure the
practical application of those
principles. We must not forget that
our great generals led men of superior
intelligence. They were not inert
masses to be hurled against foe.
They were alert, alive, quick to COM
prehend and often anticipated their
commanders and accomplished deeds
of valor not ordered or even thought
possible.
Some years ago in a Methodist con-
ference in Kansas presided over bv
Bishop Mallaliew, the roll of the con-
ference was called. They came to the
name of Allen Buckner, an old retired
preacher. He answered to his name
in short speech and ended with the
words, II am now wounded soldier
and superannuate.' Chaplain
McCabe, afterwards bishop, who was
present, arose and said, "Bishop
Mallaliew, do you know that man led
the assault up Missionary Ridge 30
years zago?n ~ :Did be, = said the
bishop, "give me your hand" The
whole conference rose. Some one
started, my Country IT'S of Thee, {"
and with the tears flowing like rain
down their faces they pressed forward
to grasp the hand of the man who 30
years before, amidst a rain of bullets
and bursting shells, far up among the
rocks of Missionary Ridge, shouted
to his soldiers "Come on! Come on"
1t was perhaps the most desperate deed
OF the war. Grant standing below on
Orchard Knob and watching turned to
Sheridan and said, "Did you order
that charger" ''No," said Sheridan.
they are doing it themselves. All!
Immortal Grant! Here lies the secret
of your unsurpassed leadership. You
were commanding not an inert mass,
a mob of hirelings, but Intelligent,
patriotic, American citizens who could
do things themselves.
And yet some we're afraid of you
and for you. They we're afraid you
would get to loving war so that you
would want to 60 right on and slay
and kill and make war a profession.
How little they understood you and
the purpose of your fight. They did
not and perhaps could not understand
that you had no hatred for your foe.
You were the first to feed the starving
rebels from your well-flled haver-
sacks. You were magnanimous in
your terms of surrender. You did
not mar the day of peace with exulta-
ton over the vanquished. You said,
Take your horses home, you will need
them for the plow." Then you laid
down your arms and went back to re-
build the homes you had never ceased
to love.
The secret of your unparalleled
action may be found in the story told
by a union general to one of our
Methodist bishops. His command
was stationed at Little Rock. The
mail came by way of river steamer.
One day this general, having no
insignia of his rank, went to get his
mail and on the way back sat down
upon an old log to read the home
letters. Looking up he saw a big
broad shouldered soldier. He was
one of the few who could not read.
He said, "Sir mot recognizing the
generaD will you please read my
letter to me-" He had enlisted with
an Iowa regiment. The letter was
from his wife. It began, "Dear
John," and told how she had received
his letter and the money and had
bought boots for little Tom and nice
dress for Bessie and spoke of the little
touching things of home life. Then
she wrote, "Last Sunday was our
quarterly meeting, and afterward the
presiding elder came home with US to
dinner. Then he prayed with US for
you. Oh, John, he prayed so good.
DON'T backslide, husband; don't for
get God, be faithful.'
The general said that. when he
finished he looked up and the man
stood and the great tears we're rolling
down his cheeks but he managed TO
sob out; "Good for her, anyhow"
The American volunteer fought for
home and God and native land and
was willing to stop when his work was
done.
AS you sit before me today, repre-
senting what is left of the Grand
Army of the Republic, I cannot for
get that you are passing on-at the
rate of $4,000 year-and some day it
will be heralded through the land,
1.-THE last of our civil war heroes has
DEPARTED" I dread that day. Not
on our account, but for the new