The National tribune., 1908-12-10
I.-U

o'oHiaet td8iiflE 10 VIII SiSh' "iiu
crowning victory 1t would have been
better, far lettsn to have allowed
Meade to fapswisafhis full weight upon
the depleteds Arn&of Lee and crush II,
no matter what was going to happen IN
tennessee The crushing OF Lees army
would have more than compensated
Tor any disaster to the Army OF the
CumperiandSI Haffecl1, however, TOOK
counsel of his fears that the Admins
tration might have two disasters at the
same time to discourage the country,
ana arrested the Army of the Potomac
in positionsof safety. He remembered
with keenssadness the depressing effect
upon the Nation of the terrible defeats
at Fredericksburg and Chickasaw
Bayou, and the sanguinary- but fnde-
cisive contest at Stone River, all of
which happened within few days of
one another.
Filling Up the Ranks.
The Army of Northern virginia at
| orange Court House and the Army of
| the Potomac at Culpeper Court House.
20 miles distant, began slowly filling up
their wasted ranks, the former gather
| ing IN conscripts from Virginia, North
Carolina and South Carolina, the latter
| by recruits and drafted men, the re-
turn of the regiments sent to New York
City and elsewhere and by the conva-
| ieoCShtS anu IuTlOu5neQ men TeJOlulIs5
| their colors. From the 10th to the goth
of September Lees army gained 5000
| infantry, while Meade's additions came
in more slowly. Meade again realized
that Lee was gaining strength faster
than he was, and matured plan Tor
an offensive movement, when he was
again stopped by an order from Hal
ieck to send two of his corps to the re-
lief of the Army of the Cumberland.
EllS order Or and c hiftar
dose as 1t was to Meade, he at once
obeyed it with the soldier-Iike fidelity
and thoroness which were among his
finest characteristics. Gen. Hooker was
to be given solace for his removal from
the command of~the Army of the Po-
tomac by having the command of this
reinforcement. The transfer of these
two corps. numbering altogether 10000
men, with their artillery and impede
menta, was one of the greatest feats in
logistics ever attempted. Nothing in
European history approaches it. With
in week the 10000 men were taken
from the banks of the Rappahannock,
and, without accident, detention or 9TH
er detriment, were landed on the banks
of the Tennenssee at Bridgeport, Ala,
within striking distance of Bragg's be-
leaguering army, and where, in a few
days, they encountered their old enc
| mics Of Longstreet's Corps on the
| frowning nights of Lookout Mountain.
Our First Real National Thanksgiving.
1t Is worth while to pause for a mo-
rnent to recall how the President of the
United States voiced the strongly up
wellirg gratitude of all loyal citizens
for the victories which had blessed our
arms, in Thanksgiving proclamation
which really instituted that most be-
coming festival of the whole people.
There had been some effort before to
nationalize a day and custom which
the devout Puritans had firmly rooted
in New England. It had really begun
in 1921, when, after the colonists' first
successful harvest, Gov. Bradford or
dained the day, and sent out four men
to hunt wild turkeys, that they might.
after a special manner, rejoice, togetl1-
er."
During the Revolution Congress an
nually recommended day of thanks
giving Congress recommended day
OF general Thanksgiving at ene conclu-
sion of peace in t7s4. The next was
recommended by Congress and pro-
claimed by Washington in 1889, on the
adoption of the Constitution.
Washington proclaimed a thanksgiy-
ing in 1895, on account of the suppress
sion of the whisky in,urrection. on the
recommendation of Congress. President
Madison procIaSf-ed a general thanks
giving in 1915 for peace. There was
no further effort in this direction until
President Lincoln recommended a
Thanksgiving after Antietam. The idea
grew, largely thru the efforts of Mrs.
Mary j. Hale, editor of Godey's Lady's
Book, and Presi snt LincoIn's proclaim
alton asking po,. ,.ular expression of graf
itude to the Most High for the crown
ing victories of Gettysburg and Vicks-
burg met with a most earnest accent
vYy hA yt-l.n Ia
suage. shows Lincolr's marvellous spir-
itual exaltation:
~By the President of the United
States:
A Proclamation.
1T has pleased Almighty God to
harken to the supplications and pray
ers of an afflicted people, and to voucf-
safe to the army ard the navy of the
United States victories on the land and |
On the sea so signal and SO effective as |
to furnish reasonable ground for aug
mented confidence that the Union of |
these States win be maintained. their
Constitution be preserved and their |
peace and prosperity permanently re-
stored. But these victories have been
accorded not without sacrifice of life.
limb, health and liberty incurred by |
brave, loyal and patriotic citizens. Do
mestfc affiiction, in every part of the
couHtiy, IoiioWS III TIE train of these
fearful bereavements. It is meet and |
right to recognize and confess the pres
ence of the Almighty Father and the
power of His hand equally in these
triumphs and these sorrows
Now, therefore, be ii known that I |
do set apart Thursday the 9Th day of |
August next, to be observed as a dayl
for National thanksgiving, praise and
prayer, and I invite the people of the
United States TO assemble ON that occa-
sion In their customary places of wor-
ship, and in the forms approyed bv
their own consciences render the horn-
age due to the Divine Majesty for the
wonderful things He has done in the
Nations behalf, and invoke the infIu-
ence of His Holy Spirit to s,lbdue the
anger which has produced and SO long
sustained needless and cruel rebel.
lion, to change the hearts of the insnr-
gents, to guide the counsels of the Gov
with wisdom adequate to so
great National emergency and To visit
with tender care and consolation thru-
out the length and breadth of orr land
all those who thru the yicissitudes of
marches, voyages battles and sieges
have been brought to suffer in mind
body or estates and finally to lead the
whole Nation-thru the maths of re-
pentance and submission to the Divine
to the perfect endowment of
union and fraternal peace.
I'm witness whereof I have heraupto
set my hand and caused the seal of the
United States to be affixed
"T1oOa nf fha citv OF |