The Somerset reporter., 1909-03-11

and the war was begun. We know
the story of the days that fol
lowed. 1t has been told over ant
over again. 1t Is written in the heart
Of those who lived through thos,
troublous years and the children borI
during the conflict inherit such patri
otism as is the birth right of few.
When the Volunteers began to as
semble in Boston, Faneuil Hall wa,
opened for their reception and people
thronged to see them pass, greeting
them with deafening cheer, and the
flag with demonstrations of ardent de
votion. Women Wed with the mer
all over the country in self sacrifice
and service, and if the North was fill.
ed with wild enthusiasm the South was
swept along by madness of pride
and passion that matched the spirit oil
! the North in power. Even in the bor-
der states the fury of many became
uncomfortable. When the Massachu-
setts Sixth passed through Baltimore
on Apr. 10, 1851, it was attacked by q
furious mob. The men of the regi-
ment formed solid square and with
the Mayor and police of the city as
escort forced their way to their des-
tination, the Washington station
Two of our boys were killed and seven
wounded. Again when the United
States troops advanced into Virginia,
at Alexandria occurred the cruel MUIR
der of Ellsworth shot for tearing down
rebel flag that fioated from the roof
of the Marshall House. These two Incl
dents serve to show the feelings of
the South in that hour.
Indeed North and S0I1fh warp rent
with anger, sorrow, awe. and passion
ate pity ana one heart seemed to ga
ther into itself the agony of the
whole divided nation, one soul with
a faith and patience equal and never
failing, sustained the souls of all the
faithful one man doubted, harrass
ed, urged on by fanatics, held back by
conservatives, misappr blended, bad
gered even by his friends with una
vailing counsel or unkindly criti-
cism,- carried aeburden of response
bility such as no man ever bore be-
fore him, ard carried it, with the calm
dignity of self reliance that never
failed him. TO the triumphant end.
Yet his self reliance was never am
bilious self assertion and his policy
was patience, patience, patience to
tion and then, action prompt, decisive
and effective. He waited for the
South until the South was driven to
aggression then called for troops to
suppress the uprising. He took in
his own hands the business of the Ma
tion and ordered the necessities of
war to be provided without waiting
for legislation. took upon himself in
pt la Exyf hn
ment of peril.
Maryland to assemble when the as
sembling might mean secession, be-
cause it was their legal right and he
proposed to interfere with no state
rights until they were perverted into
national wrongs and Maryland did
not venture to secede. His treatment
of wavering allegiance WAS always
judicious. His hatred of slavery had
not made him hate the STAKEHOLDER
and in his heart the nation was not
divided. Kentucky, Virginia, Tenn
essee and Missouri refused to raise the
troops he called for, though holding
themse Ives outside the Confederacy
Arkansas and Virginia declared for
the South. West Virginia separated
itself from the old Dominion and a
short campaign secured her counties
to the Union.
Through the fluctuations of the
years of war that followed our armies
won many victory and the in
domitable spirit with which they met
and recovered from defeat presaged
ultimate triumph. But general after
general let slip the opportunity of
following up promptly and decisive
ly the advantage of a yictorius en-
gagement and perhaps LincoIn's pa
tjence and generosity were never
more manifest than in his attitude
towards inaction and his hearty CO.
operation with plans persistently pre-
ferred to his own. Bull Run taught
both sides the truth of "The more
haste, the less speed" Mcclellan
gave object lessons in eternal prepar
alton. The enemy was allowed to
escape beyond the Rapidan, was fol-
lowed half heartedly and engaged
without lasting effect, until finally al
most in sight of Richmond, the Gun
ready" general retreated before Lee,
making. a successful stand one day
only to fall back the next. Stone
wall Jackson's raids in the Shenan-
doah valley were accomplished and
the Army Of Virginia created to
check him and given to Gen. Pope
Halleck was called East as Com
mander in Chief. Second Bull Run
was fought, and when invasion
threatened the North, Antietam' IS
fearful slaughter drove the advancing
rebels back across the Potomac.
Burnside, Hooker and Meade tried
their skill in handling the Army OF
the Potomac. The dreadful days at
Charlottesville were followed by
Gettysburg and the rebel invaders OF
Maryl land were again driven back,
this time finally,-and ye5 the end
seemed no nearer than before
Meantime the Confederate iron clad
Merrimac spreading desolation and
dismay at Hampton Roads had been
met and rendered Intellectual by the
bold little Monitor. The fleet and
Farragut had played their parts
New Orleans was taken, the river
opened to Vicksburg which had
proved impregnable to Farragut,
without cooperation from the troops
above. The President had desired
the western armies to occupy and
protect the loyal mountain regions oil
Kentucky and Tennessee. This they
had failed to do and Mr.. Lincoln was
little cheered by progress on the
Cumberland or along the Mississippi
until the name OF unconditional
Surrender" Grant, the hero of Fort
Donelson began to sound pleasantly
in his ears. Vicksburg's surrender
was added to Gettysburg's glory and