The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-05-31
the Government.

the Government. 81
h For. in ALI these cemeteries. Uncle
Sam has sought to place tablets that
express most adequately 9the rever-
ence Of those who survive for the
heroes who have died in battle. And,
searching the whole world Of litera-
ture, he found one poem that so far
outshone all else that all the tablets
in all the cemeteries contain lines
from that poem and nothing else.
This one surprising poem of tribute
to martial heroes that thus stands
alone is 1.-THE Bivouac Of the Dead"
The stately and solemn march of it's
couplets is like the winding of fun
eral cortege beneath the shades where
hover the spirits of the immortals.
Yet through the mournful cadence
steals the martial echo that but sug-
gests the call to arms and the clash
of swords in the battles that are past.
O'Hara Confederate.
And, strangely, the man who thus
becomes the spokesman Of the spirit
of the battles of the Nation was one
who fought valiantly against the I'm
ion for the four years of the Civil War.
Theodore O'Hara was Confederate
soldier and officer who bore the crash
of arms of Shiloh and guided the hand
Of Gen. Breckenridge at Stone River.
More than this, O'Hara was one Of
the most attractive. most romantic,
most unfortunate geniuses that the
Nation has produced-a man who fol-
lowed the bent of his heart and fought
as a soldier of fortune in many lands,
knew little but adversely, and rarely
showed the jewel Of genius that lay
within him.
His greatest day came when as but
a youngster Of 20 he rose to a great
occasion and wrote at sitting that
poem which rivals "Gray's Elegy in a
Country Churchyard,' the perfect
poem. On another great day he re-
ceived in his arms on the field of bat
tie the dead body of his commander,
Albert Sydney Johnston. and on an
other he crystallized the spirit of DAN
lei Boone in his only other poem. 1.-THE
Old Pioneer"
O'Hara was born in Kentucky in
1920 of sire who was political refu-
gee of Ireland. The elder O'IIara was
q man Of culture and refinement.
Theodore went to Washington.
where he served as clerk in the
Treasury Department and beat his as
piring wings against the bars of dull
routine. His personality SO impressed
men in high places with whom he be-
came acquainted that he was given a
captaincy in the Army just prior to
the breaking out OF the Mexican War.
A. Soldier Of Fortune.
When the American arms pushed
into Mexico the dashing young Ken
tuckian added the spirit Of bubbling
exuberance to every camp fire. He
fought in those battles of Buena Vista
and Chapultepec and wherever else
there was fighting, and SO we'll did he
bear himself that he was brevetted a
major for gallantry in battle.
The spirit of the man was SO rest
less, as has been the spirit of many
another genius. that he did not remain
with the Army in times of peace, but
resigned and practiced law in Wash
ington for a while, but found other
adventures that appealed more strong
ly.
g. It was at about this time that the
Lopez uprising occurred in Cuba ana
many young American Adventures
enlisted in the cause of the liberation
Of that island and sailed away to fight
Its battles. O'Hara commanded one
of the regiments that participated in
the disastrous fight at Cardenas and
from that battlefield he was carried
sorely wounded. while his comrades
were badly beaten and broken up.
Not In the least discouraged the
spirit of adventure still surged within
him and little later he was found to
be member Of an expedition under
Walker which pushed into the center
Of Africa and returned much the worst
for wear and with little other than
the experience of hardship to show
for the trip.
In the years that followed the young
adventurer played the game Of editor
in many southern cities. In Mobile
he was editor Of the paper of Hon.
John Forsythe while that gentleman
was absent as minister to Mexico. In
Louisville and Frankfort he similarly
ofhciated and ultimately became edi-
tor OF his own paper. the Yeoman, in
Frankfort, Kentucky. 1t was here