Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1916-08-04
A Tribute To Maryland vaIor.
From the Baltimore Sun:

From the Baltimore Sun:
Sir:-I watched with deep interest the
mobilization of the Maryland National
Guard, as detailed in the columns of The
Sun, to see if could detect any decadence
in the spirit of old Maryland.
Greasy, in discussing the Norman char
acter, says: Their extreme valor joined
to their ready amenability to military dis
cipline, made the Normans the Paladins
of the world" In the same way there is
something either in the atmosphere of
Maryland or in the blood of Marylander
that has made him the ideal soldier in
every war we have ever had. We Vir-
ginians are little proud of our past, too,
and we all remember the affectionate con-
fidence that three illustrious Virginian
soldiers had in the sons of Maryland
Washington selected them to cover the re-
treat of the Continental Army and save the
hope of America by their own destruction.
In the last agonies of the Confederacy-
when its iron shroud was closing around
it and the stoutest hearts were giving
way-Lee kept the Marylanders on con-
slant picket duty. for he knew, though the
world might come to an end, they would
not desert their posts. and it is said that
when Stonewall Jackson was working out
his immortal Valley campaign he loved to
watch the First Maryland 60 into action,
for il went like one man. and that man
Bridegroom going to the altar.
The words First Maryland" have al
ways had a personal Significance to me
that they can have to but very few people,
for my own father presented to the First
Maryland of the Confederate service its
banner before it marched forth to the
bloody fields of Virginia, and that superb
regiment carried in their hearts his words
while that banner was floating in the fore
front of every battle that the noble army
Of Northern Virginia ever fought. Under
Its folds Turner Ashby was struck down.
1t was Haunted farther North than any
other Confederate banner when the First
NAuhJi OhiOh hiCo ~
Gettysburg deeper than any other COM
mand that followed Lee. 1t was the last
to be lowered at Appomattox, and years
after the war it was one of the few Con-
federate banners to be carried in the parade
at the unwilling Of the Lee Monument. II
it is in existence today, what an inspira-
ton it would have been to the present
First Maryland to have caught a glimpse
of It's historic folds, as it took its last look
at the fields of Maryland. when ii was the
first to hurry away to uphold American
honor on the distant Mexican border.
Yes. Maryland can gather nothing but
inspiration from its past, and its future
will be always secure so long as its future
is modelled upon its past-so long as its
young men are taught to revere the mem
cries Of their fathers who sleep on Long
Island and on every battle field in Vir-
ginia. and who went to Gettysburg never
to return. We think of those young men
now so far from home and loved ones. We
pray that those at home may be gladdened
by seeing them home again. safe and well
but we would rather think that they had
gone forever than think that they were
not ready and willing to add yet another
page to the glorious history of Maryland.
II my words could reach them, as did
my fathers so years ago. they would be
the words of Hotspur to his men a few
moments before he fell:
20 gentlemen. the time of life is short
To spend that shortness basely were too
long,
If life did ride upon dial's point
Still ending at the arrival of an hour"
M. KuGOUR,