Norwich bulletin., 1916-06-03
NATURAL BORN DRIVER


 eral books in which were incorporated his adventures, experiences and ob servataons in doing his part. for the began hts Recollections," in one Of the foremost American magazines. He had published The Soldiers Story of His Captivity At A11dersonville and Other Prisons. g Jed: A Eoys Adven- lures in the Army Of '8l-65" and other Iections Of a Private Soldier, his pur- pose was to speak for his many com rades in the ranks
 In nis preface to these RecoIIsctions, afterwards published in book form by MT. Goss wrote: The Army of the Potomac was the people in arms. 1t miTrored 1Ele diversified opinions and occupations of a free and intelligent democracy. The force that called it together was the spirit that made a government of the people possible. Its ranks were largely filled with youth, who had no love for war. but who had left their pleasant homes and the pur- suits of peace, that the government they loved might not perish.
 ''To the large number of patriotic young men in the ranks is to be at tributed much of it's hopeful spirit Thus 1t was that, though baffled by I bloody and dfsheartening reverses though it changed it's commanders often, it never lost it's discipline, its I heroic spirit, or it's confidence in final success. Its private soldiers were often as intelligent critics of military move neents as were their superiors.
 l s'In every other conquerine army 1 its commander has been it's life and soul. Napoleon. in substance, once de. clared, that 1t was not great arTnie; that won triumplas, but great com. ma anders. Again he said, 'Tt is no men who make armies, but a man! thus deifying great generals.
 ] The. reverse of this might be saiS of the Army of the Potomac. It final triumph over the Army of North ern Virginia, commanded by the gen I jus of Lee, was won by constant ham mering and attrition, during which tn blood of our common soldiers paid tn greater tribute. In our great army the private soldier who carried fort, rounds of cartridges and brave Gleari
 who fought without expectation O reward or promotion, was it's trues hero and the fittest representative 0 it's conquering spirit. His unselfis sacrifices and heroic confidence in fina victory, saved the nation and pre- served the union of states
 In the light of present-day war con , ditions, this masterly summing up ( conditions as they existed in thi
 country's great struggle has new sig
 nifcance.
 2 All these hints at the buoyancy an
 ardor of the youthful Boys in Blu
 Dt5o went confidently and bravely fort
 from peaceful, quiet homes, to plung
 into desperate warfare, yet who's
 hearts failed not, even after the gla
 mour of gold stripes and buttons, an
 martial music, and melting eFato1
 had given way to bloodshed, and dt 1l feat, and starvation, and perhaI : prison hardshtps, open up to us, n this generation, a new vista of whs o the Civil War meant to those who. f we now honor perhaps only annually f those whose names on the pension rc q 1 irritate certain critics, whos possibl V growl at so great expense!
 2 The majority of readers are fan1ili, d with MT. Goss's "Recollections."
 is pretty generally known that tl
 book is not literal transcription # the authors sole experiences, but d made up of material and incfden V borrowed from the adventures of h ,r comrades in the ,fieId.-But it is sufh [ ientIy accurate to stir the blood, if the reader follows it's youthful he
 through the exciting days and nigh
 up the Peninsula with McClella ,ll throughout the second battle of Bl fl Run, at Antietam, Frederichsbu - Charlottesville, Gettysburg, und 'a Grants command, in the SVilderne " at spottsylvania, during the siege if Petersburg, at Cold Harbor, and mI Is exciting of all, with gallant Sherdd Iv at Five Forks, in April. 1865. rel It is safe to predict that the bio le of the most sluggish pacifist must s l. at Comrade Goss's description of t le masterful strategy and tactics by whi is Sheridan, on his famed black nor i- led the wearied but undaunted troc l- disGleartening conditions. As the a is thor again and again states, the p is vate soldiers had no taste, no love sh war; but it was forcedI upon the
 and during the night after the event
 victory at Five Forks, "as groups
 men looked for wounded or dead co
 rades and buried the dead, their hea
 were both glad and sad; sad u
 friends and comrades had fallen; g
 that victory brought to them the lii
 of dawning peace"
 There is tribute to Grants gre
 ness, the story of Lees surrender, .
 tEfs ends the tale of war, of patrioti is and of the surrender of those who I an fought against the Union of Sta to To those who know how the book ' 'm written, there comes the memory ng the faithful. gentle wife who aided ,id much in winning the authors succt e. now passed to the Spirit Land, as who did Eer part as a soldiers W e. while strength and health were h, sly to help in the activities of Sedgw 1g. Relief Corps.
 of THE DUevr AcSRsAPE zen nd