Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-13
LESSON 1

lIESSON i
You are called to serve as a soldier
in the National Army, because that
is one of your obligations as citi-
zen of the United States. The citi-
zens of a republic must always be
ready In the hour of need to leave
their own homes ana take up arms
in defense of their rights and prin-
ciples. Otherwise the republic could
not long continue to exist. The men
who now enter military service de-
serve the gratitude and respect of
their fellow citizens.
You are doubtless making a heavy
sacrifice in order to perform this
duty to your country. Hundreds of
thousands of other young men and
their families are face to face with
similar sacrifices. All our citizens
will sooner or later be called upon,
each to bear his or her share of the
burden. Men and women, rich and
poor, all alike must do whatever is
necessary and must give up what
ever is necessary. For no personal
interests or feelings can be permitted
TO stand in tho way at a time when
the safety and honor of the country
are at stake.
AS a citizen soldier you are chosen
for post of special distinction.
America is justly proud of the SOL
diers of the past who have won for
us the rights to-day denied and put
in serious danger by the high hand
ed attacks of the German govern
ment. America will be no less proud
of you, as you fight to uphold those
rights.
Your personal responsibility is
great. AS warfare is to-day conduct
ed, the individual soldier counts for
more than ever before. Your own
skill and bravery. no matter how
humble your rank, may easily be inn
portant factors i'll deciding whether
an engagement is to be won or lost.
else to carry this personal RESPONSE
bility for you; you must depend
upon yourself.
Some American Soldiers
Americans are well-fitted to meet
this test. During the Civil War, at
the battle of Antietam, the Seventh
Maine infantry lay, hugging the
ground. under a furious storm of
shot and shell. Private Knox, who
was wonderful shot, asked leave to
move nearer the enemy. For an
hour afterwards his companions
heard his rifle crack every few min
from curiosity. "crept forward to see
what he was doing. and found that
he had driven every man away
from one section of a Confederate
battery, tumblinG over gunner after
gunner as they came forward to fire
At the end of an hour or so
a piece of shell took off the breecf
of his pet rifle. and he returned dis.
consolate: but after a few minute;
he gathered three rifles that were
left by wounded men and went bach
again."
In the Confederate armies indi.
vidual soldiers were no less skillful
cool and brave. On both sides the!
were Americans.
Here are a few cases quoted from
official records. You must read be-
tween the lines to get the full bene,
fit of the stories they tell of re.
sourcefulness and courage.
On June 8. 1862. Private Johr
Gray, Fifth Ohio infantry. mounted
on an artillery horse of the enemy
piece, in the face of the enemy's fire
and brought il to the fear"
on October IL, 1863, Private Mich.
ael Dougherty, Thirteenth Pennsyl.
vania cavalry. "at the head of a de.
tachment of his company, dashed
across an open field, exposed to 6
deadly fire from the enemy, and sue.
ceeded in dislodging them from ar
unoccupied house. which he and his
comrades defended for several hour;
against repeated attacks, thus pre-
venting the enemy from flanking the
position of the Union forces"
From May to IL, 1864. Private
John B. Lynch. Third Indiana cav.
airy, carried important dispatches
from the President to General Grant
passing through the enemy's coun-
try, escaping capture, delivered his
messages and returned to Washing
ton with replies thereto"
On April 81, 1899. Private Edward
White, Twentieth Kansas infantry
during a fight with insurgents in the
Philippine Islands, SWAN the RiC