The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-08-13

lou are CallGQ TO serve dS d SOluicl
in the National Army, because that is
one of your obligations as citizen OF
the United States. The citizens of a
republic must always be ready in the
hour Of need to leave their own homes
and take up arms in defense of their
rights and principles. Otherwise the
Republic could not long continue to
exist. The men who now enter Mill
| tary service deserve the respect and
gratitude Of their fellow citizens.
You are doubtless making a heavy
sacrifice in order to perform this duty
Ito your country. Hundreds of thou
sands 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 whatever is necessary.
For no personal interests or feelings
can be permitted to stand in the way
at a time when the safety and honor
of the country are at stake.
As citizen soldier you are chosen
for post of special distinction. Amer
lea is just proud of the soldiers of the
today denied and put in serious dan
ger by the high-handed attacks of the
German government. America will
be no less proud of you, as you fight
to uphold those rights.
Your personal responsibility is
great. AS warfare is today 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 important
factors in deciding whether an engage
ment is to be won or lost. You can
not depend upon anyone else to carry
this personal responsibility 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 7th Maine
Infantry lay, hugging the ground. un-
der a furious storm of shot and shell.
Private Knox, who was a wonderful
shot, asked leave to move nearer the
enemy. For an hour afterwards his
companions heard his rifle crack ev-
cry few minutes. His commanding Of
ficer finally, from curiosity, "crept for
ward to see what he was doing, and
found that he had driven every man
away from one section of Confeder-
ate battery, tumbling over gunner
after gunner as they came forward to
fire At the end of an hour
or so. piece of shell took off the
| breech of his pet rifle, and he returned
disconsolate: but after a few minutes
he gathered three rifles that were left
by wounded men and went back
again
In the Confederate armies individ-
ual soldiers were no less skillful, cool
and brave On both sides they were
Americans.
Here are few cases quoted from
official records. You must read be-
tween the lines to get the full ben
eft Of the stories they tell of resource
fulness and courage.
On June 8. 1852, Private John Gray,
5th Ohio Infantry, mounted on an
artillery horse of the enemy and cap
tured a brass 6-pound piece, in the
face of the enemy's fire, and brought
it to the rear
On October u, 1868, Private Michael
, Dougherty, 18th Pennsylvania Caval-
ny, cat the head Of detachment of
his company, dashed across an open
field, exposed to a deadly fire from
the enemy, and succeeded in dislodg-
ing them from an unoccupied house,
which he and his comrades defended
for several hours against repeated at
tacks, thus preventing the enemy from
thanking the position Of the Union
forces"
From May to II, 1854 Private
John B. Lynch, Sd Indiana Cavalery,
carried important dispatches from
the President to General Grant, pass
ing through the enemy's country, es-
Gaping capture, delivered his mess
ages and returned to Washington
with replies thereto
On April q. 1899, Private Edward
White, Goth Kansas Infantry, during
fight with insurgents in the Philip
pine Islands, SWAN the Rio Grande
de Pampanga in face of the enemy's
fire and fastened a rope to the unoc-
cupied trenches. thereby enabling the
hand combat and destroying the en-
envy
In all these cases medals Of honor