Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-08-14
LESSON
Your Post Of Honor.

LESSON I.
Your Post Of Honor.
You are called to serve as a soldier
in the National Army, because that
IS one OF your obligations as. a citizen
of the United States. The citizens OF
a republic must always be ready in
the hour OF need 10 leave their own
homes and take up arms IN defense
OF their rights AM principles Other.
wise the Republic could not long
continue to exist. The men who now
enter military service deserve the
gratitude and respect OF their fellow
citizens
You are doubtless making heavy
sacrifice In order TO perform this
duty 70 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 bur
den. Men and women. rich and poor,
all alike must do whatever Is neces-
sary and must give up whatever is
necOssarw 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 AZ
stake.
As a citizen soldier you are chosen
for a post Of special distinction.
America Is justly proud OF the sol
diers OF the past who have won for
Us The rights today denied and put
IN serious danger by the high.hsnded
attacks Of the German Government
America will be no less proud OF you
as you fight 10 uphold those rights.
Your personal responsibility is
great As warfare Is today conducted
the individual soldier counts for more
than ever before. Your own skill and
bravery, no matter how humble your
rank may easily be important fac
tors in deciding whether an engage
ment Is to be won or lost. You car
not depend upon anyone else TO car
~ this personal. responsibility FOL
you; you must depend upon your
self.
Some American Soldiers. 3D. 30
Americans are Violated to NEE
this test. During the Civil War, a
the battle of Antletam. the 9TH Main,
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 tn,
enemy. For an hour afterwards hil
companions heard his rife cracl
every few minutes. His commandinl
officer finally, from curiosity. "crep
forward to see what he was dOiag
and found that he had driven ever,
man away from one section Of a Con
federate battery, tumbling over gun
ner after gunner as they came for
ward to fire. At the end OF al
hour or 80, "a piece OF Shell took OF
the breech OF his pet rife. and b.
returned disconsolate; but after
few minutes he gathered three rife
that were left by wounded men an,
went back 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. fron
official records. You must read be
tween the lines 70 get the full benefl
of the stories they tell Of resource
fulness and courage.
On June 8, 1862. Private Johi
Gray. 9Th Ohio Infantry, 'mountel
on an artillery horse OF the enem,
and captured a brass 6-pound piece
IN the face OF the enemy's fire. ant
brought 1t 10 the rear" ~"
On October 70, 1868. Private Nj
chael Dougherty, 18th Pennsyyani
Cavalry, at the head OF a detach
ment Of his company, dashed acros
an open field, exposed to a deDdl
fire from the enemy, and slcceedel
in dislodging them from an unoccu
pied house. which he and his com
rades defended for several hour
against repeated attacks. thus pre-
venting the enemy from thanking III
position OF the Union forces"
From May TO IL, 1864, Privat
John B. Lynch, Sd Indiana Cavalry
Carried important dispatches fron
the President to- General Grant, pass