Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-05-30

by the Civil War have died out ana
we arc now able to contemplate with
serene and impartial vision circum-
stances relating to the four. years
conflict. Even the few surviving vet
Grams Of the former Confederacy are
thinking:
There's Jest one thought IN every
heart
One word in every mouth;
For things is all so tWlsteo aIoV n1,+h
That there amt no North nor South
II never thought it would come 70
It's strange. but I reckon US true.
For IT'S Jest one country anu
And we're all a-wearin' the blue"
The one thought predominant in
Tho mind OF Abraham Lincoln at the
beginning OF the war was to save the
Union.
Jf r could save the Union without
freeing any slave l would do 1t; II
,ould save it by freeing all the slaves
would do il; and if could do it by
freeing some ana led'iH6
alone would also do that
7, is said that the Union soldiers on
the morning OF the Battle OF Bun
Run or Manassas. the first great bat
lie Of the Civil War, sauntered along
the road picking blackberries. But
,ba. battle was lost, they soon saw
that war had begun in earnest, ana
those who were out Of step with
the procession must organize and
got lin step.
L.rcolns plan Of the war came to
-. N blockade the coastline OF the
Confederate states; to occupy the
border states; to hold the Mississippi,
thus dividing the Confederacy and
providing an outlet for the western
st,tcs At the Union; to destroy the
Confederate army between Richmond
and washington, and to capture the
Confederate capital.
When again and again there was
call for volunteers, younger and stlll
Younger men Of the North sang in
response:
SIX hundred thousand loyal men ana
true have gone before;
we are coming Father Abraham.
three hundred thousand more
During the darkest days OF the
conflict Lincoln once said to trust
ed friend:
Il do not doubt, never doubted
FOR moment, that our country would
finally come through safe and un-
divided. But do not misunderstood
me, ! do not know how it can be. But
The God OF our fathers, who raised up
this country to be refuge and
asylum of the oppressed and down.
trodden OF all nations, will not let 1t
perish now. ] may not live to see It.
and he added after pause-l do
not EXPECT TO see it. but Cod VIII
bring us through safe
The Waterloo Of the Civil War was
az Gettysburg. If Wellington, the
Iron Duke" was at Waterloo. Meade
was ut Gettysburg. Waterloo decided
the destiny Of France, Of England, OF
Europe. Gettysburg though not go
immediate in its result, was the turn
ing point OF the war. The cause OF
the Union may have looked doubtful
At Chancellorsville and "Oh that
night in Chickamaugs, but with
Gettysburg at the east and Nicksburg
AZ the west, the war-worn veterans
began to quicken their march from
Chattanooga TO Appomatox. from
Appomatox to the sea. All along the
line they sang. Mine eyes have seen
the glory OF the coming Of the Lord"
II the brooks OF the Wilderness
were once tinged with a stain not re-
fccted from the sunset Of crimson
sky" years have passed and over
their pebbles they again run clear.
Memorial Day Is now not only day
sacred TO thee memory OF the heroes
az the Civil War, but ais to those OF
the World War. The characters OF
great men and women are inspired
by the deeds of their forefathers. The
legend OF Barbara Frietchie has come
down to u.s. Every war has its hero
ines, legendary and otherwise-and
who does not love a true story? In
the summer Of 1918 an S4-year old
grandmother was living on a New
Jersey farm. alone with the exception
Of employing a 12-year old colored
maid. Her grandson, George. upon
whom she depended for support, had
gone across" There was neither
money nor help to run the farm.
When he kissed her good bye, he
nad said. The hay cut on shares will
surely furnish means Of support until
get back" Weeks had passed and
no letter had come from George. It
was almost time to harvest the hay,
when at sunset one evening a long
line OF cavalry rode up from the
South. The commander. a middle
aged man who had served in the Phil
sppsnss. asked u he might order the