Year: 1864

trrom The Journal Of conmcrce.I


Few who have read, none who have care
fully studied the accounts Of the battle of
Antletam, know the amount of credit that
is due to our brave troops and their skillful
general for that victory. Worn and weary,
defeated and nearly demoralzed three weeks
previously, they met the enemy with the


they won, asthey deserved, nations graft


tude Here and there some of the more


bitter politicians were found who could not


be induced to thank that heroic army. They
were the men Of whom a radical newspaper
| spoke at the time who said "a victory by
| Mcclellan in Maryland would set US back
more than six months" But in the main,


the people gave to army and commander


the full expression Of their thanks The


soldiers who fought and fell at South Noun


tain and at Antietam deserve long remem-


brancc. a century hence, our descendants


will visit, with saddened countenances, the


graves in which they lie The earth TO


which they go will be hallowed ground, and
in all the years to come, pilgrims will gather
! flowers, and leaves oftrees that above them,
as sacred memorials Of the field on which
men died for the Union.


1t was but three or four weeks after the
|, battle Of Antietam when the President vis-
tied the army on the upper Potomac. He


went to look at the graves Of the men who
fell at the bridge where Burnside comman-
2 ded. One might well look, at such place


and time, for some indication Of the meas
ure of gratitude which moved the represent


atlve Of the people toward the brave dead


who lay below Certainly the demeanor of
: the President at that moment may be ac-


cepted by all men as a fair means Of judg-
ing the weight Of his character, the intelli-


gence, and the ability to appreciate and act
up to the national requirements. He was
surrounded by officers of the army and his
: own personal attendants, orderles, and
others. He resumed his seat in the ambu-


lance after viewing the graves and, as if
F, to throw off from his mind the effect of the
J. scene he had witnessed, called on his friend
who was with him to sing 'Picayune But
I Ter, well known comic song, and the
+ sounds rang in the ears Of the astonish-
: ed group who were riding by the am
0 bulance among the graves of their dead
comrades. This is no fancy sketch, but
d sober truth, which has not been, cannot,
t and will not be denied by any authority.
From that scene We turn to another which
: occurred during the same visit. As the


Presidential party were riding near the
field of South Mountain. they came to an
open space near the hospitals. The cOrtgc
: consisted Of the President and his parto, in
: carriages AID Gu horseback, attended by
T General Mcclellan and his staff, mounted.
At point where two paths or roads cross
ed, a small procession, four men carrying
r dead soldier on bier, followed by two Sis
ters Of Charity, were coming up the cross
e road. A little quickening of the Presldcn-
e tial party would carry them across IN front
of the funeral party. But this was not ae-
i cording to the views or General Mcclellan,
e whose reverence for dead soldier Of the
g army is ever greater than for any living
e man. He ordered halt, and the President
y of the United States waited in the road
er while they carried the soldier acIoss in
to front of him, some gallant boy who
n fought with Reno, perhaps a son OF
x, New York or New England, perhaps OF
ID some Western prairie home. Dismouning,
Is General Mcclellan advanced TO the rude
'l' bier, which at his word was set down. He


uncovered the face of his dead comrade,
i asked his name and where fell, and then
Of lifting his hat, stood with uncovered head


while they passed on to the burial place,


Then the President and the General, with


their attendants, having done fitting honol


to the soldier of the people, went on theil


way.


e, These two incidents we know to be true
e. and they illustrate the characters of the two
n men, One, feeble, incompetent, dead to al
E. the grand objects and purposes Of the hour
le filter for joker in the company of men o
in like minds than for the Psesident of grea
bt people; the other, walking upright ant
rt strong under the vast responsebilitie.
b. thrown on him, loving, devout, affectionat
n. the soldier Of the Union, approaching witt
e- solemn earnestness what 1t Is TO give one
ng life for his country.