Year: 1866

George Bancroft, the historian, in his
late grafton on the anniversary Of Lin
coins birthday, said: "When it came
to the consciousness of the Americans
that the war which they were waging
was war for the liberty of the nations
of the world, for freedom itself, they
thanked God for the severity of the trial
to which He put their sincerity, and
neryed themselves for their duty with
an inexorable will. The President was
led along by the greatness of their self
sacrificing example; as child in a
dark night on rugged way, catches
hold of the hand of its father for guild
ance and support, he clung fast to the
hand of the people, and moved calmly
through the gloom. While the states
manship of Europe was scoffing at the
hopeless vanity of their efforts, they put
forth such miracles Of energy as the
history of the world has never known.
The navy of the United States, drawing
into the public service the willing militia
of the seas, doubled its tonnage in eight
months, and established an actual block
ade from Cape Hatteras to the Rio
Grande. In the course of the war, it
was increased fve-fold in men and ton
mage, while the inventive genius of the
country devised more effective kinds Of
ordnance, and new forms of naval archl-
lecture, in wood and iron. There went
into the field, for various terms Of SER
vice, about two million men, and in
March last, the men in service exceeded
a million; that is to say, one of every
two able bodied men took part in the
war; and at one time every fourth able
bodied man was in the field. In one
single month, one hundred and sixty live
thousand We're recruited into service.
Once, within four weeks, Ohio organized
and placed in the field one hundred and
forty two regiments Of infantry nearly
thirty-six thousand men, and Ohio was
like other States in the East and in the
West. The well mounted cavalry
numbered eighty four thousand; Of
horses. there were bought, first and last,
two thirds of a million. In the move
ments of troops, science came in aid of
patriotism, so that, to choose single
instance out of many, an army of twenty
three thousand strong, with its artillery,
train, baggage and animals, were moved
by rail from the Potomac to the Tenn
essee, twelve hundred miles in seven
days. In the long marches, wonders
of military construction bridged the
rivers; and wherever an army halted,
ample supplies awaited them at their
ever changing base. The vile thought
that life is the greatest of blessings did
not rise up. In six hundred and twenty
five battles and severe skirmishes, blood
flowed like water. 1t streamed over the
grassy plains; it stained the rocks the
underground of the forest was red with
it, and the army marched on with
majestic courage from one conflict to
another, knowing that they were fighting
for God and liberty. The organization
of the medical department met its inf
nitely multiplied duties with exactness
and dispatch. At the news of battle,
the best surgeons of our cities fastened
to the field, to offer the Jealous aid of
the greatest experience and skill. The
gentlest and most refined women left
homes of luxury and ease to build hos
pltal tents near the armies, and serve as
nurses to the sick and dying. Besides
the large supply of religious teachers by
the public, the congregations spared to
their brothers in the field the ablest
ministers in the land. The Christian
Commission, which expended FIVE and a
half millions. sent four thousand clergy
men chosen out of the best, TO keep
unsoiled the religious character Of the
men, and made gifts of clothes and food
and medicine. The organization OF
private charity assumed unheard-oi
dimensions. The Sanitary Commission


which had seven thousand societies


distributed, under the direction of al
unpaid board, spontaneous contribution;
to the amount Of fifteen millions, IL
supplies and money! million and ;
half in money from California alone
and dotted the scene of war from Padu


cab to Port Royal, from Belle PlaiI


(Virginia) to Brownsville (Texas), viii


homes and lodges