hero tales from american history-第30章
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oes seem to me that I should like nothing so well as being a useful citizen。 Well； trying to be one； I mean。 I shall stay in the service； of course； till the war is over； or till I'm disabled； but then I look forward to a pleasanter career。
I believe I have lost all my ambitions。 I don't think I would turn my hand to be a distinguished chemist or a famous mathematician。 All I now care about is to be a useful citizen； with money enough to buy bread and firewood； and to teach my children to ride on horseback； and look strangers in the face； especially Southern strangers。
There are profound and lofty lessons of patriotism and conduct in these passages； and a very noble philosophy of life and duty both as a man and as a citizen of a great republic。 They throw a flood of light on the great underlying forces which enabled the American people to save themselves in that time of storm and stress。 They are the utterances of a very young man； not thirty years old when he died in battle； but much beyond thirty in head and heart； tried and taught as he had been in a great war。 What precisely such young men thought they were fighting for is put strikingly by Lowell's younger brother James； who was killed at Glendale； July 4； 1862。 In 1861； James Lowell wrote to his classmates； who had given him a sword：
Those who died for the cause； not of the Constitution and the laws；a superficial cause； the rebels have now the same；but of civilization and law； and the self…restrained freedom which is their result。 As the Greeks at Marathon and Salamis； Charles Martel and the Franks at Tours； and the Germans at the Danube； saved Europe from Asiatic barbarism； so we； at places to be famous in future times； shall have saved America from a similar tide of barbarism； and we may hope to be purified and strengthened ourselves by the struggle。
This is a remarkable passage and a deep thought。 Coming from a young fellow of twenty…four； it is amazing。 But the fiery trial of the times taught fiercely and fast； and James Lowell； just out of college； could see in the red light around him that not merely the freedom of a race and the saving of a nation were at stake； but that behind all this was the forward movement of civilization； brought once again to the arbitrament of the sword。 Slavery was barbarous and barbarizing。 It had dragged down the civilization of the South to a level from which it would take generations to rise up again。 Was this barbarous force now to prevail in the United States in the nineteenth century？ Was it to destroy a great nation； and fetter human progress in the New World？ That was the great question back of； beyond and above all。 Should this force of barbarism sweep conquering over the land； wrecking an empire in its onward march； or should it be flung back as Miltiades flung back Asia at Marathon； and Charles Martel stayed the coming of Islam at Tours？ The brilliant career； the shining courage； best seen always where the dead were lying thickest； the heroic death of Charles Lowell； are good for us all to know and to remember。 Yet this imperfect story of his life has not been placed here for these things alone。 Many thousand others； officers and soldiers alike； in the great Civil War gave their lives as freely as he； and brought to the service of their country the best that was in them。 He was a fine example of many who； like him； offered up all they had for their country。 But Lowell was also something more than this。 He was a high type of a class； and a proof of certain very important things； and this is a point worthy of much consideration。
The name of John Hampden stands out in the history of the English…speaking people； admired and unquestioned。 He was neither a great statesman； nor a great soldier； he was not a brilliant orator； nor a famous writer。 He fell bravely in an unimportant skirmish at Chalgrove Field； fighting for freedom and what he believed to be right。 Yet he fills a great place in the past； both for what he did and what he was； and the reason for this is of high importance。 John Hampden was a gentleman； with all the advantages that the accidents of birth could give。 He was rich； educated； well born； of high traditions。 English civilization of that day could produce nothing better。 The memorable fact is that； when the time came for the test； he did not fail。 He was a type of what was best among the English people； and when the call sounded； he was ready。 He was brave； honest； high…minded； and he gave all； even his life； to his country。 In the hour of need； the representative of what was best and most fortunate in England was put to the touch； and proved to be current gold。 All men knew what that meant； and Hampden's memory is one of the glories of the English…speaking people。
Charles Lowell has the same meaning for us when rightly understood。 He had all that birth； breeding； education； and tradition could give。 The resources of our American life and civilization could produce nothing better。 How would he and such men as he stand the great ordeal when it came？ If wealth； education； and breeding were to result in a class who could only carp and criticize； accumulate money； give way to self…indulgence； and cherish low foreign ideals； then would it have appeared that there was a radical unsoundness in our society； refinement would have been proved to be weakness； and the highest education would have been shown to be a curse； rather than a blessing。 But Charles Lowell； and hundreds of others like him； in greater or less degree； all over the land； met the great test and emerged triumphant。 The Harvard men may be taken as fairly representing the colleges and universities of America。 Harvard had； in 1860； 4157 living graduates； and 823 students； presumably over eighteen years old。 Probably 3000 of her students and graduates were of military age； and not physically disqualified for military service。 Of this number； 1230 entered the Union army or navy。 One hundred and fifty…six died in service； and 67 were killed in action。 Many did not go who might have gone； unquestionably； but the record is a noble one。 Nearly one man of every two Harvard men came forward to serve his country when war was at our gates； and this proportion holds true； no doubt； of the other universities of the North。 It is well for the country； well for learning； well for our civilization； that such a record was made at such a time。 Charles Lowell； and those like him； showed； once for all； that the men to whom fortune had been kindest were capable of the noblest patriotism； and shrank from no sacrifices。 They taught the lesson which can never be heard too oftenthat the man to whom the accidents of birth and fortune have given most is the man who owes most to his country。 If patriotism should exist anywhere； it should be strongest with such men as these； and their service should be ever ready。 How nobly Charles Lowell in this spirit answered the great question； his life and death； alike victorious； show to all men。
SHERIDAN AT CEDAR CREEK
Inspired repulsed battalions to engage； And taught the doubtful battle where to rage。 Addison。
SHERIDAN AT CEDAR CREEK
General Sheridan took command of the Army of the Shenandoah in August； 1864。 His coming was the signal for aggressive fighting； and for a series of brilliant victories over the rebel army。 He defeated Early at Winchester and again at Fisher's Hill； while General Torbert whipped Rosser in a subsequent action； where the rout of the rebels was so complete that the fight was known as the 〃Woodstock races。〃 Sheridan's plan after this was to terminate his campaign north of Staunton； and； returning thence； to desolate the Valley； so as to make it untenable for the Confederates； as well as useless as a granary or storehouse； and then move the bulk of his armythrough Washington； and unite them with General Grant in front of Petersburg。 Grant； however； and the authorities at Washington； were in favor of Sheridan's driving Early into Eastern Virginia； and following up that line； which Sheri dan himself believed to be a false move。 This important matter was in debate until October 16； when Sheridan； having left the main body of his army at Cedar Creek under General Wright； determined t
